She has been done with the Poddars for the last three months. She had married into this family after winning every single person important to her husband over. Yet at the last possible second, someone turned. His mother. Vidya Madhav Poddar.

On the day of them getting married, she had cursed them with an unhappy marriage. She had blamed her and Armaan for breaking her heart. She had given the eldest daughter in law of the house a welcome she would never forget.

On the first day of their being married, she had ruthlessly, heartlessly, asked them to leave the house. Kaveri Poddar had put a stop to that, but honestly, even that was a calculated move. To keep her and Armaan in her vicinity and keep them in check. If she didn't see that a mile away, her mother's lawyer genes would be embarrassed.

She had realized that she was making a mistake, when her husband ran after his mother, leaving her heartbroken on the day of her marriage at the door of the Poddar Mansion.

Then, the realization dug deeper when he returned home drunk, asking for his mother, that very night. She had tried. Done everything in her power to mend what she initially thought she had broken. Vidya Poddar was a stubborn woman since the beginning. She knew that. But she didn't think that woman could see Armaan suffer and be fine with it.

She also remembered how ever since Vidya had realized that Abhira couldn't give them a grandchild, her focus and her love had shifted entirely to Rohit and Roohi.

In the last three months, Roohi had been the biggest surprise of them all. Truly. She was kinder, softer, sweeter, empathetic and over more.. like the girl she had heard so many stories about.

She hoped the change was here to stay. Her parents, Neil Birla atleast would be happy too see her show some of his kindness, some of his innocence.

Now Roohi is pregnant. Now she was expecting a child. Abhira was over the moon. She was so happy. So.. so happy and it broke her heart. She couldn't hug her. She couldn't congratulate her.

Because of Vidya Poddar. Her husband's mother.

And Armaan hadn't said a word. Not. One. Word.

Something broke inside her. The Poddars hadn't left much of her intact so it surprised her when she heard the unmistakable sound of something breaking, felt the agony that accompanied it.

She had been trying. Trying. Trying. Trying. Failing. Failing. Failing. Armaan blamed her for the cake. Vidya blamed her for getting married. All in all, it came down to a single thing. Her inability to give them a grandchild. But she couldn't have done that even if she was capable because Armaan refused to look her in the eye, let alone touch her.

She made a call. "Am I talking to Keerti Singhania? My name is Abhira. I'm.." She sucked in a deep, shuddering breath, willing herself not to stutter, "I'm.. Akshara Sharma's daughter."

***

She took him by the arm and dragged him inside where the rest of the family was still celebrating Roohi's news. He was protesting, asking a million and one questions, but she ignored them. Once inside, she left his hand and ran up to where Roohi was sitting. She knelt in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Rooh. Mai tumhari.. tumhari khushi ke din ko yeh sad mod nahi dena chahti thi. But, Mai thak gayi hoon. Mujhse.. nahi ho raha aur. Mene bahot koshish ki.. Roohi.. but meri kismat mujhe khush nahi.. nahi dekhna chahti." She was so close to sobbing, that her voice cracked.

"Abhira.. beta.." Someone had piped up in protest, but she didn't acknowledge it. She simply took Roohi's hands and kissed her knuckles.

Then she stood up. She walked back to where her husband was standing and dragged him again towards his mother.

"Kya mujhe aapko Maa kehna chahiye?" She asks Vidya Poddar, who stood with a frown on her face. Her permanent expression when it came to her the last three months.

"Never mind, aakhri baar hi saheen." she responded to her own question.

"Maa.. agar mai aaj.. abhi iss ghar se chali jau, toh sab kuch theek ho jayega? Will you forgive Armaan and accept him back as your son?" She asks him.

Armaan froze. "That's not happening." He said coldly.

"I didn't ask you Armaan." She said calmly. She looked back at Vidya. "No ifs, buts, whys, hows and whens. I will move cities. Main iss sheher me wapis nahi aaungi. Mai Poddars se kabhi kuch nahi mangungi. I assure you iska aap par ya aapki family ki reputation par koi farak nahi padega." She said confidently.

"Will he have you back?" She asks her. "Like you were there before. Will you love him like before?"

Vidya nodded.

Abhira smiled. "Good." Armaan looked at the exchange shocked.

She removed the Poddar family bangles and handed them to her. She closed her eyes to reign in her tears. Then, she removed her mangalsutra and handed it back to Armaan. Her engagement ring also back to him.

"What are you doing Abhira. What.."

"Giving you what you want. Freeing you. Now you don't have to live in agony or choose between me and your family." She says calmly.

"Yeh kya tamasha hai Ladki?" Kaveri Poddar screamed. Abhira closed her eyes again, threading her words together.

"Koi tamasha nahi hai Dadi Sa. Mera do saal ka sabr toot gaya hai bas. Mai iss ghar ki bahu hone ke kaabil nahi hoon." She says softly.

"Abhira.. tumne kitna fight kia tha Armaan ke liye." Roohi reminded her frantically. "Why are you giving up now?"

She smiled at Roohi. "Mere stepfather.. ek baar mere aur mere bhai ke saath na.. tug of war khel rahe the. Mai aur bhai ek team me aur woh akele doosri taraf. We were equally matched— maybe not — he was definitely letting us think that we were going to defeat him, but at the end, match draw ho gaya. Mere haathon me.. baad me chaale hogaye. Mera poora haath laal tha.. zakhmi tha and when he tended to me, he was crying."

"That night, he taught me something, never hold on to something that causes you pain. Sometimes, Rooh.. letting go is the only option we should choose." She said softly. "My hands are bleeding and his are too. Someone has to know when to stop."

"Our marriage was registered almost eighteen months ago. We have filed for a divorce once which was not granted. I will file it again tomorrow. I'm sure a court will understand this time." She turned to Kaveri Poddar again.

"I'm sorry. You're right mai shayad itni kaabil nahi hoon ki.. apke pariwar ko jod ke rakh sakoon." She said softly.

"Abhira aisa mat karo.. please." Armaan pleaded with her. She curled her fists into tight balls.

"Mai trophy nahi hoon Armaan. Tumne jit li aur shelf pe saja di. Fir uss trophy ko dhool padti rahi aur tumne mudke bhi nahi dekha. Tum mujhe patni banake iss ghar me laane ke baad bhool jaate ho.. mai insaan hoon. Tumhari newly married wife thi mai.. iss baar toh tumne choose bhi kia tha mujhe. Pyaar se.. afterthought kab bann gayi tumhe pata bhi nahi chala. Mai akeli reh sakti hoon, lekin ek poore pariwar me outcast ki tarah, mujhe rehna manzoor nahi hai." She said with the last bit of her composure.

"Abhira.. nahi aisa nahi hai.."

"Explain mat karo.. vaade mat karo. Please mujhe jaane do. Mai.. poori zindagi iss ghar ke kisi na kisi member ki aankh ka kaata banti rahoongi. Mai poori zindagi imtehaan deti rahoongi. Mai kabhi iss ghar ke liye.. iss pariwar ke liye good enough nahi ho sakti. Mujhe jaane do. Please." She joined her hands in front of all of them.

"Abhira.." Manish Goenka reached over to her.

"Nahi parh nanu. Aapke aur ehsaan nahi.. le sakti mai. Please. Mujhe jaane deejiye."

"Baccha.." Manisha Chachi began but was cut off by a call on Abhira's cell.

She looked at the phone and a ghost of a smile enveloped her. She took the call. "Nanu.."

"Haan. Aap waheen ruko nanu.. Mai bas das minute me aa rahi hoon."

"Nahi.. mai aa rahi hoon. Please don't come here. Mai bas das minute.." the line went dead.

"Nanu?" Manish Goenka gasped. "Who were you talking to Abhira?"

"Mere pas zyada waqt nahi hai.. mai bas.." She ran towards her room and rushed back a few minutes later. She was carrying a box with herself. She set it down and unlocked it. Then she pulled out a small pouch.

She gave the pouch to Roohi.

"Meri Bahu ko kuch dene ki zaroorat nahi hai Abhira." Vidya screamed. She ignored her.

"Yeh tumhare poppy ki taraf se hai. Mai jab paida hui thi toh.. baba ne mujhe yeh payal di thi. Used hai. Lekin unki yeh aakhri yaad hai mere pas." She said softly.

"Poppy?" Roohi gasped.

"I hope tumhara baby yeh.. use karega. Docman bahot khush honge agar.."

"Tum.. poppy ko? —"

"Mera naam Abhira hai Roohi." She said softly and that was enough explanation.

"Tum.. Akshara Masi ki?"

Abhira nodded. Then she saw Roohi's face twist in agony. "Unhone mata shree ko.. meri maata shree ko.. maar diya tha."

Abhira let out a tired breath. "Woh.. Jaa chuki hain Roohi. Woh.. shayad Aru Masi se personally milke maafi maang lein." She said softly. She knew the whole truth. She knew it was an accident. She knew the blame came to her mother. She knew it was Roohi who was driving the car. She knew it was no one's fault.

She didn't have the energy to fight. She owed her mother loyalty and truth, none of them deserved the same courtesy. They could all have taught her to move past the trauma, told her that it had been an accident, but they hadn't. They had taken a lie Akshara told and went with it. They found it easier to blame than to understand. So she will let Roohi live in her delusion. What good will come out of telling a daughter she had been the reason her mother was dead.  

"Tumne unhe bahot young age me kho diya Roohi and I'm truly sorry for that. Mumma ko gaye sirf 18 maheene hue hain and I cannot come face to face with the fact at times. I know Maa ko khona kya hota hai. I can not begin to imagine tumne jab apni mumma ko khoya toh tumpar kya beeti. I'm sorry."

"Masi?" Roohi stuttered. "Akshu.. masi?"

"I'm sorry. I.. just wanted to make sure tum.. tumhare pas Baba ka ashirwad ho.. baby ke liye." She said quietly. "He'd be very happy to know about the pregnancy."

"Yeh.. poppy ki aakhri yaad kaise.. kaise ho sakti hai?" She asked innocently.

Abhira looked away. He'd been the only father figure both the girls had known. She knew the trauma well.

"Roohi.. please please calm down. You're pregnant. Tumhaari tabiyat kharab nahi.. nahi honi chahiye." She tried her best to keep tears away from her voice.

"How?"

"Ek landslide me, Docman aur Abhir bhaiyya.. 6 saal pehle.." She said softly. Roohi gasped. Could she still hold a grudge in death? Abhira wondered.

"Mai.. tumhari life me bhi.. dakhal nahi dena chahti Roohi.. mai.. mai.. bas baby ko blessing.." She stopped speaking when Roohi started crying.

Abhira's heart dropped. "I'm so sorry Rooh.. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Tumne hume pehle.. kabhi kyon nahi bataya?" Swarna asked, surprised.

She wrapped Roohi's hands around the pouch, tucking it safely in her palms and kissed her forehead. "Tumhare poppy ki taraf se. I'm sorry once again."

Then, she turned to Swarna. "Mene mumma ki family ko pehli baar teen maheene pehle trace kia tha. I got to know then. Maayre ke dinn se Parh nanu ko sabkuch pata hai.. He saw mumma and Abhinav papa'ki photo, nath ki rasam ke din. But he didn't tell you. I know he didn't want to hurt Roohi and that's why he kept mum. I also.. followed his lead."

Swarna couldn't form any words anymore.

"Aap.. theek hai, Swarna aunty?" She asked softly.

"Akshu.."

"She had a good life.. She was a good mother and a brilliant lawyer and so.. so strong. I don't know how to comfort you.. aunty. I haven't had a family in.. years. I clearly don't know how to handle this. I.. am sorry. I just.. Nanu is waiting.. I should.. be going."

She joined her hands in front of everyone. "I don't intend on coming back. I hope we never see each other again. I'm sorry. I'm tired. I'm clearly not as strong as my mother was. But that's okay. I.. just want peace." She said softly.

She looked at Armaan, frozen in shock, grief and smiled at him. "I hope everything works out for the best Armaan. I care about you, but I don't have the energy for anymore trials. No one can go through their lives constantly trying to walk on eggshells. I give up."

When she turned, she saw Naksh and Kirti at the door. She walked up to them. "Mai aap logon ko.. zyada dinn burden nahi karoongi, Naksh nanu."

Naksh immediately pulled her into his arms. "Tu pagal hai? Haq hai tera. Bacchi hai tu hamari. Burden nahi hai. Meri Naira ki.. Meri bacchi hai tu. Apne ghar ja rahi hai."

And then, without a word, without so much as a backward glance, she just left. Kirti or Naksh didn't look at anyone as they led her out. They didn't deserve anything. None of them. They were all selfish, they all thought about themselves. Only. about themselves. They had taken a brilliant young woman and reduced her to a shell of herself.

They vowed to give her the home she had lost when she lost her mother. They couldn't fill the void left behind by Akshara, but they'd try their hardest to be better than the family Akshara had, or the family Abhira was forced into.

Okay I'm pissed with Armaan. I'm pissed with the Poddars and I actually want Abhira to just leave that hell.

That one is a far cry in the show, so I wrote this. I hope someone resonates with it.

Love
Vinny