They kept staring at each other for few seconds with guilt in their eyes.. it was getting awkward and the silence was killing them from inside..

Naira was guilty for whatever she told him before... she realized she has hurt him a lot... she feared that she might loose her friendship as well..

Kartik was guilty and he blamed himself for her condition.. he was hurt as well and started remembering how she told him not to touch her and to leave the house..

An awkward silence intruded between them, between their beautiful friendship.. neither Kartik nor Naira wanted this to happen ever..

Kartik finally spoke up with tears in his eyes which were threatening to come out any moment..

Kartik : Naira tum rest karo.. actually main ek important discussion chod ke aaya hu..  I need to go ...tum khayal rakhna apna.. aur agar kisi bhi cheez ki zarurat ho to Abhishek ko call karlena..

He turned to go out.. when Naira hurriedly got down from the bed to stop him.. she stopped him by holding on his palm from behind..

Naira (with tears in her eyes) : Kartik..

He turned towards her..

She looked at him and her tears started coming out..

She hugged him.. he was kind of shocked by her gesture.. but he stood their still.. he didn't hug her back since her words kept ringing in his head where she told him not to touch her.. that has really hurt him to the core..

She felt he wasn't responding.. she understood she was the only responsible one for his strange behavior.. she took his hands and kept on her back still hugging him..

He understood her.. his emotions could no more be in control and he engulfed her more in himself.. she clutched him more tightly..

Tears stareted coming out from both of their eyes.. the tears which would take away all their pain.. they thought they would wash off their guilt, their pain, their grief, their hurt, the sudden growing bitterness between them..

Naira was sobbing in his arms.. his tears also went on flowing...

Naira tried speaking with great effort..

Naira : I am sorry Kartik.. I am sorry.. maine tumhe kitna kuch suna dia.. main sorry bolungi to bhi tum mujhe maaf nahi Kar paoge I know.. maine tumpe shak kia.. tumhe trust nahi kia.. tumhari baat nahi maani aur tumpe chillaya bhi..

She said still being in his arms..

Kartik : Tum kyun sorry bol rahi ho Naira.. galti to saari meri hai.. mujhe kal tumhe aise achanak kiss nahi karna chahiye tha... that was so wrong.. aur sabse badi galti to maine uss vakt ki jab maine tumhe wahan pe akele chod ke aagaya .. mujhe nahi jaana chahiye tha tabhi .. main jaata bhi nahi.. par tumne force kia to.. sidha ghar chale aate to yeh sab kuch nahi hota..

Naira : Kartik please jaane do puraani baate ko.. abhi jo hogaya so hogaya..

Kartik : Nahi par yeh to galat hai na..

She kept her hand covering his mouth to stop him from speaking any further.. Kartik was startled by this..

Naira : Shhh.. maine kaha na jaane dete hai please.. galti dono ki thi.. zyada to meri thi.. (her eyes became moist again) maine tumhe kitna kuch kah dia Kartik.. I am so sorry.. maine tumhe ghar se chale jaane ke liye kah dia yahan tak mujhe touch bhi nahi karne dia.. main kitni pagal hun na Kartik..

Kartik : Wow.. abhi tumne hi kaha we won't talk about it aur abhi tum hi..

Naira : Hmm.. but I am really sorry..

Kartik (caressing her hairs) : Naira it's okay.. koi baat nahi jaane do..

Naira looked up at him.. they were still hugging each other..

Naira : Tum mujhse naraz ho na...

Kartik : Tha par abhi nahi hu.. maine realise kia chahu bhi to tumse naraz nahi rah sakta tumse pyaar (he stopped realising what he was going to say)

He continued after few seconds..

Kartik : Par yeh to Sach hai.. aur yeh kabhi nahi badal sakta.. I love you Naira .. I really do.. tumhare kuch bhi bolne se yeh nahi badlega..

Naira quitely came out of his embrace.. he also left her understanding the situation..

Naira : Kartik.. Kartik tumhe.. tumhe nahi pata ki main tumhari kitni respect karti hu.. tumhe kitna pasand karti hu main par mujhe yeh pyaar vagayrah ka kuch nahi samajh nahi aa raha hai.. main tumhe as a friend pasand karti hu as a person pasand karti hu admire bhi karti hu par..

Kartik : Naira chalo bed pe baithke baat karte hai..

They went and sat down on the bed..

Kartik : Naira tumse ek baat puchu..

Naira : Hm..

Kartik (being very soft and calm) : Naira tum sab kuch kah rahi ho.. subah bhi tumne kaha tum yeh rishta sambhal nahi payogi sab bigar jaayega aur abbhi pasand karti ho admire karti ho yeh sab bol rahi ho.. par tum directly point pe kyun nahi aati.. tum yeh kyun nahi bol rahi ho ki tum mujhse pyaar nahi karti.. bass itna sa hi to bolna hai ki you don't love me.. tum mere baare mein mat socho bass sach bolo.. tum bolo ki you don't love me..

Naira cut him in middle of his words..

Naira : Nahi Kartik.. nahi ho sakta aisa.. kyunki Mera mann woh kahne nahi de raha hai..

Kartik : To phir mann kya kah raha hai.. yeh nahi kah raha hai to matlab yeh kah raha hoga ki tum mujhse pyaar..

Naira (crying) : Nahi Kartik Woh bhi nahi kah raha tumhe nahi pata ki main kis duvidha me aake khari ho gayi hu..

She folded her hands in front of him..

Naira : Kartik please please main tumhare saamne haath jorti hu.. mujhe mujhe thoda vakt de do.. mujhe khud ko samajhne do.. aur please mujhse naraz mat hona.. humari dosti kharab ho jaayegi to main mar jaaungi Kartik..

Kartik held her hand and gestured her not to do so..

Kartik : Tch.. Naira yeh kya kah rahi ho tum aur kar bhi kya rahi ho.. mere saamne haath kyun jor rahi ho.. humera rishta iss mukaam pe aake nahi khara hai ki you have to fold your hands in front of me.. aur baaki main tumse promise karta hu aajke baad main kabhi kabhi tumse yeh sab baate nahi karunga jab tak tum nahi chahogi par haan yeh baat Sach hai ki hum baat nahi karenge to sacchai badal jaayegi ... Jo hai so hai.. aur tum please yeh mat socho ki humari dosti kharab hogi.. woh jaisi hai waisi hi rahegi.. yeh tumhare liye jitna precious hai uthna hi mere liye hai.. tum hamesha ek baat yaad rakhna chahe jo hojaye tumhara yeh friend humesha tumhare saath hai..

Naira : Friend nahi.. best friend..

Kartik smiled at her..

She hugged him..

Naira : Tum itne acche kyun ho Kartik.. koi insaan itna accha kaise ho sakta hai.. thankyou Kartik thank you so much for understanding me.. tumne mujhe tab sambhala jab mera koi bhi nahi tha.. aur aaj bhi sambhal rahe ho..

Kartik : Aur aage bhi humesha sambhalunga.. par you have to promise me something..

Naira : Kya??

Kartik : That you will not underestimate yourself for anything.. aur tum apne aap ko blame bhi nahi karogi past mein jo bhi hua usske liye.. tumhe aur kitni baar samjhana padhega that you aren't at fault... Okay??

Naira : Okay.. promise..

Kartik : Pakka vala promise??

Naira : Haan Kartik pakka vala promise..

Kartik tightened his grip on her and started caressing her back.. he smiled.. he smiled for his Naira.. he smiled that his Naira is okay now, not guilty anymore and will not be in any tension further..

And Naira, she wasn't to be blamed too.. she is all messed up.. maybe she's not healed totally still now.. she is trying to figure out.. she's fighting with her feelings whether to let it be or not.. she is fearing to start a new life, a new beginning.. her fear is totally justified if someone thinks from her point of view..

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Thank you guys for such awesome responses..

Apology for any kind of mistake..

Do give reviews..

--Adhira