"Bua, Mumma is finding you" Akshara heard a voice, and quickly wiped her tears.

"What happened?" Akshara asked and the six-year-old shrugged.

"Okay, take me to her," Akshara said and he nodded. Ravi turned to walk out of the room, but Akshara picked him up in her arms.

"Aaaa buaaa, please don't tickle me" Ravi pleaded and Akshara pouted.

"But I met you after such a long time" she justified.

"That is not my fault, I asked you to come and meet me, but you didn't come" he replied, a frown appearing on his face and Akshara was quick to hug him.

"I am so sorry mera baby" Akshara whispered, a few tears escaping her eyes.

Ravi was adopted by Kairav and Rati two year ago, and naturally, he needed some time to adjust and bond with everyone. Plus, Ravi was a silent kid, so it took time for him to talk to the Goenkas freely.
And today, when he complained to her about not visiting him enough, as her nephew, all Akshara could do was hug him.

Thank you, Maa.

"Akshu bua, Mumma is waiting!" Ravi whispered and Akshu nodded.

"Yes yes, let's go"

🍁

"Arohi, Arohi" Leela called out to her granddaughter. Arohi rolled her eyes before she turned back to face her. She had succeeded in ignoring her, but well...

"Namaste Nani" she greeted her, touching her feet.

"Akhand saubhagyavati bhava" she blessed, which in short, when Leela said, meant that Arohi should die before Neil.

Arohi smiled.

"Mujhe thoda kaa-" (I have some wo-) Arohi started, but Lesla cut her off.

"Arohi, Akshara aur Kairav se chipakti hai woh theek hai, par uss Naksh aur uski biwi ke saath kyun baat karti hai? Meine Neil ji ko bhi dekha uske bete" (Arohi, you spend time with Akshara and Kairav, which is okay. But why are you talking to that Naksh and his wife? I even saw Neil with their son)

"Maamu hai mere!" (He's my uncle!) Arohi replied, shocked at Leela's questions.

"Akshara and Kairav's. Not yours" she corrected Arohi.

"Did you forget who your mother is?" Leela asked her granddaughter sharply. Arohi felt her heartbeats race as Leela talked.

"What are you saying? Naksh mamu is my family" Arohi breathed out, feeling uneasy.

"He isn't. Stay away from them. Otherwise, you'll drift away from your mother" Leela replied.

"Please don't try and control my life," Arohi replied in a low voice.

"How dare you talk to your grandmother like this? You can't be my Sirat's well-mannered daughter! Shame on you! Mannerless girl, you don't even know how to talk to elderly people. This is all my fault. I should've taken you with me the day you became an orphan! Why would the Goenkas teach you good values? You're not a part of their family" Leela replied angrily.

"Stop it! You're making a scene at my house, where everyone's mourning  Naira mumma's death and remembering her. If you want, you can leave" Arohi replied calmly. Thankfully, the two were in a corner of the huge mansion and no one could hear them.

"Why would I stay here after you insulted me?" Leela replied, turning away and walking out of the Goenka house. Just before Arohi could go back, Leela turned.

"By the way Arohi, you know how you just insulted me, your only family for these Goenkas, they are going to throw you out of their lives one day. What do you think, they'll tolerate your attitude, anger? No way, you are no one to them! And that husband of yours, Neil. He's going to realise soon that you are just like his father, and even he'll leave you. You will be lonely one day, and then you'll come back to me, begging for forgiveness"

🍁

The Birlas returned home by three in the afternoon, and not a single person was aware of the incident which happened with Arohi. Neil did notice that Arohi was silent, but he thought it was because of the day.

After dinner, Akshara and Abhimanyu were sitting in their room. Akshara was busy setting a paper for her students while Abhimanyu was going through some scans and reports.

Just then, an envelope slipped in through the door. The two didn't notice till Abhimanyu got up to use the washroom.

"Akshu, I guess this is for you," Abhimanyu said as he took the letter which had 'Akshu' scribbled on it. Akshara was confused but took the envelope anyways. Opening it, she saw a letter.

Dear Akshu,

It has been quite some time since I wrote to you.

All I want to do is congratulate you.

It isn't hard taking so many responsibilities at such a young age, but you had to. Circumstances forced you to. But you did the best of the situation. You always excelled in academics and your extra-curricula. You were a great younger sister to your Kairav bhaiyaa and a responsible elder sister to Arohi.

You took care of your Bade papa- Badi mummy and Mimmi in every possible way. You also found love in the form of Abhimanyu, who is a great guy.

Being a teacher, you're shaping the young minds of our country and I couldn't be any more proud.

I always see Kartik in you. Taking every step in your life by putting great thought into how your decisions would affect your family. Akshu, it isn't wrong to sometimes just focus on yourself, baby.

And your voice, Akshu your voice is heavenly. Please don't stop singing. I can see the sparkle in your eyes whenever you sing. It's as if you meet God whenever you sing.

I will always love you mera baccha, take care of yourself!

Yours lovingly,
Naira mumma

Akshara was crying by the end of the letter. She felt lucky to have Arohi.

Blood relations can also be very beautiful and precious, but so can be the ones made by our hearts!
Ravi and Akshu, and Aaru and Akshu❤️

This part was supposed to be posted the other day, but I had to edit it a bit.