As the old English proverb goes, actions speak louder than words. Their entire lives, Akshara proclaimed her undying love and devotion to Aarohi, but the latter never believed her. Why would she trust Akshara? After all, they were just words, and words cost nothing. Aarohi needs to see Akshara's actions reflect those declarations because actions cost everything.
Don't get Haider wrong. He knows Akshara's sacrifices speak volumes about her care for Aarohi. But those actions were shrouded by Aarohi's false sense of entitlement and hauteur. Breaking Aarohi's delusions was no easy task. Haider must isolate her from people like Akhilesh Goenka and Harshvardan Birla, who fuel her ego.
Aarohi wasn't a firm believer in pooja and paath like the rest of the Goenka's. Her path strayed from religion the day the Gods they prayed to stole her greatest treasures - her Maa and Papa.
Like their parent's death, Akshara felt responsible for her sister's lost faith. For Akshara, religion was a way to connect with her parent's souls and pray that they are content, at peace wherever they are. Worship helped Akshara grieve and move forward. But Aarohi was frozen. The Goenka's fell for Aarohi's pretense of being alright and living in the now. Not Akshara, though. Akshara could see past it. Aarohi's vacant expression, monotone voice, and vehement desire to quash any relation with Akshara shattered her front.
Would faith give Aarohi the resilience it showed me? Akshara asked Haider one day when she saw her sister lost in the phone while their family indulged in humour and memories. At Iccha Kund, a glimmer of hope emerged in her chest as she watched Aarohi try her luck with faith again. Agar tumhari iccha puri kar ke, tum mere aur bhagwan ke paas aa sakti ho, toh Aaru, main puri koshish karongi (If fulfilling your wish brings you closer to me and God, then I'll do everything in my power to grant your wish). Akshara rushed to call and share her hope with Haider when they returned from Iccha Kund.
"Did you ever figure out what Aaru wished for?" Haider asked Akshara as they awaited Aarohi's return from the shower. A shared washroom connected Aarohi and Akshara's rooms. Today, they'd head to the temple to pray for Aarohi's marriage and the solace of Kartik, Naira, and Sirat's souls. Akshara hoped with Aarohi's newfound zest for life, Aarohi would join in the remembrance pooja, not just observe from afar. Kairav and Vansh left earlier to pick up the pooja materials, so Haider was left to take the girls.
"Yaar, tum kitne badtameez ho (you're so rude). You're not even going to ask how I'm feeling after yesterday?" Akshara quipped to change the topic.
"Kya fayda hai poochne ka, jab tum jhoot bol ke baat ko taal do gi (what's the point of asking when you'll just lie and change the topic)."
"Kaunsa jhoot (which lie)?" she asked in a meek voice.
"Wohi, 'I'm fine Haider, tum meri chinta maat karo'" ('I'm fine Haider, don't worry about me').
If Akshara was honest, it was unnerving how flawless his imitation of her was, with a toothy grin, high-pitched yet soft tone, and a hand braced on her shoulder.
"Woh jhoot nahi, sach hai (that's the truth)," Akshara said while shrugging his hand off her shoulder.
"Dekha! Ye sab chodo aur mere sawal ka jawab do (See! Now answer my original question)," Haider pressed.
"Usne Abhimanyu ka saath manga tha (she asked for Abhimanyu's companionship)," Akshara relented as Haider's incessant pokes on her shoulder annoyed her.
"Is that why you abandoned Abhimanyu? To please Aaru?"
"I didn't reject him for Aarohi" she said under her breath.
