She knew that voice anywhere. She had listened to it for years, for centuries even, and it still had that warm, motherly ting like it had all those years back. She couldn't ignore it even if she wanted to.

"... maa?" She repeated in astonishment, taking another step closer to her. It couldn't be. She found it hard to believe really, yet knew she couldn't ignore it.

The woman's hand rose to her mask and her fingers clenched the fabric, slowly taking it off. Her wavy hair fell over her shoulder, eyes teary and a grimace plastered on her face.

Everything froze. Eyes widening, Naira now took a step back, hands flying to her mouth to choke back a gasp that dared to escape. No. that wasn't right. That wouldn't it be. She was dead. She had died in a car accident, from Mansi's mistake! It couldn't be... right?

Yet, in front of her, stood the woman who had raised her when she was little, who everyone had presumed was dead after that accident, who her father had loved to no end and still did, who everyone looked up to whenever things went wrong, who everyone still HADN'T FORGOTTEN.

"... m... maa?" She heard Kartik mutter out in shock himself, slowly raising his body from the ground and staring at the woman in shock.

"... Naira. Kartik." Akshara stared back at them with an unreadable expression, the mask slipping from her hands and falling on the ground.

She was aware her tears were slipping from her eyes one by one, but she didn't care. She choked back a cry and jolted when Akshara took a step near them. Visibly surprised, she didn't dare come any further and stood there.

... without a warning Naira ran up to her and threw her arms around her, and Akshara immediately hugged back, shutting her eyes close to stop the tears.

She now knew this wasn't just a dream. She could heard Kartik run back inside and more footsteps followed outside. Knowing they were all outside, she let her mother go and turned to the rest of her shocked family, her eyes first landing on her father.

Numb. he was numb. Just staring at his love, the book also slipping from his hands. She knew he was surprised. Who wouldn't be? They had lived together for years and he had been heartbroken at the news of her false death, but now, to see her again, after all these years when he finally got over her yet still hadn't forgotten her?

Prior to her thoughts, Akshara stepped closer to him and so did he, both engulfing each other in their arms.

She couldn't be happier. She had to be happy. Her maa was back. Finally back.

... and she had a lot of explaining to do.

......

She had to rest first however. And she refused to let go of her side.

"Naira." She heard her mendhak mutter in frustration as he desperately tried to tear her away from the laughing Akshara's arm. She pouted and gave him a death glare, and he glared in return. "Come on Naira, you need to let go!"

"No! I'm staying with her tonight!"

After everyone had tearily and happily hugged her to no end, Naira was too happy to ask any questions. No one had dared ask what all of them were thinking, and night had fallen over them just like that.

She snapped out of her thought as Kaira continued arguing. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Kartik's protectiveness over her. "Naira. Stop being stubborn." Kartik dead-panned and turned to Rajshri for help. "Nani, samjhao na!"

"Haan Naira bitya, you should rest. It's not good for you to be up this late." Rajshri smiled trying to not laugh at the ridiculous situation.

Akshara chuckled and turned her attention to her husband. Through all this, he had never even once left her side. Though... now he seemed... in thought. He was staring at the ground, not noticing anything around him.

Her hands rose to touch his shoulder and he jumped, quickly looking up to her. "What happened?"

All went silent when Naitik sighed. "We... need to talk."

She felt herself stiffen. She knew the time for answer would come soon, and she knew she couldn't walk away without answers.

"Just... where were you all this time maa?" Without a warning, Naksh had blurted out the question everyone had wanted to ask. Akshara said nothing. "Maa. answer me. Where, were you?"

No answer. Naksh sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration, the mood around them tensing. "You fell off the mountain and we thought you were dead maa. We all thought you were dead, Naira had blamed Kartik for it!"

She turned surprised at Naira who looked away in guilt while Kartik shook his head, pulling her closer.

"We then found out Mansi was the one responsible and had forgiven her!" This time Mansi looked away, clearly in tears as Anmol tried to comfort her. "We all thought you were dead, and after all these years you return? Where WERE YOU maa?"

Akshara sighed at last. "... when I had fallen off the mountain, I had been found by a few village people who... took care of me until I got better." For some reason, her hand fell on her other shoulder. "So when I got better, I decided to return."

"Then why did you attack Naira?" Seemed like Naksh had taken the duty of asking questions without any remorse. Akshara stiffened and grimaced.

"I didn't know she was Naira! I thought she was someone else and I intended to just scare her, but then Kartik jumped in and..." She trailed off eyeing Kartik who frowned.

"I had to save her and our-" He froze and bit his lip. Nope. not revealing it now. "... umm... love. Yeah, love!"

"You two are in love?!" Akshara blinked in surprise. Yeah, she was aware Kartik loved Naira and she loved him, but still she was surprised.

"In love? Arre bhaiya bhabhi ki to shaadi bhi kitne saal pehle hui thi!" Luv added on.

"Haan, per tab pata chala ki Suvarna chachi had another son who soon joined our family but passed away because of drug overdose so Suvarna chachi was really angry and blamed in at Naira bhabhi who knew he took drugs and she with Kartik got separated for two whole years before reuniting in Mumbai again and they kinda realized their mistakes and Naira bhabhi is-"

"Anmol!" Mansi slammed a hand over his mouth while Naira blushed and Kartik face-palmed. Akshara had by now gotten pretty shocked and suspicious.

"Akshara..." Naitik trailed off sighing, and grabbed her hand. "... you have missed a lot."

Had she?

..... Okay so I wrote this hurriedly and so sorry if it's crappy, it's just that if they ever actually found Akshara and found her alive, they'd be pretty happy and overjoyed, since she was the main in the show before alongside Naitik. I know there isn't Kaira here at all, but I promise it'll be there in the next chapter😶😶. The rest of the family find out about Akshara and explanations take place. 😝😝

So sorry for this chapter, and please forgive me for any mistakes😶😝😖! I won't be uploading the next few days, so sorry😶! Comment and let me know how it was, I promise for more Kaira scenes ahead😍😁! Love you all! 😙😙❤❤❤