Flashback

1 and a half years back....

Naira is studying in final year, college. She has chalked out a plan in front to complete her Masters and PhD abroad. Right now she is bent over the microscope in her microbiology lab. Her phone rings, she doesn't pick it up. She ignores several times, later irritated at the disturbance, checks the caller. She is apologetic.

Naira: Sorry Papa...lab me thi...

Naitik: I am sorry Princess...woh kya hai hai naa maine manaa kiya tha meri Mrs Singhania ko..but tum jaanti ho....mujhe phone karna padha.

Naira: Lagta hai emergency hai...warna mere Papa mujhe kabhi disturb nahi karte...

Naitik: tum ghar aajao..kuch zaroori kaam hai...

Naira: abhi? Please naa....maine autoclave pe 300 test tubes rakhe hai..usse dhonaa baaki hai....yeh virus ka culture bhi oven me aur 30 min rakhna hai...toh yeh sab khatam karke, 2 ghante ke baad aati hoon...theekh hai Byeeee..

NairaM (angry): Naira....abhi ke abhi ghar aaoo..

Naira: Maa...but...her mother cuts the phone.Naira is angry at the interruption. She receives a text from her dad.

Naitik: Princess....aaajaaaa..warna Mrs Singhania mera toast banaa degi...pleasseeeee..

Naira sighs and a small smile breaks out in her face. She loves her Papa the most in this world. He is more like a friend to her. Her mother has been a school principal her whole life and hence is naturally very dominating and strict. She is very formal and calls her husband as Mr Singhania. She is the supreme commander of the house and no one dares to upset her or go against her wishes. Naira is already in her bad books as she has decided to pursue her Phd in microbiology. Her mother wanted her to take Biochemistry.

With all these thoughts she reaches home. Her house is quiet like a classroom. She peeps in the drawing room, the place is spic and span. She quietly steps in and is about to get up the stairs, when she hears a whiplash like 'kadak' voice..

NairaM: gande joote pahen ke kahan jaa rahi ho?

Naira (quickly removing shoes): Sor..sorry Maa...bhool gayi...

Her mother approaches her. Naira gets scared and steps back

NairaM: pata nahi aaj kis virus ya bacteria ko leke aayi hai..haath dhoye ache se?

Naira: Ji maa....sanitize kar liya hai..

NairaM: Pata nahi kya sochke microbiology liya...the future is Biochemistry...

Naitik: arre Mrs Singhania...aap tayaar nahi huyi? Who log 1 ghante me aa jayenge..

Naira: Kaun papa?

NairaM: ghar pe mehmaan aa rahe hai...Mr and Mrs Rajesh Kapoor....yeh tshirt jeans badlo aur maine keerti se kaha hai tumhe tayaar karne...yeh Naksh aaya nahi ab tak..Mr Singhania..zaraa phone kijiye..

Naira stands there confused. Following another barking order by her mother, she rushes with her bag upstairs to her room.

Naira: keerti Bhabhi....yeh sab kya naya drama hai...kaun hai Mr Kapoor aur mujhe kyun tayyar hone ko kaha hai?

Keerti (closing door): Baith...bataati hoon..pehle promise kar gussa nahi karegi...Naira promises her sister-in-law.

Keerti: Mr Kapoor tere naanu ke best friend ke bete hai. Tere Naanu aur Mr Kapoor ke papa apni dosti ko rishtedaari me badalna chahte the....magar ho na saka...aur ab tere Naanu nahi rahe...toh unke best friend ki ichaa hai....kisi tarah rishtedaari ho jaaye...

Naira (confused): Toh?

Keerti (drawing a deep breath): Toh...Mummyji ne tumhara rishta karne ka socha hai..Mr Kapoor ke bete – Rajveer ke saath..

Naira(angry): WHATTTTT? Rishtaaa? Mera...main abhi jaake dekhti hoon Maa ko...

Keerti (pulling her): Shhhhhhhh.....tumne promise kiya hai...

Naira (angry): Bhabhi....this is not fair..Maa jaanti hai...mujhe aur kitna padhna hai...phir bhi..No...Main bilkul ready nahi hooon...

Naira's father gets in her room slowly. He looks at Keerti. She indicates Naira is upset. Her father clears his throat. Naira looks up at her father and turns her face around.

Naitik: Meri Princess....tayyar nahi huyi..

Naira: Mujhe aapse bhi baat nahi karni hai..aap bhi Maa ke saath mil gaye..mujhe bhagana chahte hai iss ghar se...

Naitik: Arre Princess.....main tumhare bina jee sakta hoon kya? Magar ek na ek din toh yeh hona hi hai naa..waise bhi abhi sirf rishta pakka karne waale hai..itni jaldi thodi bhejoonga tujhe..

Naira: But papa..

Naitik (stroking her hairs): princess...tere Nanu ki aakhiri icha thi yeh...unke liye please...

Naira(accepting): Okay...sirf aapke liye Papa.....

Naira gets ready and awaits the guests downstairs.

Mr Kapoor: kahan hai hamari hone waali bahu?

Keerti gets Naira downstairs. She sits on a sofa between her parents.

Mr Kapoor: aap toh bahut beautiful ho...she will be perfect for Rajveer..kyun gayatri...

Gayatri (Mrs Kapoor): hmmm..she looks a bit upset.

Mr Kapoor: hame Naira pasand hai....hamari haan hai...bass ek baat kehni hai...Rajveer USA se 2 din me aa jayega...Papaaji ki tabiyat thodi nazuk hai...Rajveer unka favorite pota hai....unki bahut ichaa hai ki Rajveer ki shaadi ho jaaye unke aankhon ke saamne..toh..

Naitik: toh?

Mr Kapoor: Mr Singhania...hum next week hi shaadi karvaana chahte hai...

NairaM: hame manzoor hai..

Naira (shock): Maa...meri studies..college...

NairaM: Maine haan keh diya hai....yeh mere babuji ki aakhiri icha thi...Mr Singhania...shaadi ki tayyari kijiye..

Naitik: lekin hamne abhi tak Rajveer ko nahi dekha..

Mr Kapoor: maine kaha na 2 din me aa raha hai..tab dekh lijiye..aur Akshara (Naira's mother) ne toh photo dekh hi li hai...

NairaM: Haan....he will be perfect for Naira...USA me software engineer hai...5 saal me green card mil jayega...

The families talk about other details and leave.

Naira (angry): Maa....aap yeh kaise kar sakti hai..its my life...meri shaadi meri marzi se hogi....I am sorry..main yeh shaadi nahi karoongi...

NairaM: Kyun? Kya kami hai ladke me?

Naksh: Maa...Naira ki baat sahi hai...aap bahut jaldbaazi kar rahi hai...abhi iski padhaai bhi poori nahi huyi hai...

NairaM: ab tum decide karoge iss ghar ki baaten....jab maine tumhare liye keerti ko chunaa..tumne yehi sab drama kiya thaa..aaj khush ho naa? Bolo ?

Naksh: Maa...yeh sach hai main bahut khush hoon Keerti ke saath..but Naira...

NairaM: tumhe kya lagta hai..mujhe fikar nahi hai meri beti ki.....I know whats best for her...yeh mere Papa ki aakhiri icha thi....aur main isse har haal me poora karna chahti hoon..aur main Rajesh (Rajveer's dad) ko bachpan se jaanti hoon...unki family bahut achi hai..Naira khush rahegi

Naira: But meri padhaai..aap jaanti hai main PhD karna chahti hoon....

NairaM: Haan apna time waste kar rahi ho....but uska bhi khayal rakh liya hai maine...Rajveer ke saath shaadi ke baad tum bhi USA jaa sakti ho...apni padhaai poori kar sakti ho..

Naira: But Maaa...

Naitik: Princess....Maa ki baat maan lo...who tumhara acha hi sochengi....

Flashback over

Air hostess: Ma'm..would you like to have some coffee or tea?

Naira (wiping her tears): No..I am fine..

Kartik: good morning...I hope you slept well...whats the time?

Naira (small smile): Yes...thank you..abhi 2 ghante aur hai...London pahunchne ke liye..

The plane undergoes through turbulence and Naira feels like vomiting but she holds it somehow. Their plane gets delayed and now she has to rush to catch her connecting flight.

She is breathlessly running to her gate when she gets a strong feeling to vomit and rushes inside a restroom. She vomits and clutches her stomach in pain. She washes her face and comes out tired and disoriented. She dashes onto someone.

Kartik: Oops..sorry ma'm...I hope you are fine

Naira (tired): tum...I am sorry tooo..

They hear an announcement for boarding of their flight to Texas.

Kartik: hey..thats us..chalo..

Naira nods and walks slowly still tired and nauseous. Kartik goes ahead and turns to see her clutching her sides.

Kartik: hey...Ms kapoor..ooops..sorry Ms singhania...are you okay?

Naira: mere pet me dard hai...I feel like vomiting.

Kartik: tum jaoo...main tumhara bag sambhalta hoon..go...

Naira rushes again and comes out exhausted from all the puking.

Naira: Main nahi chal sakti... u go....the last boarding announcement is done. Kartik grabs her hand and rushes through the crowd. He handles their passports and boarding passes. Naira crashes in her seat.

Airhostess: Ma'm please wear your seatbelt. We will soon take off.

Kartik: I will take care..Thank you.

He shakes Naira who is already asleep from the exhaustion. He nudges her again when she places her head on his shoulder. Kartik takes pity and puts her seat belt on. He slowly tries to place her head on her headrest, Naira now holds his arm with her hands and murmurs.

Naira (murmur): papa....mujhe please thapki do naa...

Kartik looks at her with confusion. He pats her forehead as she sleeps holding his arm more tightly. He gets busy and doesn't realise the plane has taken off.

A/N-Thank you all for the love..I hope you will like this story. please post your review & do vote plz plz- good, bad, ugly...

I know it's a bit boring but FlashBacks is Important. The upcoming chapter has more flashbacks