Author's POV
The morning atmosphere inside Rathore Mansion was peaceful.
The entire family had gathered for breakfast.
Servants moved around quietly.
Dada Sa read the newspaper.
Dadi Sa instructed the cook.
Aaditya and Karishma discussed an upcoming business meeting.
Vikram kept glancing towards the staircase.
A few seconds later...
Akshara came downstairs after her workout and shower.
She wore a simple pastel green cotton kurta with white trousers.
Her damp hair was braided neatly.
She looked calm.
As always.
She wished everyone politely.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, beta."
Dada Sa, Dadi Sa, Meera and Vikram replied together.
The brothers remained silent.
Akshara didn't expect anything different.
She quietly sat beside Meera.
Just then...
The sound of high heels echoed through the hall.
Reema Bua entered dramatically.
Nitya walked beside her.
Both wore identical smug smiles.
The moment she saw Akshara sitting comfortably with the family...
Her mood soured.
She refused to let Meera's daughter feel accepted.
Looking directly at Meera, she spoke loudly.
"Kuch log kitni bhi koshish kar lein..."
Translation: No matter how hard some people try...
She looked at Akshara.
"...paraye log kabhi apne nahi bante."
Translation: ...outsiders never become family.
The dining hall became silent.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Nitya hid a satisfied smile.
She tightened her grip on the spoon.
One insult.
She could ignore.
Two insults.
She could ignore.
But when someone repeatedly insulted her mother...
Her control became fragile.
She slowly looked at Bua.
Her expression remained calm.
But her fists had clenched beneath the table.
Meera noticed immediately.
She gently placed her hand over Akshara's.
It was enough.
For a few seconds.
Then Bua spoke again.
"Waise bhi... doosron ke ghar ki zimmedari uthana har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti."
Translation: Besides, not everyone can handle the responsibility of raising someone else's child.
Akshara's breathing became heavier.
Her jaw tightened.
Her vision blurred with anger.
One more word...
Just one more...
Vikram immediately sensed the change.
He had only known Akshara for a few days.
But he had already learned something important.
Whenever she became completely silent...
She was trying very hard not to lose control.
He looked towards Reema.
"Enough."
But she ignored him.
Instead...
She laughed.
"Sach toh kadwa hi lagta hai."
Translation: The truth is always bitter.
Akshara's POV
That was enough.
She stood up so suddenly that her chair slid backwards.
THUD!
Everyone looked at her.
Her eyes...
Usually calm...
Were now burning with anger.
She looked straight at Reema.
Her voice was frighteningly quiet.
"Meri Maa ke baare mein ek aur shabd bola na..."
Translation: If you say one more word about my mother...
The room fell silent.
"...toh achha nahi hoga."
Translation: ...it won't end well.
Nitya gasped.
Nobody had ever spoken to Reema like that.
Reema laughed mockingly.
"Kya kar logi tum?"
Translation: What will you do?
Before anyone could react...
Akshara slammed both her palms on the dining table.
The loud sound echoed across the hall.
The water glasses trembled.
Several spoons fell onto the plates.
Everyone stared at her.
Her breathing was uneven.
Years of bottled-up anger reflected in her eyes.
Meera stood immediately.
She gently held Akshara's shoulders.
"Akshu..."
Her voice was soft.
Only a mother could use that nickname.
Akshara closed her eyes.
She inhaled deeply.
One...
Two...
Three...
Slowly...
The anger began fading.
She opened her eyes again.
They had returned to their usual calmness.
Without looking at anyone...
She spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry."
She wasn't apologizing because she was wrong.
She was apologizing because she had lost control.
She picked up her bag.
"I'm leaving."
Meera tried to stop her.
"Breakfast..."
"I'm not hungry."
She quietly walked out of the dining hall.
The heavy silence she left behind was unbearable.
Author's POV
Nobody spoke for several moments.
Finally...
Dada Sa folded his newspaper.
He looked at Reema.
"For the first time..."
"I don't blame Akshara."
Reema looked shocked.
"Bh... Bhai Sa..."
Raghvendra interrupted firmly.
"You provoked her."
Geetanjali sighed sadly.
"That child has tolerated enough in just a few days."
Vikram looked towards the mansion gate where Akshara's car had disappeared.
Instead of feeling angry...
He felt guilty.
Very guilty.
Because the one who should have protected her...
Had failed again.
Aryan had remained silent throughout the entire incident.
He didn't like unnecessary drama.
But today...
Something bothered him.
Akshara had never reacted to the brothers' insults.
Never.
Then why...
Did she lose control today?
The answer was obvious.
She hadn't reacted for herself.
She had reacted...
For her mother.
For the first time...
Aryan realized something.
Akshara wasn't arrogant.
She was simply fiercely protective of the people she loved.
He didn't admit it aloud.
But somewhere deep inside...
His opinion of her changed...
Just a little.
____
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