While waiting for Kartik to get the car from parking area, Sirat's phone rang. Her brows furrowed slightly as she stared at the phone screen before answering her call. Gayu glanced away to keep an eye on Kairav and Vansh, although this close to night and after such an exciting day they were drowsy enough to sleep on their feet. The next she looked up was as Kartik stopped the car before them with a tired but happy smile. His expression didn't remain same for long.

Kartik (frowning turns to the back seat)- Gayu, Sirat kahan hai?

Gayu (resting Vansh over herself)- Abhi to yahin thi, use call aaya, fir yahan uske phone mein signal nahi aa raha tha to vo baat karne- Yahin kahin hogi.

Kartik (nods)- Achchha mein use dekhkar aata hoon.

As he walked towards the less crowded area, his phone rang. It was Sarang. Bewildered he looked around, aware, he wouldn't be able to pick neither him nor his team apart in the public.

Kartik (answers the call)- Hell-

Sarang- Sir, humne verify kiya hai ek gaadi Sirat ma'am ko subah se follow kar rahi hai.

Kartik (inhales sharply, increasing his pace and attention on people)- Kaun? Nahi, pehle Sirat. Tumhare log Sirat ke aas-paas hi hain na? 

Sarang (shaky voice)- Sir...

Kartik- Sarang! Main tumse kuchh poochh raha hoon!?

Sarang- Ma'am ki location to yahin ki hai, par...

Kartik (exasperated)- Par kya!?

Sarang (sighs)- Ma'am circle ke bahar chali gayi hain.

Kartik (shakes his head, takes a deep breath)- To dhoondho use! ...Sirat, tum akele aise kahan chali gayi? Krishna ji, uska dhyan rakhna- (his breath stopped)

Before him stood Sirat in the middle of the road, busy on the phone call extremely confused. Her attention wasn't on the mini-truck moving towards her with sole focus. Unfortunately, it became one of the two focal points for Kartik. Rushing towards Sirat, he arrived in nick of the time to pull her away from its path. The relief crashing through him manifested in the form of tightening his arms around her. She was safe, he was not losing anyone anymore. And as her weight comforted him, rushed anger. 

Kartik (breaking the hug)- Dhyan kahan rehta hai tumhara!? Abhi accident ho jata! Tumhari jaan ko khatra hai, Sirat, par lagta hai tumhein is baat ka dhyan hi nahi rehta!

Sirat (surprised staring)- Phone- Mhare phone mein-

Kartik (huffs)- Gayu ne bataya mujhe, lekin iska matlab ye to nahi hai tum beech sadak par khadi ho jaaogi. Aaj subah se ek gaadi tumhein follow kar rahi hai. Tum security circle ke bahar ho! Sarang ko tum mil nahi rahi! (shaking his head, looks at her) Usse to mein alag se baat karoonga, vo itni laparwahi kaise barat sakte hain. Lekin tum Sirat, aisa kaun sa zarooro call aa gaya tha, do minute wait nahi ho raha tha?

Sirat (blinks)- Unknown. Unknown number tha. Manne laga club se hoga- Vo nationals ke abhi form-

Kartik (frowns)- Unknown number?

Sirat (nodding)- Haan, par manne dhyan rakhna tha. Itna waqt ho gaya na logon ke beech, mhara dhyan na raha ki...

Kartik- Ki tumhein apna bhi dhyan rakhna hai... Hum ghar chal kar baat karte hain. (walks, tugging her forward to realize she's still not walking, looks back) Ab kya hua?

Sirat (looks up)- Mhare ko Sarang ke saath lautna chahiye, agar fir se aisa kuchh-

Kartik (shakes his head)- Kuchh nahi hoga, main hamari family ko kuchh nahi hone doonga, aur fir Sarang aur uski team ne ab tak humein dhoondh liya hoga. 

In the end, Sirat complied.

The journey to the Goenka mansion was largely silent, Gayu stared at Kartik and Sirat with confusion and slight dejection but chose not to pry. A theme that continued well within the mansion. Manish talking on phone in the hall walked away to his room while Swarna chose to help Gayu and Sirat with settling the children already asleep. Kartik for his part steered clear of the room moving to the office, as he did most of the last week, leaving Sirat with Akshu in the room. While Surekha wanted everyone on the dinner table, she mostly let it go. It was later in the night when Kartik knew Sirat would be planning to sleep, he gathered his courage and made his way into the room. 

As he predicted, Sirat walked out of the washroom moments later after changing into her night clothes and would have moved to check up on Akshu in the crib if not for Kartik's presence beside it. Unsure of what to make of it, Sirat chose to act on as if he wasn't there and started moving the blanket and the pillow on to the sofa by the window. Kartik continued to snap his fingers for a while entertaining Akshu, seemingly playing along with Sirat before making his mind. He turned to Sirat and took in her fully for the first time since he walked out last time after their argument. Tiredness cloaked her, a bone-deep exhaustion slumping her shoulders and slowing her down immensely as she fiddled with the blanket, her back to him.

Kartik (taking a deep breath)- Sirat?

Sirat (surprised)- Hm? (turns around) Haan, Kartik?

Kartik- I am sorry.

Sirat (frowns, stepping towards him)- Aap kyon maafi mang rahe hain? Maafi to mahre ko aapse mangani chahiye, agar aap ki jagah koi aur hota to vo bhi aisa hi karta.

Kartik (shaking his head, looks away)- Shayad, fir bhi maine tumhein kuchh kehne ka mauka hi nahi diya. (sighs) Aur just sorry, mujhe tumhein aise avoid nahi karna chahiye tha. Par please vada karo aage se tum aisi koi baat mujhse nahi chhupaogi, tum mujhse kuchh bhi share kar sakti ho, Sirat.

Sirat (nods)- Main bhi, sorry. Manne bhi avoid kiya. Aur pakka, ab se aisa kuchh bhi hoga to main sabse pehle aapko bataoongi. 

Kartik- Aur apna dhyan rakhogi?

Sirat (nods)- Haan.

Just like that the façade of periphery ended.

***

Next morning, Sirat freshened up and went her way downstairs to prepare breakfast but was accosted by Dadi. Turned out it was teej, and while she could choose not to participate it was apparent this was expected of her. Surekha on the sidelines, appeared almost ready to dole out another dosage of taunting should she opt out. Not to mention how Manish would react when he would get to to know about it. The knot which unraveled in the night when things cleared up with Kartik, returned full-force. Somehow she managed to forgot what she owed him, and by extension his family. A transgression she didn't have intention of committing again.  

Sirat (takes a deep breath, smiles)- Thik hai, Dadi.

With that she took part in helping prepare the delicacies for the day, alongside for the breakfast for those who wouldn't be fasting. Dadi invited Keerti for the day's functions, as Sirat rushed to wake up Kairav for school while Gayu did the same for Vansh. As they enjoyed their breakfast, Sirat made her way to the room she shared with Kartik in order to feed Akshu, only to be beaten by a yawning Kartik with tussled hair still in his pajamas. Turning to her a smile bloomed on his face.

Kartik (sleepy)- Good morning.

Sirat (confused)- Good morning, par aap itnie jaldi kis liye uth gaye?

Kartik (hums, cleaning the milk Akshu spilled)- Aaj office mein ek meeting leni hai, uske liye jaldi nikalna hai bas isi liye. Aur tum practice ke liye nikal rahi ho?

Sirat- Practice. Sarang bhi aate honge. Agar practice par nahi jaaongi to coach, Kartik, aur fir agar mein ghar par hoon to alag se meri security par jitna kharcha ho raha hai... Nationals mein bhi to kuchh hi din bache hain (shakes her head).

Kartik (frowns)- Kya hua aaj practice par nahi jaa rahi tum? Aaj... teej ki wajah se... main Dadi se baat kar loonga, nationals mein abhi itna time nahi bacha to.

Sirat (nods)- Haan main bhi wahi soch rahi thi, main bas Akshu ko doodh pilakar nikalne wali thi.

Kartik (smiles)- Kairav and Akshu ki saari chinta tum mujh par chhod do aur aaram se befikra hokar jao. 

With an acknowledging hum Sirat made her way over to the cupboard and took out her kit. Changing into her tracksuit, she rushed downstairs to meet up with Sarang waiting by the threshold of the hall. Only to be frowned at and be called out.  

Sirat (turns on the phone to check time at lock screen)- Haan, chachi.

Surekha (brows furrowed)- Arre to tum kahan jaa rahi ho? Teej ka vrat rakh rahi ho na? (Sirat nods) To fir itni jaldi mein kahan bhagi jaa rahi ho? Agar tumhein vrat nahi rakhna to Maan ji se seedhe keh deti, is tareeke se chhhupkar bhagne ki-

Sirat (shaking her head)- Nahi, vo to aadhe ghante mein practice shuru ho jayegi main bas isliye. Vaise bhi pooja to shaam ko hogi, tab tak practice bhi kahtam ho jayegi main tab tak laut aaongi.

Swarna (frowns)- Par Sirat aise poora din bhookhe-pyaase rehna apne aap mein itna mushkil hota hai aur tum-

Sirat (checks time again)- Main apna dhyan rakhoongi, maan. Agar zyada thakan vagerah kuchh lagta hai to jaldi laut aaoongi.

With that she was off crossing without even noticing Gayu who was returning after dropping off Vansh and Kairav. Reaching by Swarna's side who was busy stringing the flowers she offered her bewilderment and came to know what Sirat was doing. Just as she was about to approach Kartik regarding the same, he appeared downstairs in a similar haste with Akshu in his hands. Dropping her by Swarna's side, he rang Manish and left for the office telling him the same. As such, neither Swarna nor Gayu could bring up Sirat. 

***

Precap

Sirat accepted the bottle but kept on eyeing the water.

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