The Birlas' - IKSHANA

Chapter 14: Akshara Sharma Is Back

One month back, in Mumbai at Akshnav Residence:

Abhinav was surprised to see the lawyers at home and rushed to check what the issue was. He saw Akshara discussing some pointers but what he heard shocked him. She was discussing the Custody of Abhir with them, that too after so long. He didn't get good vibes from the entire scenario in front of him. He had a sinking feeling about it. They hardly healed from their last wounds, new ones would just kill them.

He didn't understand why she chose to re-open the case now all of a sudden. He waited for the lawyers to leave as he knew for a fact that his wife will not appreciate any interference. The lawyers left after a good two hours and Akshara looked exhausted. He didn't have the heart to confront her but he had to. There was no one else in their life to do that, so he did what he had to.

"Akshara! Yeh sab kya hai? Lawyers, custody? Itne saal baad phir se kyun?" Abhinav asked her and she looked at him incredulously as if he is an alien.

She scoffed and said, "Itne saal baad nahi Abhinav, itne saal lag gaye mujhe yeh sab possible karne mein. Bahut zyada waqt zaya hogaya ab aur nahi" Abhinav paled.

He really thought they had moved on. She hasn't brought this topic up ever before. The sudden interest didn't seem fathomable.

"Akshara woh 8 saal se unlogon ke saath reh raha hai. Woh phir se yeh sab handle nahi karpayega" he tried to reason with her.

Her eyes blazed, "Mera beta mujhse doori handle nahi kar payega. Itne saal intezaar karna pada use, woh meri galti hain. Main use apne paas nahi rakh payi. Usse sach chupane ke chakkar mein use khud se door kardiya maine. Woh meri jhoot se tab gussa nahi hota na, kabhi Abhimanyu ke saath rehna manzoor nahi karta.

Aur Abhimanyu thak haar ke mujhe mera bacha lauta deta. Kitni bewakoof thi main. Basic si cheezein samajhne mein itna waqt laga diya maine. Jo mistakes easily avoid ho sakti thi mujhse, anjaane mein wohi baar baar karti chali gayi. Ab nahi. Iss baar sab plan ke hisab se hoga. Main koi mistake nahi karungi. Mera beta mere paas hoga bahut jald."

She explained with a determination in her eyes. Abhinav was flustered. She was expressing her hidden emotions so openly after so long but they were too much for him to take in. Akshara observed him with disappointment on her face,

"Aap ko khushi nahi hai ki Abhir humare paas wapis ayega. You don't want Abhir anymore. Hain na?" Abhinav was taken aback by her inference of his words. He never meant that.

"Aap ko aisa kyun lagta hai Akshara ki poori duniya aapke khilaf hai? Aap akeli hai...Aisa nahi hai. Har cheez itna dil pe lene ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Aapko kisise bhi apne aap ko bachane ki zarurat nahi hai. Aap safe hai. Shant rahiye please. Aur ek baar thande dimag se sochiye" Abhinav said trying to calm her.

"8 saal jitna shaant rahi woh kafi nahi hai kya? Ya aap chahte ho ki main bhi aap hi ke jaise banu jiske ragon mein khoon ki jagah thanda pani behta ho. Main bhi kya pagal hoon na. Kis se kya expect kar rahi hoon? Abhir se aapka khoon ka rishta thodi hai. Aapka khoon kyun jalega? Abhir aapke paas ho ya na ho kya fark pad jayega aapko?" Her words were so hurtful for Abhinav that he staggered a bit on his feet.

"Are are sambhaliye khud ko. Thode din ki baat hai phir Abhir hoga na...woh sab sambhal lega" she spoke with a sarcastic smile.

"Aap itni yakeen se kaise keh rahi hain? Kya kiya hai aapne? Kab se chal raha hain yeh sab? Mujhe kuch kyun nahin pata? Hum donon mein itni dooriyan kab aagayi Akshara? Abhinav's voice choked.

"Hum donon paas hi Abhir ke wajah se aye the aur unfortunately, aap hi ke wajah se woh mujhse door hua. Jis Abhimanyu se uska existence tak chupa chuki thi main, us Abhimanyu ko use saumpna pada mujhe. Tab hi tay karliya tha maine ki chahe jo karna pade main apne Abhir ko wapis apne paas lakar rahungi.