Chapter 2

Alia.q

@Alia.q

Thank you everyone for the likes & comments! It is super long but I hope I could do justice to the confrontation scene😊

Breaking Barriers 

Akshara started mumbling to herself as she quickly dried her face of any lingering tears, patted down her hair and stood, racing back to where her family all sat having tea with Harshvardhan. A little in shock at the scene, Akshara searched for Arohi only to find her coming down the stairs clear of any soot and in a fresh outfit. 

Arohi, extremely happy at the turn of events had taken extra care to look nice especially knowing Harshvadhan Birla, her soon to be father in law was still here. 

Luck and fate was on her side and no matter what, she would get what she wanted as she always did, she gloated in her mind as she rejoined the family with a smile.

Just as she was about to sit, she felt an arm forcibly turn her around and bring her face to face with her sister or rather her beloved  stepsister.

For a moment she feared her game was up. Seeing the almost crazy look on her sisters face had her worried about the future she and her luck had been working towards. 

But then she remember that this was Akshara and she would never open her mouth and never cause drama. Perfect little daughter that she always pretended to be would never knowingly hurt the family. This facade often frustrated Arohi because she could not bare to see Akshara gain everyones love and attention. 

But she would play along, for the sake of her future and her victory over her, she would definitely play along. 

“Ouch, Akshu sambhal ke. Kya hua hai tujhe?” Crooned Arohi in fake concern. 

Akshara, looking at the happy faces of her family, and the worried face of Kairav, in the last second decided to pulled her to the side.

 “Abhimanyu ko mere bhare mein kya bataya hai tumne?!” Whispered Akshara. She did not want to cause a scene in front of everyone, in front of Harshvardhan Birla but seeing Arohis “concerned” face change to one of fear and arrogance, she knew there would be one no matter what she did. Today, though would be different, today for the first time in years Akshara would not back down. 

“Kya matlab hai tumhara?” Arohi almost yelled. “Main Abhimanyu ko tumhare bhare mein kyun kuch bolungi? Aur Abhimanyu kyun tumhare bhare mein kuch poochega?” She taunted glaringly. 

The yelling had brought the entire family around the girls to see what the ruckus was. Everything was fine moments ago, what had happened to once again cause such a scene at the Goenka mansion. 

“Enough!” Manish yelled in his stern voice. “Akshara, Arohi yeh kya ho raha hai. Tum dono kya ek bhi din bina jagra kiye nahi reh sakte? Aaj ke liye itna drama kahfi hai. Jao apne kamre mein tum dono!” He ordered without even taking a moment to understand the situation.

Akshara continued to glare at Arohi. She had made up her mind to fight for her love and now nothing not even Bada papa would be able to stop her. She opened her mouth to apologize for disobeying but before she could she heard another voice.

“Nahi Bade Papa. Aaj inn dono ko koi nahi rokega. Aaj inki beech koi bhi nahi bolega” declared Kairav while giving everyone a look as if to warn them. And as everyone stared worriedly at the two sisters, Kairav made his way to Harshvardhan who continued to look at Akshara with disdain for constantly being the cause of every problem.

“Uncle apka bhi yaha rehna zaroori hai. Ab yaha jo hoga uska apke pariwar par bhi asar hoga aur aap sabka sach jaana bhi zaroori hai” Kairav requested to a confused looking harshvardhan, who replied in a nod.

The two girls continued to glare at each other. Arohi daring Akshara to open her mouth and Akshara challenging Arohi to lie. 

“Arohi, main shanti se puch rahi hu, kya kaha tumne Abhimanyu ko mere bhare mein? Jooth bolni ki himat bhi mat kar kyun ke main tujhe bhi ache se janti hu aur Abhimanyu ko bhi.  Hosh aate hi usne mere bhare mein pucha hoga. Agar “tumne” usse aag se bachaya tha toh main kaha thi Arohi?” Akshara stressed out  “tumne” letting Arohi know her lie would not last. 

Arohi had never seen Akshara as she was now. She had never seen Akshara fighting her in such a manner and realizing her gig was over she started yelling defensively. She had expected Akshara to bow down to her wishes as always. Arohi had expected an easy win but this? This was going to be her end and yet she would not go down easily either. Her trump card always worked, always had akshara backing down when she got too strong and she prayed it would work today too. 

“Tum phir se mujhse sab kuch cheen na chahte ho na? Tumse meri khushi dikhi nahi jaati. Pehle meri ma ko cheena aur aaj yeh sab karke mujhse mera pyaar cheen rahe ho? Kaisi behen ho tum? Sauteli ho na isliye meri khushi bardasht nahi hoti tumse!” Arohi cried loudly trying to guilt Akshara into submission and gain the sympathy of her family. 

What she didn’t know was that Akshara had finally accepted the end of their relationship and would no longer bow down to her emotional dramas. What she also didn’t realize was that Kairav refused to let anyone speak between them. 

“BAS KAR AROHI GOENKA!” Akshara exploded back. Years of pain trembling through her voice. 

“Sautela pan maine nahi, hamesha TUMNE dikhayi hai! Cheen na maine nahi TUMNE hai! Meri har cheez, meri har khushi, pariwar ke sath mera waqt aur yaha tak ke meri kiye hue kaamo ki credit lekin ab bas bahot hua.” Akshara took a step forward, staring right into Arohis eyes and continued in clear and steady voice.

“Ab mein tumhe aur kuch cheene nahi dungi. Ab jo mera hai woh mera hi rahega chahe uske liye mujhe tujhse larna hi kyun pare. Aur kya pucha tume? Kaisi behen hu main? Toh aaj main sabki samne tumhari aage apni akhri haar manti hu. Tera mujhse rishta todne ki zid jeet gaye aur mera Sirat Ma ko diya waada haar gaya. Khush!” Aksharas declaration shocked everyone in the family. Akhilesh stepped forward to defend his favourite Arohi but Kairav once again held him back shaking his head. 

“AG yeh hona zaroori hai please!” Whispered an agitated Kairav. Why don’t the adults understand how important it is for both girls to get rid of years worth of pain and anger, he thought sadly. 

“Ab tujhe jo karna hai karle, mere bhare mein jo sochna hai sochle, lekin mujhe sach sach suna hai ki tumne Abhimanyu ko kya bataya hai? Aur jitna main tujhe jaanti hu asani se guess kar sakti hu ki yeh tera pehla jhoot to nahi hoga. Toh aaj kulke batao aur kis kis bhare mein jhooth bola hai tumne?” Akshara repeated sternly.

Arohi was at a loss for words. She had never anticipated Akshara standing up to her but she had also never anticipated Akshara facing death so closely.

“Mai..maine koi jhooth nahi kaha hai. Mein kyun jhooth bolungi?” Arohi tried her luck again stumbling for words.

Akshara had had enough. She refused to care about Arohi anymore but she had to know what evil lies she had planted in Abhimanyus head. There was no way that Abhimanyu would not call her after the day they’ve had. Even if she had not been the one to save him, the Abhimanyu she knew would have called her at least once just to make sure she was alright.

She looked around at the faces of her family. She knew this was hurting each and every one of them but she was tired of putting herself and her emotions in the backseat. As she spotted her phone, she remembered the trick she used to outsmart Ruby. She turned to see Arohi almost trembling and so so anxious. It would only take a small nudge just as it had with Ruby. 

“Thik hai,” she said sighing and she turned to pick up her phone off the coffee table.

“Tumhe nahi batana hai toh main seedha Abhimanyu se hi puchta hu. Gusse mein hi sahi lekin jawab toh milega” she stated while pretending to dial Abhimanyu.

No! Arohi thought! Abhimanyu could not get involved! He would hate her and she would lose before she could even get him on her side.  She could feel the pressure building up inside her. As she stared at her family members, she realized that no one would step up in her defence or rather Kairav bhaiya wouldn’t let anyone to interfere. 

As Akshara lifted the phone to her ear, she exploded and screamed in anger, “BAS KAR AKSHARA. Bahot ho gaya. Kya jaana hai tumhe huh? Haan maine jhoot bhola hai, bahot jhoot bhola hai aur haar baar sab meri baat mante rahe. Pata hai kyun? Kyun ki Abhimanyu meri kismat mein hai, woh mera hai! Tumhara nahi samji!” She yelled hysterically as she walked closer to Akshara.

Akshara sighed in relief and in sadness, her plan had worked but it still hurt her to see her little sister so lost in anger and in her ego. She placed her phone in her pocket and stared right into Arohis eyes making sure her every word was heard by Arohi.

“Abhimanyu koi cheez nahi hai jo tumhari kehne par tumhara hojayega, nahi woh koi taufa ya trophy hai jise mein chor kar tujhe de sakhu. Arohi woh ek insaan hai. Uski apni marzi hai, uski apni pasand hai aur bhale hi tujhe woh pasand ho lekin usne kabhi bhi tujhe us nazron se nahi dekha. Tu samajhti kyun nahi! “ Akshara tried again to make Arohi understand but without success. 

“Akshara tu samajhti nahi hai! Main usse pyar karti hu aur kismat bhi humein milana chahti hai! Tu hi har baar beech mein aajati hai.” She glared at Akshara before pacing restlessly, anxiously trying to get her point across. 

She wasn’t wrong, she couldn’t be wrong. Fate had helped her so much and it had to be because they belonged together.

“Dekh tune toh rishte keliye mana kar diya na! Phir uske baad bhar bhar Abhimanyu aur uske family ke samne kismat mujhe laati rahi. Court hearing se pehli Manjari Aunty mujhe mili thi aur unhone mujhse kaha ki main tumhe gavai dene ke liye manau. Tu toh pehle hi gavai dene ke liye jha chuki thi lekin phir bhi baad mein Abhimanyu ne mujhe thanks kaha usse bachane ke liye!  Phir tune aunty ke health keliye pooja rakhi ti na mandir main? Waha bhi pooja ke baad Pandit ji ne thali mujhe dedi and kismat ka khel dekho! Ussi waqt waha Abhimanyu bhi tha aur usse laga ki pooja maine karwayi. Aur aaj! Aaj toh matlab had hi hogaye! Aag mein tu kudi lekin jab Abhimanyu utha toh usse laga maine usse bachaya!  Yeh kismat nahi toh aur kya hai Akshara! Har baat ke liye Abhimanyu ke samne mera naam aata gaya! Jab kismat humein saath lana chahti hai toh tu beech mein kyun aarahe hai!?” Arohi stopped her pacing to direct her last question to Akshara.

Arohi, lost in her rant failed to notice the baffled expressions on the faces of everyone in the room. So much had happened right under their noses and none of them knew a thing? Had they failed in raising Arohi so much that she refused to see anything but what her own mind had created?

Especially shocked was Harshvardan Birla. His son was right all along. This little chit of a girl loved his son more than anything, more than her own life. His anger was justified for she had rejected him, but Harshvardan could no longer deny the deep, all encompassing love the two shared. 

He also felt ashamed of the way he had been treating the girl who had saved his son not once but multiple times, the girl who did so much for his family without expecting anything, not even acknowledgement. He could not believe how terrible he was at judging people but he was at least happy for his son. He was brought back to reality with Aksharas calm and clear voice.

“You don’t love him Arohi!” She stated tiredly. Her throat was starting to hurt. She had refused to see a doctor despite the length of time she had spent trapped in the smoke and fire, she had bigger concerns then but right now, it seemed as though the day was catching up to her. 

“Ab tum mujhe bataogi ki main kya feel karti hu ya nahi?” Grumbled Arohi. She could not believe this! 

“Tujhe tujhse behter janti hu Arohi. Tune kabhi mujhe samajne ki khoshish nahi ki magar mere liye tujhse pehle koi nahi tha…”

“Oh please! Ab tum sabke samne yeh dikhana chahte ho ke tume kitni achi ho aur main kitni buri..” Arohi interupted in anger.

Exasperated at how difficult her little sister could be, Akshara just pulled at her hair and let out a little scream. She couldn’t do this anymore…this argument, although eye-opening was not getting her anywhere. All she wanted to know was what lie Arohi had spread now. It had be terrible if Abhimanyu was hurt enough not to enquire about her after a fire. 

“Tujhe jo sochna hai, tu soch sakti hai. Mujhe aaj ke baad isse koi farq nahi parta” replied Akshara with a heavy heart, “mujhe bas itna jaana hai ki tune Abhimanyu se aaj kya kaha. Baki sare raaz toh khol hi chuki, yeh bhi bata de aur khatam kar humare beech ke saare baatien.” 

Arohi startled as she finally realized that she herself had announced to everyone all her deeds. As she looked at everyones diappointed and angry faces, she knew she needed a plan, a way to get back into everyones good books. 

Uhggg this akshara, always ruining my life! Thought Arohi as she started tearing up. 

“Maine yeh sab apne pyar ko paane ke liye kiya hai. Aur maine koi jhoot nahi bhola, bas sab ko misunderstanding hoti gayi ki yeh maine kiya hai…” she cried out. 

“Bas kar Arohi! Akshu ne jo pucha uska jawab de!” Kairav came to stand beside Akshara, happy to finally be able to support Akshara the ways he always wanted to.

Seeing everyone side with Akshara brought so much hatred in Arohis eyes as she finally gave up and revealed her final act of deceit.

“Tumne mujhse haar cheez cheena hai na? Aaj toh mera pariwar bhi mujhe galat samajhti hai tumhari wajah se toh maine bhi Abhimanyu ko cheena tujhse. Sahi kaha tha tumne, usse hosh aate hi usne tumhare bhare mein pucha. Aur maine bhi mauka dekh kar usse bata diya ki tu chali gayi waha se. Usse aag mein chor kar chali gayi! Khush!” Arohi screeched.  

Everyone was stunned in silence. It was clear as daylight how much Abhimanyu loved Akshara and they could only imagine how much pain he would be in while thinking Akshara had not even cared that he was trapped in the fire. 

Akshara stumbled backwards only to be caught by a worried Kairav, “Akshu sambhal khudko! Abhi toh tujhe Abhimanyu ko bhi sach batana hai, saari confusion clear karna hai” whispered Kairav. 

“Mujhe jaa na hai bhaiya, jald se jald Abhimanyu ke paas jaa na hai. Kitna hurt hoga woh?” Mumbled Akshara as more tears started to form in her eyes. 

She had already hurt him so much and now this? Akshara knew how it felt when the person you cared for the most didn’t care at all whether you lived or died and she refused to let Abhimanyu believe this. 

As she started to run towards the doors, she was stopped by Harshvardan.

“Chalo mein tumhe le jata hu Abhimanyu ke paas.” Harshvardan wanted this chance to right his wrongs but seeing Akshara shaking her head he wondered if he ever could.

“Nahi Uncle, galat mat samajhiyga lekin ghadi mein bahot time lagega, mujhe jald se jald pohoncha hai…” she turned again towards Kairav 

“ bhaiya please, Mumma ki bike lejau? Promise sambhal ke jaungi, please bhaiya!” And Kairav who could not refuse her plea, nodded. 

Getting the keys Akshara race out, followed by Harshvardhan.

Watching Akshara run out had kairavs heart pounding in fear. His Akshu was drained physically, mentally and emotionally. He prayed she would be safe on her journey but knew he would not be able to stop her today and with that he turned his attention to his youngest sister. It was finally time to set some things straight.

“Bhaiya aap bhi uski side ho? Haar baar usse hi sab kuch kyun milta hai? Sab log usse mujhse zyada pyaar karte hai. Aur aaj usne mujhse Abhimanyu ka pyaar bhi cheen liya. It’s not fair!” Cried a devastated Arohi. 

“Nahi Arohi” stated Kairav calmly but sternly, “what’s not fair is how you’ve been treating Akshara til now. Aaj sab ke samne tujhe sachayi ka samna karna hi parega! Galat Akshara nahi hai aur na kabhi thi. Galat teri soch hai aur shayad hum sab bhi galat the tujhse yeh sab chupane ke liye.” 

Arohi didn’t understand what Kairav meant. What was there that she didn’t know? Akshara was always given more importance, be it in the matter of her mother or grandmother. Arohis Nani was never even mentioned unless it was to taunt her for it. She was the laadli of the house and loved no matter what she did. Meanwhile Arohi had to work much harder to get the best marks and bring home trophies in order to get some attention. 

“Jab se tujhe pata chala hai ki Sirat Ma humari janam dene wali Ma nahi hai, tu koi na koi baat dhoond hi leeti ho Akshu se larne ke liye. Hum sabne dekha. Jab choti thi toh apni Nani ko lekar hum sab se larni lagi. Pata kya hai tujhe apni Nani ke bhare mein?” Asked Kairav. 

Arohi stood shocked and devastated as Kairav continued to narrate how her Nani had abandoned her Mumma and started a new family. How her Nani had selfishly demanded money on the day of her parents and attempted multiple tricks in order to stop their wedding. And perhaps most shocking of all was how her Nani and her husband were responsible for the near death experience her Father had faced before her birth. Had she seriously misunderstood the whole situation thought Arohi? 

“Aur tu yeh kaise bhool gayi ki main bhi Sirat Ma ka khoon nahi hu? Mere liye itna pyaar aur izzat, aur Akshu ke liye itni nafrat? Yeh bhet bhaav kyun?” 

Kairav would not stop until everything was off his chest today. He continued to explain every sacrifice Akshara had made to ensure Arohis happiness, every battle Akshara had fought on behalf of Arohi and as he neared the end he could see how affected Arohi appeared to be by the truth. To drive the truth straight into Arohis heart, Kairav decided to end his speech with the current situation.

“Akshu sach keh rahi thi Aru. Tujhe Abhimanyu se pyaar nahi hai, na kabhi tha. Pyaar mein dil ka istemal hota hai dimag ka nahi. Pyaar mein profession, status, looks, yeh sab nahi dekha jata.” 

Kairav had heard Arohis “best ko best” wala speech enough times to know that Arohi didn’t truly care for Abhimanyu as more than a trophy. 

“ Haan shayad thora sa attraction tha joh Abhimanyu aur Akshara ki bhare mein pata chalne ki baad tumhara zid banchuka tha. Tu bachpan se yeh hi toh karti aa rahi hai. Apna gift chorkar, tujhe hamesha Akshu ka gift chahiye tha, phir chahe woh khilona ho ya kapre. Kab aisa karna teri aadat bangaye tujhe khud pata nahi chala.” Kairav sighed, Akshara was partly to blame here too. He had tried so hard to make her understand not to agree to Arohis every whim but Akshara, bound to Sirat Ma’s promise could not say no to Arohi. 

Kairav looked around the room and could see everyone repenting for the way they had behaved. They had spoiled Arohi and unknowingly neglected Akshara. It wasn’t that one was loved more than the other, but Arohi was more demanding of both their time and attention while Akshara always chose to step back. As the adults in the house, they had failed to both find a balance between the girls and reconcile their differences. How would their relationships change from this point was the question on everyones mind.

“Aru, dar toh is baat ka hai ki kahi joh pyaar tera tha hi nahi usse paane ke chakar mein, tune uss pyaar ko koh na diya ho joh bachpan se tera tha.” Kairav had said all he could and after a final glance at Arohi, he turned to walk away. 

Arohi could not believe everything she had heard. How had she misunderstood everything so much, how had hatred and jealousy blinded her to the point where she couldn’t see the true love and adoration her older sister had for her. In a trance, her mind now seeing her life in a new light, Arohi slowly walked to her room. In her zid she had truly lost everything, her sister’s love, her family's respect and now her peace of mind.