Do We Change?

● Blindfold

"Aaaaaruuuuuuuu"
As Aakshara Birla marked her dramatic entry to once both's now only her sister's room , the aforesaid sister sat up straight frightened out of her mind. Aakshara had always been excited over every trivial matter and this excitement of her's would often lead to the shrill cries of ecstasy. Had it been a few years back , Aarohi would've got irritated by now. But this excited Aakshara was missing for two years . And Aarohi couldn't help but smile but seeing her child like elder sister.

Aakshara barged into her sister's room , without a knock , to find her sister in a half sitting position with a book delicately placed on her lap. Privacy , was something that she never let come between them sisters as she had always felt that her and Aaru were one . But this didn't go well with the introvert Aarohi and that led Aarohi often vent out on her .

But today was not the day to think about these thoughts, was it . As Aakshara hoped on the bed , right beside Aaru , she flopped the book out of her hand .
" What ! What are you doing?" Aarohi was getting annoyed now.

" Uffo! Aaru. Don't spoil the mood , now" .

Aarohi was rather amused , her sister was seriously excited about something. She couldn't contain the curiosity anymore .
" What made you so excited that you've been jumping about like a kangaroo "

Aakshara cast her a look , as she couldn't control her disdain upon being compared with a kangaroo.
" Seriously, Aaru . But anyway . Sooo" Aakshara raised one eyebrow , a gesture that she always did when she was teasing, " Soooo , Vicky Haan?"

Aarohi seemed to freeze , suddenly. The fun look in her face moments ago , seemed to vanish , as if she remembered something suddenly.

" What! What about Vick ?"
" What about him? Nothing . What about both of you ? That's something I am dying to now"
Aakshara inched towards Aarohi a bit more , eager , as if Aarohi was going to narrate her a story .

" There's nothing about us , Aakshu" said Aarohi, not really wanting to discuss her marriage now. She was tired of these , tired of all these that have been going on with her .

" Now don't be like this , Aaru . " Aakshara was clearly not pleased with Aarohi being distant. The cool , forlorn woman that her sister once was , was never appreciated by Aakshara. She had always loved the young, bubbly , Aarohi , who loved to laugh and play - the Aarohi who had so much life in her . And for a brief period she did get her wish . That time , two years back , Aakshara had seen her sister become the lovely happy girl again . But that was too soon gone . And now , Aakshara couldn't even define how her sister is.

" Aaru , a boy , who happens to be your childhood best friend , comes suddenly and asks for your hands . And you are telling me , there's no story behind it . I don't believe it !"

Aarohi got up from the bed to pick up the book thar have been fallen on the floor.
" Aakshu, believe me . I don't know it . I don't know what's going on in Vick's mind . I ...I was talking to him the other day and next day he came .... Seriously I don't know"

Aakshara seemed to understand or rather decided to let go off the topic for now. As Aarohi settled down on her study table , Aakshara suddenly remembered,
" Well then , You , Aaru are getting married. That's all what matters now ."

" Yes ! Getting married. For the third time"
A dry humor , that didn't amuse the elder sister.
As a thick tension grew upon them , with both of them being averting each other's gaze .

The sisters were poles apart . While Aakshara was easy to forget and forgive , not someone to hold onto grudges , Aarohi was exactly the opposite . While the present defined Aakshara, the past shaped Aarohi's deeds .
What Aarohi said just now was a truth that Aakshara was trying to avoid . She knew that her sister had the most disastrous experience of marriage, but she also hoped that Vikram might be an exception . Vikram Sharma , might be that knight in the shinning Armour, that her Aarohi was searching for .

" Vikram is way too handsome , isn't it " Aakshara suddenly declared as Aarohi turned around , stunned. Aakshara Birla did have the ability to ease out any tension or complications.

" What!" Aarohi asked , suddenly shocked by her elder sister's comment . Yes they were sisters but talking something like" how handsome a guy is' was never something that they did earlier.

" I said , Aaru , that Vicky is too handsome "

" Don't let your husband hear that "

A brief pause followed. 'Her husband ' has always been a sensitive topic between them . But Aakshara didn't want to miss the flow ,
" I mean . He was a handsome kid but he has certainly grown too handsome . I wonder how many girlfriends he did have . Also he has got a great job ... brains with good looks ... he is surely gifted... "

" I met Neil Birla yesterday "
The sudden declaration from Aarohi, made Aakshara stop in her rant . Within seconds she was kneeling in front of her sister ,
" What ! Where ?"

" In the hospital "

" You mean the hospital in which you work ?"
Aarohi nodded in an affirmation.
" How did he know about it ?"

" I don't know" Aakshara could see her sister was troubled . She took her hands that have closed together in a tight fist , a thing that Aarohi often did when she was too anxious.

" What did he say ?" Aakshara was worried , now .
" He said .. " Aarohi choked in a tear," He said he was sorry "

" Oh! Is he now ?"
Aarohi looked at her sister, shocked . Aakshara had never sounded this cold , ever.

" I..I..guess. Aakshu I looked in his eyes ..his eyes were sorry . "

But Aakshara was not going to take this easily.

" Aaru , he left you . Did he gave any reasons for it ? "

" Said he needed to think "
" Think , for what ?"

" He had to ..choose between me and ...." Aarohi looked at her sister, suddenly frightened .
" And ...whom ..Aaru "

A pause.
" Aaru ..."

" A..Abhimanyu "

Suddenly Aakshara looked at her sister , aghast . How was her husband involved in all this mess .
" Abhi ...how ?" Aakshara asked , fearing what might her sister answer .

" He wasn't particularly happy with ..the idea of me m..marrying Neil . He ..w..wasn't talking with him..."

Aakshara was shocked. Her husband really made his brother choose between him and his finance!

" He said he came back ..Aa..akshu did he come back?"

Aakshara looked at Aarohi. Her sister deserved to know what happened when he was unconscious.
" Yes..he did . "

Aarohi was a crying mess now. Aakshara looked at her sister , how can life be so unfair to someone.
" Aaru, do ..did...you forgive him?" Aakshara help but ask
" No ...I don't know , Aakshu. I don't know anything "

" Aaru, do you want this marriage?"
" I don't know "

As Aakshara held her inconsolable sister to herself, she let her own tears flow down. She never thought her husband can ever be wrong . Her , Abhi ,really....

" Aaru " Aakshara said , as he hugged her sister tight, " Aaru take your time . Decide what you really want . If you choose Neil or Vikram or none at all , sew that it's the choice you really want. And no matter what , if that's what you feel is right , I will be there with you "

As the empty room witnessed the love between love between the two sisters , Aakshara Birla realized universal truth .

They say ' love is blind' . That was true, when her and Abhimanyu, poles different, fell in love .

But they forget to tell that ' love blindfolds you' . As she never before realized her husband can be at fault too.

From the author: Any thoughts whether they will show Neirohi track after this leap.
Ps: Vote . Comment.