Kairav woke up suddenly from his sleep. He needed to pee very badly. He was about to get up when he noticed his hand was being held by his father. He slowly and gently removed his hand without waking Kartik up. He slowly got out of the bed without disturbing his parents sleep. For a moment he thought of waking Naira up to go with him to bathroom, but then decided against it. He was a big boy now and was very brave, he could go to washroom on his own.

Kartik was still for a moment before his hand subconsciously started searching for Kairav. For five years, Kartik never had a restful sleep. He would wake many times in night, plagued by nightmares of that cursed day. When Naksh had advised him to sleep while holding Kairav's hand, he had done that and slowly, Kartik's body had started relaxing, his nightmares had lessened considerably. Day by day sleep was coming easier to him. Kartik understood what it meant. His son had become his anchor.

As his hand searched for Kairav, his body subconsciously started tensing at not finding him there. Kartik's mind and body started becoming more and more restless, his search becoming more and more frantic. Although he was sleeping, he was going to wake up soon, if his mind mind didn't relax.

Suddenly his wandering hand found a familiar hand to hold on to. His mind and body immediately recognised the soft familiar touch and relaxed immediately. But it wasn't Kairav.

It was Naira.

Even though they had been apart for a long time, Kartik's mind and body still remembered everything about her, but more than anything, it remembered that she was Kartik's home, his safe place to be. Goenka villa never mattered to Kartik, what made that house special to Kartik was the simple fact that, that was the place where Naira was going to be. Their room was heaven for Kartik, it contained their love, their memories, their everything, but as soon as she had left that place, the same heaven had become hell. There was a reason why Kartik hadn't slept in that room for five years.

Kartik's hand tightened his hold on her hand, as if afraid that it might slip away. His heart, his body, his subconscious knew what Naira meant to Kartik. Already the night before, when she had put cream on his back, her touch had wrecked havoc on his body. All the memories had resurfaced. Just a simple touch wasn't enough now. He needed more. Slowly, subconsciously, Kartik's body started shifting in Naira's direction and reached her. His hand which was holding her hand reached for her waist.

Naira's body recognised the familiar, loving touch and subconsciously responded, changing her position to accommodate him. No matter how much she kept denying it, even she longed for his touch. And before they knew, Naira's head was on Kartik's chest, one hand on her side while the other hugging him tightly. Kartik's one hand was on her waist and one hand was on her shoulder.

Kartik and Naira's hearts soared with delight, their minds were at peace, their bodies basking in the closeness. Even though both of them were asleep, their bodies, hearts, minds knew that they both were finally with each other. Both inhaled each other's scent and unknowingly tightened their hold on each other.

Kairav came back from the washroom and was about to climb on the bed when he noticed that his father had taken his place on the bed.

Kairav's thoughts:- arey, papa toh meri jagah so gaye, Mumma ko uthao, nahi, main bada ho gaya hoon, agar papa meri jagah so gaye toh main papa ki jagah so jaaonga.

Kairav laid on the side and before he knew it, he was asleep.

Naira slowly came into the land of consciousness. She woke up but didn't actually open her eyes. She didn't want to. For some reason, she felt very happy, very warm from inside. She just wanted to relax and stay in her current position, but knew it wasn't possible. She knew it was morning as she could hear the chirping of birds outside.

Naira decided to sleep for five more minutes before waking up. She sighed blissfully and cuddled her pillow tightly as it moved slightly up and down. It's been so long since....... Wait, wait, Naira'a train of thoughts stopped when she realised that her pillow was moving, and she could hear a heartbeat in her ear. It was then she realised that it wasn't a pillow, it was someone's chest. That realisation alone caused her sleepiness, her bliss to immediately vanish.

Naira slowly opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head, already dreading the answer which soon turned into reality. It was Kartik on whose chest she was laying on. For a moment she looked at his face. He looked so peacefull as he slept. But the next moment questions came in her mind. How ? When did this happen ? And where was Kairav ? Naira panicked.

Naira turned her sideways as if searching for Kairav when noticed him sleeping peacefully on the side of the bed. She relaxed slightly but not to much. She needed to seperate from him and get up. It was then she noticed that she had another problem. A rather serious problem.

It was Kartik's hands. One of his hands had somehow slipped under her t-shirt and was touching her bare skin, holding her by her waist, while the other one was gently cupping her breast. Naira shuddered as she felt the hand on bare waist move slightly. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. His other hand gently squeezed her breast. Naira almost moaned as her body betrayed her. It was reacting, accepting, it was welcoming his touch.

Even though they had been apart for a long time, Naira hadn't forgotten anything relating to Kartik. She knew that Kartik had an obsession with her waist. To be honest, he had an obsession with everything related to her. Whenever they would sleep, Kartik would always slip his hand inside her top to touch her waist, to cup her breast, to slip his hands on her legs, on her derrière. His hands never stayed stable. Kartik had a habit of touching her, holding her intimately while sleeping. And even after five years, he still had the same habit.

Kartik's intimate touch was wreaking havoc on Naira's body. Her body was reacting to Kartik's touch in a way she didn't want it to react. Naira tried to control herself but it seemed her body had other plans. Naira knew she had to separate from kartik, soon. She started to gently move her body away from him, when kartik immediately tightened his hold on her waist and pulled her back, while his other hand squeezed her breast tightly. Naira gasped and her body stiffened. Before she could think of anything else, his thumb and index finger suddenly grazed her nipple and pinched it lightly. Naira stifled back a moan and her face beacme very red. She looked at Kartik who looked to be still in deep sleep, which clearly meant that he was doing all this subconsciously, out of his past habit.

Naira felt heat starting to pool in her lower belly. She had to separate from Kartik. The movement had caused him to hold her waist and breast tightly. And she knew that if she tried to get away suddenly his grip would become even more tight.

Naira knew, she had to wait. Wait for his hands to loosen their hold on her body. Only then she would be able first remove his hands and then get up. Naira laid her head back on his chest. As she heard his heart beating, she couldn't help but be reminded of the old times, when she was happy. Happy with her family, happy with dance, happy with her work, happy with life but most importantly, when she was happy with him. And look at her now. A single mother trying to fight the world for her child. Time surely changes everything.

After five minutes, she finally felt his hold on her body loosening. She gently removed his hands first and then separated from him and got up. She looked at Kartik. He looked so serene, so calm, so gentle. Subconsciously, her hand moved forward and softly touched his face. Current ran through her hand as she touched him but she didn't withdraw her hand. She touched a scar above his left eyebrow which wasn't there before separation and shivered. He must have gotten it from his street fights. He already numerous scars on his back. What was the-

Kairav :- mumma.

Naira immediately withdrew her hand as Kairav sleepily called out to her. She looked at Kairav who was looking at her sleepily while rubbing his eyes. Naira immediately went to his side.

Naira :- utho baby, subah ho gayi.

Kairav slowly got up and followed Naira outside the room.

Sometime later :-

Kartik sat in front of his therapist almost glaring at him, as his therapist introduced himself.

Therapist :- Hi, my name is Rahul.

Kartik :- Kartik.

Rahul :- i know, but good to meet you.

Kartik just nodded. To be honest, Kartik didn't want to be here. Kartik was only doing this for Kairav and nothing else.

He didn't know why but he had a woken up in a very good mood. For the first time in years, it seemed like his body had finally relaxed, like it was missing a piece which it had finally found. When he had woken up, he had been alone in the bed, in the centre. But he didn't pay any attention to it, he must have turned around in his sleep, after Naira and Kairav would have woken up. But for some reason he had felt happy, some of the tension had left his body.

But it all came back when Lisa had reminded him of his therapist appointment. So here he was, in the therapist office.

Rahul :- so, tell me something about yourself kartik ?

Kartik sighed. He could already tell, it was going to be a long hour.

Kartik :- what do want to know ?

Rahul :- anything, which you are comfortable with.

Kartik shrugged :- i am not comfortable with anything.

Rahul smiled.

Rahul :- ok, no worries.

Rahul didn't say anything after that and just sat quietly while looking at Kartik. An uncomfortable silence descended in the room.

After ten minutes of silence, Kartik had enough, if the therapist just wanted to sit quietly then he was not going to waste his time anymore.

Kartik :- you know what, i think I should leave.

Rahul :- why ?

Kartik :- because you are just wasting my time and judging me with that look.

Rahul :- am i ?

Kartik :- yes !

Rahul :- tell me Kartik, do you know how therapy works ?

Kartik :- excuse me ?

Rahul :- i am saying, kya tumhe pata hai therapy kaise kaam karti hai ?

Kartik didn't say anything.

Rahul :- I'll take that as no. Therapy mein samne wala insaan mughe apni life ke baare mein batata hai. Uski life mein jo kuch bhi hua ho, good or bad, it doesn't matter. And i don't judge them. Kyunki har ek ke apne apne circumstances hote hai. Maybe agar mein unke shoes mein hota, toh main bhi wahi karta, jo unhone Kiya. But therapy ke liye sabse jyada important hai communication. Mere se bhi jyada mere samne wale ki. Kyunki i can't help till the time a person talks, till he/she tells me about their life. I know it's not easy for you just to talk to a stranger and tell about your life. So if you don't want to do it, that's completely ok with me. You can walk out of the door and never come back here again. But jaane se pehle ek baari ye soch lo ki why did you agree to this session in the first place, and if that reason is not good enough, then I won't stop you from leaving.

Kartik was stunned for a moment, before he processd the last sentence of Rahul. Why did he agree to it in the first place. The answer came easily. Kairav, his child. Whatever mental trauma Kartik had, it was for him and him alone.

Kartik sighed in resignation as his shoulder slumped. But suddenly Kairav's laughter rang in his ears, which gave him strength. Kartik looked at Rahul.

Kartik :- i am sorry, it's just that, i am tired, so tired of everything, jo bhi kuch meri life mein hua. And speaking about it, is not gonna be easy for me. The past few years have been horrible in my life.

Rahul :- i understand, trust me, i do. I never said it's gonna be easy. Take your time.

Kartik sat quietly for some time before speaking.

Kartik :- where do I start ?

Rahul :- why not from the beginning.

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