Next morning, Sirat woke up to her alarm. Turned it off before Kartik could wake up. She was also able to convince him to give her the sofa last night. Freshening up, she fixed up breakfast before turning to wake up Kairav and hurry him along his morning routine. Back in their room, Kartik drowsily fed Akshu. For a moment, her feet stuttered on the doorway at the sight. Something about his unguarded sleepy smile warmed her chest, that along with a happy gurgling Akshu and a smiling Kairav was enough. Leaving Kartik to it, Sirat returned to help arrange the dining table and prepare a fresh cup of tea for Dadi. 

Seeing off Kairav and Vatsal, Sirat rushed to change into the tracksuits. But just as she held her kit, Akshu coughed and gagged and threw up. Her priorities reorganized themselves, dropping off the kit she rushed to Akshu. Just then Kartik entered their room with his lips pressed thin, but looking at the sight instead walked over to sit at the other side of Akshu. 

Sirat (frowning)- Akshu ko ek aur baar doctor ke yahan dikha lena chahiye?

Kartik (hums)- Main Akshu ko doctor ke yahan le jata hoon, tum nikalo, Sarang tumhara neeche wait kar raha hai.

Sirat- Aaj to aapko meeting ke liye-

Kartik (nods)- Haan, bahar jana tha. Uski tum chinta mat karo main Papa se baat kar loonga.

Sirat (stands up and walks over to but stops just before picking up the kit)- Par aap-

Kartik (looking at the floor)- Tumhare coach ka mujhe message aaya tha, aaj Nationals ke form release honge. Haan, last date aane mein abhi waqt hai par tum aaj club jaogi, practice karogi, form bhaorgi, uske baad Udaipur boxing team se milne mere saath chalogi.

Before Sirat could enquire further, she's shooed off. Kartik changed Akshu out of her ruined clothes and did the same for those in her pram. Getting her ready for another visit to the hospital, Kartik informed his father and uncle of the same. The doctor slightly changed her prescription, and took few tests which all turned out to be negative, fortunately. However, it took half a day to get the test reports till then he entertained a slightly fussy Akshu in hospital garden. Once the reports were out, he messaged Sirat everything was fine, and wished her all the best for the practice. Back home, everyone sighed collectively, relieved when they came to know everything was fine with Akshu. Feeding her and giving the medicines, Kartik put Akshu to sleep. It's as he's turning the file for the next meeting that someone knocks on his door.

Kartik (looking up smiles at Gayu with a plate)- Iski kya zaroorat thi? Mujhe bula leti.

Gayu- Hum tumhein bulane wale the, par fir hum sabko laga tum aaram kar rahe hoge par tum to yahan fir kaam mein hi lage huye the. Khair koi baat nahi (placing the plate on the table before him) ab main khana le aayi hoon to tum yahin kha lo.

Kartik (hums putting away the files)- Vaise khane ke alawa aur kya baat karni thi tumhein?

Gayu (smiles, sitting beside him)- Mere chehre par likha hai kya ki mujhe tumse koi baat karni hai?

Kartik- Aisa hi kuchh. 

Gayu (nods)- Baat to karni hai... Tere aur Sirat ke beech sab thik to hai na?

Kartik (swallows the morsel)- Haan Gayu, hamare beech to sab thik hi hai par...

Gayu- Par tumhein bhi kuchh alag lag raha hai na? (At Kartik's nod) Tayiji aur Dadi ko bhi aisa hi lagta hai, jabse tum donon ki shaadi huyi hai vo kuchh band si ho gayi hai. Par fir humein laga ye shayad jaan pe khatra hone se itni pareshan hai... Aur aise mein to-

Kartik (remembers something)- Mujhe bhi is baare mein Sirat se kuchh baat karni hai. (turns to face Gayu) Tum bhi karke dekh lena, ho sakta hai koi aisi baat ho jo vo mujhe na bata paye par shayad tumhein bata de.

They talked a bit more about Akshu and the mischief their children have been upto the last few days. She left with the empty plate, but his head full of questions. As he reads the same line for fifth time, someone sits beside him.

Kartik- Main thik hoon.

Naira (hums questioningly)- Maine to kuchh bhi nahi kaha.

Kartik (looks up and turns to her)- Main sachmuch thik hoon.

Naira (stares at his face)- Tum sachmuch pareshan ho.

Kartik (laughs)- Mujhe kis baat ki pareshani hogi?

Naira- Office ke kam ki, aaj jo meeting tum attend nahi kar paye uski, Akshu ki health ki, Kairav ka din kaisa jaa raha ha iski... Sirat ki. Baaki sab chintaon ko to fusla diya, par Sirat ki chinta man se nahi jaa rahi tumhare, kyon?

Kartik (sighs)- Kyonki vo baatein chhupa rahi hai. Pehle to chhoti se chhoti baat mujhe bata deti thi, baat nahi hoti thi to message kar deti thi par jabse Sirat is ghar mein aayi- Nahi jabse hamari... 

Naira- Kartik, kayi baar aapko jo cheez pareshan kar rahi hoti hai vo jin logon se judi hoti hai aap unko batane mein jhijhak jaate hain.

Kartik (closes the file)- Par vo mujhse kuchh bhi keh sakti hai, agar usko koi bhi problem hai to main nahin chahta ki vo use akela face kare.

Naira (smiles)- Ye baat tumhein mujhe batane ki jagah Sirat se karni chahiye.

Kartik (nods)- Tum sahi keh rahi ho... Thank you, Naira.

Naira (hums)- You are welcome!

***

Sirat returned late that day. By that time Suhasini was back from the temple, and her tea was taken care of. Kairav and Vansh were also focusing on their homework, done with the day's football game. She was exhausted and quite subdued, still entering the room she now shared with Kartik an exhausted smile graced her lips as she settled by Akshu letting the boxing kit slither from her shoulder. Tears glistened in her eyes, as she stared at nothing in particular. However, before she could become aware of the same and shed them or ignore their presence someone cleared her throat behind her. Kartik held a tray holding cups, and placing them down on the sofa-table he took a seat.

Kartik (his gaze elsewhere)- Ye chai peene ka waqt to nahi hai, par abhi khana banne mein thoda waqt hai aur mujhe achchha lagega agar tum kitchen bhaagne ke bajaay thodi der mere paas baithogi.

Sirat (standing up, taking her tears back in)- Aisa to nahi hai, manne kab aapse bhaagne ke koshish kari.

Kartik (watched the cup as Sirat settled beside him and reached for her cup)- Haan, shayad tumne mujhe dene wala waqt kam nahi kiya par baatein bahut kam kar di hain. 

Sirat (smiles taking a sip)- Aisa ke ho gaya?

Kartik (turns to glare at her)- Tum batao aisa kya hua hai, agar tumhare upar hamla hua hai ye baat mujhe tumhari jagah Sarang se pata chal rahi hai?

4 hours ago

Hoping to catch Sirat after she returned from her practice and talk about her strange behaviour, Kartik entered the kitchen to prepare tea for them. Usually, either Sirat or servants did the same. However, he didn't want Sirat to have the excuse and also do something himself. Staying back home was making him restless, now that Akshu was dozing off under medication while Kairav was out playing. He couldn't quite return to his work after talking with Naira. Bringing the water to a boil, he was about to move towards tea leaves when his phone rang. The name flashed worried him enough, he forgot moving for a second before pouncing on his phone to answer the call.

Kartik (harried)- Hello? Haan, Sarang. Club mein sab thik to hai na? Sirat?

Sarang- Haan, sir. Club mein sab thik hai. Ma'ab bhi abhi safe hain, practice par hain. Maine aapko isliye phone kiya tha kyonki pooja wale din un par jo hamla hua tha humein uske baare mein ek lead mili hai-

Kartik (frowning, turns off the stove)- Ek minute Sarang, kaun se hamle ki baat kar rahe ho tum?

Sarang- Sirat ma'am aur Suhasini ji jis mandir mein gaye the, wahan dubki lagate huye kisi ne unhein neeche kheenchne ki koshish kari thi... Lautte samay aapki Dadi ki safety ke liye unhone jab mujhse driving karwayi thi...? Tabhi se to baaki guards aapke garwalon ko follow kar rahe hain.

Kartik (remembers being bewildered at the sudden change in security circle)- Isiliye.

Sarang- Sir?

Kartik- Tumhein kya pata chala hai?

Sarng- Us raaste se aksar gaadiyan nahi guzarti, aur sabhi guzarne wali gadiyon ka record forest department wale rakhte hain. Unke register se humein ek aur gadi ka number mila hai jo us waqt wahan thi, hamare log uske registered owner ko dhoondh rahe hain...

Now 

Sirat- Kartik vo...

Kartik (keeping the cup down)- Bolo.

Sirat- Manne dhyan tha, isliye Sarang ke baaki log gharwalon ke ird-gird hi hain. Baat kari usse manne.

Kartik (stares, takes a deep breath, lets go)- Sirat, agar tumhare upar hamla hota hai to haan mujhe bhi ghar walon ki chinta hogi, main bhi unki safety ke liye pareshan hoon. Par is poore situation mein unhein maloom hona chahiye ki unhein chaukanna rehna hai. Ek baar ke liye main samajh sakta hoon tumne aisa isliye kiya kyonki vo ghabra jaate aur papa- Lekin, tumhein nahi lagta at least tum mujhse ye share kar sakti thi? Main tumhein kaise samjhaoon ye ladayi, ye khauf isse tumhein akele joojhne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Agar tumhein kuchh go gaya hota to?

***

Precap

Kartik (frowns)- Sarang, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?

Sarang- Vo aaj Sirat ma'am practice se jaldi aa gayi.