Akshara: Abhiiiiiiiii, Abhimanyu! Dr. Abhimanyu Birla!

Abhimanyu: Aa raha hoon, aa raha hoon...chilao mt..

Akshara: Kaisa na chillau? Der pr der ho rahi hai aur tum ho ki help krne ki bajaye aur delay kr rahe ho?

Abhimanyu: (raises a brow and huffs) Meri wajah se der ho rahi hai?

Akshara: Aur nahi toh kya?

Abhimanyu: Hello! Mai poora ready hoon....tum ready nahi ho...

Akshara: Toh tumhe dhyan rakhna chahiye...

Abhimanyu: Tumhe dhyan se outfit plan krni chahiye..

Akshara: Abhiii...baaton ka time nahi hai....tum help kr rahe ho ya mai maa ko awaz doon?

Akshara started to walk towards their room's door when Abhimanyu stopped her by putting an arm around her waist and twirled her back.

Abhimanyu: Aisa kahan jaa rahi ho? Nautanki mt karo...kr raha hoon mai help..

Akshara pursed her lips to hide her smile. She stood in a matching petticoat and blouse. The beautiful pink saree in heaps around her. Abhimanyu bent down and picked it up. Slowly, he began to wrap it around her.

Abhimanyu: Abhi tk saree pehena nahi seekha hai tumne...in do saalon me tumhe pehenate pehnante mujhe aa gayi lekin tumse pta nahi kaise nahi peheni jaati!

Abhimanyu said, amused by his wife's ability to wrap a saree beautifully on everyone but herself. She could not dress herself in a saree.

Akshara: You know na Abhi. Still you poke fun at me! Bs khud ko nahi pehna pati mai....aur ye pleats mere hathon se nikal jaate hai...set hi nahi hote..

Abhimanyu nodded as if he was listening to a grave issue. His large hands expertly made pleats before tucking them inside the petticoat. His fingers brushed her waist and lingered dangerously close to her womanhood. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. His touch never failed to do wonders on her. Abhimanyu looked at his wife's expression. The kind of effect he had on her made him feel proud and happy. She loved him! His touch enticed her. This thought sent him jumping.

Abhimanyu: All done! Dekh lo..

Akshara studied herself clad in the saree in front of the mirror. She smiled, liking what she saw. Quickly, she wore the jewellery and marched next to her husband who was now sitting at his corner desk.

Akshara: Kaisi lg rahi hoon?

Abhimanyu looked up and took her in.

Abhimanyu: Hmm...ek cheez ki kami hai..

He quickly took some kohl out of her eyes and put it behind her ear.

Abhimanyu: Perfect! Thu thu thu..

Akshara let out a loud laugh.

Akshara: Ye Mimi ne bhi kya sikha diya hai tumhe...tumhe ajeeb nahi lgta?

Abhimanyu : Chahe jaisa ho...lekin agar meri jaan pr nazar lgne se bach skti hai, toh mujhe krne me koi problem nahi hai...

Akshara giggled at his cheesy lines and raised her hands to circles around him before twisting them at her head. She whispered her 'thu-thu-thus' on the side and hugged him close.

Akshara: Chale Abhi? Aaru aur Neil ke shaadi ka card humne banaya hai, toh hume to time se pahunchna hoga na...

Abhimanyu: Humne nahi, tumne banaya hai...

Akshara waved her hand and muttered 'Me, us- same thing' before picking a decorated box and heading outside.

........................

Arohi stood in front of the temple. A million thoughts revolving around her mind. She felt tears pool in her eyes and she looked at the sky.

Arohi: Rona nahi hai, rona nahi hai..

She chanted in her head before climbing up the stairs of the Ganesh temple. The rest of the family had already reached. She was coming directly from the hospital. Straightening her maroon lehenga, she looked up and met the eyes of Neil Birla. Her soon-to-be fiancé dressed in a matching kurta. He gave her a bright smile. She struggled but gave him one of her own. Neil noticed the smile did not reach her eyes and his own faded a bit.

Mahima: Tumhari hi shaadi ki rasam hai, hum log to busy hokr bhi time nikal lete hai, tumse nahi hota...

Manish: (To Akhilesh) Ye to Harsh ji se bhi agey hai...jiss ladki ki shaadi ho, inhe usse hi problem hai..

Harshvardhan: Bhabhi, hume toh khush hona chahiye...professional or personal space manage krna is good. Good Job Dr. Arohi..

Parth: Haan, lekin ab is mandir me tum sirf Arohi ho.(smiles at her)..so let's proceed with the rasam..

Suhasini: Ji bilkul...aur fir mahurat ka bhi toh time ho raha hai...ye Akshu-Abhimanyu kahan reh gaye..

Manjiri: Humare baad nikalne wale they...card bhi unke hi pass hai..

Mahima: Oh god! Phir time waste...

Swarna: Abhi mahurat me panch minute hai...

Vansh: Aur vo dekho, aa gaye humare Abhira! Right on time!

The family turned to see Abhimanyu climbing up the stairs with a basket in one hand. His other hand was wrapped securely around Akshara as he entered the temple with her. The family members smiled. They looked perfect together. Seeing them both so happy was worth forgetting all the family feuds. Gorillas had to compromise their egos to lets Abhira be together but they never regretted their decisions seeing their kids glowing every day.

Akshara: Sorry! Late to nahi hua na?

Manjiri: Nahi beta, ek dum time se ho..Chale ab..

Suhasini nodded and they all started to walk towards the main chamber. Akshara walked over to Arohi.

Akshara: congratulations Aru!!! Mai bohot bohot bohot khush hoon... hum ek hi ghar me rahenge...for life!!!

Akshara's voice could barely contain her happiness as she enveloped her sister in a warm hug.

Arohi: Tujhe kyu itni excitement hai?? Aur humesha khud ka hi sochna tu..

Arohi muttered before breaking the hug...

Akshara was taken aback. Arohi had not been rude to her for a long while now. She bit her lips to keep the pain inside.

Abhimanyu: Akshu? Wahan kyu khadi ho? Aao..

Akshara nodded and fixed a smile. It must be wedding stress, she thought and went to stand besides her husband.

....................

The puja began. The card was placed in front of the idol and the couple closed their eyes. While Neil prayed for a happy life, Arohi started to get flashes from earlier in the day.

Flashback

Arohi walked in the hospital dressed in her puja clothes. She smiled at the nurse who greeted her and went to her desk. She took out the files.

Arohi: Aaj ye case samjh kr files Dr Sinha tk pahuncha dungi... the sooner work proceeds the better.

She quickly scanned through the entire case when a loose sheet went flying.

Arohi: ye kya?

She tsked, irritated.

Arohi: Jb time km hota hai, tb hi issues hote hai..

She muttered before picking up the sheet that shook the ground beneath her feet. Her eyes scanned the words with disbelief.

New hope orphanage ­­­­­­­____ Adoption ______ Neil Birla!

Flashback ends

Neil: Arohi...

Arohi came out of her flashback when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was Neil, looking at her with a smile yet question in his eyes.

'you okay?'

She could read it loud and clear. She smiled to put him at ease. The pandit removed the cloth from the basket and the families were blown away. Akshara had really worked hard for the invite. The card itself was beautiful but even the basket was beautifully decorated. There was a personal touch in everything. There were cut-out figures of Neil and Arohi in the middle. The entire family was surrounding them but the touching part was the cut-out of Kartik and Sirat, hovering over the couple, blessing them. The card was kept in a box placed at one edge but the love and thought behind the whole basket made everyone emotional.

Swarna: Bohot sundr hai Akshu..Abhimanyu..

Manjiri: Ji, sahi keh rahi hai aap...bohot accha bana hai..pr mujhe pta hai ye kaam meri bahu ka hai..Abhi se ye sb nahi hota..

She joked lightly and Abhimanyu nodded while laughing.

Neil: Thank You Bhabhi, ye card aur ye decoration, bohot bohot special hai..

Akshara: Thanks kaisa? Tum dono mere liye itne special ho...tumhare liye nahi toh kiske liye karungi?

Arohi stared at the cut-out of Sirat.

Anand: waise ye to Naira ji hai na, Akshara ki maa...

Manish: Nahi...confusion lazmi hai...dono ki shakal bohot same thi...pr ye Sirat hai...Mere bete kartik aur in baacho ke pita ki dusri biwi...Kairav aur Akshara Kartik ki pehli patni Naira ke bacche hai..aur Arohi ki maa Sirat hai...

Dusri biwi, Pehli patni...Dusri...pehli

The words kept ringing in Arohi's ears. The conversation between the family faded away as she couldn't hear anything else after this. She looked at all the happy faces talking about something. Her eyes zoomed into Akshara's bright smile. She was beaming at Neil. Her nani's words entered her mind.

Vo sirf Akshara ke liye acche hai...uski maa Naira thi...mehelo ki beti

Tears pooled in her eyes as bit her lips. Another memory flooded into her conscious from the dark depths of her mind. She remembered Manish's words to her mother.

Gande log...Ganda khoon...Tum lakh acchi sahi..pr afsos...wahi ganda khoon....Khoon rang dikhayega..

Akshara: Aaru?

Akshara's innocent voice broke through the negative words that were surrounding her mind. Akshara had a smile on her face but was looking at her with concern.

Akshara: Tu thik hai na?

She asked. But was she? Was Arohi okay?

Akshara: Kya hua hai?

Akshara walked closer.

Mehelo ki beti...Naira...Akshara

Ganda khoon...Sirat...Arohi..

Arohi: Nahi Nahi Nahi!!

Arohi couldn't contain this in as she covered her ears to stop the ringing. Akshara grew worried. Everyone else turned towards them, confused by the sudden change.

Akshara: Aaru?!

She put her hand on her sister's shoulder.

Mehelo ki beti...Naira...Akshara

Ganda khoon...Sirat...Arohi..

Arohi: Door reh mujhse...Door...

She pushed Akshara out of her way as she rushed away from the temple. Abhimanyu moved quickly and caught a shocked Akshara before she fell.

Abhimanyu: Akshu! Tum thik ho na? ...(turns) Arohi!

But Arohi was nowhere to be seen. Vansh, Kairav, Parth and Shefali had rushed after her. The elders stood shocked and worried. Neil was frozen. This was not how he wanted this day to proceed. This was not what he had planned.

Mahima: ( thinks) This is way better than what I planned..

.........................

The entire family was gathered at Goenka mansion. All the elders were sitting worried while the others were searching for Arohi. Akshara and Shefali were asked to stay with everyone at home while Nishtha was sent back to Birla mansion as they preferred her out of family issues. Akshara called Abhimanyu.

Akshara: Hello? Abhi kuch pta chala?

Abhimanyu: Nahi Akshu, bakiyon se bhi baat hui meri...pr tum chinta mt kro...hum dhoond rahe hai..

The elders kept calling everyone Arohi knew but nothing helped.

Harshvardhan: Tumhari kya baat hui thi usse Akshara...achanak kyu bhagi vo?

Akshara: Pta nahi papa, vo lost khadi thi aur kuch badbada rahi...maine pucha toh bhaag gayi...

Harshvardhan: Ek dum se ye sb?

Suddenly Akshara realized something. She stood up and went to Shefali.

Akshara: Bhabhi...shyd mujhe pta hai Arohi kahan ho skti hai...

Shefali: Really? Chalo phir..

Akshara: Aap sbke sath ruko..mai aati hoon..

Akshara left and went to the one placed her heart felt Arohi could have gone. She drove to the boxing academy outside the city. Akshara felt bittersweet memories flood her mind. Sirat used to bring the two here for practise. When they got older, they would not stay inside. So, Sirat made them play in the garden. Kartik donated a set of swings to the garden so that the sisters could play there. It was placed tactfully so that it was visible from the window near the practise hall. Sirat could keep an eye on her girls while they played.

Akshara parked and got down. Hoping in her heart that she was correct. That her sister was here. She walked around the building and spotted Arohi's back. She was sitting on a bench facing the swing. Akshara wordlessly slipped on the seat beside her.

Akshara: Ab hum fit nahi honge na is jhule pr..

She joked lightly. Arohi blinked as she realised she had company but kept quiet. Akshara tried to talk to her but Arohi did not respond. She grew worried but also realised it was getting dark and their families must be worried. She pulled Arohi up and asked her to come home. Arohi followed without a sound.

.................

Akshara and Arohi made their way inside the house.

Akhilesh: Aaru?... (rushes to her) Aaru beta kahan chali gayi thi?? Hum sb kitna pareshan they...

Suhasini: Haan beta...apni mimi ki chinta nahi hai tumhe? Hume kitna dukh hua, tum mil nahi rahi thi..

Everyone bombarded her with questions. Abhimanyu turned to Akshara, his eyes silently asking if she was fine. Akshara smiled and he relaxed his shoulders. He turned his attention to his brother, clearly stressed because Arohi was obviously not okay.

Akshara: Aap sb shaant ho jaiye...please....pehle Aaru ko aram se baithne toh dijiye...aa Aaru..

Akshara held her sister in a protective, loving grip. She smiled warmly at her but her sweet behaviour only triggered her pain. She pushed Akshara away. Abhimanyu caught her, shocked as was everyone else.

Akshara: (whispers) Aaru?

Arohi: Bs kr Akshara! Bs kr! Thak nahi jaati ...itni acchi ban ban kr...bs kr ab...kitna ehsaan krna hai mujh pr? Ek kaam kr daba de ehsaan tale mujhe....sbke samne to tu perfect sister hai na

Akshara was shocked by the sudden outburst. Arohi had reconciled with her two years ago and she did not see this coming. Her eyes got filled with pain. This action reaction had a chain reaction. Abhimanyu's nose flared at his wife's disrespect. For him, everyone else faded, all logic out of window. His sole focus was Akshara's pain. Akshara held his hand tightly for two reasons. To calm him down and to give herself strength.

Arohi: perfect behen hai tu sbke samne...aur hogi kyu nahi...mehelo ki beti hai...khandani khoon! Lekin mai jaanti hoon tu kaisi hai...jaan bhooj kr tu mujhe iss ...Iss Neil ke saath fasana chahti hai na...arey life nikal gayi meri number two ka daag mitate mitate...mitata hi nahi hai...aur tu..

Abhimanyu: Ye kya bakwas bole jaa rahi hai...

Abhimanyu had had enough. He got in front of Akshara, shielding her from Arohi gaze. Akshara's palm clutched at the back of his kurta. She could not comprehend her sister's actions. Everyone else was just as confused and shocked.

Arohi: (starts to laugh and clap) ye dekh...khud ke liye kya choose kiya hai...THE DR. ABHIMANYU BIRLA....jiske pass sb hai..naam, khoon, khandaan....aur kismat bhi dekh na...ye tujhe pagalo ki tarah pyaar bhi krta hai...kissi ko bhaav nahi deta...aur mere liye? Tune hi sbko jaldi machai hogi na...iss rishte ke liye...mere baare me nahi socha?!

Manish: Arohi ye kya bole jaa rahi ho?

Harshvardhan: Haan...tumse aisi senseless baaton ki umeed nahi thi..

Manjiri: Beta...tum aaj bhi vo pehle rishte ka..

Arohi: please aunty! Uska koi dukh nahi hai mujhe...ulta khushi hai ki mai ek khokle rishte me kaid hone se bach gayi...pr..

Neil: Arohi? Tum khush nahi ho iss rishte se? Tum ...

He felt broken. Arohi ran away because she did not want to be married to him. He really liked her, maybe even love but was he that despicable for her?

Kairav: Arohi! Tu kuch clearly batayegi?

Arohi: batana kya hai...ye dekho..

She threw a sheet of paper. Abhimanyu caught it. He took a sharp breath.

Neil: Kya hai ye bro?

Abhimanyu: Nothing we did not already know. ( to Arohi) what is meaning of this? Did you not know?

Arohi: pta tha...pr poora nahi pta tha..

Abhimanyu looked at Manjiri, getting worried now.

Akshara: kya hua hai? Kya pta hai?

She peeped and saw the adoption paper.

Akshara: Ye to Neil ke adoption papers hai. Pr sbko pta hai na ye baat toh...rishta krte time kuch nahi chupaya...toh ab kyu Arohi?

Arohi: Tu nahi samjhegi...Teri maa Naira Singhania thi na...Perfect! Pehli patni...best at everything...tu bhi perfect aur teri life bhi perfect. Lekin meri Sirat thi, dusri biwi. Meri maa bhi no. 2, mai bhi no. 2...hone wala pati bhi no. 2 ...ye sb maine accept kr liya...socha is baaton me kya rakha hai...lekin sirf no. 2 nahi hai..

Kairav: Aru? Baccha ye kya no. 2 no. 2 kr rahi hai...family me kissi ka no. 1 ya 2 nahi hota...family family hoti hai..

Arohi: accha bhaiya? To meri maa ko sbne accept kyu nahi kiya?

Swarna: ye kaisi baaten kr rahi ho? Sirat hum sbko pyaari thi...

Suhasini: Haan, vo thi hi itni acchi..

Arohi: pr khoon toh ganda tha na...

Akshara/Kairav: AARU!

Akshara: (cups her face) khabardaar kabhi maa ke baare me aisi baat boli toh..

Arohi: (sobs) pr ye sach hai...(turns to Manish) hai na badepapa...aur apko toh shocked nahi hona chahiye...apko toh pata tha na ki mera khoon ek din rang zarur dikhayega..

Manish chilled. He struggled to breathe. What had he done? Had he scared a child's brain to this extent? Arohi heard and remembered all he told Sirat?

Akshara: Aaru tu aisa sb kyu soch rahi hai..

Arohi: to galat soch rahi hoon kya mai? Mere khoon ne rang dikhaya na...maine tujhe kitne saal kitna tang kiya...saalon lg gaye mujhe mere rang ka asar bhulate bhulate...aur ab...

Akshara: ab? Tujhe Neil ke adopted hone se problem hai? Aru? Isme Neil ki kya galti hai..

Arohi: Adopted hota to khud ko samjha leti...samjha chuki thi...pr ye orphan nahi hai...

Neil who was standing in pain as he heard his Arohi rip herself and him apart grew curious. He frowned.

Manjiri: Na-nahi beta...

Arohi: Neil ke papa zinda hai..

Harshvardhan: what!? Aur itne saalon se hum free me paal rahe hai... Apna beta humare gale daal gaya! kon hai inka baap?

Abhimanyu: Chup rahiye sir...Dr. Arohi.. ( he said in warning tone)

Arohi looked at everyone with a stone face and wiped her tears. She looked at Harshvardhan and dropped the bomb.

Arohi: Aap...Neil Birla, sach me Birla hi hai. Neil Harshvardhan Birla........

........................

It is so difficult to write such tracks when you really happier than usual. Lol. Abhira wedding is going to be epic!

I think the pictures released of wedding looks is just the promo picture. They are done with Samode and wedding would happen at Ranthambore. ❣️ So, I don't think the pictures on the internet is their actual look.

The only thing making me restless is the absense of Naksh! Where is Mamu!! :( Will he drop by last minute, for his own neice!!??

Also, how did you like this chapter? I think Arohi will become a neutral character on the show for a while before a big meltdown. I also imagine the adoption thing blowing up later and triggering her insecurity.

Did you like this viewpoint? Show some ♥

xoxo