The evening slowly surrendered to the night.

Dark clouds gathered across the sky while a cool breeze wandered through the garden, gently brushing against the girl standing there.

She didn't react.

Not because the breeze wasn't there...

But because her mind was louder than the silence surrounding her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, one after another, refusing to stop.

She had a family that loved her.

A family that protected her.

A family that would give up anything for her.

Yet...

Something always felt incomplete.

Guilt.

The guilt of feeling like a burden.

She hated depending on others.

She wanted to hear the world on her own.

She wanted to live without people worrying about her every second.

Just like-

Her younger sister...

She could hear.

She laughed freely, made friends effortlessly, and lived like a bird with endless skies.

She wasn't jealous.

She was simply exhausted from wondering why life had chosen her differently.

She had people who loved her.

But outside those walls...

People only knew her well enough to exchange a polite "Hi" and "Bye."

Nothing more.

Her fingers tightened around the broken hearing device in her palm.

A shaky breath escaped her lips.

"Why does it feel so suffocating?" she whispered.

"Am I really... that much of a burden?"

She quickly wiped away her tears.

"No..."

"I promised myself..."

"I won't let people like them break me again."

Present Day-

"So, Bua..." Akshara smirked as she crossed one leg over the other.

"Your son turned out to be quite impressive, hmm?"

Her aunt folded her hands immediately.

"Akshu... leave him, beta. He didn't mean it. Please... our family's respect will be ruined."

The son stood beside her, silent.

Fear had already stolen his voice.

Akshara slowly stood up.

A cold smile appeared on her face.

"Respect?"

"Sorry, Bua ji."

"Respect will be ruined the moment your son starts regretting his life inside jail."

"Please, Akshu... I'll do whatever you ask. Please forgive him."

Akshara's expression hardened.

"My name is Akshara Sen."

"Respect it."

"And keep your 'please' to yourself."

"Where was this respect when your son destroyed the only thing through which I could hear?"

"Where was your respect when everyone blamed me for his mistake?"

"Where was your respect then?"

She stepped closer.

"Now your son has committed such a disgusting act..."

"...that I'm ashamed to even call you my aunt."

Silence filled the room.

Even her bodyguards exchanged stunned glances.

They had never seen their calm, composed boss like this.

Akshara looked at them.

A single nod.

That was enough.

Within minutes, both the mother and son were dragged away.

Every crime they had committed had already been documented.

This time...

There would be no escape.

An hour later...

Akshara's car stopped in front of Sen fire safety.

Her PA greeted her and instructed today’s schedule.

The rest of her day went to meetings and checking projects.

Yet something about the weather seemed to drown towards an unknown feeling.

The night-

As soon as she entered, she found her parents staring at her.

And that’s when she realized why they were staring at her.

"I swear, Papa... do you even know what her son tried to-"

"Sahi kiya!, sahi kiya, acha kiya!!"

Kashvi interrupted dramatically before bursting into a proud grin.

"I can't believe Bua's son actually did all that. hehe."

"And imagine trying to burn the company you built. In their dreams-hehe"

"ffah."

"Your own sister turned out to be a snake, Pitashri."

She said as she even mimicked a snake with her hand, making Akshara sigh.

"Enough."

Her father shook his head, though amusement was evident in his eyes.

"Akshu..."

"You did the right thing."

"Now both of you should go and rest."

Akshara frowned.

"Where are you going, Papa?"

Her father smiled knowingly before glancing at his wife.

"Your mother wants sweets."

"So we're going out."

Before Akshara could say another word...

The couple quietly walked out of the manor.

Leaving the two sisters alone.

“How sweet of them na, that they abandoned us in this big house and left” kashvi said.

“Kash, come on you have grown up to 23yr and you're acting like a kid” akshara said.

“I am a kid, i know you are very very very jealousyyyy “ kashvi pointed out to akshara before darting to her room.

“Bachpana kahike”, akshara muttered before following her.

Author's Note-

So this is how the story of Akshara had began..so do vote and comment jannies..💓