Late night | Room 205 | Resort, Jaipur

Akshara was waiting to talk to Abhimanyu. She could not contain her excitement. She was also very nervous. She did not know how he'd react. He must have missed her like she did. Infact, it must have been worse for him as he did not even know where she was and if she was coming back. He did not even know what went down, she thought as she waited for him. She heard the bell and stood up.

Akshara: Here goes nothing..

She opened the door with a small smile that soon faltered. There was a woman at the door with something in her hands. Akshara looked at her hands and got more confused. Towels?

Woman: Housekeeping...

She said a chirpy voice, too happy for the late hours.

Akshara: But I did not ca-

The woman did not wait for her, rather she marched inside saying she will keep the towels in the bathroom. Akshara stood there, rooted and frowning for a second before following her.

Akshara: I think you got the wrong room.

The woman turned towards Akshara as soon as she followed her into the bathroom and her face suddenly grew serious. She put a hand in her pocket and pulled something out.

Woman: Mujhe Shubham sir ne bheja hai. Ye lijiye, iss envelop me vo proof hai jo aapko chahiye tha. Aur apko inform krne bola hai ki apke bhai mil gaye hai. Infact, unhe sir already Udaipur tk le gaye hai. They'll reach your house soon. Ye lijiye kuch paise. Sir ne kaha apko zarurat hogi to escape here.

Akshara closed her eyes and relief flooded her. Her brother was safe and in Udaipur. Her PI, Shubham had done far and beyond. It was obvious the PI knew he'll be paid handsomely by the Goenka heirs. Still, he had done his work well. Now, Kunal had no hold over Akshara. Her brother, his bait- was out of his reach.

Akshara did not correct the woman that she might not need the money as now her husband would take her away from here. She took the money and thanked her. The woman nodded and left as swiftly as she had entered.

Akshara: wow!! Kairav bhaiya safe hai!!! Dr. Kunal ab unke sath kuch nahi kr payenge..Thank you Kanha Ji. Ab bs! Jitna Maya ko apni awaz deni thi, mai de chuki. Dr. Kunal ne mujhse surgery ke badle favour nahi manga...mujhe slave hi tarah kaid krke rakha. Lekin ab mujhe unki kaid me rakhne ke liye unke pass kuch nahi hai.

Akshara stuffed the envelope with the proof in her pocket and collected what little she had in the room. Most of them where clothes she had bought at Mauritius. She smiled at the sight of her mangalsutra. She wasn't allowed to wear it as it might arouse suspicious in Maya. She wore it while tears flowed down her cheeks. She sat on the bed and fidgeted.

Akshara: Kahan reh gaya Abhi!?

Soon, the bell rang again and Akshara ran to the door. She opened and there he was- the man himself!

Akshara: Abhi!!

She smiled a teary smile while Abhimanyu stood still. In her western clothes, her weight loss was more evident. Now that she wasn't wearing any makeup like earlier, he could clearly see how pale her face was. The loss of her happy round cheeks was apparent and bothered him. If earlier he had thought she looked weak, now he was extremely worried for her health. But, one thing that he had not noticed earlier and that shocked him the most were her hair!

Her hair! The long beautiful curtain of rich and deep black. He loved hair, her more than his. Earlier, they had been tucked behind her head but now that they were lose- he could see how short they were. They casually rested on her shoulders when earlier they used to sway at her waist!

Akshara pulled him inside the room and quickly locked it. Dr. Kunal was still around and she knew if anyone of them saw the other- it would turn into a blood bath. She turned back to face him as soon as she closed the door and saw Abhimanyu was just staring at her. She herself felt a shiver run past her spine.

Now what!?

There was a different kind of silence that enveloped them as they continued to stare at each other.

Akshara: (in mind) Abhi, mera rocking docman lag bhi raha aur nahi bhi. Meri wajah se kaise din dekhe honge isne. Mai kaha kyu? Kyu door hoon? Kyu nahi call kr rahi? Kitne sawalo ke saath ghoot ke raha hoga Abhi. Pr aaj mujhe tumhare pass ane se rok rahi har wajah jaa chuki hai Abhi. Saboot mere pass hai aur Kairav bhai ghar pahunch jayenge ...ab humare beech koi nahi ayega...

She wiped the tear that escaped her eye and approached him.

Akshara: Abhi..

Abhimanyu snapped out of his trance.

Abhimanyu: Kyu?

Akshara stilled and looked into his red, pained eyes.

Abhimanyu: Kyu? Kyu gayi tum apna promise todkr, mujhe chodkr...Kyu? Aisa kya ho gaya tha jo tumne mere hosh me ane ka bhi wait nahi kiya...

Akshara: Abhi! Tumhare sawal sahi hai aur inka jawab milna tumhara haq bhi hai. Pr kya hum yahan se jaa skte hai. Please?

Abhimanyu: Nahi. Na tum kahin jaogi, na mai kahin jaunga. Hum dono issi kamre me rahenge jb tk tum mere sawalo ke jawab nahi de deti...

Akshara was desperate to disappear. Go away from Kunal's reach. Her brother was already safe and as she was in front of Abhimanyu, she felt safe too but still, she wanted to leave this mad mess as soon as possible. Looking into her husband's eyes, she realised he was desperate for answers too. Not knowing was eating him on the inside.

Abhimanyu: Mujhe lga tha tum Kairav ke liye mujhe chod kr chali gayi. Maine footage dekhi thi tumhari aur Kairav ki, cab me baith kr kahin jaa rahe they. Lekin ab lg raha hai koi aur baat bhi hai. Mera sir fat jayega Akshu. Thoda rehem kro mujhpr aur batao!

He grabbed her arms and pulled her closer. Their noses were almost touching now. Her breathe sped up. His voice was almost begging, he was a broken man wanting to find peace.

Akshara: Abhi...mai sb batati hoon. Please. (Abhimanyu looks at her expectantly) sbse pehle toh mai Kairav bhaiya ki wajah se nahi gayi thi. Haan mai unhe bekasoor manti hoon...infact jaanti hoon unhone kuch nahi kiya...

She saw Abhimanyu's nose flare, obviously, thinking about Anisha and her demise.

Akshara: Pr ye bhi sach hai ki mujhe tumpr 100% yakin hai ki tum kabhi galat nahi hone doge. Jo bhi sach hoga, tum uska sath doge aur sach samne ane se pehle bhai ko koi saza nahi milne doge...I believe in you. Kairav bhai ke case me tum meri madat krte, Anisha ko justice dilana tum bhi chahte ho pr tum galat nahi karoge ye pata tha mujhe...

For Abhimanyu this was more chilling than comforting. If everything he was led to believe was a lie then why did she leave?!

Abhimanyu: Phir kyu?

A tear made its way to her chin. Abhimanyu felt hurt as he got exposed to the pain in her eyes. His thumb caressed her chin and wiped it off.  She recalled the terrible manipulation, the emotionally exhausting trap of Kunal and further, her abuse at his hands. A part of her wanted to rat him out and get the man punished. She knew he husband was strong enough to wreck someone's whole world, especially when the said someone had hurt her. Yet, a small part of her wanted to hide in his arms and cry for days. She decided to chose the later in that moment.

Akshara: Abhi..

She hugged him and let her emotions unfold. She poured all the pain, the fear, the hurt- everything that she had bottled inside her. She had no one all these months. Kairav was there on rare days but on those occasions, she had to be strong to support him. There was no one to handle her if she felt weak. She had been strong far too long so she let her fall weak in arms of the man who was her strength.

Abhimanyu: Akshu!! Kya hua hai? Please. Sambhalo khud ko. Kairav nahi toh kyu? Mujhe tension ho rahi hai ki aisa kya ho gaya?

Despite all the mixed feelings he had dealt with, he could not stop himself from patting her head. He closed his eyes and felt her warmth for the first time since months as he tried to calm her down.

Akshara: (sniff) sorry, you deserve to know. But Abhi, please understand. I had no choice. Mai- vo...I don't know where to start. Tumhari surgery wale din na-

'Bzzzzzzz'

Akshara stilled and turned at the door. Who could be at the door at this hour?

Akshara: (in mind) Kon hoga? Unless! Oh God! What if it is Kunal? Checking on me as usual?

The bell rang again. Abhimanyu scanned her face. He observed the distress and his hold tightened on her. He could feel extreme anger bubbling inside him.

Abhimanyu: Someone had scared you to stay away from me!?!? Really?!

Akshara could see blood in his eyes . The bell went off again.

Akshara: Tum....tum abhi yahan aao...

Abhimanyu did not budge. Akshara somehow pulled him to the balcony and closed the curtains after requesting him to stay silent. While Abhimanyu was seething, he chose to let her do whatever she wanted. It was time he faced her monster.

Akshara headed to the door.

Akshara: Nahi! abhi khol dungi toh ye sau sawal puchega ki time kyu laga? Pr...

She heard some shuffling and realized the door was getting opened. She reacted quick on her feet and slept on the floor near the bed. As she had thought, Kunal had convinced the staff that his sister 'Akanksha Khera' might be unwell and was not not responding to calls. Since the room was booked by him, they opened it for him using the master key. Kunal strolled in and saw the empty room at a glance.

Kunal: (in mind) ye kahan chali gayi!??! Oh no!!! Kahin isse pta toh nahi chal gaya ki Kairav mere admiyon ke pass se bhaag gaya? But isse kaise pata chalega, iske pass to phone bhi nahi hai...

Staff: Sir, let me check the washroom.

She went and said no one was in but when she staff came out, she gasped seeing Akshara on the floor.

Staff: sir- ye yahan...

Kunal entered further inside the room and fumed.

Kunal: (in mind) mai pareshan ho raha hoon aur ye so rahi hai? Aisi kya neend hai ki bell bhi nahi suni...

Akshara: (in mind) kitna cheap hai ye. Master key se mera room khulwa liya aur seedha andr aa gaya. Hey Kanha Ji, ab ye bina kuch bole chala jaye wrna Abhi isse iske pairon pr nahi bhejega...

Kunal sent the staff away, saying he'll handle and shut the door as soon as she left.

Kunal: AKSHARA!!!

Akshara: (in mind) de diya isne maut ko bulawa...

She jumped and woke up as if she got scared out of her sleep. She then rubbed her eyes and asked him what happened.

Kunal: Bell nahi sunai deti kya?

Akshara: I ate medicines that you gave me! Remember ? for the cold? Aa gayi mujhe neend...

Kunal: aise floor pr?

Akshara: Mai bed pr nahi soti...your sister told you pehle bhi...

Kunal: That was different..

Akshara: How!?

Kunal: Tb competition itna pass nahi tha. Kl Maya ke liye bada din hai. Aap aaj already bheeg gayi thi. Mai nahi chahta ab floor pr sokr bimar ho jao aur kl Maya ke liye gaa bhi na pao..

Abhimanyu: What the hell! And this voice..

He peeped but could not see the face clearly but his jaw was twitching. Someone was using his wife's voice to make their sister get ahead in competition. Why she was selling her identity could be answered later but he would not let anyone steal her credit. Never!

He was about to move forward when Kunal asked Akshara to sit on the bed and kneeled on the ground. He pulled out the tracker.

Akshara: Ye kyu!?

Kunal: (in mind) Galti se bhi Kairav ke bhaag jaane ki khabar milkr kahin aap na bhaag jao, isliye..

But, he told her because she disappeared today during the pendal and this would help him find her if it happened again.

Akshara: No! you took it off yourself! Ab kyu!!?

She tried to get up but Kunal did not let her.

Kunal: Kyunki I say so!!

Akshara: No!! isse mujhe dard hota hai...shock bhi lgta hai...mai raat ko kahan jaungi?? Leave my leg..

She shoved Kunal away and got up.

Akshara: BS HO GAYA HAI TUMHARA! MUJHE AB TUMHE BARDASH KRNE KI KOI ZARURAT NAHI HAI!!! YOU CANNOT TORTURE ME ANYMORE!!!

She started to move towards the balcony to get Abhimanyu whose hands were already fisted. He was seeing red but waiting to understand as much of the story as he could. Kunal also got angry as Akshara yelled and pushed him. He caught the back of her neck as she was passing him to go to the balcony and pulled her back. His forceful actions made her yelp and fall on the bed.

Akshara: aah!!!!

Abhimanyu: ENOUGH!!!!

He ripped off the curtains and got out of the dark balcony. Kunal turned to get the shock of his life while Abhimanyu too felt blown away.

Abhimanyu: YOU!?!?!?

His eyes went behind him where Akshara was on the bed with unshed tears in her eyes. The shock tracker that he was forcefully trying to make her wear was lying on the floor near her. It broke his heart into pieces that his wife whom he always handled with so much love was getting treated like this.

Abhimanyu: HOW DARE YOU!?

Kunal: D-dekhi-

Before Kunal could even answer, Abhimanyu kicked him on his chest making him fall down with double the force near Akshara. She stood up quickly and ran to stand behind him. Abhimanyu went and grabbed his collar. He pulled him up and smacked his face near his ear. Kunal could hear them ring.

Kunal: Li-st-...You...cann-ot

Abhimanyu was hitting him badly. Kunal was falling here and there in the room. He could not even form his sentences before Abhimanyu would pack him with punches.

Akshara: Abhi!!! Abhi!! Chodo usse...please!! dekho tumhe lag na jaye...

Abhimanyu: Meri biwi ko mujhse door kiya tune!?? Usse aise baat kaise ki??! Usse track karega!??!?! Dhakka dega!!???? Mai tujhe batata hoon Dhaka kaise diya jata hai.....

The neighbouring rooms complained about the sounds coming from 205 and the staff came running there. They opened the room and broke the two apart.

Manager: Take them both away. Itne important guests hai hotel me, celebrities hai! We need to hush the matter quickly!!!

Staff: Sir, ye Mr. Khera ki booking hai aur ye inki sister hai Akanksha. Maine abhi ye room master key se khola tha for him. Ye admi pata nahi kon hai. We should hand him over to the polic-

Akshara: No!! Aisa sochna bhi mt...(covers Abhimanyu) 'Ye Admi' mere husband hai. Mr. Khera mere bhai nahi hai balki unhone mujhe yahan zabardasti rakha hua tha. My husband actually saved me when Mr. Khera was trying to raise a hand on me.

The hotel staff became quiet but there was no way Akshara was letting Abhimanyu get punished for beating Kunal who clearly deserved it.

Manager: Pata nahi kya ho raha hai, ma'am aap chaliye humare sath...in dono ko bhi le chalo...

The manager said and the three were taken down to the management room. Kunal was badly bruised up and shaking- thinking his game was now over and his sister's dreams would never come true. Akshara tentatively held Abhimanyu's hands. His knuckled were bruised and the way his jaw was set- it was clear he was still angry. He had many questions in his mind. Everything was too jumbled up but he let them steal the quiet moment before the storm as they held each other's hands in silence and followed the manager.

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

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