They stopped looking at each other.

Meals became silent.

Paths avoided.

If Naira entered a room, Kartik left.

If Kartik spoke, Naira answered briefly.

Ayaan noticed.

Ayaan:
"Papa... aap aur mumma naraaz ho?"

Kartik crouched.

Arjun:
"Nahi beta."

Ayaan tilted his head.

Ayaan:
"Toh phir baat kyun nahi karte?"

Kartik:
"Hum naraz nhi hai ayaan bas hum bade hai to aapki tarah pure din bol thodi sakte hai, aap to kabhi thakte nhi bolte bolte bilkul apni mumma pe gye ho"

Ayaan:
"Naira mumma pe ya gayu mumma pe "

Kartik:
"Dono pe "

Naira stood frozen at the doorway.

Kartik looked at her.

For the first time in days.

Neither spoke.

Later that night.

Naira couldn't sleep.

She sat in the balcony.

Kartik came out quietly.

Long silence.

Then Naira spoke—voice shaking.

Naira:
"Mujhe wapas nahi aana chahiye tha, mera wapas aana ek galat decision tha."

Kartik turned sharply.

Kartik:
"Yeh mat kaho."

Naira:
"Woh ek second... uss bathroom mein..."

She pressed her palms together.

Naira:
"Mujhe aisa laga jaise main Gayu ke saath dhokha kar rahi hoon."

Kartik's voice broke.

Arjun:
"Mujhe bhi, par humne kuch jaan bhooj ke nhi kiya galti se ho gya."

Silence crushed them.

Naira:
"Woh tumhari patni thi."

Kartik:
"Aur tum Ayaan ki maa ho."

Naira looked up.

Naira:
"Par main tumhari—"

She stopped.

Kartik finished quietly.

Kartik:
"Tum meri zindagi ka aaj ho, or Gayu meri zindagi ka kal thi, yeh nhi keh rha ki jo hua sahi tha par galti bhi nhi thi sabko zindagi me aage badhne ka haq kisi ke jaane se zindagi nhi ruk sakti naira."

Naira shook her head.

Naira:
"Sach kabhi kabhi bohot galat waqt pe aata hai, jab jab tumhare paas hoti hoon lagta hai Gayu ki jagah le rhi hoon bhoot mushkil hai sab kuch sambhalna, khud ke dil ko sambhalna, ghar me sab aaj bhi gayu ko miss karte hai or gayu thi bhi har kaam perfect or main humesha akeli rhi hoon isliye parivaar ka matlab nhi pata har cheez me mujhse galti hoti hai,main gayu ki jagah nhi lena chahti par chahti hoon ki ek achi maa or ak achi beti bann sakun, gayu ki kami puri kar saku."

Kartik:
"Tumhe gayu jaise banane ko koi keh bhi nhi rha mana gayu har cheez me perfect thi or tum abhi naya naya sab sambhal rhi ho time lagega par tum bhi perfect maa or beti bann jaogi or jab jab tum kamzoor padogi mujhe apne pass paogi"

Naira:
"Thank u kartik mera humesha saath dene ke liye."

Kartik:
"Thank u to mujhe tumhe kehna chahiye jo tum mere kehne par India aa gyi or ayaan ki zindagi ko pura kar diya."

They both stood their in silence for some more minutes and then retired back to their rooms to sleep with satisfied smile.