For a while she attempted to speak but only more sobs escaped Sirat, Kartik patiently remained seated by her side while she found her composure and words to explain the storm raving within her. Accepting the offered handkerchief to wipe her face, at last, Sirat finally turned to face him.

Sirat (takes a deep breath)- Manne sirf dukh dena aata hai, sab logon ne sirf taqleef di hai manne. (eyes turn distant) Ranveer ne, mauri ne... (makes eye contact) aapne? (clears her throat and looks away) Main koshish karti hoon Kartik, poori koshish karti hoon apni saari zimmedariyan dhang se nibhane ki taaki kisi ne shikayat ka koi mauka na mil jaaye... Fir shikayat-taane inki to mujhe fir bhi aadat hai, aapko maloom hai zamane ne thokren de dekar manne inki aadat dal di hai. Saath ki aadat na hai manne. (her lips wobble) Aapne-aapne mhare liye jitna kiya hai, uske baad meri zaahir... Zimmewari hai, aapki taraf aapke pariwar ki taraf.

Kartik stared incredulously, his worst fears coming to life regarding Sirat as she went on.

Sirat (smiles)- Agar main Akshu ke liye wapas na aati to fir gharwalone ko yahi lagta ki mujhe uski chinta hi na hai, agar main ghar ke liye ho rahi pooja par na jati to Dadi ko bura lagta, mandir mein hue haadse ke baare mein manne kuchh na kaha kyonki aap pehle hi mhare liye itne pareshan the itna kharacha kar chuke the... Main zidangi bhar bhi vo rakam na chuka sakoongi, haan par aapko aur pareshan to na karna chahti thi, mhara sach mein aapke gharwalon ki jaan khatre mein daalne ka koi irada na tha. 

Sirat (takes a deep breath)- Rahi baat aaj ke vrat ki to hamari shaadi ke baad gharwalon ki mhare se apekhsaein badal gayi hai, bhale aapko aisa na lage par mehsoos ho jata hai Kartik. Agar main vrat chhod deti to Dadi ko kitna bura lagta? Aur practice karne na jaati to aapko mhari chinta hone lagti, fir mujhe aisa lagta mano aapne bekar mhare liye itna kuchh kiya jab main nationals ke liye practice hi na kar pa rahi. 

Kartik (hums)- To basically tumhein meri chinta, ya fir tumhein jo lagta hain maine tumhare upar jo ahsaan kiye hain, unse tumhein itni ghutan hone lagi ki tumne sab khud hi karne ka man bana liya? Apne dost ko bhool gayi? Uski baat ko bhool gayi (looks up to make eye contact), agar tum ek baar keh deti to main sab manage kar leta. Dadi se. Gharwalon se. Kairav se. Sab- Par nahi, of course, agar main aisa kar raha hota to bhi main tumhare upar ahsaan kar raha hota. Mujhe nahi pata tum kisi duniya mein ho Sirat, par main jis duniya mein hoon vahan main koi ahsaan nahi kar raha. 

Kartik (nods to himself)- Haan, main tumhara dhyan rakhna chahta hoon aur uske liye haan jo security ki hai par aisa isliye kyonki tum Sirat ho, meri sabse achchhi dost, jisko main apne pariwar ka hissa samajhta hoon. Par shayad tum ne kabhi aisa nahi samjha, aur aise mein zabardasti itne ahsanon ke liye aur tumhari firka karne ke liye, tumhein aisa mehsoos karwane ke liye, I am sorry. 

Sirat (shakes her head)- Kartik aap galat samajh rahe hain... Aisa nahi hai-

Kartik (taking his hands away)- Par tumhein sunkar, usse zyada tumne khud ko jitna torture kiya hai vo dekhkar to mujhe yahi lag raha hai. (sighs) Tumhein pata is ahsan, fikra, rishte, ke badle log tumse kya chahte hain mujhe usse koi fark nahi padta agar tum mere liye kuchh bhi kar sakti ho to apne liye karo. Apne liye jiyo. Mere ya mere pariwar ke liye nahi, aur isliye to bilkul bhi nahi ki maine tumhare liya kitna kuchh kiya hai. Sirf apna dhyan rakho, itna kar sakti ho? Agar tum ye kar sakti ho to mujhe aur kuchh nahi chahiye, tum sirf jeeti aise ho jismein baaki sab apne aap shamil ho jaate hain tumehin pareshan hone ki zaroorat nahi.

Kartik (offers his pinky)- Ab good girl jaise mujhse promise karo ki tum aaage se aisa kuchh nahi sochogi, kuchh nahi karogi, fir se aisa koi bhi khayal aata hai to sabse pehle mujhse share karogi, aur sabse pehle apna dhyan rakhogi.

Sirat (nods and moves to meet his pinky but stops mid-way)- Pehle aap wada kariye ki aap aage se khana skip na karenge, aur aise der raat tak office mein na rahgene. Aapko maloom hai aapko kitna miss kiya manne, Kairav ne, aur Akshu ne bhi.

Kartik (smiles, intertwining their pinkies)- Promise. Ab please khana kha lete hain mujhe zoron ki bhookh lagi hai aur mujhe maloom hai tum bhi mere peechhe aise hi bhooke-pyaase aa gayi hogi.

***

The days blended to give way to new routines, the ones filled with Sirat's harried early mornings which ended up waking Kartik. He fed Akshu and rushed Kairav through the motions as Sirat helped out in the kitchen. Quick texts to each other painted their days until it was time to return home. If Kartik could make it back on time and Sirat didn't have practice till later, they could enjoy their evening tea together waiting for Kairav to seek them out. As Sirat turned to the kitchen to help others out, Kartik in the meanwhile, took to home-office or played with Akshu while helping Kairav with the homework depending on the workload. Dinner remained carefully treaded endeavor, discussions avoided sensitive topics.

Unfortunately, another misfortune struck the not-couple as sleeping on the sofa started taking its toll on the taller Kartik, his neck cramps forced him to stretch his neck like an ostrich many a times in a single day at random hours. Especially after working on his office table. Eventually Sirat refused to let him have the sofa despite his best efforts, hogging up the furniture by the window. However, being restricted affected her quality of sleep. After she struggled with the practice matched for second day in a row, she approached Kartik regarding the same.

Sirat (stared into the cup in her hand, bashful)- Mhara kuchh kehna ka man to na tha, fir manne laga aapse baat karne mein kya hi harz hai.

Kartik (hums)- To ek kaam karte hain, abhi ke liye tum bed le lo vaise bhi mere cramps lagbhag gayab ho gaye hain.

Sirat (shakes her head)- Par aapko sofe par sone mein takleef hoti hai.

Kartik (nods, taking a sip of his tea)- To hum wapas alternate days par sofa le sakte hain... Par nahi, tum itni thak kar aati ho agle din ki practice ke liye tumhara rested hona bahut zaroori hai.

Sirat stilled. Kartik noticed. He paused as well, asking her to speak.

Sirat (takes a deep breath)- Vaise aapka bistar kaafi bada hai, agar koi ek kone par soyega to use agle ke baare mein pata na lagega.

Kartik considered it for a moment before nodding.

Seated on the bed Naira smiled wistfully. 

She went unnoticed as Sirat and Kartik, in track suit and the office clothes respectively, had their evening tea together. Barring the awkwardness of that day, her laughter returned louder each day and his smiles kept unfurling to be softer than before. Akshu gurgled bringing their attention upon her and both rushed to wipe off her drool. Playing with the the infant time flew and the tea cooled, the didn't realize the time passing until Kairav returned after playing and joined them. 

Later that night Kartik sighed for the umpteenth time while working on the presentation a quarter past midnight. Just then Sirat entered the room with a tray in her hands, drowsiness swirling in her eyes, none of which mattered as she smiled sitting beside him on the sofa. 

Sirat (keeping the tray on coffee table)- Je lo, thare liye soup.

Kartik (turns to her with a quick smile)- Thank you! Achchha, ab tum so jao, tumhein kal jaldi jana hai na?

Sirat (hummed)- Haan par...

Kartik (shrugged)- Koi baat nahi mujhe vaise bhi abhi time lagega.

Unnoticed she observed Sirat rummaging through Kairav's closet to find a spare for the soiled white shirt. Earlier during breakfast he spilled some of the orange juice on himself. As Sirat rushed with an eye on the clock at the wall, Kartik entered Kairav's bedroom to inform Sarang was there. Shaking his head he ended up dragging Sirat out of the room when she didn't listen.  

Kartik (hands on her shoulder)- Jao.

Sirat (facing upwards to look at him)- Kartik.

Kartik (blinked)- Main dekh loonga.

In the office Kartik went through the files for the day systematically. Resting her back on his table Naira closed her eyes. He wouldn't need her there anymore, even like this. Her time to leave was close. Kartik was beginning to rely on someone else. She sighed even without the need to breathe. Mere Kartik ka dhyan rakhna Sirat.

***

Precap

Kartik- Hello, Sarang... Kya!?