Akshara Birla winced in pain. She felt like she had been in a car crash. Wait! She had! She tried to open her eyes but it felt like they were glued shut! She somehow managed to open them and looked around. She was alone and the room wasn't very well lit.

Akshara: Ah! Mera sir! Mai hoon kahan pr?

She tried to get up. It was very difficult. Her entire body was aching and bruised. She noticed the bed she was in and the machines next to her. She was in some hospital for sure.

Akshara: Mai yahan kaise?

Akshara tried to recall but her head hurt a lot. She closed her eyes and recalled how she had taken a different route to work as the regular road was shut. She saw someone standing in the middle of the road but even before her car got close and she could press the horn, her car got out of her control. It screeched on the road and got off it while her head banged at the steering. That was the last thing she remembered.

Akshara: Mujhe yahan shyd koi le aaya hoga. Pr koi dikh kyu nahi raha?

She tried to look for her phone but it wasn't with her.

Akshara: Shyd accident ke time gir gaya hoga. Pr koi hai kyu nahi yahan? Inhone Abhi ko inform kiya hoga ya nahi? Nahi kiya hoga, wrna vo yahan hota. Pr ye kaise hospital hai jahan koi nahi hai...

Akshara wondered.

Akshara: Mai hi check krti hoon. Kb tk wait karungi...

It was when she tried to step down that she realized her feet were actually strapped to the hospital bed. She looked around the poorly lit room, it looked dirty as well.

Akshara: What the hell!

She whispered. She tried to pull at the straps but they refused to budge.

Akshara: Hey Kanhaji! Ye kya ho raha hai!!!

Suddenly, she heard the door open. She looked towards it but the light coming from outside made it difficult for her to see. The person stepped further into the room and greeted her with his sinister smile. The crazed look in his eyes made her realise that she was in deep trouble.

Kunal: Missed me?!

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

Abhimanyu Birla was restless. Ever since he felt the earth shattering pain go through his body, he knew something was terribly wrong! He called his mother and she was safe at home. The only person out of his reach at the moment was his wife and he feared for her.

Then, he got a call from her academy. She never reached! This made him all the more afraid. He took out his bike and traced her entire route but found nothing. She wasn't attending calls and her whereabouts weren't known. He got the family onboard for the police refused to intervene before 24 hours. Kairav called all her known people while Neil, Parth and Abhimanyu tried to look around for her. At home everyone was worried for her, almost everyone. Arohi muttered something about Akshara just wanting attention but nobody paid her any attention.

Abhimanyu parked his bike in front of her academy and cussed in frustration when he got a devastating call.

Parth: Abhimanyu! Poorane pahadi wale mandir ki taraf jo rasta band tha, wahan Akshara ki car mili hai...

Abhimanyu: Aur Akshu?

Parth: Akshara nahi hai...

Abhimanyu's heart fell into the pits of his stomach as he reached at that place in record speed. He felt really anxious noticing the condition of the car and the little blood in it.

Parth: I think we should check with different hospitals now, maybe someone took her for medical help!

Parth said, trying to feel hopeful.

Abhimanyu: Bhai mai...

He ran his fingers through his hair and was about to put on his helmet when his eyes fell on something on the road.

Abhimanyu: Ye kya hai?

He picked up what looked like a small pin. Parth frowned. 

Parth: Ye dekho, aur bhi...

Kairav and Vansh had all also reached the spot when they were talking about the pins.

Vansh: Akshu ke tire dekho, unpr ye pins lagi hai..

Kairav: (in horror) mtlb Akshu ka accident nahi hua..

Abhimanyu: (clenches his fist) krwaya gaya hai..

He marched to his bike.

Abhimanyu: Parth bhai, please involve the police. Car se saaf pta chal raha hai kuch toh galat hua hai...

Parth nodded.

Vansh: Hum sath chalte hai..

Kairav: Nahi, Badepapa ko bhej dete hai. Ghar ke bade police se baat kr lenge. Hum pta lagane ki khoshish krte hai ki Akshu is raste tk ayi kaise...

Abhimanyu got on his bike and drove away.

Abhimanyu: Sb thik chal raha tha, infact accha chal raha tha. Humne doosro se mtlb rakhna bhi chor diya tha aur sirf khud pr focus kr rahe they. Ye kon hai jo Akshu ko iss tarah nuksaan pahuchana chahta hai? Kahin Arohi!? Nahi, koi aur hai....Tum chinta mt kro Akshu, tumhara docman aa raha hai. Ye jo koi bhi hai na, usse meri life pr hath daalne ki saza milkr rahegi, tumhe mai kuch nahi hone dunga...

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

Akshara was stunned seeing Kunal but he looked different. There was a crazy glint in his eyes. He looked far from the composed doctor she had first men. Given, that was a facade. He was always shrewd but now he looked insane.

Akshara: You!

Kunal: Yes! Me! The one and only! Did you miss me!?

Akshara: Not even a bit.

Kunal: Pr maine to kiya. Aur dekho na mai aa bhi gaya...

Akshara: Kya chahte ho ab?

Kunal: This is what I really like about you. Straight to the point. Don't worry! Mujhe bhi zyada time nahi waste krte. Yahan apna kaam krke wapis Mauritius jaana hai. Mau ke pass.

His eyes got moist mentioning Maya but then he shook it away.

Kunal: Pr sbse pehle. Congratulations Akshu!! New album hun!?

Akshara kept quiet and assessed him.

Kunal: Good for you...

He walked around the room and dragged a stool near her bed to sit.

Kunal: You know Akshu, mujhe bilkul pasand nahi aya tha jaise tum last minute chali gayi. Maya could have been the winner!

Akshara did not say anything.

Kunal: But, we forgave you for it! really! Maya apni haar me bhi khushi dhoond rahi thi ki itne log usse jaane lage. Singer Maya ke itne fans hai... BUT!

His eyes grew dark and a look of hatred crossed his face.

Kunal: Tumse raha nahi gaya na? Continue krti ye therapy and whatever.. meri Mau 'missing star singer' bankr reh leti... You ruined everything! You wanted limelight?! Album nikal diya aur sath sath Maya ka sach bhi....YOU RUINED HER ONLY HAPPINESS! WHY????

He suddenly stood up and held her jaw in a tight grip.

Kunal: Meri Mau coma me hai. Poor soul! She couldn't handle the online hate. SB TERI WAJAH SE HUA!! SMJHI NA?! YOU RUINED IT!! YOU ARE LIVING THE LIFE MAYA WANTS AND DESERVES!!!....

He left her jaw and repeated in a lower, dangerous voice.

Kunal: You are living a life Maya wants. So, now even you won't live.

Akshara's eyes widened.

Akshara: What!?

Kunal: awe! Don't worry. Marunga nahi. There is not fun in that. Mai kuch aisa karunga ki tum pal pal maro. Tumhe dard ko jaise meri Mau ko hua hai. Uski tarah tumhare bhi sapne toote. Aur jaise mai toota hoon waise tumhara pati toote..

Akshara: What is wrong with you? Maine kuch nahi kiya hai. I am sorry Maya ke sath jo hua but usme galti bhi ussi ki hai. Infact usse bhi zyada tumhari hai.

Kunal: Kya kaha?

Akshara: It is the truth! If you wanted to usse apne loss se deal krna sikhate. Na ki illegal deals arrange krne uske liye. Vo permanent solution nahi tha. Uski life me jhoot ke gulab tumne plant kiye they toh unke thorns to usse chubhne hi they...

Kunal: Zyada smart mt ban....meri koi galti nahi hai...

Akshara: Listen, you were wrong before aur ye bhi galat hai. Mujhe jaane do. I just want to live my life. I won't say anything to anyone...

Kunal: That is the problem! You don't live your life. You ruined ours and now I WILL ruin yours...

He grabbed her jaw again but this time Akshara slapped his hands away.

Akshara: Don't you dare touch me again! What the hell is your issue? Dekho mujhe jaane do wrna last time to tum jhoot bolkr bach gaye they pr iss baar mera Abhi tumhe chodega nahi...

Kunal: Hahahaha!! Kya kya karega bechara? Tumhe sambhalega ya mujhe dekhega....

He came closer and raised a finger at her neck.

Kunal: waise bhi agar tum usse bata hi nahi payi ki ye maine kiya hai ...toh!?

Akshara: Wh- what?

Kunal: Mau ko uski dream life nahi mili toh mai tumhe bhi nahi jeene dunga. I will take this voice away. YES!!! HAHAHA...that is my perfect plan...PERFECT!! Ye awaz duniya me agar Maya ki awaz se nahi jaani jaa skti toh mai isse Akshara ki awaz bhi nahi rehne dunga...

With that he stepped away and pulled out a tray with many instruments. He started to wear gloves while blabbering about how it was the ideal revenge! In some crazy, villainous humour, he even arranged for this in Abhimanyu's grandfather's old clinic. This used to be the check up room. The clinic was closed permanently as birlas had grown to the hospital and no one really cared for the small one cabin, one room clinic with a very small waiting hall.

It was the best venue for Kunal to execute his plan. The Birla Bahu will lose her voice on the beds of Birla clinic. Akshara was horrified at the ugly plan of Kunal. She tried to convince him by giving many facts and logics. She pleaded and begged but Kunal seemed to have passed all levels on sanity. His focus was only on his revenge that he will obtain today by all means.

By hook or by crook.

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

xoxo