Recap: Akshara and Abhimanyu have come together post all issues of one-year separation and Anisha-Kairav case. Akshara is behaving differently. Abhimanyu is worried and vows to win his old Akshara back. During a shanti pujan organized by Manjiri, Abhimanyu realises Akshara is yet to let go of all that happened. Specially where Mahima and Parth were concerned. (Manjiri was in coma when all this happened so she is unaware)

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

Akshara stepped away from Mahima, her face blank and eyes cast down. The slight trembling of her body and reluctance speaking volumes to Abhimanyu. He wanted to beat himself for not realizing it sooner. In his defence, he always knew the Akshara with zero grudge holding capabilities.

But sometimes the scars are too deep to be filled with words.

He went and stood behind her. Extending his support. Mahima was agitated by this treatment. Her entitled mind incapable of seeing her own fault.

Mahima: Ye kya kr rahi ho?

Manjiri: Akshu? Isse kya hua hai Abhi?

Manjiri was getting worried for Akshara with each passing second. Abhimanyu kept a strong hand at the small of her back and she turned to face him. Hot tears ready to spill in her eyes. Her pain was open for him to see. It choked him for he could take a thousand pains on himself before seeing her go through anything remotely hurtful.

Mahima: Anyways, I am tired. Subah subah mood off kr rahi hai....iss ghar me to drama hi khtm nahi hota...arti do aur jaane do...

Akshara whipped her head and looked at Mahima with red eyes. The lack of remorse in Mahina was pushing her over the edge. Anand and Parth atleast had the decency to look guilty but Mahima's rude attitude despite everything she did was beyond her level of patience. Behind her, Abhimanyu clenched his jaw. An insult almost at the tip of his tongue.

Akshara: Apko apne mood ki padi hai? Kiss mitti ki bani hai aap? Door rahiye mujhse...

Manjiri: Akshu kya bol rahi hai...

Neil: Maa, aap chaliye, mai apko baad me sb batata hoon...

Manjiri: Mai kahin nahi jaane wali...kya ho raha hai?

Mahima: (loudly) hona kya hai? Tumhari bahu ko drama krna hai. Purani baat dohra kr kalesh krna hai..

Akshara: Kalesh ki baat aap kr rahi hai?! Jisse aap beta kehti hai uska ghar todne chali thi aap! Aap Kalesh pr gyan na de to better hoga...

Abhimanyu saw Mahima was about to open her mouth to say something again but he spoke first.

Abhimanyu: Bs kijiye aap. Bohot ho gaya. Akshu chalo hum room me chalte hai...

He had seen her in an emotional state ever since they got back together. He did not wish her to face a fighting episode. What Mahima had done to them was mean and selfish. It wasn't right on any grounds and he wanted to keep his Akshara away from her.

Akshara, on the other hand, had had enough. All her pain, patience had reached its limit. She was all for family but the people in front of her were not her family. Her heart had been at war with what had been ingrained in her brain about society and family but her heart won finally. She was torn between letting everything go for sake of family and society- to keep 'ghar ki baat ghar me' and to call out Mahima Birla and family for all they had done. The numbness that at plagued her ever since she returned to Birla House was now gone as she decided. It was replaced by hot, lava-like anger.

Mahima: Haan haan le jao isse...maine chaha hi kya tha? Meri beti ab iss duniya me nahi hai...Mai bs uski atma ki shanti chahti thi aur chahti hoon...Beti chahe sahi ho ya galat....mai toh maa hoon na, accha hi chahungi....ek maa ke emotions koi nahi samjhtha....

Akshara: BS!! Emotions ki baat hi mt kro, apke mu se accha nahi lgta....aap wahi hai na jisski wajah se Anisha ne ghar chora tha, jisne mujhe sunaya tha jb maine apka aur Anisha ka rishta sudharne ki koshish ki thi.....Apko Anisha ki padi hai? News flash Mrs. Mahima Birla! Apko apne alwa kissi ki nahi padi...

Akshara got close to Mahima's face and roared. Everyone was taken aback. They had never heard Akshara sound so curt, even in anger. But again, they had never seen her so angry. Mahima was the most shocked. She had done a lot of things and gotten away with it. Nobody in the family ever called her out.

Mahima: How dare y-

Akshara: (calmly) Jb koi insaan behadh galat krta hai na, toh vo samne wale ko bhi hadd bhulne pr manjboor kr deta hai...

Akshara turned to Abhimanyu.

Akshara: Maine kuch galat kaha kya Abhimanyu? Inki wajah se nahi gayi thi Anisha ghar chod kr? Inhone kya  humare phones tap nahi krwaye? Kya nahi kiya!!?? (to them) Aap sb mujhse expect krte ho ki mai respectful rahu! Pr apne kabhi meri respect earn krne layak koi kaam kiya hai?

Mahima: Hum bade hai ghar ke! Tumhare pati ke guru hai...

Akshara: Iska lihaj kiya tha maine.....I agree bado ki respect krni chahiye lekin apki harqaton ne mujhe majboor kr diya hai...

Abhimanyu: Aur aap khud ko mera guru kehkr teachers ki insult mt kijiye...

Manjiri: Abhi? Aisa kya kr diya didi ne?

Akshara: Mai batati hoon maa....

Mahima: AKSHARA!

Abhimanyu: DR. MAHIMA!

Akshara: (to Mahima) jb aap itna sb kr skti hai, uske baad bhi beshrmo ki tarah doosro ko suna skti hai...to ab toh bs aapki behen ko hi bata rahi ho mai sb... (to Manjiri) Maa, Anisha galat thi...isliye case dismiss hua, ye toh aap jaanti hai. Pr baat ke itni bigarne se pehle se inhe aur inke bete ko sb pta tha...inhone saboot chupaye aur puri koshish ki ki Kairav bhaiya ke innocent hone ke bawajood unhe saza mile..

Manjiri was shocked.

Akshara: Maa! Inke pati aur bete ko km se km itni tameez toh hai ki sach bahar ane ke baad guilty hone ki acting kr rahe hai, inse toh vo bhi nahi ho raha...

Mahima glared at Akshara.

Anand: hum acting nahi kr rahe, hum sach me sharminda hai...

Akshara: Kya sach hai aur kya jhoot, vo toh aap ki jaane pr mujhe aapki kissi baat pr ratti vishwas nahi hai..

Akshara said loud and clear. Her tears were also flowing freely. Her emotions all time high. She turned towards Abhimanyu.

Akshara: I am sorry...nahi hoga ab mujhse...nahi hoga...

Abhimanyu could not stand the sight in front of him, his own tears joining hers but he kept them in his eyes. As much as he wanted to cry for her, with her- he also felt the urge to protect her. He knew she was strong- stronger than she once was but she was still emotional.

Akshara: Nahi reh skti mai yahan! Nahi maaf kr skti sb ko!...Maine socha mai kr lungi, family hai...time dungi toh sb thik ho jayega...but I cannot!! Mai inki shakal bhi nahi dekhna chahti....

She pointed at Anand.

Akshara: Inke saath jo hua, ye deserve krte they......ye sharab ke nashe me surgery krne jaa rahe they....(to Abhimanyu) tum bolo, agar maa ka operation koi itna lightly leta to tum uske saath kya krte?... Aur aap! Aap to apne pita ki umar ke admi pr haath uta dete ho....apki galti pr kissi ne apko mara toh apko chubh gaya?

She turned to Parth.

Akshara: Aur aap!! Mujhe lga apki professional life se apko judge krna galat hai...aap dil se acche hai...maine apko humesha support kiya. Abhimanyu ko naraz krke bhi aapka saath diya...aur aap! Aapke toh dil me bhi chor nikla...aur haan ek aur baat.....bohot saal ho gaye apko hospital ki job chode...do saal se toh mai dekh rahi hoon....aaj bhi aap ghar hi baithe hai....I'm sorry to point out this but fact ye hai ki aapko ghar baith kr khane ki adat ho gayi hai...professional life ka jo apne kiya, so kiya...pr personally bhi aap spineless ho!

She finally turned to Mahima.

Akshara: Aur aap!! Apke gun-gaan toh mai kahan se shuru kru? Anisha ko aap kaise treat krti thi sbne dekha....uski maut ke baad apka pyaar jag gaya ya aapko logo ki life me drama create krne ka mauka mill gya?! Ek maa ka dard me smjhne ki koshish bhi krti lekin nahi! apne jo kiya apni ego ko satify krne ke liye kiya....ek saal apne humare phones tap krwaye, jasusi krwayi...kya nahi kaha....itna sb hone ke baad bhai innocent prove ho jaate toh apki ego hurt ho jaati....apse zyada gira hua insaan nahi dekha maine...mere pass to apko define krne layak shabd tk nahi hai....

She turned to the rest.

Akshara: aur aap sb! Kya aap log nahi jaante they Anisha kaisi hai?? kitni fickle hai? Bhai ne breakup kiya to suicide ki dhamki di...vo sb sahi krne ki koshish krna chahte they to Mumbai chali gayi...aur phir aa gayi ek din shaadi ke liye force krne....I am sorry! Mere sanskar nahi hai kissi mare hue ko bura bolne ki pr sach toh ye hai ki Anisha ka character hi kharab tha...

Mahima: AKSHARA!! STOP!

Akshara: SACH SACH HI RAHEGA....smjhi aap! Mere na bolne se nahi badal jayega...accha aap hi batao, konsa accha insaan ek shadi shuda admi ke saath rishta rakhta hai aur fir kissi aur ke saath shadi plan krta hai??

All were silent. Abhimanyu's heart was hurting. He couldn't see his wife going through so many emotions and the brother in him was weeping for his sister. She had led him down.

Akshara: (laughs and cries) Anisha mujhpr gussa ho gayi thi jb mujhse galti se uske order kiye hue cake ki fondant kharab ho gayi thi....aur khud, isne mere bhai ki zindagi jaan ke kharab kr di....I hate her! yes! I hate her!! I know she is no more and I should not hold grudges pr nahi!! mai iski tasver pr bhi haar nahi chadhana chahti...nahi hoga mujhse ye....!!

Abhimanyu gets worried seeing her act so strange. Akshara leans on the floor. Manjiri was shocked, trying to grasp everything that was happening. Harshvardhan was clenching his jaw tightly. As much as he loved his brother. He could not deny the fact that he put their hospital, reputation at stake and Mahima & Parth ruined Abhira- almost succeeding.

Akshara turned to Nishtha.

Akshara: ab tum hi reh gayi ho, kr lo kuch tum bhi...

Nishtha turned her face down, sadly. Her family was Akshara and Goenka's culprit. She could not deny the fact.

Abhimanyu: Akshu...

He hugged her softly, rubbing her back to make her calm down.

Akshara: Kyu? Kya ho gaya? Jb tumhe laga tha ki maine aur meri family ne galat kiya tb tum hume saza dena chahte they na? Arohi ne galat kiya to license cancel hua tha, vo sahi tha....to tumhare tauji ka galat kaise??? Bolo na...tumne press bulwayi thi....ab kyu nahi krte kuch...tumhari taiji ne kitne illegal kaam kiye...unhe kya saza milli hai?? Tumhare bhai ko kaise maaf kr diya tumne...bolo na!!!

She grabbed his collar but her grip was as loose as her control over her tears. She said all this and sobbed into his chest. All her questions questioning him- his heart. He had never felt so torn. It was not the situation tearing him apart. He had always felt restless and Akshara was his safe haven in his world. He found himself in her. Her disappearance had broken him. His actions, words, emotions had scattered with his shattered heart. Now, he had realized he had been living a lie and had started to pick up the pieces of his heart. He grabbed her softly and picked her up.

He looked up to see the shocked, some angry, some guilty faces of his family and left with his wife. They entered their room. He helped her down on the seat.

Abhimanyu: Akshu? Bs baba...please...

Akshara: meri kya galti hai Abhimanyu...bolo na? Mere intentions kabhi galat nahi they....maine tumhe hurt kiya, mai maanti hoon....pr in sbka kya bigara maine kabhi bhi?....tumhari taiji ne mujhe tumhari nazro me girane ki koshish ki, itna kuch kaha...mai nahi seh skti...nahi hoon mai utni mahan jitna tumhe lgta hai...

Abhimanyu: Akshu, I am sorry...maine tumhe vo sb kaha...

Akshara: I am sorry too. Tumne mujhse pucha tha na...ki agar mai tumhari jagah hoti toh kya krti...mai mr jaati Abhi....manyu..

Abhimanyu: Akshu, aise mt kaho..

Akshara: Nahi, sach hai...agar ek din tum mujhe bina bataye gayab ho jaate toh mai bardash nahi kr pati....pr ab tum bhi apne sawal ka answer do na...agr meri awaz aur jaan kissi aur ke hath me hoti aur vo insaan tumhare age koi shart rakhta aur tumhe sochne ka time bhi nahi deta, tum kya krte?

Abhimanyu was silent. Her words hitting his mind. He knew his answer. He would have sacrificed his soul for her safety. He would have done the thing that he scolded her for doing. He wordlessly kneeled before her and kept his head on her lap. She rested her head on his. They cried away their sorrows not realizing when sleep took over.

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

The next day, Abhimanyu woke up first and cracked his back. It was hurting from the awkward posture he ended up sleeping in. He looked at Akshara was asleep in similar fashion. He helped her lie down properly and got ready. He went to pray.

Abhimanyu, a man with great strength had lost control of his own life. He closed his eyes and prayed before his god. He went through everything he felt ever since Anisha died, ever since a part of him died with Akshara's disappearance. The deceit and the twisted games of his family were clear. Revisiting them all helped him put things into perspective.

He went downstairs later and saw Neil giving Manjiri her medicines while Harshvardhan was looking at the phone. When he saw Abhimanyu come downstairs, he sat up straight.

Harshvardhan: Shyam!! Shyam!!

Shyam: Yes sir...

Harshvardhan: Jao, bhaisahab aur unki family ko bula lao...

He declared to them all that he had decided to split the wealth between families. Birla assets were to be divided between Anand and Harshvardhan. Anand was shocked and so was Mahima. With Anand and Parth no more at the hospital, Mahima knew it was only a matter of time before she'd lose all stake. Manjiri handled the house and with Neil & Abhimanyu so active at the hospital, Harsh's hold was better. She'd lose all fronts if she lost their favour. However, Manjiri stood her ground- she supported what Harshvardhan had decided.

Abhimanyu fully supported them too. Parth and Nishtha begged him to change his decision.

Nishtha: Bhai, maine kya kiya hai jiski saza mujhe mil rahi hai? Mujhe to pala bhi chachi ne hai, mom se zyada ne mai unke pass rahi hoon...

Shefali: Abhimanyu, Shivu tumse kitna pyaar krte hai, tum mere bhai jaise ho... hume kiss baat ki saza mil rahi hai...

Abhimanyu: Meri Akshu ko kiss baat ki saza mili thi? Taiji ne Kairav ko gunhegar mankr saza deni chahi pr di toh mujhe aur Akshu ko bhi na....

Mahima: Mai tumhari taiji hi nahi, masi bhi hoon...bhulo mt maine Akshara aur tumhare rishte ko support kiya tha... Harsh ko maine convince kiya tha..

Abhimanyu: vo naubat bhi apki wajah se hi ayi thi... aapko pata tha mujhe Akshara pasand hai phir bhi apne Arohi wala confusion hone diya.... mujhe khud pr gussa aa raha hai, maine apko kitna trust kiya....(wipes a tear) BUT NO MORE...NO MORE MRS. BIRLA. YOU ARE NOT MY FAMILY.

Parth: Abhimanyu, ek baar maaf krde...Akshara ko bol na

Abhimanyu: Kash aap ek baar mujhe sach bata dete.....mujhse aur Akshu se kyun expect kiya jata hai sb? Nahi karegi vo maaf, na hi hum karenge...

Anand looked down with guilt.

Anand: sahi kehte hai log.. (looks at Mahima) ek galat aurat poora ghar tabah kr deti hai....pr galti meri bhi hai, mai hi sahi time pr kuch nahi kr paya, na apne baccho ke liye, na parivar ke liye...

He signed the papers.

Anand: Tumhe kahin jaane ki zarurat nahi hai...hum log guest house me shift ho jayenge aur kuch din baad New colony wala ghar taiyar krwa lenge....iss makan ko Manjiri ne ghar banaya hai, you deserve to stay here.

Mahima: But...let me talk to Akshara, baat itni bigarne ki zarurat nahi hai...

Manjiri: bs didi bs...maine bohot seh liya apko, meri bahu nahi sahegi...kyu sahe vo?

Anand: is parivar ke tutne ki asli wajah tum ho, ab chalo chup chaap...

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

That afternoon, when Akshara was sitting with Neil and Manjiri, she got shocked to see Anand and his family move out with their luggage. Parth and Anand asked for forgiveness from everyone but they did not react. Abhimanyu hugged Shivansh silently who was weeping- as if feeling the tension. He hugged Nishtha and told her she can come to visit whenever she wanted to.

Anand: ab chalte hai hum...kl lawyer se milkr process ko age bhadate hai...

Harshvardhan nodded. It was a bittersweet feeling but he knew they were broken beyond repair.

Abhimanyu: EK SECOND!

Anand turned and Mahima looked hopeful. Abhimanyu took off Anisha's portrait and gave it to Mahima whose face had fallen- there was truly no return. They left.

Manjiri hugged Akshara and they sat like that for a while. Akshara's eyes trailed to Abhimanyu. Their past had put many cracks in their relationship but they knew one thing for sure now- never to trust another in their relationship, never to react based on what someone else was saying and never to lose sight of the bigger picture- their love!

......The End......

Attached a recap as I updated after days. This story is open ended and an insight into the chaos & the emotional state of Abhira. I also feel this is the good resolution- makers can show split between the two households. Maybe not leave but a clear line between the house. It would a be a great way to pick up Abhira's life again in the show.

xoxo