War for Peace: Abhira Birla Poddar TS

Shot One

"Bacche ke liye.. hone waali maa ke liye kya safe hai, kya nahi— tumhe kaise pata hoga?" Vidya asked coldly. They were standing in the newly decorated nursery for the Ruhit baby.

She had assured Vidya that the pain was fume free, not at all harmful for the baby. But the anger of Vidya Poddar didn't stem from paint. Or decoration. Or really anything. It was just a manifestation of her stubbornness.

She didn't want Abhira to feel welcome in this house. Now. Or ever. She was yet again the unwanted bride she had tried so desperately not to be. She looked around herself. No one responded to her quip or protested when she so blatantly insulted Abhira.

She led Roohi out of the room while she looked at Abhira with something akin to heartbreak. She had been an unlikely ally, Roohi Poddar especially after the wedding day. She wasn't sure what to make of her at first but once she had let go of her obsessive behaviour regarding Armaan, Roohi had genuinely formed a bond with her.

Abhira liked Roohi. This Roohi at least. She was happy for Roohi and Rohit and the new life they were starting. She was trying to show her happiness through gestures, decoration, gifts, everything.

But Vidya didn't want to see their bond growing. She was an obsessive woman who had weak and pathetic sons.

One of them had fled at the first sign of trouble with his marriage. The other was here, in a marriage and still not quite there.

She gathered herself and walked out of the room. In the hall, another argument was starting. Argument, she was sure would end in Armaan and her making another sacrifice to soothe a vindictive woman's ego.

She touched Armaan's arm, trying to draw his attention. Armaan looked back, obviously intending to tell her they'd talk later after he had placated his mother, but something— a look on her face stopped him.

"What happened?"

"I have questions. I want you to answer honestly." She said firmly.

Armaan nodded.

"Do you love me?"

"This is not the time for that conversation Abhira." Armaan started to respond answer irritatedly but Abhira squeezed his arm in protest. "Yes or no."

"Yes."

"Will you back me up if I do something to ease this situation, right now?" She asks gently.

"What are you going to do?" he asked nervously.

"Honestly, I'm done with your mother. But unfortunately, I love you. It's pathetic but I know that you would blame me forever if I don't do something to placate your mother. She will never be anything to me even after I sort this out for you. I promise you I will hate that woman till my last breath but I have fought too f**king hard to not give you and me one last chance." she said quietly.

"What are you trying to do?"

— "Abhira and Armaan will move into the guest room and Rohit and Roohi will take their room. It's bigger. It's more.. spacious for their growing family." Vidya said curtly.

Abhira scoffed. "I knew it."

Vidya looked at the two of them expectantly. She was confident that Armaan will agree readily.

Abhira, however, gave him a look that stopped him from speaking out.

"Humein iss arrangement se koi issue nahi hai Vidya aunty. Lekin ghar ka har insaan yeh jaanta hai ki iss injustice ki root kahan hai." She said coldly.

"Ladki.. tum yeh kya kar rahi ho? Vidya ko kaise bula rahi ho."

Abhira sighed. "Dadi Sa.. mene Armaan se shaadi karne se pehle aap sab ki permission li thi. Aap sab ka dil jeetne ki koshish ki thi. Aap.. ap logon ka har kaha mana, har cheez ki.. jo mere bas me thi, phir bhi shaadi ke dinn.. mehendi ke din kya hua sab jaante hain."