In the heart of chaos

Chapter 27

Akshara and Abhimanyu drove in silence towards the Goenka house. The tension between them was thick, and they hadn't been able to shake off the frustration from Aarav's condition. Harsh's insistence that only Aarohi could handle the surgery gnawed at their pride. Abhimanyu's jaw clenched as they pulled up to the familiar gates.

They were here to talk to Aarohi. They had to convince her to come back, or at the very least explain themselves. Yet, as soon as they walked into the Goenka mansion, the air felt different, and they were met with unexpected news.

Suwarna greeted them with a tight-lipped smile, noticing the tension in their faces. "Abhimanyu, Akshara, what brings you here?"

Abhimanyu spoke first, cutting straight to the point. "We need to talk to Aarohi. Where is she?"

Suwarna exchanged a glance with Manish, who had just walked into the room. "Aarohi? She's in Mumbai," Suwarna said calmly, sensing the urgency in their tone.

Akshara's eyes widened. "What do you mean she's in Mumbai? She can't be there right now! She needs to be here!"

Manish raised an eyebrow, already sensing the frustration brewing in his granddaughter's voice. "She was sent for a critical case with her colleague, Rishi Malhotra. They've been given two weeks off as a reward. Didn't she tell you?"

Akshara's face flushed with frustration. "No, she didn't! Aarav... Aarav needs her! She's the only one who can do the surgery, and she's off on a vacation?"

Suwarna's expression softened. "Akshara, Aarohi didn't know about Aarav's condition. She wasn't running away from her responsibilities."

Abhimanyu stepped forward, his voice edged with irritation. "That doesn't change the fact that she's the only one who can help Aarav, and she's gone! She's abandoned her family in a time of need."

Manish's face hardened at Abhimanyu's words. "Abhimanyu, don't forget that Aarohi has her own life too. She's done more than enough for this family, and if she's in Mumbai, it's because she was asked to be there. You don't get to accuse her of abandoning anyone."

Akshara tried to calm the situation but was still visibly upset. "But, Bade Papa, Aarav's surgery can't wait. We don't have time to argue about this."

Manish's voice softened slightly as he addressed his granddaughter. "I understand, Akshu, but Aarohi didn't leave because she knew Aarav needed her. She would never turn her back on him if she knew."

Akshara sighed, frustration still simmering beneath the surface. "But now we have to wait, and time is not on our side."

---

Later that day, back at the Birla house, the tension between Akshara and Abhimanyu grew as they paced the living room. Both were still fuming, unable to shake off their frustration with the situation.

"How could she just leave like that?" Abhimanyu muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "This isn't some random case; this is our family. Aarav's life is at stake."

Akshara folded her arms, nodding in agreement. "I know! And now we're stuck waiting for her to come back. She didn't even bother to tell us she was leaving."

"It's typical of her," Abhimanyu snapped, the anger boiling over. "She's always been like this, putting herself first. When it matters most, she's nowhere to be found."

Akshara sighed, feeling torn between the family loyalty she had towards her sister and the urgency of Aarav's condition. "Maybe she didn't know about Aarav, but she should've informed us that she was leaving. What if something happens?"

Abhimanyu's fists clenched as he walked to the window, staring out in frustration. "We can't afford to wait, but we have no choice. We're stuck."

Akshara walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get through this, but we need to figure out how to handle Aarohi when she comes back."

Abhimanyu nodded, but his jaw remained tense. "Yeah, and when she does, she's going to have a lot to answer for."