If we ignore traits of Harsh(PB) selfishness and rather cold treatment to his wife for a bit to analyse Pb as FIL, I feel as a father he genuinely wanted his son to be happy and was ready to get him married to the girl of his choice initially.
I feel more than his hunger for status, for harsh the problem with akshara lies in the fact that the girl has the audacity to refuse his son the most eligible bachelor's proposal to marry on his face at their doorstep, despite being a mute spectator while they were getting insulted, when they visited their house with a marriage proposal.
It's natural for a father to desire to get his son married to an educated, status conscious, worldly wise girl like arohi who is clever enough to manipulate and has the know how to get things done either by manipulation or hard work, whereas akshara comes across as not so well educated, emotional, sacrificial lamb who mostly remains mute.
Also the problem with akshara is; she lacks the sense of perception of situations and surroundings, she bottles up vital information a lot, so much that she cant stop talking the non sensical stuff like trying to talk about K bhaiyya wedding matters not even taking cognizance of anisha parents emotions, her aspiration to become like her mom(choti sherni) an intrepid female, is far from her reality of her conditioning to be her step sister's doormat(bhigi billi).
Her only saving grace is always her unfinched love to the people around and people trusting her for her affable qualities.
Though she is a human known for high values and morals everything can get diluted when she's having to support the people she's conditioned to care, her conditioning cocoon is impregnable for others to decipher what's inside and her conditioning mostly triumphs over her emotions except for when she's near the extremes.
I suspect her contentment also comes from her complacency to not take the trouble of stretching her capabilities further.
ANOTHER MANJARI IN THE MAKING
Akshara and manjiri both have similar traits, they hide things, let issues get out of control, take abuse lying down of people they love, not serious about their individual growth, ok with being a sacrificial lamb giving importance to others more than needed. Significantly They lack attention to detail in executing a job with precision. Like somebody rightly said "landed in London talking of Tokyo". Their overenthusiasm always should send alarm π bells to people.
Ex: Mataji's overenthusiastic goof up during tilak 1.0 of Abhi, madam ji's confession behind a barrier recently without caring who is listening.
I can't feel sorry for such people because it's all self inflicted.
Very well put through words Raji...β€οΈ
I had mentioned couple of times - Ak is like Looking London talking Tokyo..
Her words monologues do not match actions..she is hell confused soul..she gave mixed signals to Abhi during Ar-Abhi marriage track..made that boy's life hell..
They realize they are hurting their beloved yet keep hurting them with next action...
Ak is not suitable to marry anyone with this inner turmoil..
Abhi is giving up on her now between Her-Ar equation..Ak has to fight form her side..
Agar she does not want to get out of this toxic relation then Ak will turn nightmare for Abhi ..it will be unbearable to see such relationship journey..