A light in the flame

Chapter 19 - Unleashing Fury

The morning sun pierced through the sheer curtains of Akshara's room, casting a warm glow over the cozy space. Yet, despite the peaceful surroundings, Akshara's mind buzzed with unease. The tension in Abhimanyu's voice last night, the way his shoulders tensed—something was terribly wrong. She had sensed it ever since he mentioned going to Birla House. Now, as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her hand resting protectively on her stomach, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

She knew Abhimanyu well enough to understand that when he was angry, he wasn't easily calmed. But this time, it felt different. There was a darkness in his eyes, a storm brewing that even she might not be able to soothe. As she finished getting ready, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her out of her thoughts. She walked over to find a single message from Abhimanyu.

"It's done. I'll explain everything tonight. Love you."

Her heart skipped a beat, a wave of apprehension washing over her. What had he done? She clutched the phone tightly, her mind racing with possibilities. Abhimanyu wasn't one to act impulsively, but when pushed too far, he could be merciless. And if what she suspected was true—then there was no telling how far he would go.

_

Meanwhile, at Birla House, the storm had already arrived. The living room was eerily quiet, despite the chaos that had unfolded just hours before. Manjiri sat alone on the couch, her face pale, her eyes red and swollen from crying. The email Abhimanyu had thrown at her earlier still lay on the coffee table, a stark reminder of her crumbling world.

Her mind raced as she replayed the confrontation with her son. His words had cut through her like a knife, leaving her shattered and broken. She had always believed that she was protecting him, shielding him from a world that could destroy him. But now, everything she had done—everything she thought was for his own good—had come crashing down around her.

The front door burst open, and Arohi stormed in, her face flushed with anger and confusion. She had just come from the hospital, where she had been informed that her position as head of department had been suspended, pending an investigation. The legal papers Abhimanyu had sent were just the beginning.

"What have you done, Arohi?" Manjiri whispered, her voice trembling. She had tried to warn Arohi that Abhimanyu was unraveling the truth, but Arohi had brushed her off, confident that her web of lies would never be discovered. Now, that confidence is gone.

Arohi's eyes flashed with panic. "I didn't think he would find out so soon!" she hissed, pacing the room like a caged animal. "I thought I had more time. I didn't know he would react like this—he's cut me off at the hospital".

Arohi sank onto the couch beside Manjiri, her hands shaking as she buried her face in them. "He's going to ruin me. I never should have pushed this far."

"You should have never come between him and Akshara!" Manjiri snapped, her voice rising. "I warned you. I warned you both, but you didn't listen. Now Abhi hates me. He's cut me off, Arohi. I've lost him—and it's your fault!"

Tears welled in Arohi's eyes, but there was no time for remorse. She needed a plan, fast, before Abhimanyu destroyed everything she had built. But deep down, she knew there was no escaping the consequences of her actions.

_

Back at Akshara's house, the day seemed to drag on. She tried to keep herself busy with work, with Abhir, but her mind kept drifting back to Abhimanyu's cryptic message. She had always been the one to keep the peace, to avoid conflict, but now she knew there was no escaping what was coming.

As evening approached, Akshara stood by the window, watching the fading light, when she heard the front door open. She turned to find Abhimanyu standing in the doorway, his face a mask of controlled fury. His eyes locked onto hers, and in that moment, she knew. The storm he had warned her about had arrived.

"Abhi..." she began, her voice uncertain.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone firm but calm. There was a weight to his words, a gravity that told her this conversation would change everything.

Akshara nodded and followed him into the living room. They sat down, facing each other, the tension between them thick and palpable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Abhimanyu was gathering his thoughts, while Akshara braced herself for what was coming.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"I finally know the truth about what happened," he said, his voice low and steady. "It was Arohi and my mom all along. She blocked your calls, deleted your messages, hacked into my accounts to make sure I never knew you were trying to reach me. And my mother... she knew. She helped her." Abhimanyu's voice cracked with the weight of his emotions. "They kept me away from you, from our son. They lied to me, Akshu. For years."

Akshara felt tears pricking her eyes as she listened to the pain in his voice.

"I'm so sorry, Abhi," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I tried. I tried to tell you, to reach you, but she..."

Abhimanyu's eyes softened for a moment, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "You shouldn't have had to fight alone," he said, his voice thick with regret. "I should have been there. I should have known. But now... now it's too late. Too much has been taken from us."

Akshara reached out, placing a trembling hand on his. "It's not too late, Abhi. We still have Abhir. We still have each other. We can rebuild. We can start over."

For a long moment, Abhimanyu said nothing. His gaze shifted to the floor, his jaw clenched in thought. When he finally looked back at her, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, but it was tempered by the scars of betrayal.

"I want that, Akshu. I want to rebuild. But first, I need to finish what I've started," he said, his tone hardening once more. "Arohi and my mother—they need to pay for what they've done. They can't just get away with this. I won't let them."

Akshara's heart ached as she saw the fire of vengeance still burning in him. She understood his need for justice, for retribution, but she also knew that if he let that anger consume him, there would be no peace for any of them.

"Abhi, I know you're angry. I'm angry too," she said softly. "But don't let this destroy you. Don't let it destroy us. We've already lost so much. Don't let them take any more from us."

He looked at her, his expression torn between the desire for revenge and the longing for peace. Slowly, he exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction.

"I won't let them take any more from us," he repeated, his voice quieter now. "But I also won't let them walk away from this without consequences."

Akshara nodded, understanding that this was a battle he needed to fight. But as they sat there, hand in hand, she hoped that once the storm had passed, they would find their way back to each other—to the life they had once dreamed of.

To be continued ...

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