Naira had finally managed to step out of the house when Naksh was at work. The rest of the family seemed more supportive of her exploring the world outside compared to her brother. She did get their trusted driver to take her around but she felt comfortable with that. Kartik had asked to reach an address she wasn't sure of but her trust in him had become manifold in their recent interactions. Her heart had shown her the way & it led to him. The feelings she felt for him had escalated so much in the past few days that she didn't know if it was her current feelings or was it coming deep from her soul that had recognized him when it had refused to recognize the world around.

She looked around when she reached her destination, it was a dance academy. She felt a slight pull that she couldn't quite place. She walked in but the building seemed empty & she took a step back. Then she heard music floating in. It felt familiar in a way that made her heart beat faster. She walked, then ran towards the music. In a dark room was a video on the projector that showed her dancing. A thrill of excitement ran through her. As she watched herself onscreen, she found herself moving her feet to the rhythm imitating the steps. Soon she was dancing on her own, lost in a trance.

She wasn't the only one in a trance. Kartik watched as she moved fluidly, graceful and mesmerizing as always. To him time stopped when she danced. It had been the way since the first time he saw her dance. Her every move did things to his heart. Not for nothing was he her biggest supporter & cheerleader, it benefitted him too, he got to see her & feel the joy she exuded when she danced.
After a while, he realized she was about to faint, the exhaustion of dancing after a long time had probably gotten to her. Like always, he rushed to hold her before she fell. She was in his arms eyes closed, face flushed, it took all his might to not kiss her. She opened her eyes slowly & like the warmth of a sunny day in between harsh winter, her face broke into a big smile. He thought he might drop her for his arms and legs had turned into mush.

Naira stared up at him, his eyes held so much love. She didn't know how she knew that but she just knew he loved her like no one else loved her. She had been exhilarated to dance but the feeling of being in his arms looked at with the kind of devotion he did, beat that feeling too. He helped her stand straight but they both continued to hold each other. They stood gazing into each other's eyes He couldn't leave her, he couldn't if he tried. She didn't want to leave him. He had made her feel alive both by reintroducing her to her passion and by just being himself so completely in love with her.

They were brought out of their reverie only when the projector turned off and plunged them into darkness. Kartik held Naira's hand as he tried to navigate his way to the light switch using his mobile light. Something about the handhold felt awfully familiar to her. Of course it'd be familiar, if they liked each other, they would've held hands wouldn't they have? She reasoned with herself.  It wasn't just that her mind kept telling her, she felt flashes of times he had held her hand and led her. Very different times, almost as if he had held her hand through, life & death & everything in between. She wasn't sure why she thought of death maybe it was the glimpses of fire in her flashes. It jolted her, she found herself unable to breath.
"Kartik" she said fearfully as she clung to him. He stopped in his tracks and held her properly. The way she had said his name sounded so familiar that he wondered if she had said it from beyond her current state. He picked her up in his arms when he realized her legs were giving away.

He wanted to rush her to the hospital but she refused. She knew it would only reduce her chances of stepping out of the house alone. He didn't care, he wanted to ensure she was safe, they would find other ways to get her out. She was adamant and insisted she was fine and that it was just tiredness from dancing after long. He gave into her demands and stayed put. She was resting on a recliner and he was next to her, holding her hand. She moved a little & gestured to him to lie next to her. It was he who felt a sense of de ja vu.
They lay there talking quietly, fingers interlocked. He wasn't sure what he was up to. His own guilt that had overwhelmed him seemed to take a back seat when with her. But it came back with full force whenever she wasn't. When she remembers everything he wouldn't have these moments he thought morosely. But if she learns to be happy he would want nothing more. If her memories never returned he hoped that she would learn to be self sufficient and happy. Her happiness that's all he wanted and yet he found himself in this situation where he was the cause of all the troubles in her life. He didn't notice a stray tear trickling down his cheek until she wiped them. He turned his face towards her.
"Rona tho mujhe chahiye" she made a face. He smiled at her nautanki.
"Kyun"
"Kyunki mujhe tumhara pyaar yaad nahi aaraha hai, Kartik. Humne Kabhi shaadi kyun nahi ki?"
He looked at her shocked. Was it the right time for the revelation he wondered. Just as he mustered the courage to say his bit, her phone rang. It was Keerti asking her to reach home quickly as Naksh had decided to return early. Naira sat up.
"Chalo mujhe jaana hai" she saw him looking a little heartbroken. So she gave him the slightest of pecks on his cheeks & got up to leave. Kartik pulled her back almost as a reflex. She looked shocked but then so did he. He might've asked her to stay back in another life, another world where they were together. Probably even say,  mereliye thodi der aur ruk jao jaanemann. Now though he had to let go. Reluctantly, with a heavy heart.

Will things ever be alright? He wondered as he watched her car drive past him.