@Suchitra,...
a very "hatke" type of topic to discuss...thanks for opening thus
MY POV IS: Sonia was totally money minded and Sakshi is also, I say partially because she also needs money and she is doing this for her better future with Tarun,. The difference is Sakshi on her own would not have accepted Alekh, as she is in love with Tarun.
but that does not make Sakshi innocent wholly, just provides a justification of her actions. Sonia was not clever, I'ld say she was rather foolish and greedy. Had she married Ranveer with a true heart, Ranveer would have given her everything, without her even asking for those...be it name, wealth, love.
Sakshi is fully aware that she is cheating the Rajvanshs, and she is justifying herself by saying she is doing "tit for tat". When Tarun runs away, the only and best alternative for her is to get the title of Rajvansh bahu, in that way she can be saved and she will have a secure shelter. And then slowly she might accept Alekh.
Sonia was never shown to have physical intimacy with Ranveer or the other guy, but Sakshi is shown to have been physically involved with Tarun. I feel when the Cts have decided to cast Sakshi opposite Alekh, they should not have brought this issue of premarital sex. Esp. when the Cts were aware how much protest was done over the illegitimate relationship of Inderjeet.
If this premarital stuff of Sakshi was not brought into, Sakshi could have easily got sympathy of the viewers and the eventual acceptance. But now, at least to me, I did not expect this from the Bidaai cts. I love Sadhna's character a lot, but that in no way stood in my thoughts to see Alekh normal and happy with another girl. Thats the reason I wanted to see a girl with some values, and Sakshi day by day is falling short. Beyond a limit, some mistakes become sin and cannot be washed off easily. Poverty, circumstance can never justify a person's getting involved in premarital sex.