Twin Flames: a YRKKH Abhira ff

Chapter 14

Akshara and Aarohi were currently standing in front of the mirror in their matching pink robes and doing their make-up and hair for the pooja. As Akshara helped Aarohi curl her hair, she suddenly remembered about Aarohi's disagreement with Neil and asked her about it.

"Oh God Akshu, he is so annoying. He called me because apparently there was some misprint on a form because of one of my certifications and he refused to believe me when I told him that it really wasn't my fault and they were the ones who messed up so uh I- " Aaru said glancing at Akshu sheepishly. Akshara rolled her eyes at Aarohi 

"Aaru you also na, why do you have to constantly pick fights with people. You really should be nicer to people, especially Neil. He is not just your potential boss but he is also our family now. And what did he say to you that was so crazy? He was just doing his job, you need to stop being so defensive" Akshara replied grimacing as she thought of poor Neil. 

"Akshu shut up, you don't know overconfident men like these who think just because they are in power they can speak to me like this. Especially when it wasn't my fault and he was the one who made a mistake" Aarohi said shutting Akshara down. 

Both the sisters continued arguing and gossiping as they finished dressing and eventually walked down towards the rest of the family. The entire Goenka family turned around to look at the sisters and the perfect picture they made as they giggled about something together. Aarohi had on a powder blue and golden lehenga while Akshara had a beautiful silver black and pink lehenga with sparkling necklace, big jhumkas and delicate bangles. 

"Swarna bring me the pooja thali, I think we should get the nazar removed from the kids as all the eyes will be on our beautiful kids, Humaara dil bol raha hai aaj bohot kuch accha hoga ( I believe in my heart that something is going to shift today) " Mimi said as she removed the nazar from all 4 kids.

"Akshu all you have to do is just breathe, you have Aaru with you.. nothing bad will happen. Just ignore everyone else" Akshara gave herself a pep talk as everyone began making their way to the cars to leave for the Birlas. As the Goenkas reached the Birla house and  made their way to the entrance, Aarohi pulled Akshu to the side and whispered "I'll be with you Akshu, you will be ok., just grab my hand if you need me and we can find a quiet corner" The amount of relief Akshara felt was unparalleled hearing Aarohi's words. 

The Birla family waited by the entrance to welcome the Goenkas with a pooja thaali. This was the first time both the clans were complete as only the elders and Kairav-Anisha had met to discuss their nuptials. Bade Papa stepped forward and introduced everyone. When he got to Aarohi, Neil childishly couldn't help but stick his tongue out at her causing Aarohi to shoot him a death glare. This caused Akshara to come out of her anxious state of mind and dissolve in a  fit of giggles. Manjari saw Akshara giggling and walked towards her and Aarohi and placed a hand on both their cheeks. 

"Bhaisahab, your girls are even more beautiful than what I've heard from everyone. Anisha tells me that as beautiful as they are, they are even more talented and kind hearted" Majari told Bade Papa. Akshara and Aarohi both blushed and Akshara impulsively bent down to touch Manjari's feet. Manjari was thrown aback but grabbed her and hugged her tightly, "Beta we are family now, the only person who we should take blessings from is Mimi". Akshara had not felt a mother's touch in so long and Manjari's kindness made her think about her parents and her eyes welled up. "Thank you Aunty" she whispered in Manjari's ears as she pulled herself back so everyone else could greet each other. Manjari kept looking at Akshara as she ushered everyone inside and couldn't help but feel protective of this gentle, beautiful girl she had just met. 

As Akshara lifted her lehenga to step foot into the house, she again felt that gentle tugging in her heart. She chalked it up to anxiety as she looked around and saw the crowded room where everyone had stopped their conversation and turned around to stare at Anisha's to be husband and the Goenka's elusive and protected daughters. Akshu grabbed Aarohi's hand and gained strength from her sister as they began to make the rounds to say polite hellos to everyone. 

"Arre Manjariji, we met everyone in your family but where is Abhimanyu? We have heard so much about him and I wanted to meet him personally" Bade Papa said to Manjari. 

Akshara looked up from her conversation with some random Aunty and tried to listen to Manjari Aunty's response. She could sense that the Birla family looked uncomfortable and Akshara could not bear to look at Manjari's panic stricken face as everyone in the pooja turned around to listen to her response. She could sense anxiety in her own heart reflected on Manjari's face and she couldn't take it anymore

"Bade Papa you know how doctors are na, Aunty do you know our Aarohi here is going to join Birla hospital next week" Akshara said dragging Aarohi to the circle the Birlas and Goenkas stood in. Aarohi had never heard Akshara speak up amidst a big crowded room and was so astonished she almost stumbled causing Neil who was nearby to grab her arm. She bitterly pulled her hand away from him when she saw who it was that had saved her and turned around to politely smile at Manjari.  Manjari was so grateful for Akshara who had just saved her from awkwardly making up an excuse in front of her daughter's future in-laws that she felt like she could hug the tiny girl and never let go. Akshara turned around and threw manjari a  wink and a giggle as everyone began breaking up to go sit around the havan pit for the pooja, their attentions diverted as people began to scramble and find a spot. 

Akshara had held her sanity and anxiety tight but as people rushed and began talking to each other loudly and finding a space to sit she somehow lost sight of Aarohi who was currently arguing with Neil in a corner unbeknownst to Akshu. Akshu couldn't find anyone from her family amongst what seemed to be a hundred people and slowly began backtracking to find a quiet place so she didn't spoil everyone's mood and attract unwanted attention towards herself as she felt herself begin to spiral. She walked around in a panic trying to locate a way to the outside without alerting her family and walked by what seemed to be the kitchen in find of a door. She began gasping from anxiety and let out what seemed like a thankful gasp as she spotted a door which seemed to lead to the backyard or a garden of some sort. She stumbled and fumbled to the door gasping loudly for breaths and as she opened the glass door to get outside, in her panic and hurry the bottom of her lehenga got caught in her foot and she twisted her foot began to fall backwards. 

As she anticipated her imminent fall Akshara's panic got out of control and she felt light headed feeling her eyes close of their own accord only to feel a pair of strong muscular arms encase her and save her from hitting her head on the concrete surrounding the garden. Akshara couldn't bring herself to open her eyes to see who had saved her and thank them as her panic attack was spiraling out of control and she felt like she was a second away from utter darkness..