The following days saw Sirat practicing to get back to her top shape, and attempting to surpass that. Most part of her day went by practicing, by the time she returned beat her brain wasn't active enough to conjure upsetting memories. Most of the time. There remained special occasions she couldn't fall asleep no matter what and ended up taking on punch during the early morning practices. However, she was doing better for the most part.

Sometimes, Nidhi and Amma or Gayu and Aunty called her. Though, most of the time it was either Kartik and Kairav or both of them together with Akshu somewhere in the background.

After the verdict, reporters still tried following her everywhere and there were questions regarding her place of residence. Kartik would have interfered but Sirat dealt well with it, her confidence building back up.

Sirat (frowns)- Na. Aap pehle ye batayein aapko ke fark padta hai, main kahan rahoon, kahan na rahoon? Aapke ghar mein to na reh rahi main. Aur rahi baat unke madad karne ki to Kartik mhare dost hain, aur usse pehle ek behtar insaan hain. Jab hum ek-doosre ko jaante bhi na the, tab bhi unhone mhare ko jitni insaniyat dikhayi uska do pratishat bhi aap logon mein hota aap aise ghatiya sawal itna sab hone ke baad na kar rahe hote. Arre, insaniyat chhodo, sharam hi kar lo, Ranveer ki maut ka jo tamasha banaya aap logon ne... (sighs) To mhare ko aap logon se baat karna to door, aap logon ki shakal bhi na dekhni hai abhi to. Sirf apni practice pe dhyan dena hai.

His worries regarding Sirat also declined, as she devoted herself to her ambitions and goals. With Goenkas name cleared from the case, their falling stocks and stagnancy in contracts also took a turn. Especially with media turning around the story to highlight Goenkas standing by the truth, and supporting a falsely accused sport star. The reputation to stand by their people wasn't making leaps yet, though definitely moved towards that direction. Such that, Kartik was swamped with work due to a completely different reason, with many new clients moving towards them. Between trying to manage work and family, his visits to Sirat limited themselves to once or twice a week. Sometimes to check up on her, others when Gayu or Kairav presented the wish to meet her face-to-face. Mostly due to Kairav.

His less visits didn't quite distant them, in fact, they were messaging each other more than ever before. Even if calling less. 

Kartik-  Ghar se nikal gayi?

Abhi nahi
Aaj aankh hi na khuli

Kartik- Alarm nahi lagaya tumne?

Alarm to lagaya tha, par kal itna thak gayi

Kartik- Okay, lekin apna dhyan rakha karo
Haan, tumhe mehnat karni hai par bimar nahi padna hai

Aaap sahi keh rahe ho par mhari chinta mat karo
Zara si practice mhara khuch na bigad payegi
Aur Kairav school ke liye nikal gaya?

Kartik- Abhi taiyar hua hai bas jaane wala hai

Achchha, to aap usko mhari taraf se bhi all the best bol dena

Kartik- Kyon?

Aaj uska test hai science ka, kal bahut pareshan tha
Usko padhane vaaste bhi aap na the to
Mhare ko jitna samajh mein aaya manne use samjha diya
Par mhari ko angrezi shabd kam samajh aate hain

Kartik- Tumne jitna bhi kiya, uske liye thank you.
Mujhe kal nikalne mein bahut der ho gayi thi.

Bataya tha aapne manne.

Kartik- Achchha ab tumhein bhi chalna chahiye varna aur der hogi

Haan par aap Kairav ne wish kar dena  

Aur aapko bhi aaj ke liye, all the best!

When did they get into a habit of reporting their whereabouts to each other remain a mystery, though both followed it religiously. With no one else to share minor things of her life from the traffic to how she didn't like her practice partner, Sirat ended up directing all of it to Kartik. In turn he revealed how crazy some of the clients were, how hectic meetings were, and his dislike at having to cut his time short with not only Kairav and Akshu but the whole family. However, since the situation turned around in their favour they were trying to make the best out of it.

Her time spent cooking decreased, which meant less delicacies for Kairav. But now he was pleased about the mini-videos Sirat recorded for him at her club showing her best moves during practice. At other times, she sent simple voice messages to check upon him, and through him the whole family. 

Kairav- (waves hand at phone) Hello, Sirat!

Sirat (smiles)- Hello. Aaj thara result aane wala tha na?

Kairav (looks away, nods)- Haan.

Sirat (takes a deep breath)- Kitne number aaye?

Kairav (breaks into a grin)- Baaki sab subjects mein to 80 above hain par science mein 68 aaye hain. (at Sirat's frown) Aap pareshan mat ho Sirat, aapne to mujhe bahut achchhe se samjha diya tha lekin bahut se question baad wale chapter se the jinse mera revision nahi hua tha.

Sirat (upset)- Par thare sabse kam number isi mein aaye hain.

Kairav (hums)- Haan par mujhe sab kuchh samajh bhi to aa gaya na. Sirat, ismein aapki koi galti nahi hai. Agar maine revision jaldi shuru kar diya hota to par mujhe kuchh cheezen samajh nahi aa rahi thi aur papa... (sighs)

Sirat- Bahut busy hain?

Kairav (nods)- Aapko pata hai, hum abhi aap se milne aaye the? Yahan aakar vo Akshu ko khana khilane se pehle sofe par tik kar hi so gaye the, fir maine unhe uthaya aur unhein bistar par bhej diya. Apni baby sister ko khana bhi khilaya.

Sirat (smiles)- Din ba din samjhdar hote ja rahe ho, thare papa ko sachmuch bahut kaam hai is samay.

Kairav (beams)- Ghar mein sabhi ko itna sara kaam rehta hai aajkal to, aapko pata hai Vansh ka bhi kal homework nahi ho paya tha. Achchha vo sab chhodo, aap ab bhi boxing hi kar rahe ho?

Sirat (looks around)- Haan, ek bahut achchhi competitor mil gayi thi, match lamba khinch gaya. Aaram kar rahi thi, thare test ki yaad aa gayi isliye call hi kar liya.

Kairav- Aap jab bhi call karte ho na mujhe bahut achchha lagta hai, man karta hai main aap se hi baat karta rahoon.

Sirat- Man to mhara bhi yahi karta hai, jab bhi thare se baat hoti hai na mhari koi bhi problem ho sab (someone calls for Kairav) ud jaati hai.

Kairav (turns away, nods)- Achchha Sirat, mujhe Vansh khelne ke liye bula raha hai main aapse baad mein baat karta hoon. Bye.

Even before she could say bye back, Kairav ended the call. Shaking her head, she opened messaging app to leave Kartik a small message reminding him about Kairav's tests (which he did remember, according to his earlier response but just in case) and her impending return to house. Last few days have been tiresome, to the extent she couldn't even bother to cook for herself at night sometimes. She compensated by preparing more food in the morning and heated up the second part of it in the evening. However, something else was beginning to bother her.

Many a times during day her sensations reminded her she was being watched, not only by her peers and coach but an extra gaze which made her skin prickle. Till now it only appeared to be her paranoia, but Sirat was over-attentive even as she tried to relax herself.

While fiddling with the clock, few feet gathered around her. She flipped around suddenly, about to throw away one of them but stopped herself at last moment upon registering who it was.

Dadi- Sirat, kya baat hai tum itna chaunk kyon gayi?

Sirat (shakes her head)- Mhare ko laga- Jaane dijiye. Dadi? Aunty? Aap yahan?

Swarna- Hum paas wale mandir tak aaye the to socha tumse milte chalein, prasad dedein. (looks at the door) Lagta hai tum bhi abhi lauti ho, hum fir kabhi aa jayenge.

Sirat- Aap log pehli baar yahan aaye hain kam se kam mhare haath ki chai to peeni hi padegi. Dekha hai manne yahan ke madir mein kitni bheed hoti hai, aap log seedhiyan chadhte-utatrte thak gaye hoge.

Dadi (smiles)- Tumhara man hai to hum mana nahi karenge? Vaise bhi kabse tumse milna nahi hua hai.

Inside, Dadi and Swarna settled at the sofa while Sirat moved about bringing water, some snacks she made when there was nothing else to do for her and tea. She was about to stand up again to fetch more water when Aunty frowned.

Swarna (sharing a glance with Dadi)- Sirat itna pareshan kyon ho rahi ho, ye sab to hota rahega hum tumse milne aaye hain. Baitho.

Sirat (sitting down)- Aap log is taraf aate na ho na, Kartik aur Gayu di to milte rehte hain. Kairav se bhi baat ho hi jaati hai mhari.  

Dadi (smiles)- Hum ghar ke hi kaamon mein itne uljhe rehte hain ki bahar nikalna hi nahi ho pata. Vo to hamare pundit ji ne is pooja ke baare mein bataya to hamara aana is taraf hua.

Swarna (looks over at her)- Achchha Sirat kucch hua hai kya, reporters ne fir se tumhara peechha kiya ya kuchh?

Sirat (shakes her head)- Na, aap aisa kyon poochh rahe ho? (looks at the main door) Vo jo bahar hua? Na, kuchh na hua hai main bilkul thik hoon.

Swarna- Par?

Sirat (sighs)- Mhare ko achchha na lag raha, maano koi aur peechha kar raha hai par saamne na aa raha.

Swarna (frowns)- Aur jab hum aaye to...

Sirat (nods)- Main kitni baar aise apne club walon ke upar bhi ring ke bahar puncheswar chalate-chalate bachi hoon.

Dadi- Agar tumehin sachmuch aisa lag raha hai to tumhein aur sawdhaani baratni chahiye. Bewaqt aane-jaane se bacho beta.

Swarna- Haan aur agar kuchh bhi hota hai to hum sabke number to tumhare paas hain hi, kisi ko bhi call kar dena. Uske sath-sath police helpline bhi yaad rakho.

Dadi (looks around)- Tum akeli rehti ho, tumhein aur satark rehne ki zaroorat hai.

Sirat (nods)- Aap log sahi keh rahe ho par abhi kuchh na hua hai, mhare ko to lag raha hai bas faltu mein dimag overtime kar raha hai.

Swarna- Aise mamlon mein pachhtane se behtar to yahi hai.

Sirat- Main dhyan rakhungi, Aunty ji, aur nahi to mhara punch to hai hi. Par emergency ke liye police ka number pehle hi mhare mobile mein hai, aur aane jane se pehle mhari aksar Kairav ya Kartik se baat hoti hi hai.

Dadi- Fir bhi, agar tumehin kuchh lagta hai to hum apna ek driver tumehin laane le jaane ke liye yahin chhod den? Ya fir Kittu ko bol denge to vo tumhein le aayega aur chhod dega?

Sirat (shakes her head)- Uski koi zaroorat na hai, Dadi. Kartik ko bhi is taraf ulta padega, aur driver... Main jaldi nikal jaaoongi na? Aur kuchh dinon ke liye apna rasta badal loongi par mhara peechha karke kisi ko ke mil jayega.

Swarna- Pata nahi- (her phone rings) Manish ji ka phone hai, baaton mein pata hai nahi chala kitni der ho gayi.

Dadi (nods, turns to Sirat)- Humein ab chalna chahiye.

Three of them stood up, at the door Swarna shared a sweet box from the temple. They insisted again on precautions before leaving.

Yet, the last few days her practice kept ending late and later even. She couldn't help but return after nightfall. When Kartik came to know about it, he called to scold her. Apologized later, sharing how once something similar happened with Naira and he was worried. Indeed, he was. Enough to come to pick her up the next day and Sirat's reluctance wasn't paid heed. The evenings, however, Kartik couldn't always match his timings with when Sirat's practice ended. If he wasn't there, most often than not she refused to call him.

Kartik didn't have qualms with wrapping things a bit early, yet it fell on deaf ears with Sirat. It was during one such overdrawn evening meetings that she called out of blue. At first surprise, turned into horror as he excused himself to attend the call. 

Sirat (panting)- Kartik? (coughs)

***

Precap 

That's how next day, Sirat found herself beside Kartik in front of Goenka mansion once again. Her reluctance rooting her before car and Kartik taking her wrist to guide her inside. As it was her relationship with this house, it wasn't without protesting.

Manish- Vahin ruk jaao.