I know Imlie is wrong and being stupid, but what else do we expect from a traumatized teenager?
She has supressed trauma from Malini and Malini is purposefully exploiting her triggers.
Imlie has abandonment issues, her biological father abandoned both her and her mother. Which makes her wish for a happy family to all kids, that was also the reason she allowed Malini to stay at Tripathi house after everything.
Speculation:
In the event of Imlie losing chiku, she is going to be more obsessed with gudiya and likely to make more rash decisions.
Aryan will again try to strong arm her (like wedding track) because she needs that intervention now, she has no rights to snatch gudiya from her mother. However, she might actually run away this time and Malini will have a lot to do with Imlie running away.
Disclaimer: this is based on all the information we have till now.
ETA: Imlie feels the need to protect everyone from malini because she is the reason malini hates them. Malini wouldn't have hated or been so cruel/ insensitive to Tripathi's including her own baby if Imlie wasn't in the equation.
AKT ka name is only a plot device, that Malini will use to guilt Imlie and sow doubts in her family (Narmada basically)
This is classic sister conflict, and best part is it comes without cringe sautan drama.
Lastly, it may seem like Imlie vs Malini on the surface, but it will actually unfold as ASR vs Malini.