Abhirohi ff: Roohdaariyan

Chapter 6: The Confrontation

Am I hearing stuff?

"Uh... Aarohi? Yeh rishta toh Akshara ki liye hai?" I exclaimed. I looked at everyone, their eyes widened.

(Uh... Aarohi? This alliance is for Akshara?)

"Kya keh rahe ho tum Abhi. Tum ne hi toh kaha tha, tujhe Aarohi pasand hai." Maa said, waving it off. Her expressions showed how worried she was.

(What are you saying, Abhi? You told me that you liked Aarohi.)

"Main Akshara ki baat kar rahe tha. Mumma. Lagta hai koi misunderstanding hoi hai." I told her, and then I faced the guests. "I'm sorry if we caused any misunderstanding. I've always liked Akshara. This rishta was meant for her."

(I was talking about Akshara, Mom. I think we misunderstood each other.)

The look on everyone's face was giving away that they were processing the newfound information.

"Kya matlab misunderstanding hai. Tumhe toh koi kaam teekh se karna nahi aata, gawar." Papa insulted Mumma in a whisper tone paying no regard to where they were. God, we are guests at someone's house.

(What do you mean you misunderstood? You can't do a task properly ever, uneducated women.)

I was sitting beside them.

"Papa," I glared at Dad and plastered a fake smile. Why aren't my parents in a healthy relationship? Why doesn't Mumma divorce him already? I hate this family politics.

I turned to Manish uncle and Swarna aunty, "Can I talk to Akshara and Aarohi, privately?"

"Okay," Uncle permitted, gesturing to the sisters.

They both got up. Wow. Aarohi looked pretty in the maroon saree. It was intricated with goldwork. What enhanced her look was the diamond earrings paired with diamond kagans. I had noticed how Akshara was dressed when she came to the drawing room.

The pink suit looked stunning on her with the bangles and anklets she wore.

I went along with them to a room. It was a huge bedroom with a king-size bed, huge windows and the colours pink and purple everywhere. Must be one of their rooms.

I sat down on the couch and they sat on the other one. I didn't know how to start the conversation. But first I need to apologize to Aarohi. She must have been hurt the most. "I'm sorry Aarohi, I gave you the wrong signal. I like you, but not in a romantic way. It's more so in a platonic way as friends... I have loved your sister since the day I met her."

"Oh." That was all that she uttered. After a few deadly minutes of silence, she said, "It's okay, you didn't do it on purpose." She turned to Akshara, "Do you love Abhimanyu?"

"Yes." She said, my lips titled and the breeze of happiness that entered me was unexplainable.

"You... you love me as well." I wanted to confirm.

"Yep."

"Uh... I'll go outside, you talk to each other okay, and I want the details, Akshu." She walked out and when the door was shut I sat beside her and pulled her into a hug.

I shut the door and palmed my mouth to minimize the sound of sobs.

He... he doesn't feel the same. The gazes were all for Akshu and the stupid me believed it was all for me.

Now I know why Akshu wasn't behaving as usual. She must have been heartbroken when she thought the rishta (alliance) was for me.

I wiped my tears and went to the bathroom to look more presentable. My makeup was in my room. I wasn't able to touch up the makeup, but I looked fine. My makeup hadn't smeared at all. I wiped away the tears with toilet paper and threw it in the dustbin. Good thing I used waterproof makeup.

I gave myself a final look in the mirror and headed downstairs. I took a seat on the sofa and said, "They both are talking right now—both of them like each other. Aap ko un dono ka rishta tay kar dena chaihiye."

(You should fix their alliance.)

"Tumhe koi problem hai?" Anandvardhan uncle asked.

(Do you have any problem with it?)

"Nope, it was an arranged alliance from my side." I lied. I gave Badi Mumma a look to not tell anyone about my crush.

Wearing a half smile, I took a kachori on my plate and relished it. I was polishing off my plate when Abhimanyu and Akshu walked down the stairs.

"Aaru ne hame bata diya. Ab aap kya karna chahte hai. Rishta pakka samjhein?" Badi Mumma said, getting up from the sofa and going near Akshu.

(Aaru told us everything that you want to do now. So the alliance is fixed?)

"Hume manzoor hai," Harsh sir said, surprising me.

(We agree.)

"Mere bete ki khushi sabse upar hai. Roka ho jaye?"

(My son's happiness comes before anything. Should we begin the Roka ceremony?)

"Ji." Bade Papa said.

(Sure.)

Abhimanyu and Akshu were made to sit on the sofa. Manjari Aunty did their aarti and put a tikka on both of their glabella. A chunri (scarf) was placed on Akshu's head while thanking aunty.

A box of mitayi (Sweets) was exchanged. Manjari aunty presented the box to me I grabbed one mitayi and had it.

After that dinner was served, they enjoyed the meal, conversing on the plans and latest gossip. Later, both the family exchanged goodbyes and Birlas' left.

I couldn't sleep at night, my heart hurt so much. But I know for a fact this pain will fade away with time, I'll be happy and content with Akshu and Abhimanyu's rishta. I hope it comes soon. After a lot of turning and tossing, and to add an extra spice for the night, getting scolded by my sister and these fleeting thoughts getting tossed out of the window, I fell asleep.

You have a long day ahead, Dr Aarohi Goenka.

Hello peeps,

Sorry for the delay.

How did you think the chapter was gonna be? Like did you think, Abhimanyu would've behaved the way he did in the show or did you guess it would be similar to how I portrayed him?

This is my opinion, I felt Abhimanyu was toxic in the show. Like I remember watching a reel where he was in the shower angry at Akshara for not reciprocating his feelings. Like seriously. There was a scene where he closed the lights at his and Aaru's engagement and cornered Akshara to a wall to tell her not to join the hospital as a music therapist. The BGM was like he was doing a great job at it. I hope I gave his character a non-toxic touch.

I'm excited about the upcoming chapters and the future plot. For now, you folks have to bear Abhira scenes.