Broken Paths

Yearning

### **Title: Yearning**

#### **Scene 1: Silent Support**

Neil gently laid Aarohi on the couch and settled beside her. Exhaustion soon pulled them into a deep sleep.

Two hours later, Manjari opened the door, intending to call them for snacks. Her eyes welled up with tears at the sight of Neil and Aarohi sleeping, hugging each other tightly. The scene reminded her of the emptiness she felt for Abhimanyu, who was often left alone due to her husband's decisions and perhaps her own shortcomings.

She approached Abhimanyu, gently shaking him, but there was no response. Understanding he was still under the effects of his medication, she decided to leave him be.

Neil stirred at the sound of the door. He saw Aarohi hugging him tightly, her head resting on his chest. This moment felt like a dream to him—being close to Aarohi and imagining a future where both he and Abhimanyu could be with the ones they loved.

#### **Scene 2: Naira's Wake-Up Call**

"Kartik! Mera purse kahan hai?" Kartik's voice echoed through the hall.

"Tumhein apni koi cheez milti kyun nahi, Kartik?" Naira appeared, holding a rolling pin, her hair in a messy bun.

Kartik's mind crashed, overwhelmed by his wife's appearance.

"Papa!" Kairav's voice rang out, pulling Kartik back to reality.

"Aaj hamari meeting hai!" Kartik grabbed his car keys.

Naira handed him his purse and glared. Kartik ran, trying to escape her wrath.Akshara observed their playful banter from the stairs. She admired their pure love, still vibrant after all these years. She once dreamed of having such love in her life.

Then she fell for Abhimanyu, a boy who had almost every girl crushing on him. She was in the fifth standard when she became close to him. He had given her a pink heart friendship token, which read "FRIENDS." 

Delighted, she spent hours talking and chatting with him.

In the fifth standard, she met Aarohi, a new student who quickly became her friend. Aaliya and Abhimanyu were in the same section and good friends. Akshara, Aarohi, and Abhimanyu often spent time together.

Suddenly, Naira shook Akshara, breaking her trance.

"Ha... An... Mumma," Akshara stammered, scared.

"Akshu, firse woh sab nahi," Naira said, understanding the turmoil in Akshara's heart and mind.

 "Aaja, main pooja kar rahi hoon, tu bhi aaja," she said, dragging Akshara to the house temple.

After some time, the prayer was about to end, and Naira asked Akshara to pray for something she wanted.

"Kanhaji... mere parivaar, mujhe aur Abhi ko hamesha khush rakhna... bas yahi chahti hoon," Akshara prayed silently.

Don't worry, Akshara. Abhimanyu's happiness lies in you, and your happiness lies in Abhimanyu.

Her phone rang—it was her college friend. Realizing she was late, Akshara decided to take the day off.Meanwhile, Abhimanyu and Aarohi woke up. Manjari handed Abhimanyu some papers. He smiled slightly and signed them—they were his admission papers for R.N.T. Medical College. The family had recently moved to Udaipur from Delhi, escaping the pressures that had led Abhimanyu to Mumbai, only to return after a few weeks. Neil also signed his papers, as he and Aarohi were joining the same college. 

#### **Scene 3: A New Beginning**

At the college, they marveled at the campus's size."Let's go to the principal's office," Aarohi suggested after seeing the direction board."It's straight, then left," Neil read aloud.

Abhimanyu and Aarohi followed Neil's lead, arriving at the office. The guard asked rudely, "Hello... kahan?"

"I am Abhimanyu Birla. He is Neil Birla, and she is Aarohi Malik," Abhimanyu stated calmly. The guard's demeanor changed instantly, and he apologized, opening the gate for them."Good morning, sir," they greeted the principal in unison.

The principal smiled and handed them their schedules. They missed the first period but had 20 minutes before the second period.

"Bhai, chalo na, ek chakaar laga kar aate hain," Neil suggested jovially. They agreed and started exploring the campus.

#### **Scene 4: Akshara's Day Off**

"Akshara, where are you? Tu college kyun nahi aayi?" Akansha, her benchmate, called. Today was the submission for their latest case study on the human heart.

"Yaar, Akansha, koi baat nahi, kal kar dungi submit," Akshara replied casually, teasing Akansha.Akshara decided to spend the day at home, reflecting on her past and the complicated feelings surrounding her relationship with Abhimanyu.

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu, Neil, and Aarohi continued to explore their new college, each step bringing them closer to an unknown future, one filled with both hope and unresolved pain.

### **Epilogue: The Weight of Unspoken Sorrows**

Each of them carried their own burdens, their hearts heavy with unspoken sorrows. The reasons behind their suffering were deeply intertwined, hidden within their shattered dreams and painful memories. As they moved forward, the path ahead remained uncertain, filled with the promise of healing and the threat of reliving old wounds.