Birla house | Late night

Sleep had skipped the house that day. Almost. Mahima was sleeping a sound sleep. Relieved that no doctor bahu would enter the Birla household. She was enough. No female in the house would be on the same position as her, not now, not in future.

.

Harshvardhan sat in his study, deep in thought. Neil was his son- his flesh and blood! Jiske khoon ko vo kosta raha, vo uska hi khoon tha...He did not know how to handle things from here. The ever organized, PR manager of Birla group of hospitals did not know how to sort the mess in his life. He did not even know how to face the people of his family anymore. Anand stood outside- he was angry at his brother but also clueless on how to approach him. He did not even know what to say.

.

Parth and Shefali laid awake too. They were tired but their eyes refused to shut. They had always considered Neil as their own but the truth bombs today had blown them away. They also felt deeply for how Manjiri must have suffered. How Neil was suffering now.

.

Manjiri was sitting near the small water pond in their home with all the childhood pictures of Neil. Abhimanyu sat beside her.

Abhimanyu: Maa?

Manjiri: Abhii....*sobs* dekh na kya ho gaya? Maine- Maine kabhi nahi chaha tha ki mera baccha aise dukhi ho....tu to jaanta hai na..

Abhimanyu: I know Maa (hugs her) I know.

.

Akshara knocked and entered Neil's room. He was sitting in the dark, playing with the clicker of the lamp. The flashes of light occasionally breaking through the darkness but none could brighten up his insides.

Akshara went and sat beside him.

Akshara: Neil?

Neil did not reply. He did not know what to say. All that he heard and felt today was still very raw- he feared if he opened his mouth, he'd scream like his insides. He had cried in Manjiri's arms but something still felt stuck.

Akshara: Neelima ji ke baare me soch rahe ho?

Neil looked at her. Was he?

Akshara: Ye dekho, maine papa ke college magazines nikalwaye storeroom se...aur ye jo reunion ka album aya tha, vo bhi le aayi

She placed two pictures in his hands. One-where a young Neelima, almost his age, was smiling at the camera. She was dressed in graduation robes and had a bright smile- just like his. The second one carried a more mature Neelima- in a blue saree, posing with a friend at the reunion with a glass in her hand.

Neil's eyes watered. He wanted this! No! He needed this! He wanted to put a face on the person he did not remember. How did she know this before he realised it himself?! Akshara smiled, as if understanding the question he did not ask.

Akshara: Mujhe jb pata chala tha na ki mai Sirat maa ki sagi beti nahi hoon, toh mujhe bhi ajeeb sa laga tha...hurt thi, sad thi...exact feeling aaj bhi nahi bata skti.. Sirat maa pr gussa nahi aa raha tha, sach kahu toh ulta grateful thi ki unhone mujhe itna apnapan diya ki mujhe kabhi pta hi nahi chala..

Neil: Same bhabhi....Maa ne itna pyaar diya hai...agr uncle ne taunt nahi diye hote toh mujhe pata hi nahi chalta ki mai unka beta nahi hoon....mai bhi kya bol raha hoon...mai unka beta hoon...vo meri maa hai... (he paused and asked timidly) hai na..

Akshara: Off course Neil! Infact tumhara maa ka rishta toh bohot strong hai....dil se bana hai...hum sb tumse pyaar krte hai..

Neil: Phir mujhe ye kyu lg raha hai...mai bta nahi paa raha lekin Neelima au- mtlb maa- vo...mai kaise batau..

He was confused. His feelings were all over the place.

Akshara: Mai samjh rahi hoon...mera bhi Sirat maa ke liye pyaar km nahi hua tha...pr khud se narazgi si ho rahi thi ki mai apni maa ko nahi jaanti...sochti thi ki vo hoti toh kaisi hoti...unhone mujhe jb pehli baar dekha toh kya mehsus kiya? ...vo hoti to meri life kaisi hoti? Sb kehte hai ki vo sherni jaisi thi aur mujhe chotu sherni kehti thi...sb bolte they bachpan me...pr shyd me apne papa ki tarah tadpoli ban gayi..

They both chuckle a tearful smile.

Akshara: Unhe jaane ki curiosity ek baache ke dil ki thi. Jo uss insaan se milna chahta tha jiske saath apne rishte ko vo jee nahi paya...Sirat maa meri maa hai...lekin ye sach nahi badalta ki Naira mere mumma hai...unke baare me jaana mujhe accha lgta hai...lgta hai unki kahaniyon me mai unhe mil skti hoon...(keeps a hand on Neil's) tumhara Neelima ji ke baare me jaane ka man krna natural hai...aur isme kuch galata nahi hai. Infact tum chaho toh hum college ko approach krke unki details le skte hai...unki life ke baare me pata kr skte hai...unke hometown bhi challenge-

Akshara was cut off by a beaming Neil who hugged her. Akshara was taken by the sudden gesture but relaxed. She patted his back in a soothing manner. Abhimanyu stood by the door, looking at this exchange.

Abhimanyu: Kitne acche se samjhti ho dil ke haal ko tum...iss dil ke doctor ka dil toh aana hi tha..

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

Goenka House | Morning

Arohi woke up the next day and groaned. Her eyes felt heavy from all the crying she did last night. she was sure her face must have swollen too. She looked around and saw all her mother's sarees that she had spend the night wrapped in. Kairav must have put everything else back in its place before leaving. She got up and stretched. Her heart and mind at war. Will she ever find peace?

A knock broke her thoughts. Akshara stood by the door with a soft smile. Arohi looked at her and Manish's words came back along with Sheela's. She also recalled how she had pushed Akshara out of this room when Sirat died and Akshara never entered again, respecting her wish. Wish? More like a demand!

Arohi: Andr aa Akshu..

Akshara felt emotional but entered. It had been years since she last entered this room. Arohi had wanted to take Kaira's old room and refused anyone to be in Kairat's room. Suhasini had then put both sisters in the same room much to Arohi's disliking at that time. Arohi thought of all those times she hurt Akshara. She was really torn between what she had been told and what she was feeling now.

Akshara moved closer to her and without a word, just took Arohi in her warm embrace. Arohi relaxed. Akshara's hugs were the best. She never said so but whenever Akshara had hugged her in the past with all her love, she felt like it was from her 'mumma'. Arohi hugged Akshara back tightly who whispered sweet nothing and continued patting her.

Akshara: Bs ab...mu dekh tera..kaise sooj gaya hai...aur kuch khaya?

Arohi: Akshu-?

Akshara: Aaj kuch nahi sunugi mai...aaj mere man ka hi hoga..

She pulled Arohi and sent her to the washroom to freshen up. By the time Arohi came out, Akshara has set the things in the room in order and was waiting for her with breakfast.

Arohi: Akshu- ye sb?

Akshara: I know boring hai pr khali pet kachori nahi khila skti na..

Arohi: Mera vo mtlb nahi tha-

Akshara paid no heed and pulled Arohi to sit beside her and fed her. Arohi's eyes welled up.

Arohi: Tu aisa kaise kr skti hai? Maine kl tujhe kitna kuch bola..aur tune mere bina maafi mange mujhe phir maaf kr diya..

Akshara: Tu gusse me thi Aru-

Arohi: But still Akshu. Tune is rishte pr kabhi give up kyu nahi kiya?..

Akshara: Because we are a family. And families don't give up on each other..

She cupped her face and smiled. Arohi's lip wobbled.

Akshara: Tujhe pta hai papa bhi no. 2 they..

Arohi: Mtlb?

Akshara: Haan...Kirti bua no. 1 thi...papa no. 2...Aur humare case me Kaira di no. 1, Kairav bhaiya no. 2...mai 3 aur tu 4...nahi nahi...Krishna di ko bhi papa mumma ne adopt kiya tha...so vo no. 3..mai 4 tu 5

Arohi: Krishna? Kaira?

Akshara: Kaira ke baare me mumma ki purani dairy me likha tha...vo sbse badi hoti humme...pr she was a still born. Krishna di ne Naira mumma ke baad ghar chod diya tha..she is settled with Mamu. Unse baat hui tb pata chala.. pr point ye hai ki Aru life me hr koi kissi ke baad hota hai...lekin hum race ke ghode nahi hai jinpr number lage..

Arohi looked down. Akshara made her face up again.

Akshara: Accha sun...tujhe pta hai papa ek aur tarah se no. 2 hai...vo Sirat mumma ke no. 2 husband they..

Arohi: What!?

Akshara: Haan...Sirat maa ki shaadi pehle kissi aur se hui thi. Unki death ke baad papa aur Sirat maa ne shaadi ki....but they loved each other. Unhe ek dusre ki life me hone se mtlb tha...numbering se nahi...

Arohi nodded.

Akshara: Accha tu bata...kl ko tere bacche hue toh kya tu ek se pyaar aur dusre se nafrat karegi?

Arohi shook her head quickly. Obviously not!

Akshara: bs waise hi. Kon pehle aya kon baad me...ye upar wale ke haath me...usse hum toh define nahi hote na.. aur rahi baat khoon khandaan ki..

Arohi flinched. Akshara softened her voice further, knowing it was sensitive to Arohi.

Akshara: Mai tujhe nahi samjhaungi. Kyunki vo galat tha. Tujhe galat bola gaya. Tujhe bura lagna sahi hai...pr iss baat pr believe krke tu apni aur Sirat maa ki insult kr rahi hai..please mt kr..meri maa kon thi aur teri maa kon thi...vo side me rakh. Hum dono Kartik Goenka ki betiyan hai. Hum dono ki mumma bohot acchi thi, bohot brave thi. Dil saaf tha toh khoon ganda kaise hua?

Arohi nodded slowly, absorbing her words.

Arohi: Vo meri nani ne bhi kaha tha...ki vo sirf tere liye acche hai.. vo, teri naani ke naam pr academy..

Akshara: Aru!..academy Goenkas ne nahi khulwayi thi... Singhanias ne banwai thi...kabhi kabhi lgta hai ki tujhe in sb baaton se anjaan rakhna galat tha...maine to mimi aur Kairav bhaiya se sb pucha. Infact choti maa (Surekha) se bhi bohot stories suni...tujhe bhi jaana chahiye tha...Aru, Sirat maa ki ek hi family thi- Maudi..

Akshara fills her in with details about Sheela and her behaviour towards Sirat. Now, Arohi feels bad about trusting Sheela.

Akshara: tu bura mt feel kr. Tu baachi thi...tujhe jisne jo kaha vo tune mana..lekin Aru, humara kal hum nahi badal skte...pr aaj humare hath me hai...apne aane wale kal pr kuch bhari mt padne they...

Arohi wiped her tears and looked at her big sister.

Akshara: Jiss soch ne tere man ko itne saal dukh diya, uss soch ko mt paal. Humare bado ki buri soch ka ant hume hi krna hai...in baaton me vishwas na rakhkr..

Akshara also told her about Neil's story. Arohi realized all she said in her emotional outburst and how she must have hurt him. She gave him the scars that had pained her for nearly all her life. Like her, it wasn't his fault who his parents were or what his mother's background was.

Arohi stood up and rushed out. She suddenly stopped and rushed back in. She hugged Akshara tightly.

Arohi: thank you, thank you, thank you...mujhpr aur iss rishte pr kabhi give up na krne ke liye, and sorry...maine tere saath jo bhi kiya..un sb ke liye..

She squeezed her tiny frame one more time before rushing out. She must fix things!

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

All the Birlas parked their cars in front of a large garden and noticed Goenkas were arriving as well.

Mahima: Ye log yahan pr kya kr rahe hai?

Anand: Mujhe kaise pta hoga..

Goenkas were whispering the same thing.

Parth: Aap log?

Manish: Hume Aru ne message krke aane kaha..aap sb yahan?

Parth: Hume Neil ne bulaya...

They heard a bike roar and Abhimanyu arrived with Akshara.

Shefali: Abhimanyu? Tumhe pata hai iss bare me?

Abhimanyu: Nahi Bhabhi, andr chalte hai..

Mahima: (to Anand) Ye Neil aur Arohi ne saath me dono families ko yahan kyu bulaya hai?

Anand: Chalo, pta chal jayega..

Harshvardhan was standing at the very last with shades on. He did not know what to do and what not to do. He saw the message on family group and came too. He entered, maintaining a low profile.

They were all guided to a private hall. Neil and Arohi were standing on two ends.

Suhasini: Kya hua baccho? Hum sbko aise kyu?

Arohi: Btate hai mimi...aap sb baitho pehle..

Everyone sat around. No one knew what to say. Standing before them were two people who had suffered at the ends of family.

Neil and Arohi were feeling mixed emotions. Neil could not stand Harshvardhan and Arohi's anger at Manish was raw but then they looked at Abhira, Manjiri, Kairav and Vansh. These people loved them beyond anything. That is what they'd have to do. Focus on those who love them and carry on without past baggage.

Neil: I know aap wonder kr rahe hai ki humne kyu bulaya..

Arohi: We don't know how to sugar up stuff toh directly point ki baat krte hai...kl jo hua, nahi hona chahiye tha...

Neil: Lekin salo pehle jo hua, vo bhi nahi hona chahiye tha...meri maa (looks at Manjiri) dono maa ye sb deserve nahi krti thi...

Manjiri gave him a teary-eyed smile.

Arohi: Meri mumma ko bhi jo kaha gya, vo galat tha...she tried her best. She learned so much to adjust in your lifestyle... so unhe aisa bolna...aur unke saath aisa behaviour dekhna aur na rokna...dono bohot galat tha...

Neil: Lekin humne apni life ke acchaiyon pr focus krne ka decide kiya hai..

Arohi: It doesn't mean we forgive...we need time and we don't want anyone to push us when we are not ready..

Neil: but we are ready to share one thing.

Neil walked closer to her and lifted her hand. Everyone waited for them to proceed when Akshara squealed.

Akshara: eeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

Abhimanyu and everyone jumped seeing her sudden reaction.

Abhimanyu: kya hua? (cups her face) thik ho?

Akshara: Abhi! Aru ka hath dekho...ring!

And sure enough, there was a small ring on her finger. Small but bright like their smiles.

Arohi smiled at everyone who came to the sudden realization and looked at Neil. She had almost lost him in her blind rage. She remembered hunting him down after her conversation with Akshara. She thought he'd give her attitude but Neil wasn't her. That is why they were special. He had the patience to handle her. Despite his hurt, he heard her side of story. He got her perspective. They talked about all the hard stuff and bottled feeling- finally feeling like they were getting closer on a heart-to-heart level.

Neil was never like his older brother. Abhimanyu was fire. He reacted and fought things out. Neil was water. He responded and tried to sought things. The brothers were opposites in temperament and yet always there for each other. They also realized extremes were bad. Abhimanyu needed to tone down- which he did and Neil needed to defend himself and fire up at times. Balance was the key.

Akshara was his brother's balance- she was the calming waters to his rage and Arohi was his- his fiery girl who added spark to his life. Neil refused to let her go over this. It would be another victory for sir if he managed to take away the woman he loves. He understood her pain and decided to not waste time away in anger.

Arohi and Neil smiled at each other, lost in their own thoughts. Akshara was the first to break the silence and hugged them both. She was excited and Abhimanyu was trying to keep her on her toes. He held her waist, worried she'd fall. He then hugged his brother and congratulated them both. Kairav and Vansh came next and lifted Neil while Shefali and Nishtha hugged Arohi. Parth gave an ear-piercing seeti, more than happy for his brother. Manjiri got up to bless the duo.

While they celebrated, the elders sat baffled. Akhilesh was happy to see Arohi happy but his thoughts made him conflicted about Neil. Nevertheless he stood up and blessed the two when he noticed Swarna do the same.

Mahima paled. She had done everything she could!

Mahima: (in mind) ye Harsh khud toh pyaar krna jaanta nahi hai pr iske beton se pyaar chutata nahi hai....itne ke baad bhi nahi tuta ye rishta...

She sulked while Anand smiled at the two but kept distance. Harshvardhan looked away. He had robbed himself from this moment- his opinion simply did not matter to his children.

Manish: Pr Arohi..Neil Birlas ka na-

Arohi: (cuts him) Neil Birlas ka beta hai..

Suhasini: Jldibazi nai kro beta...aram se sochte hai..

Arohi: Jldbazi to aap sb ne ki thi rishta fix krne ke liye...lekin ab sb humare hisab se...humara rishta ho chukka hai...we are engaged.

Neil: Lekin hum abhi shaadi nahi karenge..

Manjiri: Kya?

Neil: Haan, we need time to know each other better and settle in our lives more. We will marry when we are mentally ready for it...pr haan, hum engaged hai..poori rasmo ke saath ye rishta juda hai...pr isse shaadi tk kb le jaana hai, vo hum decide karenge... (to Abhimanyu) tilak ka kharcha baccha liya...wnra next time dubara krna padta..

Parth: (laughs) teen baar krwa kr budget hilla diya Abhimanyu ne..

Abhimanyu: Batau aap dono ko?!

Parth/Neil: Chidku phir chid gaya..

Akshara: Aye! Aap sb chedo mt mere Abhi ko...waise bhi kitna khushi ka din hai...aaj to party!!!!!

The families cheered. The kids knew their elders had a lot of skeletons in the closet. Who knows what else? They had faced consequences of their mindset and past crimes but only they can chose to end it by not continuing with the burden. Road ahead was rocky but they knew one thing for sure- they were stronger together!

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

Phew! It was a heavy write! Now excuse me, I'm going to stay away from heavy tracks for the next few updates.

This track is complete now. It can continue further like tracks melt into another on the show but I chose mine to end here :)

Also, I don't think we are going to get Naksh-Kirti on the show :( Makers just did that for hype I guess. They mentioned him coming for mama-bhat and then gave further hints with his nagin dance and kairav mentioning him during sangeet but he is a no show. I feel cheated!

Logically there should have been Surekha, Luv-Khush & their wives, gayu and Vatsal. Goenkas ki khud ki family incomplete hai and I had no hope. Logic doesn't work on ITV but jinki umeed di thi vo bhi tod di. Naksh was such a devoted brother to Naira, cannot imagine him not turning up for her daughter.

The happy part of everything is Abhira for me! They are married!! And we'll see it soon. 

xoxo