First rays of sun entered the room to find Kartik asleep on the sofa, Sirat frowning in her sleep on the bed. After a while, she became aware of the surroundings and opened her eyes. Staring at the sunlight she started getting ready.

Outside, sound of water reached across to Kartik in his dream making him furrow his brows.

Naira (smiles)- Jao, meri yaadon se bahar aane ka waqt ho gaya hai.

Kartik (frowns)- Subah ho gayi?

Naira (shakes her head, smiling)- Main subah ki baat nahi kar rahi, par haan tumhare uthne ka waqt ho gaya hai. Mujhe jana hoga.

Kartik laid on the sofa for a while even after he woke up. Only sitting up when Sirat came out of the bathroom ready for the day. She couldn't go for morning jog and was miffed about it, but Kartik was introducing her to a bodyguard today. Sirat supposed she could get back into training for nationals from that day. While drying her hair, Sirat noticed Kartik was up.

Sirat (looking at Kartik, apologetic)- Sorry. Manne to awaz kam karne ki koshish ki thi-

Kartik (hums, sleepy)- Par pani, uske sound se meri neend khul gayi. Uska to kuchh nahi kar sakti thi.

Sirat (drying her hair)- Aap fir se so jao na, abhi to aapke taiyar hone mein kaafi waqt hai.

Kartik (shakes his head, gets up)- Ab neend khul gayi hai to dobara neend aana mushkil hai, main bhi ready ho jaata hoon. 

Sirat (hums)- Abhi nashta na bana hoga, sabhi log uth hi rahe honge. (frowning she dried her hair completely before leaving the room)

An hour later, Swarna entered kitchen to find Sirat preparing breakfast. Just then frying another poori. 

Swarna (furrowing brows, looks around)- Sirat tum kabse yahan ho? Tumne to saara nashta akele bana liya?

Surekha (entering behind her with Gayu)- Bhabhi aap kya keh rahi ho- (her eyes fall on kitchen counter)

Sirat (nods, smiling)- Haan vo mhari neend jaldi khul gayi thi aaj, to manne socha- (looking at both of them) Koi problem hai ke?

Swarna (smiling)- Nahi Sirat par tumhein ye sab karne ki koi zaroorat nahi thi, aur aaj to tum vapas se club jana shuru karne wali ho na, tumhein is sabke baare mein scohne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Hum, log ye sab kar lenge.

Gayu- Haan Sirat tumne aaj to sab akele kar liya, par tumhein iski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Tum sirf apni boxing par dhyan do. (turns to Swarna) Abhi ka to kaam ho gaya, main jaakar Vansh ko utha deti hoon.

Surkeha (nods)- Haan bhabhi, agar nashta ban chuka hai to humein bhi ab khaane ke baare mein sochna chahiye.

Swarna- Par pehle sab nashta to kar lein (look at Sirat).

Sirat (turning off gas)- Main bhi Kairav ko utha deti hoon, aur Akshu ko bhi aapke kamare se lana hai. Usko bhi bhookh lagi hogi.

Taking a deep breath, she walked past them to go and find Kairav. Only to find Kartik already there, trying to tug off the blanket from over Kairav.

Kartik (leaning over the bead)- Kairav beta isiliye maine aapse bola tha na aap jaldi so jao, par aap nahi maane itni der tak wedding pictures dekhte rahe. Ab uth jao, school ka time ho raha hai.

Kartik (sighs)- Kairav! Utha jao.

Sirat (walking inside)- Kairav uth jao na, kyon papa ko tang kar rahe ho?

Kairav (throws blanket off)- Sirat (beams at her). Getting out of the bed to hug her.

Sirat (hugging in response)- Ab jaldi se taiyar ho jao, manne thare liye nashte mein thari favourite cheezen banayi hain.

Kairav (breaks hug)- Nashta aapne banaya hai? (Sirat nods) Tab to mujhe jaldi se ready hona padega.

Sirat (nods)- Haan varna mhari itni saari mehnat, thanda ho jayega to utna swad kahan bachega.

Kairav (nods groggily)- Main abhi aata hoon. (walks over to bathroom)

Sirat (turns to notice Kartik staring at her)- Ke ho gaya, aap ke dekh rahe ho?

Kartik (shakes his head, smiling)- Tumhare ek baar kehne par utha gaya vo, main pichhle aadhe ghante se koshish kar raha tha.

Sirat (smiles)- Mhari koi baat na taalta, Kairav.

Kartik (hums)- Achchha, Akshu ko bhi doodh dene ka time ho raha hai to-

Sirat (cuts him off)- Vo main kar loongi, aap jaake nashta kar lo. Khana sirf Kairav ke liye hi to thanda nahi hoga.

Kartik- Aur tum?

Sirat (shrugs)- Main baad mein kha loongi.

Kartik (nods)- Thik hai, lekin jaldi. Ek baar jisko tumhari protection ke liye hire kiya hai aa jaye, fir tum donon ko club ke liye nikalna hai.

Sirat (hums)- Haan, bas Akshu ko doodh pila doon fir main bhi naashta kar loongi.

***

Kartik- Hello? ...Haan. (stands up) Main bahar hi aapka wait kar raha hoon. Bas aap aage wale turn se left le lijiye.

Excusing himself from dining table, Kartik went outside. A little later, Sirat found him talking to a tall man in black T-shirt.

Sirat (frowning)- Kartik, aapne bulaya manne?

Kartik (smiles)- Sirat inse milo. (Sirat joins her palm) Ye Sarang hain, Udaipur ki best security providing agency hai inki. Aaj se tumhari protection ka jimma inka aur inki team ka. Sarang ye hain-

Sarang- Aapki wife, Sirat Goenka.

Kartik (nods)- Yes, meri wife. Aur inki safety ab aapki responsibility hai inka dhyan rakhiyega.

Sirat furrowed her brows while staring at Kartik.

Kartik- Kya hua? Tumhein koi problem hai?

Sirat (blinks)- Haan? Na. Koi dikkat na hai manne. (turning to Sarang) Vo je akele hain na, team to inki koi nazar na aa rahi hai.

Sarang (nods)- Jee ma'am, kyonki hum sirf aapko protect hi nahi balki aapki jaan ko kisse khatra hai usko bhi saamne lana chahte hain, isliye meri team aapke aas-paas to rahegi lekin saamne nahi aayegi. Kya mujhe do minute ke liye aapka phone mil sakta hai? (handing phone back to Sirat) Ismein maine hamari agency ka app download karke aapke code se log in kar diya hai, ismein sab kuchh check kar sakti hain. Aapke aas-paas hamari team ke kitne log kahan-kahan faile hue hain. But I would request ki aap main circle se bahar na niklein.

Kartik- Aur ab se jab bhi tum ghar se bahar niklogi, ye poora time tumhare saath rahenge. Tum ready ho jao, tumhein aaj se hi practice shuru karni thi na? Maine club walon se baat kar li hai, aur vo log Sarang ki team ke wahan rehne ke liye taiyar ho gaye hain. Ab meri aadhi tension to khatam ho gayi hai, par fir bhi tumhein khud bahut chaukanna rehna hoga agar baat practice ki na hoti to tumhein ghar se nikalna hi nahi padta par...

Sirat (nods)- Kartik main apna poora dhyan rakhoongi, ab aapko bhi chalna chahiye varna office ke liye late ho jayenge.

She hurriedly changed back to her track suit, preparing her kit walked downstairs. It was while she was walking across the hall, Surekha's words reached her.

Surekha- Meri to samajh nahi aa raha bhabhi, Kartik ko iske peechhe itna kharcha karne ki zaroorat kya thi? 

Swarna- Surekha! Tum kyon Sirat ke peechhe padi hui ho, aakhir uski practice bhi to zaroori hai na. Ab uske liye Kartik ne uske liye security team hire kar li to usse humein kaun sa nuksan ho raha hai?

Surekha- Par ise bahar nikalna kyon hai? Abhi itni mushkil se jaan bachi iski, uski parwah nahi hai chalo uski nahi hai, Kartik ne use is ghar mein rakhne ke liye bhaisahab ki marzi ke khilaaf isse jo shaadi ki hai, uska hi maan rakh leti. Kuchh din ye Sirat ghar mein reh jaati to kuchh bigad jaata kya iska? Ghar mein rahe apni grahasthi ko samjhe, sasural aur bachchon ko waqt de, nahi ise boxing karni hai. Kartik ke itne ahsaan hain is par, ise koi ahsaas nahi. Main to ab bhi keh rahi hoon, iske chakkar mein hamare Kartik ko bahut nuksaan jhelna padega. 

Swarna- Surekha-(notices Sirat)

Kartik (walks into the room)- Sirat, tum nikli nahi ab tak?

Sirat (hums, misty eyed)- Haan bas nikal hi rahi thi, aur aap?

Kartik- Kuchh nahi bas meri ek file reh gayi thi, bas wahi lene lauta hoon. Tum jao aur achchhe se practice karna.

Swarna (sighs looking at Sirat's back)- Surekha tumhein itna sab bolne ki kya zaroorat hai, agar usne sab sun liya to?

Surekha- To bhabhi, use sunne dijiye na. Use pata chalne dijiye main uske baare mein kya sochti hoon.

***

A quick internet search while drive to club, showed her the price range of the security agencies of the city. She couldn't take it out for her mind, even as her peers welcomed her back. After quick small talk, they returned to the ring but Sirat couldn't focus. It, along with the missed practice sessions showed as she took many hits.

Coach- Sirat! Dhyan kahan hain tumhara? Panch minute ka rest lo, aur apna dhyan wapas game par lao.

Yet, she was knocked out within a few minutes into the practice.

Coach (sighs)- Seema, well done! Sirat? Agar tumhara abhi dhyan nahi hai to wapas laut jao, is game ke saath to national ke liye qualify bhi nahi kar paogi. Ghar jao, rest karo, jab tak tumhara focus game mein laut nahi aata is ring ke paas nazar mat aana mujhe.

Dejected, Sirat left the club. Back in Goenka mansion, a baby's cries worried the house.

Dadi- Lagta hai Akshu jaag gayi.

Swarna- Main use bahar le aati hoon, dekh loongi use bhookh to nahi lagi.

Surekha- Bilkul, kyonki uske papa ne jisse uska dhyan rakhne ke liye shaadi ki hai vo to ghar mein hain hi nahi. Hum pehle bhi dhyan rakhte the, ab bhi rakhenge.

Dadi- Surekha. To ismein kya kahar dhaa jayega, ghar mein bhi humein kaun sa patthar todna hota hai jo itne saare log milkar use na sambhal paaye?

Gayu (smiles)- Sirat.

Swarna- Beta tum itni jaldi kaise aa gayi?

Sirat (looking beyond towards Akshu)- Vo practice kare waqt ho gaya hai na, to thodi difficulty ho rahi hai isliye coach ne aaj jaldi chhod diya- Main Akshu ko dekh leti hoon.

After playing with Akshu for a while she looked at time and rushed downstairs to heat up the food for Kairav. Along with that prepared a quick chutney as well. Gayu entered with Kairav and Vansh.

Gayu (surprised)- Sirat, tum?

Sirat- Vo in donon ke lautne ka time ho gaya tha na, to manne khana garam kar diya hai.

Gayu- Thank you, ab mujhe thoda aur waqt mil jayega aaj pata nahi kyon Vatsal bhi chichidhya hua hai- (a baby's cries echos), pakka wahi hoga. Main use dekhti hoon.

Kairav- Sirat, aaj subah jo aapne sabji banayi thi vo bahut tasty thi, aur bachi hai?

Sirat- Vo to nahi hai par ye chatni manne abhi banayi hai, aap khake batao kaisi bani hai.

While taking their plates inside, Sirat noticed Gayu staring back and forth between an empty drawing notebook and crying Vatsal. 

Sirat- Ke ho gaya Gayu di, aap itne pareshan lag rahe ho?

Gayu (furrows her brows)- Ek client ko mere kuchh design pasand aaye the, unke liye kuchh aur design taiyar karne hain par mera dhyan Vatsal par tha to mujhe samajh nahi aa raha.

Sirat (nods)- Agar aapko aitraaz na ho to main aapki kuchh madad kar doon?

Gayu (stares at her)- Tumne subah se itna kuchh kar liya hai, tum thak gayi hogi.

Sirat (shakes her head)- Main bilkul thik hoon, aap na dobara apne design par dhyan do tab tak Vatsal ka dhyan main rakh loongi. Vaise bhi Akshu aaram kar rahi hai, aur mhare paas koi kaam na hai.

Gayu- Achchha thik hai.

Sirat placed the plates on sink and took Vatsal to her room, who indeed was over-active that day. Playing, burbling, tugging her dupatta. By the time she successfully put Vatsal to sleep, Akshu woke up and after calming her down, Sirat glanced at the clock to remember it was time for Dadi to return from her evening prayer at the temple. She went back into the kitchen to beat up tea and some snack for her. Half her attention remained on the babies upstairs, she ended up touching a hot utensil bare handed.

Swarna- Sirat! (walks over to her) Kya hua tumhara dhyan kahan hai, khud ko jala liya na. Aur tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? (looks around) Tumne fir nastha taiyar kar liya?

Sirat- Vo Aunty ji, dadi ke mandir se aane ka time ho raha tha.

Swarna- Sirat, ab tum is pariwar ka hissa ho, tumhein mujhe maan bolna chahiye tha. Aur din bhar itni bhag daur kyon kar rahi ho, maan ji ke liye chai banane ki aadat hai mujhe. Tum pareshan mat ho, is sabke liye. Jabse lauti ho, ek pal aaram nahi kiya tumne. Abhi fir Kairav aa jayega to tumhein dhoondhega. Tum jao, aaram kar lo aur dawai bhi laga lo, yahan main dekh loongi.

Sirat (exhales shakily)- Thik hai Aunty- Mera matlab maan.

Sirat (walking upstairs)- Dhang se kaam karte na bana tujhse Sirat, aise dhyan rakhegi Kartik ke pariwar ka tu? 

Shaking her head, Sirat returned to the room where Vatsal and Akshu were sleeping.

***

Precap

Sirat (sits beside him)- Koi na, aap mahri bad-bad ko vo ke kehve hain background music samajh lena aise aapko bhi neend na aayegi.

Halfway into his work, Kartik suddenly noticed Sirat wasn't talking anymore. Turning around he noticed, Sirat was asleep.

Kartik (shakes his head)- Itni thakan thi ki baithe-baithe hi so gayi.

He saved the work, and picking up Sirat in his arms laid her on the bed.