S h o t    N i n e

Naina opened her eyes to see she was in a totally dark room. She slowly got up and tried to switch the lamp on but that didn't get on. A bad headache restricted her from getting up from the bed.

"Karan.. Karan? Where are you?" She asked in her weak voice but no response came back making her realise that she was alone in the room.

Naina was thinking what to do when she noticed someone's silhouette where it was less dark. She thought it was Karan doing some prank with her.

"Karan if it's you then please come out. I don't want you to do this. I am not feeling well." She said in an angry voice.

No reply came from that side but the figure moved from there making her really scared. It was like some creepy horror movie. Sweat started forming in her head.

"Please leave me alone.. I am not feeling well.. Come out and stop your pranks." She cried out.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. The touch was not Karan's, she was sure about it. But the voice next which called her Naina was familiar to her. It was of Manish.

She clutched the bed sheet tightly. She wanted to scream but it felt like was voice was lost somewhere. Her throat got dry and she was praying it to be a dream but it felt so real to be one.

Suddenly the door of the room opened and someone entered the room. The hand moved back from her shoulder and she realised that no one was standing behind her now. The lights got on and she saw the person who entered the room was Karan.

Karan saw the horrified expression of Naina and rushed towards her. He sat beside her and cupped her cheeks.

"Sweetheart what happened? Are you okay?" Karan asked being concerned.

"I am not okay Karan!! Why did you leave me alone here in the dark?" She cried.

"Naina I went to bring food for you. You fainted in the sangeet because of high fever. You have to eat before taking the medicines." Karan replied pointing to the table beside the door where a plate of food was kept.

"Karan.. Manish is here. I felt his hand on my shoulder and he called me Naina. As promised, he is back here." Naina said.

"Naina it was your dream.. Don't worry Manish is not here." Karan replied back.

"Why don't you believe me?? I have saw him.. He is here!! I am taking my medicines... I can't get these dreams okay!" She screamed.

"I believe that maybe someone was here but it was not Manish. I believe you Naina! They are fooling you to make us fight.. Understand it as soon as possible." He replied calmly.

" Karan I am sorry.. I don't want to fight with you like this." She said feeling guilty.

"It's okay. Come and eat something. You still have a high fever." Karan said and went to bring the plate.

He took a spoon full of rice with curry and asked her to open her mouth but Naina stopped him.

"First tell me have you eaten your food?" Naina asked narrowing her eyes.

"Excuse me! Do you think Nisha and Meghna bhabhi will leave me without making me eat?" He asked chuckling.

"Okay I agree with you there. So now make me eat the food." Naina opened her mouth like a child and Karan happily started feeding her. After sometime she started complaining that her stomach was full but Karan made her eat every bit of it till he was not satisfied.

"So now you stay here and I will bring your medicines." Karan said after she finished eating.

"Again medicines!! I think I should have married medicines not you.. They are with me more then you can imagine of." She complained again.

"Oh hello don't think of giving my place to some medicines.. I am very possessive about it haan.. And now fastly kill them by taking it." Karan said jokingly and handed her the medicine.

She made a face but soon took the medicine and looked towards him. "Now happy?" Naina asked huffing.

"Really happy." Karan said and kissed her forehead. His soft lips on her skin made her forget everything about which she was talking few minutes back. A smile covered her face and she closed her eyes.

"Okay now sleep! You are still sick and I am your doctor for now. Do as I tell you! Is that clear?" He asked.

"Yes doctor." She replied and quickly laid down on the bed closing her eyes. Karan covered her with the quilt and laid on his side of bed.

"I am cold.. Hug me while you sleep." Naina said in a whisper and within a minute she was in Karan's arm, giving her all the warmth she needed in her life.

***

The next morning everybody came down for the haldi ceremony except Naina and Karan. Naina was still feeling weak and Karan forced her to stay in the room.

"Karan only five minutes!! I will go and come na.. Please!" Naina showed her puppy eyes to him.

"Naina no!! Your cute face will not melt my heart.. If you want to go to the wedding at evening then you have to take rest now." Karan tried to glare at her but failed miserably.

"Akdu!!" Naina mumbled making faces.

"Wha..what did you just call me?" Karan asked her.

"I called you AKDU!! No no you are hitler..." She huffed and laid on the bed so that she could not see Karan.

"If I am hitler then you are hitler's wife!! I will not let you go now and that's it." Karan said and sat on the couch.

Naina didn't reply so he called her again. She still ignored him so he slowly went and made her sit.

"You are angry?" He asked and she nodded her head.

"Okay fine! We will go, apply the haldi and then we will come back! Is that clear?" He ordered.

"100% clear! Thank you thank you thank you so much Mr Akdu.. You are a cute Akdu!" Naina said and jumped out of bed.

"Cute?.. Naina!! Naina slow down you are still weak.. Come back." Karan kept screaming whereas she ran downstair to apply the haldi.

They went down and as Karan said after applying the haldi both of them again came back to their room.

***

An early update!!!

First of all a Happy Independence Day to all Indians out there..

So this was totally devoted to Nairan.. Hope you all liked it.

Next part will be one of the most important chapter of this short story..

And please do vote on this story and share your views about what you like or dislike about this story.. It helps a writer a lot.

Till then keep reading..

Good bye..

Loads of love. ❤