"Kartik mujhe woh Deepak ke kandho pe inn kapde mein" he saw her hesitation and completely understood it.

"Naira come this side next to me" said Deepak

"Ouch oh shit!" Said Kartik

"Mendak kya hua" Naira held his hand

"I need to get out of the water" Shruti came to help him.

"Its ok Shruti Naira hai" he said rejecting her help she rolled her eyes.

"Haan chalo" Naira held his hand walking with him

"Ok then next pair opposite Shurti and Deepak come in the pool"

kya hua tum chilaye kyu?" She said as they were going up the steps to come out of the water.

"Fake tha" he turned to her "I could see your discomfort towards Deepak and if you refused this challenge then sab tumhe bura bolte aur woh mujhe bilkul accha nai lagta"

"Thank you snuggles" she side hugged him "always cuddles" he said

"Hey shall we make a move I need to..

"Go to work i know and yes i think we should go too so I'll just get changed and grab my stuff"

"Me too" he said they left to get changed and then said their goodbyes to their friends and left from there.

"So..here we are" he said parking outside her house. "It was fun hanging out but it's more fun at yours"

"Really why?"

"Because everyone is there and we didn't really talk" she said which he chuckled at.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Forget that I completely forgot to ask how was the guy who came yo see you?"

"Um yah ok i guess dadi and papa liked him and he seems ok" she said

"Congratulations sherni"

"Shut up yah esa kuch finalise nai hua and how cleverly you changed the topic" she said then hit him in the chest.

"Ouch" he chuckled

"ok I am leaving goodnight" she said but he locked the door.

"Its not opening" she said pulling at the handle "relax" he took her hand "even I want to spend time with you like old times but I am so busy at work and this week I am going abroad for business" he said

"How long?" She asked him

"3 days not too long" he said

"Haan but..

"I know tumhara birthday araha hai I'll be back before it"

"Oh yah mera birthday"

"What tum Bhul gaye?" He said she nodded "actually sach mein Bhul gaye" she replied

"Pagli" he said then tapped her cheek.

"Chal I'll try see you before I go but if I don't then birthday pe to milenge" he said she nodded "theekh hai" she said in a low tone.

"Aree cuddles come give me a cuddle" he said taking her hand and pulled her into his arms she rested herself in his arms hugging him.

"I should maybe get a job I thought you will be a bit free to hang out with but..

"I miss you too" he said then released her he held her by the shoulders

"why do you want to work, if you start working then we really will not see each other tum free honge then when I have some days off we will hang out"

"Yeah right sure we will" she said with sarcasm

"I promise you we will now you can catch up on your books, sketching, dancing  TV shows, tennis classes now I wish I was a bit more free"

"My tennis partner bhi tum ho" she said

"Fine sketching then usme mein to mein nai hu I am a shocking drawer" she giggled

"Ok goodnight sweet dreams" she then kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight baby" he said then kissed her cheek Naira came out of the car.

"Hey cuddles birthday mein konsa gift chaiye?" She bent down and popped her head in the car

"Surprise me" she smiled and he did too "ok cool"

The next day Naira woke up early and did some sketching in the garden she was enjoying the moment of just being involved in her art instead of thinking about other things,

"Naira Rahul ki mumma ka phone tha they said yes for the rishta" he smiled

"ok papa" she smiled plastering a fake one. Her dad went back inside

"Accha Hua ab woh Kartik ke saath itna nai ghumegi"

"Dadi Kartik unka accha dost hai"

"Haan tab woh bache the but ab woh use thoda dur rehna chaiye taki  uske hone wale pati se kareeb sakti woh bond banasakti hai" she said

"Hmm that does make sense also Kartik ko bhi ladki dhundhe ni chaiye"

"Haan mein suvarna se baat kal karungi" said dadi

"Dadi but Naira maanegi nai she is very close to him uske mumma ke baad Kartik ne sambhala sirf 6 saal ki thi aur abhi in dono ki dosti hai "

""Hmm Naitik beta but now both are older things have to change" she replied

A few days passed Kartik and Naira hadn't spoken since the pool party night and now he was away on business and Naitik organised a little party in their house their living room was like a hall anyways.

"Happy birthday beta" Rahul's mumma handed her a bag "this is for you" Naitik saw her and gestured to her to touch her feet but she didn't want to so she didn't.

"Rahul kaha hai?" The question Naira should ask was asked by dadi.

"Car ki parking Kara hai"

"Accha ji" said dadi

"If you will excuse me for a minute" Naira took out her phone.

"Hey Naira beta happy birthday"

"Thanks chachu" she hugged him and a few of her dad's family friends came she greeted all of them.

"Kya karu yeh mendak mera phone kyu nahi received kar raha"

"There you are happy birthday" he went to hug her but she just shook his hand

"Thanks Rahul I'll just be back" she walked off in a rush 10 minutes passed.

"Beta sab agaye hai cake cut karle chalo" he said

"Sab nai Kartik nai aya abhi and you know I don't cut my birthday cake without him" she nodded

"Theekh hai we will wait a few more minutes" he said she smiled glad her dad understood her frame of mind she messaged Kartik again on his whereabouts, 15 minutes or so passed.

"Beta cut the cake" said Naitik

"5 minutes more woh ata hi hoga"

"Rahul is waiting na.. Naira didn't budge her phone beeped

"Sorry sherni my stay has been extended will make it up to you when I am back have a nice birthday"

"Naira"

"Fine chalo" she said upset from his message she walked with her papa but she then saw a huge teddy bear being carried she went forward "wow" she held the teddy and then revealed who was behind it.

"Sur-prise" he said

"Mendak you came" she squealed "come" they went out of the room.

"Hmm" she said standing in front of him in his shirt and trousers looking handsome. She was wearing a indo western blue dress with her hair out in a hair band.

of course how would I miss it" they hugged tightly and then he cupped her face "happy birthday meri zindagi" he kissed both her cheeks and then temple.

"Meri zindagi? Bas bas enough butter marna"

"Nai of course tum ho" she smiled "ab chalo sab wait kare hai cake cutting ke liye" she said "yah sure come" he held her hand they came back in most people knew there close friendship they had seen the two of them growing up Kartik saw 2 new faces.

"Those people are new" he said "yes Rahul and his mumma"

"Naira tum jao" he let go of her hand.

"Beta chalo" said Naitik he greeted Kartik and then took Naira she cut the cake and called him with her eyes "1st piece as tradition papa then she turned and saw Rahul? no where is Kartik

"ek second" she walked off "ruko mendak you know the tradition 1st papa then you"

"Sorry urgent call aya tha, come" he took her hand and ate the cake from it.

"Mmm very nice" he said

"Good boy chalo" she walked back in with him now Rahul and his mumma were seeing him.

"cuddles introduction nai karogi mera?"  Just then his mumma went in the kitchen so she went to him.

"Rahul yeah hai mera sab se accha dost mera mendak"

"Hi I am Naira's mendak"

"Mendak prince hai" she said giving him a side hug.

 "Yah ok" he squeezed her waist

"So you both um.. are like bro and sis?"

"Umm I can't really describe it but we are best friends" he said to Rahul.

"Childhood se ache friendship hai" she said

"Did you have cake Rahul?" She asked

"Not yet you can give me" he asked

"Sorry that is tradition I already completed with my mendak but I'll get you a plate" she left to do just that.

"The cake is great if you'll excuse me I haven't spoken to Naitik sir properly Naira came back and gave the plate "here you go"

"Kartik and you seem close"

"Yes we are very close I tell him everything actually I just remembered something" she walked off.

"Kartik your favourite chocolate ice cream is here"

"Actually I have to leave" he said

"what but why abhi to aye and"

"Sorry but I will be back later ok" he kissed her cheek and then left Naira felt down again her mendak leaving so soon upset her.

"Beta thoda dancing hojaye?" He asked her

"Change of plan sab dinner karle then I want them to leave party Khatam and I have a headache"

"Ok beta no dancing" he said Naira spent time chatting with people then made small chit chat with Rahul.

"Naira we still haven't added each other on social media" he said

"Yeah send me your request I will add you ok bye for now" she said then closed the door he wanted to take her on a date but she said her headache is there. The night was young it was only 6pm.

"Kitna boring birthday" she said lying on her bed "only this made it special" she hugged her teddy.

"Aur mendak ka soon to ayega hi nahi that's why the gift and.. her phone started ringing

"Hey birthday girl"

"Kajal I got your message sorry  busy thi family kept a small party" she replied

"Oh listen let's make your birthday a fun  night " 

"Ok sounds good where shall I meet you?"

Precap: surprise birthday night but who by and a rishta comes for Kartik.

Tbc

Hows it going?

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