Monday Morning disappointment! This is so not how I wanted the episode to go! I was really rooting for a safe Manjiri, still confident that she will live. I thought this track will make Arohi a better sister to Akshara but even that seems impossible now. That delusional girl only knows how to blame I feel.

The only possible positive outcome of this track now could be Akshara realizing Arohi isn't who she thinks she is and to stop prioritizing her like she does. Akshara literally can drop the world for Arohi and Arohi doesn't even consider her as a sister.

I was thinking of a part 3 of the way I wanted the track to proceed but am actually writing another shot for now. It is based on Akshara's realization.

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Pre-read: Manjiri was in the hospital. She is out of danger now but Abhi decided to keep her under observation as she had lost a lot of blood and was lying in the ground for long. Everyone was glad she was okay. Abhi also filled a case with the police as he wanted to punish the people who didn't have the audacity to stay back after what they did.

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

Akshara looked at her sleeping fiancé. Dark rings circled his eyes as he slept rather uncomfortably on a chair next to Manjiri's bed. His head was placed near her hands. Manjiri was stable and unconscious due to the medicines. Akshara wiped her own tears.

Her heart went out to her Abhi. She was no stranger to this pain. She had had it worse and thanked the gods for not making her Abhi feel the loss like she did. She was glad that the woman who came into her life like her maa was safe. She kissed Abhi on his head and prayed for Manjiri before leaving. She wasn't allowed to stay and she didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble by going against rules.

Kairav was waiting outside for his sister. The rest of the Goenkas had come and left. None of the Birlas stayed back except Neil who was in the waiting area and Mahima who was in her cabin. Manjiri was out of danger and they didn't want to crowd the hospital. Akshara went and hugged him.

A: Bhaiya! (she sobbed)

K: Bs Akshu! Sb thik hai ab toh...chal ab rona band kr...aur ghar chal... kl subah jaldi wapis bhi ana hai na..

Akshu nodded and they started to leave. Akshu stopped on her tracks when she ran into a familiar face.

A: Uncle, aap...?

Harsh was standing with a cup of coffee. His face set in deep frown. He just nodded and left. Akshara smiled softly. She knew despite his cold exterior, the man did care. They left the hospital. One her way back Akshara kept rewinding the ill-fated day. So much had happened when a sudden realization dawned upon her. Akshara found Abhi's bike very close the spot where they had had the accident earlier. She remembered feeling that something was hit. She wanted to get down to inspect it but Arohi did not agree. Before Akshu could get down herself, Arohi started the car and drove away.

A: what if...? (she thought in horror)

Back home, Akshara rushed to the car they were in earlier that day. She saw nothing out of place but then her eyes fell on a small fire in the corner. Something else was burning with the logs. She took a stick and pulled it out. It seemed like a half burnt cloth. She frowned and inspected it. She couldn't see much in the dark. She was walking inside with the cloth still in her hands and a frown on her face. As she stepped into the light, her eyes widened. She gasped as her fingers trailed the red stains on it. She rushed to her room.

A: Arohi!!!!!

Ar: Akshu?...Akshu Manjiri aunty thik hai na..? Vo-

A: she is fine! Aru, .....tujhe lgta hai kahin unka accident humari car se hua hai ho?

Ar: (shocked) kya? Kya kuch bhi bole jaa rahi hai...aise kuch nahi hua hai...din me hazaar accidents hote hai...dekh tu mujhe tension mt d-

A: Abhi ko Manjiri aunty ussi spot pr milli thi..

Akshara said calmly, her eyes observing every small expression on Arohi's face. Arohi's eyes widened slightly before she masked her face and licked her lips. She is preparing to lie! Thought Akshara.

Ar: Ha- haan toh... iska mtlb ye toh nahi hai na ki vo humari hi car thi...meri sir dard kr raha hai, ab bs kr...

Arohi hid her fear with her confidence. She always retorted to scolding Akshu in return whenever she got caught doing something. She believed if she yelled something loud enough, it would become true. Sadly, that is not how the world works.

A: Accha, aur ye kya hai phir?

She took the half burnt, blood stained cloth piece. Arohi audibly gulped.

Ar: Vo..vo...ye..mujhe kaise pta hoga...tu layi hai tu bta..

A: Ye mujhe humari car ke pass aag se milla...khoon lga hai ispr!! Tu ab bhi kahegi tune kuch nahi kiya??? Bs kr Arohi...sach bol de...

Ar: Akshu....

Thinking that she no other way out, Arohi hugged Akshu and told her how she saw blood on her car and wiped it in fear. Akshu bit her lips in guilt. So they had hit her Manjiri maa! If only she was strong enough to get down and had not let Arohi have her way!! She wallowed in her own guilt.

Ar: Kya ho gaya na Akshu...Mai, mai dr gayi thi bohot....please tu mujhe kuch nahi hone degi na...please Akshu, tere siva mai kissi aur pr rely nahi kr skti..

This is it! Arohi played her last card. She knew Akshara always yearned for her affection and approval. If she directly asked Akshara to do something, it would be impossible for Akshara to say no.

( Author's note: I am sick of this tbh. Aarohi's hug scenes are never genuine and I cannot be convinced otherwise. She only hugs Akshu when she needs her or is too happy. She is like the brat, khud khush to apni khushi me sbko nachta dekhna hai lekin agar kissi aur pr attention gayi toh sabse dukhi ho jate hai. For her, Akshara is the reason of all her misery and yet she only goes to her to help her dirty work. )

Arohi gulped and broke the hug.

Ar: Dekh jo hona tha vo ho gya na Akshu..

A: Arohi? Ye kaise baaten kr rahi hai? Koi choti baat nahi hui hai...bohot badi baat hai....Maa ko kuch bhi ho skta tha...hum utre bhi nahi unhe dekhne....Agar aaj Abhi ko vo der se milti toh unki jaan blood loss ki wajah se chali jaati, ye situation humare na utarne ki wajah aur zyada complicate hui hai....accident galti thi lekin na utarna gunah tha...hum ye baat nahi chupa skte kissi se bhi

Ar: Akshu meri baat sun...mai teri sb baat maanti hoon...lekin tu khud soch...ab jo nahi hua uske baare me sbko baata kr kyu tu meri life barbaad krna chahti hai...Manjiri aunty safe hai...vo ghar bhi jldi aa jayengi lekin agar ye baat bahar ayi toh meri life, mera career, mere sapne sb barbaad ho jayengi...Mumma- papa ke jaane ke baad ek mere sapne ke liye hi toh zinda hoon mai...mujhse mera sapna ko mt door hone de Akshu...mai toot jaungi warna..mera rishta toota tha na, ab sapna mt tootne de pleaseeee

Arohi subtly reminded Akshu of their parents passing. Years of her blaming Akshu for their death made Akshu go into an automatic guilt zone whenever their names were mentioned. Arohi smiled on the inside.

Ar: (thinks) Kya kahan tha Abhimanyu ne, Haan, kitaaben aur rishte zyada kareeb se dekho to padh nahi pate...lekin mai Akshu ko acche se padhna jaanti hoon...ab ye kissi ko kuch nahi batayegi...Thank god!

Akshara promised Arohi that she'll try her best so that Arohi's dreams are not broken. She went into their house temple and lit a lamp for Manjiri and stayed their praying. Elsewhere Arohi laid in bed.

Ar: Meri koi galti nahi hai...Akshu ne hi kiya hai sb...mai toh overdosed thi, mujhe thodi na samjh aa raha tha kuch...ye utar skti thi...haan sb Akshu ki hi galti hai..

Arohi gave herself a pep talk to silence the small voice inside her that was feeling guilty. She always did that. Like when she started to blame herself for Sirat's death, she yelled at Akshara, convincing herself that it was her fault instead. It was her defense mechanism. Blame everything on Akshara to get her rid of her own guilt. In her mind, Akshara took away her parents. Akshara caused Abhi to break alliance with her, not her lies and deceit. It was Akshu that somehow made everyone treat her like that in temple and that is why she overdosed. She hit Manjiri because it was Akshara who is always at fault!!

The pep talk helped Arohi calm herself and she went to sleep. She was confident Akshara will keep her above everything else but what she did not know was that times have changed. Akshara still loved Arohi to bits but there were people now whom Akshara loved like she loved Arohi, if not more.

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

Akshu woke up the next day and left for the hospital. She went straight to the ward she knew Manjiri was in only to see her awake and looking at her sleeping son with love.

A: Maa?

Akshara spoke softly with tears in her eyes. Manjiri looked up and smiled. She gestured her to come closer and sit on the chair placed on the other side of her. Akshara went and sat down. Manjiri raised her free hand and placed it on her head. Akshara took it in her hands and kissed it.

A: Aap thik ho na maa? Kb hosh aya apko? Mai nurse ko bulati hoon..

M: Bs Akshu, mai thik hoon...bs Abhi hosh aya...phir Abhi ko sota dekha toh socha-

Ab: Kya socha maa?

Abhi spoke. Even when asleep, he had been hyper aware and thus woke up the moment he heard talking.

Ab: Aap thik ho na maa? Kahin dard ho raha hai??

M: Abhi to shaant ho pehle beta..

Ab: Kaise shaant ho jaun maa...apko kuch ho jaata toh...apko uss halat me dekhr meri jaan nikal gayi thi..

Akshara looked at exchange between the two and her guilt returned. What if something had happened to Manjiri? She wanted to tell everyone what happened but what if Arohi's whole life gets destroyed? She was lost in her mind and looked when Abhimanyu called her name. He asked what happened with his eyes but she just shook her head.

Abhi checked Manjiri's vitals before calling in the nurses. They needed to run some tests on Manjiri. The morning was spent such. Manjiri was in and out of tests. She met everyone in the family and was fed in the meantime. It tired her and by noon, she was again asleep and resting. Abhi checked everything was fine and thanked his Mahadev.

Abhimanyu went to his cabin to find his Akshu sitting on his chair. This delighted him . Uska uski cheezo pr haq samjhna.. Akshara stood up the moment she saw him and gave him a warm hug. Abhi breathed into it. As always, it took all his stress away. Now that Manjiri was safe and Akshu was smiling in his arms, his world was all bright again.

A: Abhi baitho...

Akshu spoke. Her voice soft and sweet. She made him sit and bought the food she had heated. Finding it still hot, she made him eat.

A: Kuch khaya bhi nahi hai tumne thik se, maa ka khayal rakhne ke liye tumhe khudka bhi toh khayal rakhna hoga na..

Ab: Tum hona mere pass, to sb thik hi hoga..

He smiled and pecked her hands. He stopped her from feeding him another bite and guided her hand into her own mouth. Akshu looked at him in surprise.

Ab: Mujhe pta hai mere methidane ne bhi kuch nahi khaya hoga...

Akshu gave him a soft smile and ate the bite. They fed each other and felt peace of each other's presence. Suddenly Akshu started to cough. Abhi gave her the water and patted her back. Then, out of habit, he caressed her hair away from her face only to be met with the large angry bruise on her head.

Ab: Akshu?? Ye tumhare sir pr???

Abhimanyu was alarmed. He cannot tolerate a single scratch on his Akshu, even her mild pain was unbearable to him and now this nasty bruise made him worry. She must have hit her head pretty hard.

Ab: Baitho idhr.

Before Akshu could speak, Abhi began to fuss around. He bought a tube and applied it on her head.

Ab: Tumhe khud ki koi parvah hai? Kaise hua ye? Kahin bhi girti padti rehti ho na!! Kitni zyada lagi hai, aise kahan giri, kaise lagi??

Akshu bit her lips. She couldn't lie to Abhi. Even for Arohi. She just couldn't. Especially not on his face. She decides she must tell Abhimanyu everything.

A: Vo Abhi..

Ab: Haan bolo..

He held her face, giving her his undivided attention.

A: Mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai..

He nodded in encouragement.

A: Vo kl na, kl..mandir me jo hua ..uske baad mai hospital ayi thi...tumse aur Aru se milne..

Abhi's nose flared at the mention of Arohi but he kept mum. He knew Akshu struggled to express at times and has now learnt to not interrupt her. He only had that kind of patience with her and his maa.

A: T- tum shyd busy they...vo hospital staff ne kaha ki Aru..

Sir!!

Abhi cursed at the interruption. It was that junior doctor again! He wondered if he could fire someone for disliking their presence around Akshu. If he could, he'd surely fire Dr. Rohan after firing Dr. Arohi.

Ab: What???

He noticed Akshu slump her shoulders and look down. Great! He knew something was bothering her and he will have to wait to make her say it again.

R: Sir- Sorry vo Mrs. Birla ke reports aaye hai tests ke. Dr. Bansal ne kaha tha aapne bola hai ki reports ate hi sbse pehle apko dikhane hai..

Abhi looked at the shivering doctor and put him out of his misery. He nodded and took the report. He looked at Akshara who only smiled and began cleaning up the plate while Abhi began going through the reports.

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Wedding vibes are officially dead! Everyone was missing the Angsty Abhira chemistry, lo aa gayi wapis ab!

I believe Arohi will make Akshu take the fall for her and blame her. I don't want Akshara to be all sacrificing for Arohi but I also know makers might just do that. Abhi will also be too angry to see reason specially when his mother is involved. Detective Neil to rescue!!

Akshara's head wound is actually the saviour. Left-side head wound suggests she was in passenger seat. If only they don't ignore logic like always. Whatever Arohi has done calls for her getting fired as a doctor and she deserves good bashing. Praying Abhi takes her class and Akshu doesn't play savior now.

xoxo