Shock. Disbelief. Happiness. Hope. Hurt. Pain. Betrayal. Fear

Think of every emotion you can and that had slapped Abhira in the face the moment their eyes had met. Their hearts felt heavy because of the weight of the emotions they were feeling. Abhimanyu's eyes welled up and so did Akshara's.

Abhimanyu did not know how to react. For months, he dreamed about this day. He had just prayed for the same but now that his wish was granted, he was frozen. Akshara bit her lip to suppress her sob. She wanted to jump in his arms and cry about all she had gone through. From getting blackmailed, manipulated and forced by Kunal to getting literally abused- she had almost lost hopes of escaping them. She raised her hands to hug him, apologize to him over and over and ask him to take her away when she realized something.

Kairav!

Her brother was still in Kunal's custody!

Kunal Khera!

That vile man was here! At the mandap. If he saw her and Abhimanyu, there is no telling what he'd do to her brother! Kunal had tracked for her months with a shock tracker that was painful. She had been starved and yelled at. The only reason he kept a good facade was his sister. But Akshara did not trust him to extend that courtesy to her brother. If he could this to her when she was helping him, she did not even want to think what he'd do when things weren't according to him.

Thinking about this, a flash of fear ran through and she tried to step back. Abhimanyu realized she was shivering due to the water and pulled her out. Taking her to the corner, he pulled out some fabric from the decoration and started to wipe off the excess water. Tear's ran down her cheeks seeing his care, feeling his touch and presence after months. Akshara noticed how he looked different. He had bags under his eyes and his hair seemed different. She did not have much time to ponder as the fear of Kunal was running in the back of her mind.

Akshara: I-I need to go..

Abhimanyu: Seriously?!!!!!!

He frowned and anger ran through his veins. All the hurt, the pain he had been through came to surface.

Abhimanyu: We are meeting after months! Akshara months!! Tumhe yaad hai kuch dino me kya hai? Kaise hoga? Kyu hoga jb hum tumhari nazar me kuch hai hi nahi...

Akshara: A- aisa nahi hai...

Abhimanyu grabbed her arms and she held her breathe.

Abhimanyu: Kyu Akshara!? Itne 'kyu' ke jawab tumse chahiye ki pta nahi kya punchu pehle. Aur tum ho ki milte hi jaane ki baat kr rahi ho?! Aisa kya kr diya maine??! Kaho na!! Kyu kiya tumne mere sath aisa..kiss baat ki saza di mujhe?

Akshara: Abhi...(sobs)

Her eyes darted past him and saw Kunal in the crowd. It won't be long before he'd start looking for her. Akshara panicked. Abhimanyu frowned at her expressions and turned but he did not see any familiar face.

Abhimanyu: Tum dar rahi ho...

He stated. Akshara looked into his eyes- her own wide with fear and pain.

Abhimanyu: Tum kisse dar rahi ho? Kiske liye darr rahi ho? Kairav hai yahan?!...

He looked into her eyes for answers. While Akshara had a habit of hiding truth for other's benefit, her eyes always gave her away.

Abhimanyu: tch tch! Kairav nahi hai... (grows serious) tum kisse darr rahi ho? Batao mujhe...

He grabbed her arm again. This time, registering that she had lost a lot of weight! Her cheeks weren't as full and round but rather hollow. Her waist seemed even smaller. All in all, she looked weak and it pained him.

Akshara wanted nothing more than to answer him but she was scared for the unknown. She kept looking behind Abhimanyu in fear, confirming his suspicions.

Abhimanyu: tumhe kiss cheez ka darr hai Akshu? Kaho na...

And just like that the 'protective pati' in Abhimanyu came to front seat and his own pain & insecurities took the backseat. Was there more to the story he had been given all these months? Why was Akshara so scared? She looked sick too. The thought made him sick!

Akshara: N-nahi..Vo. Abhi...

Akshara did not know what to say. She could tell him everything but she did not trust him to keep calm after that. She could not risk her brother who had already been through a lot! She saw Kunal was moving around, must be looking for her.

She remembered something! She asked Abhimanyu for his phone.

Akshara: p-please..

Abhimanyu gave it to her. His eyes not leaving her even for a minute. He feared he'd wink and she'd disappear. She saved her PI's number on his phone.

Akshara: Is number pr call krke mera naam de dena..tell him your name too. Tumhe baat pta chal jayegi ...but please..right now, I really need to leave.

Abhimanyu: No!

Abhimanyu said loud and clear. He held her arms, refusing to let go. Akshara looked at him with wide, helpless eyes.

Akshara: Please, ye zaruri hai...

Abhimanyu: Mere liye bhi ye zaruri hai...

Akshara: I promise Abhi. Mai aungi tumhare pass. Mujhe thoda sa waqt de do..

Abhimanyu : (chuckles) Promise!? Tumhare promise ki koi value nahi hai ab. Tumne pehle bhi promise kiya tha. Mere operation ke baad milne wali thi na....milna chodo ek call nahi kiya tumne...

Akshara: I am s-

Abhimanyu: Sorry mt bolna, galti se bhi nahi. Uss shabd ke koi maine nahi hai....ab tum yahi rahogi, mere samne. Vo bhi tb tk jb tk tum mere saare sawalo ke jawab nahi de deti. Nahi karunga mai kissi number pr call, nahi karunga wait. Aaj tum mere samne ho aur ab tum kahin nahi jaa rahi....

Akshara: Abhi! (breaths heavily)

Her mind was closing up. She did not know what to do. Her heart was torn. On one side she was scared of Khera who held her brother captive and on other end was her Abhimanyu, whom she had hurt. He was now adamant and she was scared .

'AKSHARA!!'

Akshara jumped as she heard Kunal's voice. Abhimanyu turned, now confused and extremely angry.

Abhimanyu: Ye kon tha? ... (to Akshara) ye kon tumhe bula raha hai...issi se darr rahi ho na tum? Kon hai batao...Akshu, koi tumhe pareshan kr raha hai??? Dekho mera sir ghum raha hai...bolo!!!

'AKSHARA!!'

Abhimanyu: Rehne do, mai khud jaakr dekhta hoon...

Akshara grabbed his hands.

Akshara: Nahi please!!! Usne tumhe dekh liya toh-

Abhimanyu: Kisne mujhe dekh liya?- Akshara! Dekho mujhe laga tha tum Kairav ke liye mujhe chodkr chali gayi pr ab ye jo ho raha hai, ye meri samajh ke bahar hai....tum kisse darr rahi ho? Aur kyu? Bharosa nahi hai mujhpr? Chalo abhi dekhta hoon kon hai-

He held her hand and started to drag her.

Akshara: Abhi nahi tumhe meri kasam!

Akshara yelled out as her last resort.

Abhimanyu: Akshar-

Akshara: I know tumhe maa ka kasam dena pasand nahi hai aur isliye maine bhi kabhi nahi di pr tum sun nahi rahe ho...

She breathed and cupped his face.

Akshara: Tumhe kissi number se baat nahi krni na? Thik hai? Mai issi hotel me hoon. Room 205. Tum raat ko ana, thoda late pr....pr abhi mujhe jaane do isse pehle ki vo kuch kr de...please..

Abhimanyu stood still, trying to connect the dots but Akshara ran out without waiting for his response. She saw Maya and Kunal were marching outside and she ran after them. Abhimanyu tried to follow her but Parth caught him to ask where he had been. As a result, he lost sight of her in the crowd.

Parth: kya hua Abhimanyu? Kahan dekh raha hai?

Abhimanyu: Akshu...Akshu!!

Parth: What!?

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

Akshara ran towards the two. Kunal turned and shouted at her.

Kunal: WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!?

Maya: Bhai dheere bolo, log dekh rahe hai...

Kunal: Ugh! Kahan thi aap?

Akshara: Pandal se aa rahi hoon toh wahin thi na..

Kunal: really?-

Akshara: Isse pehle aap kuch bole, mai bol deti hoon. I fell into the kund! You can see my clothes are wet. Mai apne aap ko clean krne gayi thi and since you so kindly took away my phone, I had no ways of telling you...

Maya: Bhai you took away her phone!? why?

Kunal felt angry that Akshara said this in front of Maya.

Akshara: Vo toh yahi batayenge. Pr mai room me jaa rahi hoon. Kl gaana bhi gaana hai. Mujhse zyada mera beemar padna aap log afford nahi kr payenge...

Maya panicked realizing this and hurriedly took Akshara to her room. Akshara changed and dried her hair. The siblings gave her some healthy, warm food. Akshara asked them to leave post that saying she wanted to rest. As soon as they left, she sat back up.

Akshara: Kanhaji! Aaj maine mere docman ko dekha...in mahino me kitna badal gaya vo...(looks at herself in the mirror) mai bhi toh badal gayi.....

With shivering hands, she combed out her hair and tried to smile. Her heart was beating fast, waiting for her Abhimanyu to come meet her.

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

Few rooms away from her, Abhimanyu was itching to run to the room she had mentioned. Parth and Shefali were pacing in the room.

Parth: Are you serious!? Akshara? Pakka!

Shefali: Ye kaisa question hai? Usne baat ki hai ...

Parth: To phir Anisha ka katil! Vo Kairav bhi yahin kahin hoga...

Shefali: Parth calm down!!

Parth: How the hell do I calm down!! Meri behen ka murderer farar hai, aish kr raha hai...

Abhimanyu: Bhai –bhabhi!! Please, Shivu uth jayega..

Shefali: Right! Aur jiss tarah se Abhimanyu bata raha hai, kuch toh gadbad hai. Hume jaise lg raha tha, waise nahi hai. Akshara kisi se itna kyu dar rahi hai?

Parth: In sab sawalo ka jawab toh wahi de payegi...

Abhimanyu: Ye jawab mere liye bohot important hai bhai...ab aur nahi jee skta mai in sawalo ke sath...bohot ghut liya mai, ab mujhe sb jawab chahiye, abhi ke abhi chahiye!!

Abhimanyu stood up with a start.

Abhimanyu: It is late enough. I am going now...

He said and left the room with a purpose.

Parth: What do you think Shefali?

Shefali: I don't know. I just hope sb thik ho jaye...

Parth nodded and hugged his wife.

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

Room 205-

Akshara was nervously pacing around the room when the doorbell rang. She calmed her racing heart and walked towards the door.

Akshara: here goes nothing...

She whispered and opened the door. Her smile faltered as she saw an unknown women standing in front of her door with something in her hands leaving Akshara confused and frowning.

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

What do you think will happen next?

Also, we've reached a point in this story where now, we will go a little different from the show. Sorry if you wanted more similarities.

xoxo