Before upcoming festivals, most of their partners were eager to finalize the designs and place orders , so as to receive their orders in time to hold sale. The hike in demand meant most of their family members were forced to take up on various projects alone. One such dealing with a client who controlled eastern market of the country was in Kartik's hands. He was particularly finnicky about the designs, maybe, that's why they had such strong control of market. In particular his team liked Gayu's sketches and wanted to meet with the designer to discuss more ideas. After finalizing the details of their next meeting, Kartik decided to return early, wanting to give Gayu the good news and spend some time with his children which was greatly diminished due to-

Many things.

It was as he crossed the threshold of the Goenks house that he was surprised to find Sarang seated in the main hall, sipping on tea. His presence was befuddling, with the intentions of enquiring Kartik walked over to him.

Kartik- Ye yahan par hai iska matlab... Sirat?

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

Sarang (standing up)- Vo aaj Sirat ma'am practice se jaldi aa gayi.

Kartik (hums)- Kuchh hua hai kya?

Sarang (shakes his head)- Club main to kuchh nahi hua.

Kartik (hardens his stare)- Tum sach keh rahe ho na? Pakka kuchh nahi hua? Fir se koi hamla...

Sarang- Nahi sir, agar aisa kuchh bhi hua hota to main sabse pehle aapko call karta.

Kartik (sighs)- Aur agar hoga to pehle police ko aur mujhe inform karoge, Sirat kabhi-kabhi khud ko lekar zyada hi laparwah ho jati hai.

With that he went over to the stairs, climbing those his mind wandered.

Kartik- Agar Sirat ghar mein hai, to room mein hogi. Pehle Gayu se hi mil leta hoon, usse ye bhi pooch loonga ki Kairav aur Akshu kahan hain.

However, he was wholly unprepared to find Sirat and Kairav in her room with Gayu and Vansh. Four of them were busy painting on a huge chart paper, and missed his presence entirely by the door. After a little while, they used a paper weight to leave it drying beneath the fan.

Kairav (smiling)- Main itna pareshan ho gaya tha, par aapne help ki aur sab kuchh itni jaldi ho gaya. Thank you, Sirat.

Vansh (nodding)- Agar aap nahi hote, to na hi Kairav ka work complete hota aur na hi mera.

Sirat- Manne to bas haath bataya hai, socha to aapki mumma ne hi tha.

Gayu (shaking her head with a smile)- Nahi, iska poora credit main nahi le sakti. Tumhare aane se pehle mera bhi kahan dimag chal raha tha, in logon ne bataya hi itna last moment aur fir Kairav ne tumhein call kar diya.

Sirat (smiles)- Koi baat na Gayu di, vaise bhi aaj coach sir mhare se khush the, paanch match aur manne apne opponent ko paanchon mein knockout kiya vo bhi pandrah minute ke bheetar, thoda aur ruk jaati to mhare paas practice karne ko koi bachtha hi nahi. (turns to Kairav and Vansh simultaneously) Tum donon aage se dhyan rakhna school projects ke baare mein pehle bata dena.

Kairav (nods)- Pata aap bahut achchhe ho Sirat bilkul mumma jaise, unke aate hi sab jaldi se thik ho jaata tha. Mujhe aapke saath aisa lagta hai mumma hamare hi paas hai... (hesitates) Kya main aur meri chhotu sister aapko Sirat mumma bula sakte hain?

Sirat (smile freezes)- Kairav... Thare ko mhare ko mumma bulane ki koi zaroorat na hai (turns to Gayu).

Gayu (smiles)- Agar Kairav chahta hai to bulane do na, vaise bhi ab Kartik se shaadi ke baad hui to tum uski mumma hi na. Vo alag baat hai isse pehle jab se tum  Kairav aur Akshu ki life mein aayi ho tumne inka dhyan maan jaise hi rakha hai.

Sirat (nods)- Haan, itne pyaare bachhon ki parwah karna ke badi baat hai, par manne na lagta inhein mhare ko maan bulana chahiye, inki maan to Naira ji hain na? Aur baaki gharwalon ne kaise lagega jab ye mahre ko maan kahenge?

Kairav (wilting)- Par aap ho to mumma hi na? Aap bilkul vaise hi dhyan rakhti ho jaise mumma rakhti hain.

Sirat (stares, shakes her head and sighs)- Achchha thik hai udaas hone ki zaroorat na hai, vaise bhi kaam ho gaya hai aur manne bhi jaldi chhutti mil gayi hai, iska matlab...

Vansh- Matlab?

Sirat (looks around conspiringly)- Ice cream.

Kairav (breaks into a smile, hugs her)- Thank you, Sirat- Mumma.

Sirat (teary eyed)- Koi na.

Kairav (looks behind her breaking the hug)- Papa! (runs to him) Abse main aur Akshu Sirat ko Sirat mumma bulayenge.

Kartik (smiles)- Haan, Kairav (makes eye contact with Sirat) maine suna... (looks back to Kairav) Par Akshu aur baaki sab log hain kahan?

Gayu (breaks the tension)- Baaki sab market gaye hain, main aur ye donon bhi jaane wale the par inhein yaad aaya ki inka project poora nahi hua hai.

Vansh- Lekin ab to project work complete ho gaya hai na? Aur ab hum ice cream khane jaa rahe hain?

Kairav (nods)- Papa, aap bhi chalo na. Vaise bhi kitne time se aap bhi busy the, I missed you.

Gayu- Kartik, tu bhi chal na.

Kartik (nods)- Achchha baba thik hai, chalo.

***

Kartik (taking a bite out of cone)- Aur unhein tumhare designs itne achchhe lage ki vo tumse mil kar agle designs decide karna chahte hain. 

All five of them were sitting in the table placed in the garden area of the ice cream parlour when Kartik chose to break the news. However, unlike the glee he was expecting Gayu appeared apprehensive. Before he could enquire the person on his left beat him to it.

Sirat- Gayu di, aap khush na ho is baat se?

Gayu (sighs)- Aisi baat nahi hai Sirat lekin ye itni badi commitment hai, hamari company ke liye bhi zaroori hai... Aur mujhe bhi Vatsal and Vansh ke kaamon se kahan fursat hoti hai, aaj hi ki baat le lo inhein last minute aapne kaam yaad aate hain, aise mere liye deadline meet karna...

Vansh (shakes his head)- Aage se aisa nahi hoga mumma. 

Kairav (nodding)- Haan, lekin aap ke banayi hua sare designs bahut pretty hote hain.

Kartik- Gayu, tum pehle soch lo samajh lo, clients ke purane orders ki design study kar lo. Tumhara jo bhi faisla ho, kal subah tak bata dena, main tumhein ek formal request bhi mail kar doonga.

Sirat (holds her hand on the table to squeeze it)- Aapne ise ek baar sochne ka mauka zaroor dena chahiye.

Gayu (nods)- Par abhi ice cream finish karke nikala jaaye?

Kairav/Vansh- Nahi!

Kairav- Raaste mein humne jo fair lagte dekha tha, iske baad hum vahan nahi jaa sakte?

Vansh- Vahan par itne bade-bade jhoole the.

Kairav/Vansh- Please, please, pleaaase!

Kartik (sighs)- Acchha thik hai, main kahan mana kar raha hoon, hum chal sakte hain. Par pehle aap apni ice cream finish karlo, dekho ye drip hone lagi hai.

Shaking his head Kartik reached out to wipe it off of his T-shirt with a tissue as Sirat, their hands clashed and both withdrew at once. Gayu side-eyed them while doing the same for Vansh, deciding upon something her face turned determined.

Gayu- Hamari ice cream to finish ho gayi hai, vo to tumhin donon bache ho.

***

Incentive of the fun time in fair ensured Kairav and Vansh eagerly settled in the backside beside Gayu. Within thirty minutes, they were parking the car near a large cloth wall. Entering the fair was fairly simpler, even with the crowd. The harder part was scoring the tickets, however, in the end they managed to get onto their first ride, tilt-a-whirl, with seats designed in rocket's shape. As they were getting behind another queue, Gayu deliberately turned slower, due to it the pairs formed were of Kairav-Vansh, they wanted to be together it wasn't her, and Kartik-Sirat, people she knew wanted to be together but were running from each other if the past few days were any indication. 

Beginning laps were slower, and then the ride started picking up pace. Sirat having taken a seat on the interior side, squished into Kartik beside her. All the while struggling to hold in her screams from fear, as well as, excitement. The next time she fell towards him, he tucked his hand behind her shoulder, securing her. Turning to face each other, the screams were forgotten. While the ride  started slowing, they glanced around to find Kairav and Vansh holding on to the handle with their lives, Gayu was somehow alone and clenching her eyes shut. A smaller push towards Kartik, and they were both laughing, amused.

As they moved towards the snacking section, Gayu noticed how Sirat held onto Kairav and Kartik's hand and knew her plan succeeded. Further reassured when they were back to goofing off while choosing between kachori and samosa. Of course, Kairav's vote meant they ended getting kachori while Vansh wanted an aloo tikki which Gayu bought. She celebrated a little earlier, even going ahead and clicking the pictures with everyone else. However, Gayu couldn't have predicted if she tried that such a wonderful day would leave a bad taste in her mouth in the end.

***

Precap

Sirat accepted the bottle but kept on eyeing the water.

Kartik (looks at her)- Sirat, pani piyo.