Kartik found Swarna in her room, upon looking around for her.

Kartik (enters room)- Maan, aapko kya baat karni hai?

Swarna (stands up with a smile)- Kartik, tumne aaj jo kaha kya tum sachmuch karna chahte ho? Ya fir tumne ye baat sirf apne papa ko manane ke liye keh di thi?

Kartik (sighs)- Maan, aap jaante ho agar papa Sirat ke yahan rehne ke itne khilaf nahi hote to mujhe aisa kuchh kehne ki zaroorat hi nahi padti.

Swarna (keeps her hand on his shoulder)- To tum Sirat se shaadi nahi karna chahte? Aur tumne ye baat sirf majboori mein kahi jaise ye pichhli baar hua tha?

Kartik (nods)- Maan agar baat Sirat ki life ki nahi hoti na... Itne kam waqt mein itne saare logon ko kho diya hai maine. Main Sirat ko bhi nahi kho sakta, jab hum log hospital jaa rahe the aur vo saans nahi le paa rahi thi to ek pal ke liye meri hi saans ruk gayi thi. Vo meri bahut achchhi dost hai, Amma aur Ranveer uski zimmedari mere upar chhod gaye hain par iska bilkul bhi ye matlab nahi hai jaisa papa samajh rahe hain. Aap log meri family ho, main aap sabko safe dekhna chata hoon, hamesha khush dekhna chahta hoon. Bas mere liye ab Sirat bhi meri family ka hissa hai aur main use bhi safe dekhna chahta hoon. (exhales from mouth as Swarna pats his shoulder slightly before taking it away)

Swarna (focuses on Kartik's face who's looking elsewhere)- Tum is sab ki wajah se itne pareshan ho gaye ho aur hum sab is baare mein to bhool hi gaye. Vaise tumhe Sirat se shaadi karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai.

Kartik (looks back, makes eye contact)- Matlab?

Swarna (smiles)- Kartik hum sabhi chahte hai ki tum dobara shaadi kar lo. Kairav aur Akshu ke liye bhi shayad Sirat se behtar koi na ho par aise yun kisi majboori mein nahi. Maan ne kaha hai ki agar tum donon shaadi nahi bhi karte ho to bhi vo Sirat ko yahan rehene ke liye sabko raazi kar lengi.

Kartik (shocked)- Sachmuch dadi ne aapse (breaks into a smile) kaha ki mujhe Sirat se shaadi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai? Vo Sirat ko yahan rehene dengi.

Swarna (hums, places her hand on his shoulder again)- Par main ye tumse keh rahi hoon tumhe iske baar mein ek aur baar sochna chahiye. Kisi majboori mein nahi par mujhe lagta hai tumhein Sirat aur apne rishta ko ek aur mauka dena chahiye.

Kartik (smiles, looks elsewhere)- Maan aap jante ho mere liye sirf Naira hai, us bar bhi agar Kairav aur Akshu ke liye nahi hota to shayad mein haan nahi karta.

Swarna (furrows her brows)- Kartik, Kairav aur Akshu ab bhi kahan gaye hain? Haan mana unka dhyan tum rakh sakte ho, tumhara saath dene ke liye hum sab hain lekin beta maan ki jagah koi nahi le sakta. Jaise ek maan apne bachchon ka dhyan rakhti hai aur koi nahi kar sakta, aur Sirat? Tum mujhse behtar jaante ho use Kairav aur Akshu ki kitni parwah hai.

Kartik (closes his eyes)- Maan...

Swarna (sighs)- Main tum par koi dabaw nahi dalna chahti, balki mujhe Kairav aur Akshu ki utni chinta nahi hai jitni tumhari hai. Abhi to poori umar saamne padi hai tumhare, Naira ki yaadon ke sahare kaat to sakte ho par jee nahi sakte. Aur tumhein kya lagta hai ye baat bachchon ko, humein samajh nahi aati? Tumhein itna udaas aur khali dekhte hain to tumhari fikr hoti hai.

Kartik (opens his eyes, frowning)- To kya karoon Sirat se shaadi kar loon? Kya vo Naira ki kami ko poora kar degi, aisa lagta hai aapko? Kyonki agar aapko, dadi ko, ya kisi aur ko bhi aisa lagta hai to aisa kabhi nahi ho sakta, Naira-Naira hai. Uske chale jaane se mere pyar ko thodi fark padta hai?

Swarna (shakes his head, removing her hand from his shoulder)- Maine ye kab kaha tum Sirat ko Naira ki jagah de do? Dost ho na tum dono? Vo dost hai tumhari, jitna banta hai dhyan rakhti hai tumhara aur tumhare bachchon ka, tumhari izzat karti hai. Sabse badi baat, vo khud us dard se guzari hui hai jisse tum guzre ho, vo kabhi Naira ki jagah lene ki koshish nahi karegi. Usne pehle bhi aisa kuchh nahi kiya, fir bhi hum sabki zindagi ka hissa ban hi gayi na Sirat.

Kartik (nods)- Main manta hoon, aapne jo kaha main sab manta hoon. Agar mujhe usse shadi karni pade to main beshak kar loonga, kyonki main janta hoon vo mere bachchon ke liye achchhi hai, aap sabke liye achchhi hai. Bahut achchi hai vo. Par main kisi se bhi shadi nahi karna chahta, aur vo bhi is baat ke liye raazi nahi thi. Naraz hai vo mujhse kyonki maine aap logon se ye baat kahi.

Swarna (looks down, nodding)- Agar tum donon sachmuch aisa nahi chahte to koi baat nahi. Jab tak Sirat ke hamle ke peechhe kaun hai, pakda nahi jaata vo yahan hum sab ke saath hi rahegi. Main maan se bol doongi ki tum donon shaadi nahi karna chahte.

Kartik (smiles)- Aap itna udaas mat ho. Main thik hoon, Naira ki yaadein mere liye kaafi hain.  

Swarna (shakes her head)- Naira tumhein kabhi is tarah se nahi dekhna chahegi. Muskura kar chehre ka gam chhupta hai Kartik aankhon ka nahi. Har kisi ko ek saathi ki zaroorat hoti hai, shadi ki samaj mein buniyad hi yahi hai. Sirat pehle se hi tumhari saathi hai, bas tum donon ye dekhna nahi chahte? Khair, tum bar-bar wahi sab sunna nahi chahoge.

Indeed, Kartik was worn out. He didn't protest as they moved out of the room to fetch lunch. Except on the way he ended up wondering whether Sirat took her medicines or not. Upon reaching there he found her missing. Remembering the last time she left, he strode out of the room. He was on his way to the main gate, when on the way he saw Sirat playing with Akshu. Before he could make a move towards her, Kairav still in his school dress came around to hug her. Both Kairav and Sirat, smiling genuinely. After a while, Sirat probably sent him to change his school dress because Kairav left pouting. A smile appeared on his lips unknowingly. 

***

Swarna- Sirat?

Sirat (looks away, finds Swarna at the door with a plate, moves towards her)- Aunti ji aap ko pareshan hone ki zaroorat na thi, main kha leti khana bhookh lagti mhare ko to.

Swarna (enters the room with a smile)- Tum khana khane neeche kyon nahi aayi?

Sirat (looks away)- Abhi to kaha na manne, mhare ko bhookh nahi hai. Jab lagti main khud le leti.

Swarna (places the plate on table)- Lekin dawai to time par hi khani hogi na, uske liye to time par khana-khana zaroori hai na. (sighs) Sirat main samajhti hoon ki tum neeche nahi aana chahti isiliye Kartik ne dopahar mein bhi tumhara khana upar bhijwaya tha. Vo ab bhi laa raha tha par mujhe tumse baat karni thi to main le aayi, par mujhe achchha lagea agar tum yahan comfortable feel karo kisi kaidi jaise nahi. (sits at the sofa, gestures Sirat to join her)

Sirat (sitting beside her)- Khana lane ke liye thank you, aap ko mhari itni chinta hai uske liye bhi thank you. Par mhare ko na lagta is sabki koi zaroorat hai, ek baar ye sab khatam ho jaaye fir mhare ko yahan rehne ki zaroorat hi na padegi aur tab tak agar main Uncle ji ke saamne na aaoon wahi behtar hoga.

Swarna- Sirat unhone aaj jo kuchh bhi kaha tumhein hurt karne ke irade se nahi kaha. Bas Manish ji jab bolte hain to sochte nahi, aur sochte hain to pariwar ki fikra zyada rehti hai. Agar tumhe unki baatein buri lagi ho to I am sorry. Unki taraf se main tumse maafi mangti hoon.

Sirat- Uski zaroorat na hai, mhare ko maloom hai aapke parivar ko mhari wajah se kitni taqleef hui hai. Ye to aap sabka badapaan hai jo ab bhi mhare ko is ghar mein itna pyar aur samman milta hai, varna mhare ko to kabhi apni maan ne itna na poochha.

Swarna- Sirat. Mujhe tumse ek baat aur bhi karni thi.

Sirat (forwning)- Kahiye? Aap itni pareshan kyon hain? Kya uncle ji ab bhi mhare ko-

Swarna (shaking her head)- Nahi, unse Maan ne baat kar li hai. Unhein ab tumhare yahan rehne se koi problem nahi hai, bas vo security badhane ke baare mein soch rahe the par tumehin yahan se jaane ke liye koi nahi kahega. Mujhe tumhare aur Kartik ke baare mein baat karni thi, aaj jo kuchh bhi kaha gaya-

Sirat- Use bhool jaiye, jo kaha gaya uska koi matlab na tha. Vo to bas keh diya tha, kyonki Kartik mhari bahut fikra karte hain.

Swarna- Vo sab main jaanti hoon, Kartik ne bataya mujhe ki tum donon ek-doosre se shaadi nahi karna chahte. Aur ye tum donon ka faisla hai, par mujhe bas ek baar tumhare munh se sunna tha tum kyon aisa nahi chahti, Kartik ka karan mujhe pata hai, par kya tum bhi Ranveer ki wajah se- Mujhe poora yakeen hai Ranveer bhi yahi chahega ki tum khush raho, aur mujhe maloom hai tum agar Kartik se shaadi karti ho hum sab tumhara poora dhyan rakhenge-

Sirat (looks away, shakes her head)- Wajah Ranveer na hai, balki usne to khud kaha tha mhare aur Kartik ko shaadi kar leni chahiye.

Swarna (frowning)- Fir Sirat tum Kartik se shaadi kyon nahi karna chahti?

Sirat (remembers things said about Kartik for siding by her by everyone)- Bas mhare ko ye thik na lag raha. Unhone bas mhari jaan bachane ke liye jo munh mein aaya vo bol diya. Is baat ko fansi ka fanda banana to kisi bhi soorat mein sahi na hoga, khastaur par tab jab mhare ko abhi is baare mein kuchh sochna hi na hai. Bas ek baar championship ho jaaye...

Swarna (sighs, nods, smiles)- Thik hai, mujhe bas tumse yahi baat karni thi ab main tumhein aur pareshan nahi karungi. Tum aaram se khana khao.

Sirat (watching Swarna's back)- Sirat tune sahi kiya na? Kartik thare jaisi ladki ke sath khush kaise reh sake hain, vo Naira ji se pyar karte hain.

Kartik (closing his eyes)- Naira maine sahi kiya na?

Naira- Tumhein jo sahi laga tumne vo kiya.

Kartik (opens his eyes, turns to face Naira instead of sky)- Matlab?

Naira (hums)- Tumne vo kiya jo tumhein sahi laga, ismein kuchh bhi galat nahi hai.

Kartik (frowns)- Par tumhein ye sahi nahi lagta?

Naira (shakes her head)- Bilkul bhi nahi. Mujhe tumhein yun udaas dekhna sahi nahi lagta, apne bachchon ko bina maan ke dekhna sahi lagta, tumhara hath tham kar chalne ke liye koi na ho ye bhi sahi nahi lagta, tumhara meri yaadon mein aise doobkar rehna bhi sahi nahi lagta.

Kartik (sighs)- Naira main thik hoon, bachche thik hain, is sabke liye mujhe Sirat se shaadi karne ki zaroorat nahi hai.

Naira- Sirf thik hona kafi nahi hai Kartik. Main chahti hoon tum sab khush raho, jaise aaj dopahar mein the. Kairav aur Akshu Sirat ke saath ke paas kitne khush the.

Kartik (nods)- Sirat bhi kaafi khush thi, I guess is sabke baad bachchon ke paas better feel kar rahi thi.

Naira (hums)- Aur tum bhi khush the.

Kartik (frowning)- Naira, jab meri life ke itne important log khush honge to usse main thodi udaas ho jaunga. Yahan is baat ko kehne ka kya matlab?

Naira- Yahi ki mujhe lagta hai tumhein Sirat se shaadi kar leni chahiye. Jaanti hoon meri jagah kisi ko nahi dena chahte, par ye nahi samajh rahe meri jagah ab tumhare dil mein basi hamari yadon mein hain. Aur tumhare bagal mein jo jagah khaali hai, Sirat apni dosti se to bharti aayi hai apne saath se bas use behtar bhar payegi.

Kartik- Naira-

Naira- Apni aankhein band karo. (Kartik follows after lingering on Naira for a moment) Ab yaad karo tumne dopahar mein kya dekha tha, teenon ke chehre par khushi dekhkar tumhein kuchh mehsoos nahi hua? Tumhara man nahi kiya teenon hamesha aise hi rahein, khush, tumhare saamne... Tumhare paas.

Kartik (opens his eyes)- Naira! (finds her gone)

Her words, however, take deep root inside him. For most night sleep is forgone, in favour of remembering Sirat with his children.

***

Precap

Sirat (shakes her head)- Mhare se na hoga. (looks up) Aapko mhari wajah se jitna sab jhlena pada wo kaafi na tha ke? Aap mein sabra hoga Kartik mhare se na jhela jayega main aapke upar bojh ban jaoon.

Kartik (frowns)- Sirat. (holds her forearms) Sirat! Meri baat gaur se suno. Tum mere upar koi bojh nahi ho. Main tumhein apni life mein chahta hoon kyonki tum mere liye important ho, mere bachchon ke liye important ho. Meri dost ho, hamesha rahogi. Tum mana bhi kar dena par tumhare liye ye janna bahut zaroori hai ki tum kitni special ho. Tumhara dhyan rakhna chahta hoon to sirf is wajah se ki tumhein dukhi ya akela nahi dekhna chahta, bahut kareeb se mehsoos ki hain ye cheezen tumhein vaise nahi dekh sakta. (lets go, steps back) Mujhe jo kehna tha maine ke diya, ab tumhari baari hai.