Disclaimer: Akshara has a monologue in this part.

Part 3

Arohi had 'admitted' to Akshu's accidental crime. All the people were accusing or questioning her. Abhimanyu was angry as well. He yelled at the people around while still securing her in his arms.

Abhimanyu: SHANT HO JAIYE SB!!!

Silence spread over the house as the man roared. His voice enough to calm all storms but not the one that was raging inside him.

Akshara: Abhi...(she breathed heavily) Maine ...

Abhimanyu: Kyu Akshu? Kyu nahi bataya?

Akshara: Mai sb batana chahti thi...lekin...

Harshvardhan: Abhimanyu ho kya gaya hai tumhe? Tumhari maa ko hospital pahuncha diya is ladki aur tum ab bhi pyaar se baat kr rahe ho isse? Maa se badhkr ho gayi hai kya ye ab tumhare liye???

Abhimanyu: SIR! Aap gusse me hai isliye jaane de raha hoon...lekin ab aap shant ho jayenge to behtar hoga..

Harshvardhan: Dimag kharab ho gya hai iska sach me...

Akshara: Maine accident nahi kiya hai uncle...

Akshara spoke firmly.

Harshvardhan: (scoffs) Tumne kaha aur humne maan liya!!

Abhimanyu: Maine maan liya...

Harshvardhan's nose flared in anger while the others frowned. Manish was somewhere happy. He trusted Akshara couldn't be behind this. If she would done something like this, she would have told. He was happy Abhimanyu was believing in her.

Abhimanyu: Akshu jhoot nahi bolti...usne kaha hai ki usne nahi kiya mtlb nahi kiya... jhoot bolna to yahan kissi aur ki speciality hai...mai sach keh raha hoon na? Dr. Arohi??

Arohi, who was already nervous when Akshu claimed she didn't do it, was now fully panicked. He knew! He'd kill her now. Again she tried to cover up by cross questioning and blaming.

Arohi: Tum Akshu se pyaar krte ho lekin iska mtlb ye nahi hai ki vo kuch galat kr hi nahi skti...galti hui hai usse bs...

Abhimanyu: Galti nahi, gunah kiya hai usne...tum jaisi behen ko itna pyaar krke..

Manish: ye sb kya ho raha hai? Baap ek beti ke peeche pada aur beta doosri beti ko sunaye jaa raha hai....

Abhimanyu: I am sorry badepapa pr sir ki tarah mai sirf shaq ke basis pr nahi keh raha kuch...mujhe yakeen hai Akshu ne kuch nahi kiya...

Mahima: Abhimanyu, pyaar apni jagah hai pr..

Abhimanyu: Ek second.

He lifted Akshu's front hair-  the ones she had arranged like bangs and revealed her bruise. It had healed and was light but was still visible.

Anand: Is chot se kya prove krna chahte ho Abhimanyu?

Abhimanyu: Ye chot Akshu ko maa ke accident wale din lagi thi aur ab samaj ata hai ki shayad car ki window se hi lagi thi....hain na?

Akshara looked down. Everyone started to blame her again but Abhi was quick shut them.

Abhimanyu: Car drive krne wale ka sir agar takarayega to ya to samne chot aati hai ya right side me...is chot ka mtlb samaj rahe hai aap?...Akshu thi us time wahan jb accident hua lekin passenger seat pr....hain na?

He cupped her face. He was angry yet scared for her. He hated what she had done and also hated her in tears.

Harshvardhan: Mtlb ye ladki jaanti hai ki culprit kon hai??

Abhimanyu: Apko ab bhi samajh nahi aya sir? Akshara sirf ek hi insan ko bacahane ke liye chup reh skti hai, itni baadi baat ho gayi lekin vo chup rahi- aisa toh Akshara sirf Arohi ke liye hi kr skti hai....sach keh raha hoon na Akshu?

His voice soft but his eyes portrayed his hurt. 

Meri maa ki jaan se bhi bhadkar hai kya vo? Tumhari bhi to maa hai na... His accusatory gaze bore into her teary eyes.

I couldn't Abhi, mujhe bhi baad me samajh aya... She tried to reply with her eyes.

Arohi on the other hand swallowed deeply. Her truth was out and there was nowhere she could hide. Her dreams were all finished now! No! she cannot let that happen. She looked at Akshara with anger. Selfish! I hate you!! Her eyes screamed at her. She turned angrily towards Abhimanyu, trying to cover up.

Arohi: Tumhe mujhse koi personal problem hai na...

Abhimanyu: Mujhe tumse sirf ek hi problem hai ki tum unhe hurt krne pr tulli hui ho jinhe mai pyaar krta hoon...wrna tum mere liye exist hi nahi krti...kabhi nahi krti thi..

Arohi: Accha? Mere liye rishta lekr aye they tb bhi exist nahi krti thi??

Abhimanyu: Baat abhi kuch aur hai...but you know what! Actually nahi, pehle yeh baat hi kr lo...aaj saare raaz samne ane do...Dr. Arohi, jinka shaadi tutne ke saath dil bhi toot gaya – she knew I was marrying her only for namesake. Isse pta tha ki mai Akshara se pyaar krta hoon, maine bataya tha isse...phir bhi isne aur sir ne milkr saari baat fix kr li thi....she agreed to my terms of a loveless marriage.

Mahima: Kya!??

Suhasini and Swarna felt sad and shamed. Was their daughter that desperate?

Abhimanyu: Aur toh aur, Dr. Arohi ko confusion hua tha na first tilak ke time ki maine uske liye rishta laya hai mere messages ki wajah se... maine bataya tha ki message galti se send hue hai aur isne khud kaha tha ki ye ignore kr degi... confusion mere texts ne nahi, iske apne dimag ne create kiya tha... I kept quiet just to not hurt her respect but she clearly doesn't deserve kindness.

Goenkas were shocked to know that Arohi purposely acted as if the rishta was for her without any clear indication from Abhimanyu. Akhilesh was specially disappointed. The girl he treated at his daughter had done more disasters than he could dream of. Her recent one though- takes the cake.

Arohi: Ye sb purani baaten hai...

Abhimanyu: Mai bs facts bol raha hoon, aur shuruat tumne ki thi poorani baat uthane ki..anyways, ye purani baaten hai...nayi baat krte hai ab... tumne meri maa ka accident kiya...you left her to die, she could have died because of you.

Abhi looked at her in anger and Arohi chilled. She had always accused Akshara but never did she stand at the receiving end of any blame. She always blamed Akshara for everything – even the things she did.

Arohi: Maine k-kuch nahi kiya....accident tha bs..

Abhimanyu: Seriously? Chalo accident tha, maan liya lekin meri maa ko wahan uss halat me chod dena...vo galat tha, unki serious halat us takkar ki wajah se nahi hai...chot lagne ke baad itni der wahan rehne se jo blood loss hua na, uski wajah se hai..tumne utar kr dekhna bhi nahi zaruri smjha??

Arohi: Kya proof hai??? Accident maine nahi kiya hai, tum Akshu ko bachane ke liye mere sir pr ilzaam nahi lga skte...hospital me meri entry hai us din ki... accident tha ya gunah, Akshu ne kiya hai...aur vo koi tyaag ki murat nahi hai...selfish hai poori, meri khushi nahi bardash hoti isse. Mai poochti hoon bina proof ke mujhe kaise suna skta hai koi...

Arohi tried to turn things around. Everyone was confused now. Arohi's claims were strong but Abhi always saw right through her. His father appreciated her professionalism and confidence but he saw her deceit and materialism.

Proof mere pass hai!!

A voice broke through. Neil stood there with Manjiri in a wheelchair. Abhimanyu rushed to her side.

Abhimanyu: Aap is halat me yahan? You should rest na maa...

Manjiri: Abhi, zaruri tha...

Neil: Bhai mai nahi lata but Maa mani nahi...but don't worry maine Dr. Bansal se poocha tha, she is fine.

Neil was one of the ignored members of the Birla house. Manjiri bought the orphan home and showered him with love. The younger generation was kind to him but they never really loved him. The older generation found him useless and idle. Had it not been for Abhimanyu and his love for Neil, Neil would have left the house a long while ago.

 Maybe that was the reason Neil could swim oceans for Abhimanyu. Yes, he was labelled as useless but the elders failed to realize that he was the most resourceful, jugadu insaan around with a sharp brain. He came forward and played a footage of Birla hospital. It was in the front. Arohi was seen walking to her car with faltering legs. Akshara rushed after her but Arohi got into her car and left. Akshara rushed behind the car and somehow managed to get inside the moving car.

Everyone looked around in daze. Goenkas were ashamed and horrified. Arohi was just making tall claims a minute ago that got nullified. When did she learn the skill of lying like that? They wondered.

Abhimanyu: Ab kya kehna chahengi Dr. Arohi aap????

Mahima: Arohi kaho isse! Ye ladki doctor hona deserve hi nahi krti apne naam ke aage...mujhe humesha se iske irado me khot dikhta tha lekin ye to meri imagination se bhi zyada kharab nikli..

Arohi looked up in tears. She never thought that the girl who wanted to be the best doctor would be told that she doesn't deserve to be one.

Abhimanyu: Ek to meri maa ka accident kiya aur utar kr check bhi nahi kiya...ab...

Arohi: Haan!! Haan ho gayi mujhse galti!! Dr gayi thi mai...lekin koi iss Akshu ko kuch kyu nahi bolta?? Kyun?? Maine toh overdose kiya hua tha, ye toh sober thi na, mujhe us bacche ko hit krne se bachaya to Manjiri aunty ko bhi baccha leti, khud utar jaati ...

Everyone stilled.

Mahima: Great! So not just a hit and run case, Arohi also overdosed on some un prescribed medicines that I am sure she took out of the hospital without permission and drove under influence. Aur kya sunna baaki hai??

Arohi's eyes widened in horror, she had confessed more than she was accused of in panic. She looked at the police present, listening carefully. She'd suffer so much humiliation now. Her heart filled with hatred for Akshara.

Arohi: Galti meri nahi hai, Akshu ki hi hai...

Abhimanyu: Shut up Arohi..

Arohi: Nahi, issi ki hai...iski kismat ki hai...Manhoos hai ye!...Iske paide hote se iski maa mar gayi, phir isne mere mumma papa ko mujhse cheen liya aur ab Manjiri aunty ko maa kaha toh unke saath hadsa ho gaya..kismat acchi hai ki vo bach gayi lekin ye manhoos ek din unki jaan-

'BS KR AROHI!!!'

Akshara, the sweet, quiet girl finally broke her silence. Abhi was all ready to bash Arohi into another century but he too stilled by the amount of power Akshara's otherwise timid voice held. She took confident steps and reached Arohi. She looked at the sister she loved and scarified for. She promised to look after her when Sirat maa passed away. The woman had loved her like her own and asked her to take care of Arohi in her last minutes. But she never realized that her love had turned Arohi into a monster, a monster she didn't deserve. Akshara wanted Arohi to be happy, Sirat deserved to see her daughter happy from above but at what cost? Naira didn't deserve to look at her daughter getting harassed like this. This had to stop.

She slapped Arohi hard on her cheek. Her hand stung. Her delicate hands had never hurt anyone, not even a fly. Arohi was stunned. She never dreamed Akshara could actually hit her. She looked back in anger and wanted to hit her in return. Abhi would have broken the arms raised to hurt his Akshu but Akshu caught her hands before he could .

Akshara: "AB BS! Tere liye chup thi mai, guilt sehkr bhi....mujhe gale lg kr ro rahi thi tu aur ek second nahi lga tujhe mujhpr blame lagane me?? Maine tera sach tk chupa liya aur tu mere naam se jhoot bolne me bhi nahi dari?? Tujhe lgta hai mai selfish hoon? Selfish tu khud hai Arohi Goenka. Bachpan me maine tujhse nahi cheena kuch bhi. Kismat ne hum dono se cheena lekin uske baad tune mujhse cheena hai. Mera bachpan cheen liya tune. Mera parivaar bhi tune hi cheena. Teri wajah se mai ghar se door tk rahi, meri mental peace cheeni hai tune...maine tera har taunt, hr blame sehkr bhi tujhe sirf pyaar hi diya lekin ab lagta hai ki tu iske kabil hi nahi thi...

Aaj sun le, last time bol rahi hoon...Papa ki death ek plane crash me hui thi, plane maine nahi chalaya tha, mausam maine nahi bigara tha – jo hua vo ek hadsa tha. Sirat maa mandir gayi thi lekin hume mana kiya tha, tu gayi thi aur tere peeche mai bhi aayi, Maa ka pair fisla tha, wahan jo toofan tha, vo maine create nahi kiya tha...sb ek accident tha. Jitna dard, jitni takleef tujhe hui, mujhe bhi hui thi...toh tu uss baat ke liye mujhe guilt trip nahi kr skti thi...Overdose ke nashe me tune khud accept kiya tha ki meri galti nahi hai...shyd teri adat ho gayi hai, sach jante hue bhi mujhe blame krne ki, emotional fool hoon na, manipulate krte raho..

Mai khush thi Abhi aur mere rishte ki baat se, tune confusion create kiya mere dimag me. Mai agle din apni feelings accept krna chahti thi, lekin tune mujhe blackmail kiya tha ki tu kabhi khush nahi rahegi, mere har kaam ka credit tu leti gayi aur mujhe Kairav bhaiya se bhi jhoot kehne ke liye force kiya ki maine move on kr liya hai...Tune accept bhi kiya tha ki tu Abhi se pyaar nahi krti, bs tujhe best doctor se shaadi krni hai...lekin sabki sympathy pane ke liye tu mujhepr chillati rahi ki maine tera pyaar cheen liya! Konsa pyaar? Usse sirf zidd kehte hai...Mai tere peeche aa rahi thi jb mera accident hua tha, mere panic attacks ki wajah tu hai aur tu kehti ki mujhe teri khushiyan bardash nahi hoti...mai jalti hoon?

Teri liye apni har khushi chodi hai maine. Kabhi in baaton ka blame tujhpr nahi daala. Sach ye hai ki tu jalti hai mujhse, tujhe problem hai mujhse aur jo tu khud sochti hai, tujhe lgta hai doosra bhi wahi sochta hai...Mera pyaar, mera sacrifice, meri care – tu mujhe deserve hi nahi krti.."

Akshara heaved, breathing loudly. Years of pent up pain had burst out of her. she had finally realized Arohi didn't feel an ounce of love for her and she did not deserve that in return of her devotion. She collapsed and Abhi caught her. He knew his Akshu was truly broken inside. Her sister had really hurt her now. She was finally pushed beyond recovery. He hugged her to calm her down. He didn't care if the elders approved or not. Akshu was his priority and he left with her in his arms.

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

xoxo