"Yes, my husband. Just a little more." Naira said getting in her car.

"Its been a week, my wife." Kartik said rolling over his bed.

"I had to, work is important." She said starting her car.

"More than me." He said.

"If I remember, you were the one forcing me to attend this seminar." She said driving.

"Yes, because I knew you worked hard for it." He said.

"Then, whats the problem?" She said over phone.

"Staying away from you is the problem. Darr lagta hai."

"Kiss baat ka darr?"

"Ke tum mujh se durr chali jao gi, yeh khayal hi mujhe dara deta hai."

"Don't worry, koi mujhe tumse durr nahi le ke jaa sakta. Now come on, get up. Leave bed and get ready."

"Hm, jaldi ana. I'm waiting. I love you."

"I hate you too." She said and he chuckled, its been 10 years of their togetherness and one year of their marriage, she never said I love you to him, she always replied with I hate you too and for him it was far above from those love words.

He got up and went to get fresh. She went to attend a seminar in other city, its been a week which felt like whole year to him.

He was waiting eagerly for her, he was excited but there was some other feeling too in his heart. He didn't know what was that feeling, it was not a happy feeling. It was some empty feeling. He shrugged off his thoughts and went downstairs.

There was his family, all excited to welcome Naira. It wasn't just him it was his family also who was eagerly waiting for Naira.

They met in college and fell in love. Their love story wasn't dramatic or tragic but a loving love story which started from friendship and blossomed in love.

Everyone in his family loved Naira, she was such an sweetheart that everyone loved her in one meeting itself. She was the limelight of his family, and now spending a week without her was a big thing for all of them.

"Naira waha se nikli ke nahi." His dadi asked him.

"Jee, Dadi. Woh nikal gayi hai waha se meri abhi abhi baat hui hai usse, ap fikar na karein." He said and went in kitchen to make chocolate cake for her.

He still remember, he proposed her on Valentine's day with a chocolate cake which he specially made for her.

He still remember every little thing about her, about them, about how his life was without her and how his life is with her in it.

He still remember the first time he saw her in his college, his heart was running a marathon, he didn't know the reason at that time but now he does. His heartbeat still increases when he see her.

He still remember the first rain with her, when a strand of her hair fell on her forehead wet, he urged to tuck it behind her ear but couldn't, their relation was only friendship then, nothing more.

He remember the second rain with her, when they shared their first kiss. He still feels jitters when he kiss her, nothing is changed.

A smile appeared on his lips when he recalled all those memories.

He put the cake in fridge, all done.

"Naira, come fast." He said looking at his wrist watch.

Kyun aisi ajeeb si bechani ho rahi hai, he thought unable to understand his feelings, he was happy, excited and restless, restless for what?

Its been 2hours and they all were waiting for Naira. Among them, Kartik was a little more worried as she should be home by now.

"Relax, Kartik. Aa jayegi woh waise bhi itni traffic hoti hai," Manish said to him and he nervously nodded.

Now 3 hours passed and she was still not home.

"Papa, I'm going. Naira ko aa jana chaiye tha abhi tak. Main jaa kar dekhta hun, shayad uski gaari kharab ho gayi ho. Ap log bhi usska phone try karte rahein," He said and left to find Naira.

He knew it since morning that something's wrong.

***

"Aj toh traffic ki wajah se itna late ho gaya. Kartik wait kar raha hoga," She was driving back to home when she saw a flower shop.

"Mendak ke liye flowers le leti hun, khush ho jayega," She smiled and went out to take flowers. She bought his favourite flowers and was crossing the road when a car came and hit her.

Her vision were getting blurry, no thoughts just one name, Kartik.

"I love you, Naira"

"Meri Naira"

"Mujhe iss duniya mein tumse zyada pyaara koi nahi hai, jaan ho tum meri"

"Chor kar toh nahi jaogi na mujhe kabhi?"

"Darr lag raha hai, Naira"

"Kartik," she whispered his name and darkness took her away from the light of this world, from her Kartik.

***

He was continuously coughing in car, his breathings were harsh. He stopped the car and came out to take some fresh air.

"Tum theek toh ho na, Naira. Please jaldi wapis aa jao mujhe bohot darr lag raha hai," He said praying for her to be safe.

Just then he got a call from unknown number.

His breathings got faster.

"Please its not true," with shaking hands he picked up the phone, praying that he just misunderstood the situation and his Naira is safe.

"He..hello" He said and what he heard from other side got his world falling apart.

City hospital, the only thing he heard.

He got into car and drove like a mad man.

"Please Naira be safe. Please." The only words he was chanting till he reached hospital. He had already called his family, they were present there too.

He ran to OT and saw the red light on. He looked at everyone they all were as devastated as him.

He silently sat near the door of OT, leaning his head on door. He was a complete mess, hair messed up, eyes red and swelled. He was continuously rubbing his hands in tension causing scars on it.

Manish tried going to him but Swarna stopped him, knowing he won't listen to him it was better for him get himself together.

Tears kept escaping from the corner of his eyes for two hours, he kept sitting there waiting for the operation to be done.

After what felt like forever, the doctors came out. He got up and looked at the doctor.

No

He was not ready for this.

"Sorry, Mr Goenka. We couldn't save her. There was alot leakage of blood, we are sorry for your loss," The doctor said and left leaving them on their own.

Dadi dropped on floor, Swarna picked her up.

Kartik was just standing looking at ground. Tears got stuck in his eyes. He wasn't getting anything. What was happening?

Manish after handling himself, he went to Kartik. He was standing still.

He put his hand on his shoulder and called out his name, "Kartik"

"Naira" Kartik immediately said, looking at Manish.

"Papa, Naira." He again said.

"Papa, Naira." He yelled this time.

"Kartik, sambhalo khudko." Manish said to him, he knew nothing can make him better. They all knew Naira was his soul.

The times they saw him fighting for her, laughing and crying for her.

"Naira," he whispered and went into OT.

He burst into tears seeing her, thinking he won't be able to see her angelic face again, he won't be able to hold her in his arms. He won't be able to see her smile, he won't be able to hear her laugher. He won't be able to hear her voice. He chocked on his tears.

He sat down on stool near the bed. He held her hand. It was cold.

"Naira," he sighed out.

"Please uth jao na, Naira. Meri saasein ruk rahi hain, uth jao. Mazakh nahi karo na, Naira. Please uth jao. Mujhe saans nahi aa raha hai, main marjaon ga Naira main sach keh raha hun main sach mein mar jaonga." His tears were falling on her hand, but she wasn't there anymore to wipe them.

"Naira, mera dill toot raha hai please uth jao. Batao na baat karo na mujh se. Pata hai maine tumhare liye cake bhi banaya hai chalo na ghar chalein" He talked with her while caressing her hairs, little did he know she was gone too far to come back.

The door opened and ward boy came to take her body out of OT.

"Naira," he yelled and ran before wardboy. His foot got tripped and he fell on ground. Manish picked him up.

"Papa, Naira. Meri Naira," He whispered and blacked out.

***

"Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" She asked him.

"Yehi ke main itna khushnaseeb kaise ho gaya jo tum mujhe mil gayi," He said and she blushed.

"You've no idea how thankful I'm to God for giving you to me. For giving me my life." He said and she kissed his cheeks.

"I'm more thankful." He smiled.

"Kabhi chor kar toh nahi jaogi na?" He asked her holding her hand.

"Jiss din tumhe chor kar jaungi na woh din meri zindagi ka aakhri din hoga"

He got up huffing, sweat dripping from his forehead. He blinked his eyes and saw his surroundings he was in his room.

Naira.

He ran downstairs, and saw everyone crying.

"Kartik," Swarna got up wiping her tears, "tum theek ho na?" she asked her cupping his cheeks.

"Meri Naira kahan hai?" He asked and everyone looked at him. They didn't know how to console him, he wasn't ready to accept the reality.

"Kartik, you've to accept-" Manish started but Kartik stopped him.

"I've to accept what? Are you telling me where she is or should I find her on my own?" He said with anger in his eyes.

"Kartik, she is dea-

"Don't you dare, Papa. Don't ever say that again about my Naira. Apko main nahi dikh raha? Nahi dikh raha main? Yahan zinda khara hun, meri Naira kaise mar sakti hai? Woh zinda hai toh main zinda hun,"  How can he just accept that his Naira was no more?

"Kartik, I know its hard for you. But you've to accept that she is dead," Manish said in a stern voice this time.

"Samjh mein kyun nahi aa raha ap sab ko? Meri Naira yahin hai," His voice cracked down this time, he helplessly said, "Dekhein na Papa, woh yahin hai. Maa apko nahi nazar aa rahi? Dadi ap toh dekhein na woh yahi hai," He said going to them one by one and asking them.

"Dekhein na, koi toh dekho meri Naira yahi hai. Kyun nahi dikh rahi woh apko?" He said holding his head in his hands, tears flowing down his eyes making his vision blur.

"Ussne bola tha na woh mujhe chor kar nahi jayegi, Maa usne bola tha na woh nahi jayegi," He hiccuped.

He dropped on his knees.

"Woh meri Naira thi na, woh meri Naira thi. Kaise chor kar jaa sakti hai, maa woh meri Naira thi na," He was crying hard by then.

"Aaaa" he screamed on top of his lungs.

His face was burried in his hands, he was crying hard.

Swarna was about to go when Manish stopped her shooking his head, "Rone do ussey, cheekne do usse. Itna asaan nahi hai uske liye."

"Naira," he was continuously yelling.

Swarna couldn't take it more, she went to him and took him in a hug.

"Maa, meri Naira," He said with hiccups.

"Bass mera bacha, sab theek ho jayega," She kissed his forehead. Once again he was crying like a baby in her arms.

"Maa main kaise jeeunga usske baghair. Main kaise chalun ga uske baghair. Maa dard ho raha hai main kya karun," he cried out his heart in his mother's arms.

***

"Naira," Like every night, this time he again had a nightmare. He woke up yelling her name.

Everyone gathered in her room, it had been 6 months and every night he used to woke up in mid night. No one slept after that devastated day.

Swarna hugged him, "Sshhh, kuch nahi hua hai. Sab theek hai. Bura sapna tha," she tried consoling him.

"Bass karo, kittu. Bohot ho gaya yeh rona dhona aik saal ho gaya hai uske mary hue. Zindagi mein agay baro ab," Dadi said in a serious voice. How long can she take seeing her grandson in this sate, crying, calling out a dead person's name? She doesn't even remember if he ever smiled in this whole year.

"Kaise bass kar dun, Dadi? Kaise agay barh jaon? Uska khayal aik pal ke liye bhi mere dimaag se nahi jaata hai? Kaise agay barh jaon?" He questioned her helplessly.

He got up and went near mirror.

"Yeh idher na dadi woh roz tyaar hoti thi. Aur apko pata hai main bass usko dekhta rehta tha," he said with a painful smile tears rolling down his face, "aur yeh dekhein idher yahan hum beth ke ghanthon baatein karte the," he said pointing towards couch placed near window.

"Ap toh yeh shukar karein ke main zinda hun abhi tak. Yeh sochein ke mar kaise nahi gaya yeh soch kar ke mujhe meri Naira kabhi dekhne ko nahi mile gi, uski hasi kabhi dekhne ko nahi mile, uski awaaz kabhi sunne ko nahi mile gi," He said with pain in his eyes.

"Apko pata hai main jab jab iss kamre mein aata hun mujhe yeh baat maar deti hai ke ab meri Naira nahi hai yahan, main mar jata hun jab subha uth ke uska chehra dekhne ko nahi milta. Aur ap keh rahin hain ke main agay barh jaon dadi kaise?" He again asked her.

"Shaadi kar lo, kittu" He looked at Dadi.

"Apne aj yeh baat ki hai ainda mat kariye ga," He said sternly.

"Galat hi kya hai iss mein? Tumhe usse bhoolne mein asaani hogi,"

"Main nahi bhool sakta usse dadi. Main saans bhi leta hun toh meri dharkan sirf uska naam leti hai. Uski yaadon ke sahaare zinda hun main. Mera usse nahi khud se waada tha uske ilawa meri zindagi mein koi nahi hoga phir khudse kiya hua waada kaise tor dun main? Main mar na jaon yeh sochne se bhi pehle," What else could he do? How could he just forget her?

"Jisne mujhe zindagi de, jisne apna sab kuch qurban kar ke mujhe khushi de usko kaise bhool jaon main? Mujhe kuch taras khayein dadi," He said folding his hands infront of her.

***

"Oye mendak. Yaad aa rahi hai meri? Chalo jaldi se apni ankhein band karo. Arey yaar main tou yahi hun na."

He smiled imagining her with him, he knew he can pass his life imagining her.

"Arey wah, aj toh mera beta muskura raha. Kya baat hai?" Swarna asked him, happy seeing Kartik smiling after ages.

Kartik put his head in Swarna's lap. She started caressing his hairs.

"Maa, woh khush nahi hai," He said.

"Kon khush nahi hai beta?" Swarna asked being confused.

"Naira." He replied, "woh khush nahi hai."

"Aur tumhe kaise pata hai?" She was now habitual to listening to him about Naira everyday. She knew he again saw Naira in his dream.

"Woh aayi thi kal raat meray paas, woh roo rahi thi maa. Maine usse pucha lekin usne bataya hi nahi," He said innocently and she chuckled. She made him face her.

"Woh khush kaise ho gi apne Kartik ko aise dard mein dekh kar? Tumhe pata hai uski jaan basti hai apne Kartik mein. Ab jab tum roo gy toh wo toh roye gi hi na. Jab tum khush ho gy na, dekhna tumhari Naira bhi bohot khush hogi," She smiled and ruffled his hairs.

"Mujhe pata hai woh kaise khush ho gi," He said and Swarna nodded with a smile knowing exactly what he meant.

***

He reopened Naira's dance academy. He knew this acadmey was close to her heart.

After that day, he started living happily not for him but for his Naira. His family were also happy seeing him happy, however that emptiness without Naira was still there in their lives but they had accepted the reality.

It had been 3 years to that day, everything was pretty much back to normal. No one forced Kartik to remarry after that day, they knew Kartik would be happy just like that with Naira's memories.

He was sitting on bench staring at stars.

"Aur phir baad mein hum sab ne movie dekhi. Movie itni interesting nahi thi, lekin sabke saath dekhne mein maza aya,"  He talked to Naira, looking at sky imagining one of the stars would be her.

"Dekho Naira main khush hun, tum bhi khush ho na? Bass fikar na karo kuch time aur bass yeh zindagi khatam ho jaye phir hum uss duniya mein milein ge, humari duniya," He smiled looking at sky.

Sometimes its not important to live together, to be alive. For Kartik, Naira's memories were enough for him to be happy and alive. He doesn't needed another partner.

Just like that, he spent his life with her memories and as he said after this life, they met in their world.

Her name was written on his heart, no one could erase that and he lived his entire life with HER NAME.

"Khatam hogi nahi mitke
Kahani ye kabhi jaana
Kahi aisa na ho jaaye
Bina deedar main marjaavaan…"

___________________________

*ITS NOT EDITED*

Okay so after a long time I've written something and I literally felt like I've forgot how to write but yeah still I wrote.

Did you like this OS?

Favorite scene or dialogue?

Yaar inline comments bhi kar diya karo, atleast let me know how you feel about a particular scene 😂❤

Suggestions for new story pls, I'm out of ideas.