Mauritius~

One month! It had been one full month since Akshara had left India and her husband behind. Every day, her heart ached for him. She wiped the single tear away from her face as she ate the warm broccoli.

Maya: Kya hua Akshu?

Akshara shook her head. Maya shrugged and continued to eat the pudding while Kunal gave Akshara a knowing look. He knew why Akshara was sad but his priority was his sister and sister alone. She was his only family left and his responsibility. He had lost his parents a few years ago in a terrible car crash and Maya's neck got injured. He couldn't save his parents and Maya's surgery went downhill too. She lost her singing voice as her neck never really healed. Even today, she couldn't talk longer then few sentences at a time and her voice was very low.

This had taken a toll on Maya and she had succumbed to depression. She even wanted to kill herself but ever since he introduced Akshara into their lives, Maya had been smiling again. That was the only thing that mattered. After dinner Kunal returned to his study and video called the man he had wronged.

Kunal: Hi Dr. Abhimanyu!

Abhimanyu: Hello Dr. Kunal.

Kunal: How are you?

Kunal knew he wasn't fine. His eyes were dead. Abhimanyu replied to his questions in a  monotone. After a few questions, Kunal guided him through a therapy.

Kunal: Great progress. Please run some new tests and mail them to me. Sorry, family emergency ki wajah se apka online hi follow up lena pad raha hai...

Abhimanyu: hmm (nods). Dr. Khera. Can I ask you anything?

Kunal: Sure...

Abhimanyu: Did you...Did you by any chance talk to my wife the day of the surgery?

Kunal saw a flash of hope in his eyes and hidden behind a wall, listening to this conversation, Akshara closed her mouth with her hands to control her sob. She could hear the hope Kunal was seeing but he crushed it by refusing it. Abhimanyu's face became stoic again and he ended the call quickly after that.

Kunal: (in mind) Sorry Dr. Birla. Mujhe apse koi dushmani nahi hai but your wife is the key to my sister's happiness and I don't care how my people I ruin to get that...

Akshara realised the call had ended and quickly ran to her room. She closed the door and sank to the floor.

Akshara: I am sorry Abhi!! I am so so sorry!!... (cries) Mujhe ye krna pada.... (wipes her tears) pr dekho na, kuch hi dino me tum apne pehle pyaar ke pass laut jaoge. Tum surgeries krne me busy ho jaoge aur ye waqt bhi kat jayega....

She picked up her phone- a device she only used to contact Kheras when it was time to pick her up from music studio. This whole month, she had been practising day and night for Maya's entry song for the competition. She wanted to call Abhimanyu desperately but she knew she should wait till Abhimanyu's follow up sessions are complete. Abhimanyu would rush to get her the moment he realises what is going on and Khera would stop assisting Abhimanyu's recovery.

However, there was another, more serious reason. In the same city, lived her brother. He was admitted to a trauma centre and was undergoing therapy. Akshara knew, the moment she returns to family, Kairav would have to return as well. Her brother was in no condition for that! He had broken down and was a high risk patient due to his suicidal tendencies. Akshara knew she needed to gather solid proof of his innocence and wait for him to get a little better before she returned home. Abhimanyu might accept them but others would need proof to stay off Kairav's case and let him heal.

Thinking about him, Akshara called for a follow up from Kairav's doctor. There was hardly any improvement but the doctor asked her to not lose hope.

Doctor: We are working our best for your brother but it would be good if you'd stop by to see him. He needs it.

Akshara looked at the recently installed tracker on her leg and cursed her fate. Kunal had put it on her leg when she had disappeared to meet Kairav after a studio session. She thought she'd return soon but Kunal had been keeping tabs. When he realised Akshara was missing for a few hours, he panicked. He couldn't risk her away from his eyes in case she contacted anyone and so, he made her wear a tracking device that shot her with shocks if she was more than one kilometre away from their house. The studio was close by at 750m which was perfect for them and sad for Akshara.

Akshara: I'd try doctor. Can it be a video call?

Doctor: Personal meeting is better but video call is better than nothing. Let's see what can be arranged and when.

After following up with Kairav's doctor, Akshara called someone. She had been trying hard to gather proofs to help Kairav's case from Mauritius itself. She feared contacting anyone home as it would give them away. She called a technical person she had hired to crack into Anisha's mails but she had it all cleared. Luckily for her, they got a suspicious mail ID in Anisha's contact list.  Akshara was really trying hard. She had hired investigators and was trying her best to monitor everything while being under a watch herself.

Maya: Akshara!!! Sone ka time ho gaya hai! Tumhari lights kyu on hai?

Akshara heard Maya at the door and quickly hid everything.

Akshara: Washroom gayi thi. Bs sone jaa rahi hoon ab. Goodnight Maya...

Maya: Goodnight.

Akshara picked up the pillow and laid on the floor. The thick carpeted floor kept it warm while she covered herself with a thin blanket. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine her husband's arms around her body as she finally fell asleep.

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

India~

Harshvardhan Birla was entering the Birla household. Today was his divorce's final hearing and he regretted it but there was no going back now. He called for Manjiri and realized there were tears in her eyes once she came down.

Harshvardhan: Kya hua?

Manjiri: Kl raat se Abhimanyu apni table pr baitha hua hai. Dr. Khera se call ke baad se apni chair se utha hi nahi. Waise hi khuli ankho ke sath baitha hua hai...subah ho gayi. Pta nahi kitni raaton se aise hi kr raha hai. Mujhse uski halat nahi dekhi jaati...

Harshvardhan: dekhi toh mujhse bhi nahi jaa rahi...pta nahi kya ho gaya hai?

Manjiri: Sbko pta hai kya hua hai! Akshu missing hai! Didi ko lgta hai vo Kairav ke sath bhag gayi hai, Abhi ko lgta hai vo kissi musibat me hai....dekha tha na apne? Apni surgery ke turant baad kaise do hafton tk paglon ki tarah usse dhoondta raha....Akshu pta nahi kaha gayi hai pr sath me Abhi ka sukh-chain-neend, sb le gayi hai...

Mahima: Mujhe pta hai kahan gayi hai!

Mahima entered the house with an angry expression.

Manjiri: Didi!? Apko pata chal gaya? Kahan gayi hai Akshu?

Mahima: Ek second, usse toh ane do jisse iss khabar ka sbse zyada wait hai...

She screamed for Abhimanyu that she knew about Akshara. Abhimanyu's dead eyes lit up and hurried downstairs. Mahima showed them a video that the investigator had given it. It was from an ATM camera near the sunset point and had Akshara getting in a cab with Kairav. Abhimanyu stood shell shocked, replaying the video over and over while Manjiri sat down. Disgust running through her- Akshara picked her family over Abhimanyu!- Yet again! Her eyes fell upon her son.

Manjiri: Abhi?

Abhimanyu jerked away from her touch. He kept the tab down and mumbled a sorry before going out of the house.

Mahima: I was right!!! Ye ladki apne bhai ko chupa rahi hai but note it all of you. Jiss din ye bhai behen mujhe mil gaye na...inhe mai inke kiye ki acchi saza dungi. Meri beti ki maut ka badla toh mai lekr rahungi...

Mahima muttered and went to her room. Taking her phone out, she sent a text.

Mahima- Arohi? Tumhare bhagode bhai behen kissi ke touch me hai kya?

Arohi replied almost instantly.

Arohi- Nahi Ma'am. I checked everyone's phone. Koi aisi call nahi hai. Badepapa toh khud bohot pareshan hai...Ma'am, vo mera license wapis ho skta hai kya before one year?

Mahima ignoredthe last bit  and kept the phone away in frustration. Her eyes fell on her daughter's picture on the desk.

Mahima: Maine tumhare sath bohot galat kiya hai Anisha but I promise you I will punish your murder, even if that is the last thing I do!

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Birla was running like a mad man through the streets of Udaipur. He ran and ran till he reached the outskirts of the town. The streets became lanes and finally he reached a forest area. His legs hit a log and he fell down. He was drenched in sweat and his knees were screaming but nothing screamed louder than his broken heart.

Abhimanyu: KYU AKSHU!! KYU!??? KYU KIYA AISA TUMNE????

He screamed while tears ran past his face.

Abhimanyu: tumne promise kiya tha na! Mai uthunga toh sbse pehle tum milogi mujhe? Lo, Mujhe uthe itne din ho gaye....kitne dino se mai soya hi nahi....ab toh aa jao!! Maine Kairav ko benefit of doubt diya tha, sbne mujhe kaha ki tum Kairav ke sath bhag gayi phir bhi maine nahi mana....pr sb sahi they na Akshu!! Tum mujhe chod kr chali gayi...phirse se apni family ko mere upar rakha na?!! Kyu!!!!!!??

His body gave out. The betrayal of his wife was too much for his heart. He had denied she left him until Mahima slapped the proof in his face. According to him, he had gone for surgery despite feeling empty due to his sister's demise. His wife had assured him she'll stand by him but the moment he opened his eyes, she was gone! Poof! He had spend weeks looking for her when he should have been resting. Now, to realise that she left on her own will- choosing her brother over him. He felt broken. Cursing his fate, he punched the floor till the days of sleeplessness consumed him and he lost his consciousness on the rough forest floor.

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

Akshara is under a watch, Kairav is in therapy, Abhimanyu is torn and Mahima is out for blood. Stay tuned for more...

xoxo