Kartik was surprised when he saw Kairav running towards him. It's been only two days since he had last seen his son but to him it felt like two years. Kairav came near him and hugged him tightly.

Kairav :- PAPA !!

Kartik couldn't help but wince in pain as Kairav hugged him, but that pain was nothing compared to the amount of affection, the amount of concern he felt from his son. He wrapped his arms around Kairav. The simple act of feeling his little body in his arms was comforting in a way he could have never imagined.

And in that moment he knew, he was going to be fine, he was going to be okay. He felt so relieved, so grateful. And in that moment he swore to himself, that he would never go back in the ring again.

Kairav moved back.

Kairav :- papa, papa.

Kartik :- haa baccha.

Kairav :- aapko kya hua ? Mumma ne bataya ki aapko chot lagi hai.

Kartik looked up at the door where Naira was also standing. For a moment he stared at her, her beautiful face looking at him, and his injured face looking at her, but then he turned his attention back to Kairav.

Kartik :- acha, aur kya bola aapki Mumma ne ?

Kairav :- mumma ne kaha ki aapka accident ho gaya hai.

It was obvious, Naira wasn't going to tell Kairav the actual reason.

Kartik :- haa baccha.

Kairav :- abhi aap thik ho papa ? Maine god ji se pray bhi Kara hai ki vo aapko jaldi se thik kar de.

Kartik smiled at his son's concern for him. He could only blink back tears.

Kartik :- haa baccha, jab aap mere liye pray karoge toh mughe kaise kuch ho sakta hai.

Kartik slowly sat up on the bed, as Naksh helped him, kartik winced in pain at times but slowly he sat up on the bed. Kairav hugged him again, Kartik didn't say anything. He buried his face into the soft skin of Kairav's cheek and just breathed.

Naksh looked at the scene in front of him and smiled. He knew in his heart that Kartik was going to be okay now, slowly but surely Kartik would recover. He had finally found an anchor and that anchor would finally bring the old Kartik back.

At that moment a nurse entred.

She came near Naksh and gave him a prescription.

Nurse :- sir, ye kuch medicines hai, aap inhe pharmacy se le aaiye.

Naksh nodded and went out of the room leaving Kartik and Kairav alone with Lisa.

Naira followed her brother outside and before he could leave, hugged him tightly from behind.

Naira :- Bhai!!

Naksh stiffened. For a moment he didn't say anything, his whole body remained stoic, before he removed her hands and turned around. Tears were coming down from his eyes.

Naksh :- kyun ? Ab kyun yaad aayi meri ? Jab itni saalo tak dur rahi tab yaad nahi aayi meri ?

Naira also started crying and hugged him forcefully.

Naira :- i am sorry Bhai. Please mughe maaf kar do.

Naksh :- kya maaf kar doon ? Kaise maaf kar doon ? Kahan thi ab tak, vaapas kyun nahi aayi ? Sach kehna, kya ek baar bhi yaad nahi aayi meri ?

Naira :- jhoot nahi kahoongi bhai, bahut yaad aayi aap sab ki.

Naksh :- arey pagli, jab itni yaad aa rahi thi toh vaapas kyun nahi aayi ?

Naira :- i am sorry Bhai, main jaanti hoon, bahut hurt Kiya hai maine aapko.

Naksh pulled back from Naira.

Naksh :- kyun naira ? Vaapas kyun nahi aayi ? Apne bhai pe thoda toh bharosa kar leti, kuch nahi puchta main tere se, koi sawal nahi karta tere se, balki main tere saath deta, sabse ladta tere liye.

Naira hugged Naksh again.

Naira :- i am sorry Bhai, i am really sorry. Har saal aapko blank calls karti thi. Main jaanti hoon aap bahut naraz ho mugh se, nafrat karte ho-

Naksh immediately pulled back.

Naksh :- nahi naira, aisa nahi hai, haa main naraz hoon, gussa hoon par tu meri meri choti behen hai, main kabhi nafrat nahi kar sakta tugh se.

Naira cried and hugged him.

Ever since he had found out about Naira, naksh had been under a huge emotional turmoil. In the past one week when he had been at home, it had given him much needed time to think, and as much as Naksh was angry at Naira for leaving them, he was way more overjoyed by the fact that his little sister, the sister whom he loved so much, was alive. And at that moment itself, Naksh had forgiven her, his sister was back and that's all that mattered to him.

Naksh :- paanch saal se, har din intezar Kiya hai tera, kehne ke liye toh tu mar chuki thi, par kahin na kahin ek ummed baandh rakhi thi maine, ki tu ek din vaapas zaror aaegi, mughe kahin na kahin doubt toh tha ki shayad unn blank calls ke piche tera haath hai, aur ab jab tu aa gayi hai, toh main kitna khush hoon ye main bata nahi sakta.

Naksh pulled back.

Naksh :- narazgi apni jagah, aur pyar apni jagah hai Naira. Aur main tughse kitna bhi naraz hoon kyun na hoon, kitna bhi gussa kyun na hoon, tera ye bhai har musibat mein, har kadam pe, hamesha tere saath khada hai. Paanch saalo se teri rakhi ke bina mera haath adhoora hai, abhi Jane se pehle inn paanch saalon ki Kami ko poora kar ke jaaonga.

Naira cried.

Naira :- thank you bhai, thank you so much.

Naksh nodded and hugged Naira again before pulling back.

Naksh :- acha, tu ruk, main zara ye medicine leke aata hoon, phir mughe mere pyaare se bhanje se milwana.

Naira :- haa bhai, pakka.

Naksh started walking towards the pharmacy.

Naksh thoughts :- naira ko toh filhal ke liye sambhal liya, par kartik ka kya karoonga, uski mental health par kya asar padega inn sab batoon ka, bhagwan jaane, main toh kuch samagh nahi paa raha ki aage kya karoon, Kartik ka ek psychiatrist se consult karna bahut zaroori hai, par vo manega, pehli baar jab consult Kara tha, tab bhi usne toofan khada kar diya tha, usko manane ka ek hi Tarika hai, ki Kairav ka naam loon, hai toh galat par ek yahi tareeka hai uss se baat manwane ka. Isi ek tareeke se vo therapy ke liye raazi hoga.

Naksh didn't even realise when he reached the pharmacy. He quickly bought the medicines and went to Kartik's room.

Naira was standing outside, waiting for him. He nodded to her and both of them went inside. Kartik was still talking with Kairav. For a moment Naira couldn't help but smile, when she saw Kairav talking with Kartik, it was all Kairav had ever wanted, his father.

But that smile vanished as soon as Kartik looked at them. For a moment both husband and wife stared at each other. Naksh immediately moved forward sensing the tension between them.

Naksh :- sister, ye rahi jo medicines aapne mangwai thi.

The nurse took the packet from him and from it brought a vial and prepared an injection. Kartik didn't even flinch when she put the injection in his arm. After giving that, she left from there.

Naira was shocked. She knew how much Kartik hated injections, for him to take one so easily, without flinching, without being scared, it absolutely shocked her. She knew things had changed a lot in these five years, but she didn't expect the change to be this drastic.

Kairav was looking at his father in wonder.

Kairav :- wow papa. Aap toh kitne brave ho. Aapko toh bilkul bhi darr nahi laga.

Kartik smiled.

Kartik :- haa baccha, aapke papa ko pehle darr lagta tha, ab nahi.

Kairav :- par mumma toh keh rahi thi ki aapko injection se bahut dar lagta hai.

For a moment kartik looked at Naira, his face going through many expressions, before looking at Kairav.

Kartik :- ab aapke Papa badal gaye hai. Pehle jaise nahi rahe.

Naksh immediately decided to intervene.

Naksh :- Kairav, beta ?

Kairav looked at Naksh.

Naksh :- aap mughe jaante ho ?

Kairav shook his head. Naksh went on his knees in front of Kairav.

Naksh :- lekin main aapko jaanta hoon.

Kairav :- kaise ?

Naksh :- main aapki mumma ka bhai hoon.

Kairav :- sacchi ??!!

Naksh :- mucchi.

Kairav looked at Naira for confirmation who just nodded her head.

Kairav :- yayyy.

Kairav hugged Naksh in excitement. Kartik smiled looking at the scene in front of him. After all, it was always a happy moment when you meet a new member of your family. Especially a family you didn't even know you had. Kairav pulled back.

Kairav :- toh main aapko kya bulaon ?

Naksh smiled.

Naksh :- aap mughe mamu kaho ?

Kairav:- mamu ?

Naksh :- haa.

Kairav :- ok mamu.

Just then the doctor entered who moved towards Kartik. Naksh stood up and came near him.

Doctor:- hello Kartik.

Kartik :- hello sir.

Doctor :- so, how are you feeling ? Any pain in your abdomen or anywhere else ?

Kartik :- nahi sir.

Doctor :- kuch vomiting jaisa ya kuch aur ?

Kartik :- no sir.

Doctor :- ok, that's good then.

Naksh :- sir, hum kitni jaldi Kartik ko ghar le Jaa sakte hai.

Doctor:- abhi 4-5 din toh he has to stay here.

Naksh :- sir, 4-5 din ?

Doctor :- yup, and before you ask me, understand this, Inka bahut major operation hua hai, so before we send him back, we have to take examine and take care of everything.

Naksh just nodded. He knew they didn't have a choice. The doctor's words from yesterday rang in his mind. He didn't want to take any chances with Kartik's health.

Kartik :- par sir-

Naksh :- nahi Kartik. He is right. Bahut major surgery hui hai tumhari. Aur vaise bhi tumhari health ke saath mughe koi risk nahi lena hai.

Kartik :- but ek-

Naksh :- NO.

Kartik immediately became quiet, but glared at Naksh, who glared right back. Seeing this Kairav laughed.

Kairav :- papa, aap toh mamu se darte ho.

Kartik's glare turned into a sad smile and he muttered to himself.

Kartik :- ab tumhe kya bataon baccha, tumhare mamu ne hi toh iss laash ko pichle paanch saal se sambhal rakha hai.

Kairav:- apne kuch kaha papa ?

Kartik :- nahi beta, aur main koi darta nahi hoon tumhare mamu se, vo toh bas tumhare mamu thik keh rahe hai isliye unki baat maan raha hoon.

Doctor smiled :- khair, aap dono iss baare mein baad mein jhagad lena, for now you need to rest Mr. Goenka.

Kartik :- yes doctor.

The doctor went out of the room.

Naira :- Kairav baby, ab humein bhi chalna chahiye.

Kairav:- par mumma, mughe papa ke pass rehna hai.

Naira :- nahi baby, abhi aapka school hai. Apne kaha tha na, ki agar aap papa se miloge toh school jaoge. Toh chalo ab.

Kairav :- par Mumma-

Kartik :- Kairav, baccha, aap papa ke good boy ho na. Agar aap school jaoge toh papa aur jaldi thik ho jayenge. Aap school ke baad aa jaana, apne papa ke pass. Phir hum dono bahut saari games khelenge aur masti karenge.

Kairav thought for a moment before speaking.

Kairav :- ok papa. Agar mere school jaane se aap thik ho jaoge, toh main school jaaonga.

Kartik smiled.

Kairav came near Kartik and hugged him once more before going out of the room, followed by Naira, who looked at Kartik one last time before leaving.

Lisa :- Naksh, tum raat bhar se yahin ho, tum bhi ghar jaakar change kar lo aur rest kar lo, meanwhile I'll stay with kartik.

Naksh just nodded. He was tired but more then that he needed a bath.

Kartik :- Lisa, kya tum 5 min. Ke liye bahar Jaa sakti ho, mughe naksh se kuch baat karni hai.

Lisa just nodded and went out.

Naksh :- haa bol Kartik, kya hua ?

Kartik didn't say anything, slowly he got up from the bed. As soon as he stood up, he stumbled a bit, but naksh immediately moved forward to support him and held Kartik's arms to steady him.

Naksh :- kya kar raha hai Kartik ? Kuch kaam hai toh mughe bol, main kar doonga, tu kyun khada ho raha hai.

Kartik didn't say anything, and hugged Naksh tightly. Naksh was surprised by Kartik's behaviour, before naksh could ask, kartik himself spoke.

Kartik:- thank you Naksh, thank you so much. I know ki mughe sambhalna tumhare liye aasaan nahi raha hoga, khaas kar ki ye jaane ke baad ki tumhari behen ki maut ke liye main jimmedar hoon, bahut tang kiya hai na maine tumhe, par phir bhi tumne aaj tak ek baar bhi mujhse kuch nahi kaha, agar kabhi chilaye bhi, toh bas mughe samjhane ke liye, sach kahoon toh main khud bhi nahi jaanta ki agar tum na hote toh inn paanch saalo mein mera kya hota, shayad main paanch saal pehle hi mar gaya hota, shayad aaj main apne bacche se bhi nahi milta. Inn paanch saalo mein tumne poori koshish ki, mera dhyaan rakhne ki, mere jija, mere saale, aur sabse zaroori mere dost bankar mere saath khade rahe, aaj agar main zinda bhi hoon toh woh sirf tumhari wajah se, tum ye mat samghana ki mughe iss baat ka ehsaas nahi hai. Sach kahoon mughe nahi pata ki tumhara kaise shukriya aada karoon, phir bhi ye ek choti si koshish hai meri, Thank you Naksh, thank you for everything.

Naksh didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around Kartik.

A/N :- So guys, how was it ? Please vote and tell me in the comments.

I know many of you are angry or upset with me for posting so late, but guys i didn't do it deliberately.

About 15 days ago, I went for my cousins marriage and after coming back from there, i fell very sick, i had severe cough, cold, fever, i am still recovering from it.

I'll try to post the next chapter soon but it may get delayed.

And one more thing, the thing is guys, i need some ideas from your side too on how to take this story forward, i know during this track, there were many things which we all hated and would want it to be removed, so it's my humble request to tell me in the comments, on how exactly you want to see the story move forward.