At the hospital, Anuj and Akshara sat in the waiting area outside the room where her estranged father lay. Akshara, dressed in a strapped red anarkali outfit, was visibly anxious and fidgeted with her dupatta.

"Akshara, relax," Anuj whispered, trying to offer his daughter some comfort. She nodded, attempting to calm her nerves.

A few moments later, a young man emerged from the room and approached them. He looked at Akshara and Anuj and said, "Come in." It was the same young man Akshara had met a few minutes ago, her brother or half-brother Samar. Akshara hesitated for a moment, her emotions a whirlwind, but with determination, she followed Samar into the room, with Anuj behind her.

Akshara entered the room and saw Mr. Shah on the hospital bed, awake and smiling as he saw her.

"Hello, Akshara," Vanraj, her father, greeted her, gesturing to the seat beside the bed. Akshara walked over and took a seat, her eyes briefly meeting Anuj's as he closed the door and settled in a chair beside it.

"Hello," Akshara murmured softly, her emotions a complex mix of emotions.

Vanraj turned to Samar, her half-brother, and said, "Samar, get some tea for her." Samar nodded and left the room.

Akshara, however, declined. "No," she murmured. "I don't like tea."

Vanraj persisted, asking, "Then how about coffee?"

"It's okay," Akshara responded. "I had some at home." She occasionally glanced at Anuj, Anuj blinked indicating her to relax

"How are you feeling?" Akshara asked, her voice quivering slightly with nervousness.

"Better now," Vanraj replied, looking at Akshara. She nodded

Samar, her half-brother, was curious and asked, "What do you do?"

Akshara met his gaze and responded, "I'm a music producer."

"Really, which projects have you worked on?" Samar inquired.

Akshara shared her recent accomplishments with a hint of pride. "A couple of movies. I started as an assistant, but I recently got promoted to a music producer. I'm actually starting a new project day after tomorrow," she said with a smile.

"Wow, that's really good," Vanraj chimed in, showing genuine interest.

"Thank you," Akshara replied, her eyes avoiding direct contact as she felt a mix of emotions. After a while, she yawned and apologized, saying, "Sorry, I'm a bit jet-lagged," blinking to clear her fatigue.

"You were traveling?" Vanraj asked, his curiosity piqued.

Akshara nodded and explained, "I was in London for the past two weeks. I just came back this morning."

Vanraj continued to inquire, "For your music?"

Akshara shook her head, clarifying, "No, it was for Aarohi. She had a fashion show there, so I went with her."

"Aarohi?" Vanraj questioned, showing interest in the unfamiliar name.

Akshara introduced her with a warm smile, "My sister."

Nodding Vanraj acknowledged

The door opened, and a girl walked in, wearing a blue anarkali outfit, her smile lighting up the room.

"Hello, Pappa," the girl greeted Vanraj with a warm smile.

Vanraj's face beamed with happiness. "Pakhi," he said, the pride evident in his voice. He then turned to Akshara and introduced them, saying, "Pakhi, this is Akshara."

Akshara couldn't hide her surprise and confusion. "Daughter?" she mumbled, swallowing hard.

Nodding Pakhi extended her hand towards Akshara. "Hello," she said cheerfully, offering a handshake.

Akshara slowly shook her hand, still taken aback by the revelation of another sibling

Akshara looked at Anuj, Anuj slowly walked and stood beside Akshara and said "we should take our leave"

Akshara nodded

"Stay for a little longer" Vanraj insisted

Akshara shook her head. "No, Mumma is waiting for me, and Aarohi will get home soon," she explained, then turned to Anuj. "Dad, let's go."

"Mr. Shah, I hope you get well soon," Akshara said, offering her well wishes.

Vanraj inquired, "Will you visit soon?"

Akshara hesitated and said, "Not sure, I'm starting work soon." With a final wave, she bid goodbye and walked out of the room.

After Akshara left, Vanraj expressed his gratitude to Anuj, saying, "Anuj, thank you for bringing her."

Anuj nodded in acknowledgment and walked out of the room

______

Akshara walked in a fast pace, lost in her thoughts, and accidentally collided with someone, causing the person to drop their papers.

"Watch where you're going?" the person muttered in annoyance as he began picking up the scattered papers.

"Sorry," Akshara said, quickly crouching down to help him gather the papers.

The person continued to grumble, saying, "You know this is a hospital; you shouldn't be running around."

"Sorry," Akshara repeated, handing him the papers as she felt a sense of urgency to get to her mother.

He got up and sighed, still slightly frustrated. "Do you know how long it took me to organize these?"

Akshara felt a hint of impatience creeping in as she replied, "Listen, I've apologized twice."

"Akshara!" Pakhi called out. Akshara turned to see Pakhi and Anuj following closely behind her.

Approaching her, Pakhi said, "Akshara, I was wondering if you would be willing to donate part of your liver to pappa."

"What?" Akshara exclaimed, her eyes wide open. "Dad," she said, looking at Anuj.

"And Dr. Birla is right here," Pakhi added, looking at Abhimanyu, and continued, "he is our pappa's doctor."

"Yours," Akshara said firmly.

"What?" Pakhi said, confused.

"My father is right here," Akshara pointed at Anuj. "Mr. Shah is your father. I came just because Dad insisted."

"I already told you that you won't speak to her about this," Anuj said in a frustrated tone, looking at Pakhi.

"Come, Akshara," Anuj said, looking at Akshara. She nodded and walked away.

After they walked away, Pakhi muttered, "God knows why she is doing this to Pappa."

Abhimanyu, looking at Anuj and wrapping an arm around Akshara, asked, "She is Mr. Shah's daughter? Why didn't she come to visit?"

Anuj replied, "I think she just found out." Pakhi added, "I wish she had agreed to donate."

Abhimanyu thought to himself, "She said the guy with her is her father."

"I will convince her somehow," Pakhi said, determined. She then turned to Abhimanyu and asked with a smile, "Dr. Birla, will you be coming to the room soon? I brought home-cooked food," showing her dimples.

Abhimanyu looked at her and replied, "No, I came by earlier."

Pakhi persisted, "But, still, for food?"

"I have rounds," Abhimanyu said, walking away.

_______

In the car, Akshara was quiet, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside.

"Akshara," Anuj called out to her.

"Mmhhh," Akshara mumbled, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

"I didn't know that he had a daughter," Anuj said, shaking his head

"Mmm," Akshara mumbled once more, not offering much in response.

"And about the liver thing, I already told them no," Anuj said with determination, his tone serious. "I don't want you to go through that. It's a major surgery, and it's not a decision to be made lightly. I won't risk your health for it."

"Thanks, Dad," she finally spoke, her gratitude evident in her words.

Upon reaching home, Anuj asked, "Are you okay?" Akshara responded with a nod and exited the car.

As she walked into the house, she witnessed her mom and Aarohi engaged in a heated argument over something. Upon spotting Akshara, Aarohi approached her and questioned, "Why did you go to see him? I told you not to go if you don't want to."

Akshara responded with a reassuring tone, "Aarohi, it's okay. I'll go wash up." She then made her way upstairs.

Aarohi, clearly upset and frustrated, turned to Anuj and said, "Dad, I told you not to force her."

Anuj, while maintaining his position, responded, "Nobody forced her, bacche. She needed closure."

He then took a seat and continued, "She was doing okay, talking to him and his son, but then..." He shook his head in disappointment and went on, "then his daughter came."

Anupama, now seated on the couch as well, reacted with surprise, whispering, "What?"

Aarohi couldn't believe what she was hearing and mumbled, "But the reason he left, Mom and Akshara, is because Akshara is a girl." Her tone reflected disbelief as she continued, "And then he went and had a daughter. The nights she spent crying..." The situation seemed to be causing a great deal of pain and confusion for Akshara and those close to her.

Anupama, realizing the emotional impact this revelation had on Akshara, shook her head in disbelief and empathy, "I can't believe he did that."

Anuj sighed, looking even more troubled as he revealed, "Yes, it's a cruel twist of fate." After a brief pause, he continued, "They asked Akshara to donate her liver."

Both Anupama and Aarohi responded simultaneously, firmly rejecting the idea with a resounding "No."

Anuj nodded and added, "I already said no to them."

Anupama expressed her disappointment, saying, "Is that why he wanted to see her? And I thought he would change."

Anuj clarified, "He didn't ask; his daughter did."

"I have to see Akshara," Aarohi said and made her way upstairs. She gently knocked on the washroom door and asked, "Akshu?"

Akshara responded from the other side, "Haa," indicating that she was inside. She was sitting on the floor, leaning against the door.

Aarohi slumped down on the other side of the door, leaning against it, and said softly, "I heard what happened."

Akshara, her emotions overwhelming her, pulled her knees to her chest and simply responded with a subdued, "Hhh." They both sat in silence, providing each other with the comfort of their presence during this difficult moment.

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