Phoenix - Abhira Sharma's journey

Shanti?

A air of tension permeates the Poddar house. The family members sit scattered, the silence thick with unspoken words. Since abhira had left, people in the house felt restless without any reason. Armaan kept calling abhira in the hope that she answers her phone and spoke with him but unfortunately all he received was coldness.. Guilt shadows his face; he recalls moments of harshness and disapproval that drove her away. Only if he could have kept his promises to her but he failed her and his relationship.
In one corner, Vidya, sits with her arms crossed, a mixture of relief and resentment flickering in her eyes. Part of her is glad that abhira, the girl whom she hated has left the house but Yet another part feels a loss which she is failing to comprehend. Kaveri could not shake the feeling of loss, she always hated abhira to the core and never wanted her as part of the poddar house but with time she realised how wrong she was and started to admire that girl's strength not that she favoured her but she was an asset whom she lost all because of her dumb wit daughter in law. Her anger for vidya only increased, vidya had been testing her patience.
" Maa sa" Sanjay's voice breaks the silence.
" Kya hai Sanjay?" Kaveri asks annoyed, her mood was very bad.
" Both the rajvansh and maheshwari industries have decided to end ties with us immediately" Sanjay reveals. Armaan and rohit hearing the information widened their eyes. Two of the biggest clients of poddar law firm have decided to cut ties with them suddenly.
" Ab yeh kya bol rahe hai fufa sa?"Armaan asks.
" Wahi jo hua hai" Sanjay says," the companies legal heads have already send a official mail to us"
" But why?"Rohit asks who was still unbothered about abhira leaving the house. All he cared about ruhi and her pregnancy.
" We are working on finding out the reason, abhi ke liye we should not think about that girl and go to office and work"
" Don't speak about abhira like that" Armaan shouts.
" Armaan" Kaveri raises her voice," I am also worried about abhira but right now Sanjay is correct, let's go to poddar office and work out things"
Armaan was in no mood to listen, he just storms out of the poddar house. Rohit and Sanjay go out together followed by Manoj discussing the possible reason for this drawback.

"Manisha let's go and look after ruhi, bechari room mein bore ho rahi hogi" Vidya says. Manisha doesn't say anything and follows vidya. She was in dilemma of her own. The chorus gang watches everything sadly.

The atmosphere in the singhania house was heavy with sorrow and confusion. The vibrant decorations for the function—bright lights and colorful garlands—now seem stark against the backdrop of distress. In the dimly lit living room, family members gather, their faces etched with concern as they try to comprehend the gravity of the abhira's breakdown.
" Nahi mil na hai humne" Kunal's high pitched voice was heard as he spoke over the phone.
" It's our wish and our business we are not doing anything illegal" Nishant's voice was also not calm either. Both kunal and Nishant cut the call at the same time.
" The poddars right?" Kunal asked Nishant who nods his head.
" They want us to meet and know the reason for sudden decision of wanting to cut ties with their legal firm"Nishant reveals.
" Same here " Kunal says.
" But I have refused to meet them"He adds. Nishant reveals that he had communicated the same. The silence in the room emerges once again. Mishti and kuhu had come back from abhira's room with the food tray empty giving the family members little relief that abhira had eaten something.
" She has slept" Mishti says, " Mujhse uss baachi ki halat dekha nahi ja raha hai, ussne kya bigada kisska" tears streaked her cheeks, while the naksh and natik clenches their fists, feeling helpless. The family members exchange glances, unsure of what to do now.

Abhira stirred blinking away remnants of sleep. Her heart still felt heavy, but a flicker of resolve ignited within her. She took a deep breath and sat up, she noticed meera and muskaan sitting nearby, their worried expressions.

"Di, you’re up!” meera exclaimed, rushing over.

Muskan joined her, a soft smile breaking through the concern on her face. “How are you feeling, beta?”

“I’m okay,” she replied, her voice steadier than she expected. “Thank you for being with me”
" Di aap kya bol rahe hai" Meera says," hum family hai aapki, aapke sath humesha rahegi"
Abhira smiles a little at meera's words. She has forgotten what family was. Poddars had given her only pain in name of family but after a long time she has experienced what family actually was.
" Let's go out"Abhira says.
Muskan and meera's eyes widened in suprise.
" Are you sure di?"
" Are you sure beta?"
Both of them voices were laced with concern for her.
"Yes,” she said, her determination solidifying. “I want to go out there and join everyone. I don’t want to hide anymore.”
Muskan exchanged a glance with meera, both sensing the change in abhira. “That’s wonderful” muskan said, her voice warm with encouragement. “Let’s go”
Abhira gets up and takes a moment to recollect herself and walks out of the room with muskan and meera. With a deep breath, she stepped into the hall, the colorful decorations. Eyes turned towards her, and she felt a mixture of concern and joy reflected in their expressions.
"I’m back,” Abhira announced, a small smile forming on her lips.The room fell quiet for a heartbeat.
" Let's celebrate" She says joyfully, " I only saw the first performance I want to see more"
"Abhira beta, we will do the celebration for another day " kriti tells her.
" Bilkul nahi, we will do this today only nani. Kabir and meera have done this for me. I want to enjoy it" Abhira stays firmly and sits on the decorated chair without caring about anything.
" If abhira really wants this, let us do this for her" Mishti says to which everyone finally agrees.
The tension disappears as everyone happily starts to celebrate once again. Abhira watches cheerfully surrounded by her family. She was determined not to let anyone spoil this day for her. The day passed away with dancing and singing and reminiscing memories. Abhira never felt left out as she mingled with the family happily forgetting for a while all the tensions. The maheshwaris and rajvanshs left the singhania house at evening promising to keep in touch with them and meet them soon.

Later when everyone gathered for dinner, abhira announced her decision to continue her job in poddar firms. She had taken this decision with great difficulty and turmoil. Leaving the firm and searching for new job would be the easy way but abhira had never ran from challenges nor she was thought to. Her mother had always taught her to fight and she will.
"Abhira beta is it necessary to continue your job here” Natik said, his voice tinged with worry. “After everything..."
She noticed everyone's worried expression pointed towards her.
Abhira took a deep breath, meeting natik’s worried gaze. “Yes Parnanu, I got the position because of my capabilities. I can handle it. I need to keep my work and personal life separate.”
"But what if it gets too uncomfortable?” Kriti interjected, her voice low and steady. “You know how they are. I just don’t want you to be unhappy.”
" Aisa kuch nahi hoga nani" Abhira reassures, her tone firm but gentle," I am never ran away from challenges nor I plan to do that now"
The room fell silent, each family member grappling with their own fears. Finally, Meera broke the stillness. “Okay di, but promise us that you’ll leave if it gets bad?”
“I promise,” Abhira assured them, her heart racing but her resolve steady.
After a moment of quiet contemplation, Meera shifted gears, her eyes lighting up. “Speaking of keeping things separate, I have my fashion show coming up! You won’t believe the designs I’m working on!”
Abhira smiled, grateful for the shift in atmosphere. “Tell me everything!”
As Meera launched into her plans distracting everyone and shifting the tension for a while.