Life was very unpredictable. Nobody knew that better then Naira. From her teenage years to adulthood to marriage to now, her life had been a roller coaster. It had been through so many ups and downs, so many twists and turns, that she had barely kept herself steady.

And when finally, she thought that she had gained some stability in her life, it had once again taken a turn, but this time, a turn so sharp, that Naira didn't know how much time it would take for her to steady herself, or at this point, if she would even be able to keep herself steady.

Life had changed for her once again. A single call made by Kairav had completely turned everything upside down. The life which she had built in Goa was now completely different. It felt like everything was falling apart.

Ever since she had met kartik again, her life had been turmoil of emotions. She didn't know what she felt. Anger, resentment, hate, guilt, bitterness, rage, worry, fear, stress. Everything had come together so fast, that she hadn't even able to fully process even half of it.

Inspite of everything that had happened in the past one and a half months, a ray of hope had also come for her. Her brother, Naksh. Naira knew that the truth was now bound to come out before there families. She also knew that the reunion wasn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows. If no one else, she at least would have her brother there with her.

It was dusk. Naira was at the beach, along with Kairav, Kartik and Lisa. Kairav and Kartik were playing in water while lisa was talking with someone on the phone.

Kairav was running around at the beach with Kartik following him everywhere. Even though he was running slowly, Naira could still notice the discomfort with which Kartik ran. It's only been fifteen days since his operation. It would take more time for him to completely recover.

As she looked at both of them, she couldn't help but recall her life. One question had changed everything. Even to this day she had never forgotten what had happened that night. And she didn't think that she could ever forget it.

She had felt angry, disgusted, violated but most of all, she had been hurt by that question. Her heart had shattered. Even to this day, she couldn't believe what she had heard. The next day, after the accident when she had gone back to the Goenka villa, her heart had shattered once again when she had heard Kartik talking to Mihir and had believed her to be dead. He wasn't even trying to search for her and was still blaming her.

At that moment she had decided to leave udaipur forever. She had decided to never look back. She had decided to live, only for her child. She had decided to dedicate her life to the sweet innocent boy.

To be honest, Naira didn't know what she felt for Kartik. Naira didn't know if she even loved him anymore. When she had seen Kartik that day at her home after five years, for a moment, her resolve had broken. She could still remember the way he had kissed her, had hugged her, apologised to her, cried to her.

But all of that was short lived. Because reality had hit almost immediately. And after that Kartik had run away and her resolve had come back. From that time till now, they have spoken only twice. The first time they talked had been a full blown fight between them. Five years of pain, anguish, suffering, frustration had finally broken it's dam. The second time they talked almost led to fight again, before they both controlled themselves.

At least Naira felt assured of one thing, that Kartik wouldn't try to take Kairav away from her. He was her lifeline now, and if he went away, she didn't think she would live.

These five years hadn't been easy for her. Many times making ends meet had been almost impossible. She had worked extremely hard to reach where she was now. And still, even today, she worked a lot, so she could give a good life to Kairav. He was her world, and she would do anything and everything for him.

Having Kartik living with them wasn't easy, there was tension between them. A lot of tension. So many things were still waiting to be spoken, so many things were still waiting to be heard. She didn't what turn life had for now, but she would face it bravely, as long as she had-

Lisa :- Tina ?

Naira :- huh.

Naira looked at her side to see Lisa standing there with a concerned look on her face.

Lisa :- hey, you okay ?

Naira nodded.

Lisa :- everything fine ?

Naira :- haa, kuch nahi, bas vo aise hi, kuch soch rahi thi.

Lisa nodded.

Lisa :- actually Tina, mughe tumse ek favour chahiye tha ?

Naira :- haa Lisa, bolo na.

Lisa :- vo actually I have to go somewhere tonight. So if you don't mind, kya tum aaj raat Kartik ko dinner aur medicines de sakti ho ?

Naira froze for a moment. Ever since Kartik had come back from the hospital, Lisa was the one who had been preparing food for Kartik and would give him his medicines.

Lisa :- look, i am sorry, i know it's not easy for you. But please, mughe really kahin jaana hai.

Naira sighed and nodded. Lisa had done so much for her in the past that she couldn't even count it. Naira could at least do this much for her.

Lisa :- thank you so much Tina.

Both of them stood there for sometime. Not saying anything, just enjoying the silence before it was broken by lisa.

Lisa :- look Tina. I just wanna say something to you.

Naira :- haa, bolo na.

Lisa :- i think you should talk to Kartik.

Naira looked at Lisa. Shocked.

Naira :- what ?

Lisa :- i think tumhe Kartik se baat karni chahiye.

Naira scoffed :- about what ?

Lisa :- you know about what.

Naira didn't say anything.

Lisa :- look Tina, i am not saying ki tum dono ke beech sab kuch pehla jaisa ho jaega, i know it's not easy for you, but at the same time, it's not easy for him too, you guys need to clear out your past issues. You need to move forward in life.

Naira :- main kabki move on kar chuki hoon Lisa.

Lisa scoffed :- acha. Toh phir aaj tak jab bhi maine tumse tumhare past ke baare mein pucha, toh tumne hamesha baat kyun palat di ? Tum hamesha subject change kar deti thi. Agar tum sach mein move on kar chuki hoti hai, toh ussey batane ki himmat rakhti, ussey bhaagti nahi.

Naira looked shocked at lisa.

Lisa :- what. Just because I don't say anything, it doesn't mean that I don't understand it.

Naira :- baat vo bhi kar sakta hai Lisa, usne toh nahi Kari, then why should I, maine baat karne ka koi theka thodi na liya hai ?

Lisa :- true. Usne baat shuru nahi Kari, but tumhe kya lagta hai, ki vo iss halat mein hai ? If you think you are disturbed, then his condition is a thousand times worse then you and don't you deny it.

Naira didn't say anything. Although she didn't want to accept it, deep down in her heart, she knew it to be true. Five years had changed him a lot, to the point where she couldn't even think about it.

Lisa and Naksh hadn't told her much about Kartik's condition but she knew some things. One of them was his past habit of Street fighting which had shocked her to the core. Beacuse she knew it wasn't in Kartik's nature to go out looking for fights.

Naira had immediately become worried for Kairav. She didn't want Kairav to know of Kartik's violent tendencies as it might affect him, or maybe harm Kairav. But then she had been assured by Naksh, that kartik had decided to leave Street fighting forever.

Naira :- tumhe kya lagta hai Lisa. Kya baat karoon main ussey ? Kya kahoon ? kya bolu ? Cheeze bahut badal chuki hai Lisa. Paanch saal pehle maine ussey chod Diya tha, aur uske liye uski biwi paanch saal pehle hi mar gayi thi.

Lisa :- which was a lie.

Naira became quiet.

Lisa :- jooth hamesha jooth hi rehta hai, no matter how many times you say it. Look, i am not saying ki everything will suddenly become alright, it will take time for both of you, but at least cheeze pehle se kuch better toh hongi. Stop running from yourself Tina. Stop being a coward.

Naira looked sharply at Lisa.

Naira :- i am not a coward !

Lisa :- then prove it. Prove it to me, but most importantly, prove it to yourself.

Naira became quiet.

Lisa :- Tina, sooner or later, Kairav will notice the awkwardness between you too, aur uske baad vo tum dono se sawal karega. Kya bolegi ussey ? Ye kahogi ki uske papa koi secret mission par nahi the, balki unhe toh pata hi nhi tha ki unka ek beta hai.

Naira didn't say anything.

Lisa :- you think Kairav will be able to bear this trauma. If not for anyone else, then at least do it for Kairav. I know how much you love him. Aaj tak tumne uske liye itna kuch kiya hai, toh ek cheez aur sahi.

Naira turned and looked at Kairav who was laughing as he held Kartik's hand and jumped onto the coming waves. His innocent laugh was like music to her ears. The sweetest song she had ever heard.

She understood what Lisa was saying, her child didn't deserve to bear the trauma of her and Kartik's fight. She wouldn't let her child pay for his parents mistakes, for there problems. She would never be able to forgive herself if that ever happened. Turning to Lisa, she slowly nodded her head.

Naira looked at Kartik and Kairav who were sitting at the dinning table. From so many days, lisa was the one bringing food for Kartik, even though Naira knew what he was eating, preparing it was a different thing altogether. She couldn't help but grimace as she looked at it.

Lisa had told her what to prepare for him. It was nothing but some boiled carrots, spinach, brocoli and beans with very little salt and spices in it. It was very bland. It was something Naira would never eat no matter how much sick she might be. She hated boiled food with a passion.

Naira also knew that Kartik also used to hate boiled food. Now she wasn't sure. For him to keep eating the same food for so many days without a single complaint was also suggestive of how drastically things have changed in the past five years.

When the food was finally prepared she put it in a plate and kept it in front of a Kartik who looked at her. They looked at each other for the first time properly in so many days. Both of there faces wanted to convey so many emotions as they looked at each other but they both kept it under an emotionless mask.

Naira :- vo Lisa nahi hai aaj, usne mughe bola tumhara dinner prepare karne ke liye.

Kartik didn't say anything, just nodded. Naira went to the kitchen and brought out another plate for her and Kairav. She had made kachori for Kairav. Kartik looked at kachori for a moment, his favourite food which he hadn't eaten in the last five years. So many past memories flooded in his mind. When Naira died he decided to punish himself by giving up all the things he loved. Now looking back at it, he couldn't help but think that was it even worth it ?

The dinner was mostly eaten in silence with only Kairav talking. Normally he would have asked Kartik to eat the kachori with him, but he knew that his father was sick and couldn't eat it.

Kartik suddenly choked on his food and started coughing. Naira immediately was in front of him. She patted his back and gave him water. Kartik greedily took it and drank the water from the glass. After drinking the water, he looked at Naira. For a moment he saw concern, before again a mask came on her face.

Kartik:- thank you.

Naira just nodded. For a moment she saw a warmness in his eyes, before he again put an emotionless mask in front of her.

After dinner Naira kept his medicines on the table and told Kartik silently with her eyes to take it. Lisa had told Naira to make sure that Kartik takes his medicines, otherwise he might skip it. Kartik didn't say anything as he looked at the medicines and then at Naira. His eyes softened, as memories of past again flooded his mind, before he controlled himself. He just took it without complaint.

As Kartik laid on the bed besides a sleeping Kairav and Naira. He couldn't help but think of the dinner incident. Although no words were said but they weren't required. Sometimes small gestures are enough to create big changes.

Unknown to both of them, slowly and slowly a hope was beginning to form in there hearts which would only get stronger and do the healing which they have been yearning for the past five years.

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

A chapter from mostly Naira's POV.

I am sorry for posting so late, the thing is i had my exam last week which is over. From now I'll do my best to give regular updates.

Guys, i have written a new story 'you are my life'. Please do read it and tell me about it.

KaiRa bonding has started. I know the incident is very small. But don't worry from the next chapter it will increase.

And if you have any ideas, you are more then welcome to tell me.