Kartik (still knocking): I said I am sorry...please...

Naira controls her sobbing and opens the door. Kartik comes Inside and sits on the bed.

Kartik: Look...main nahi jaanta tumhara past kya hai...magar itna kehna chahta hoon..tum achi ho....jo hua usse bhool jaoo...move ahead in life...

Naira (hiccupping): Sor....sorrry Kartik...I was rude...tumne tumne itni help ki meri..tum toh mujhe jaante bhi nahi...phir bhi help ki..mujhe aisa nahi kehna chahiye tha..i just got upset for no reason..

Kartik: can I give you a hug?

Naira looks at him. He seems genuine. He closes the distance between them and gives a gentle and consoling hug to her.

Kartik: You wanna cry? You can...its okay..let it out..tumhe acha lagega..she holds him tight and cries loudly for the first time expelling her deepest pain, hurt...

she cries unashamedly in front of Kartik- who is neither a friend, brother or lover – he is just somewhat friendly stranger !

Kartik makes hot coffee for both of them.

Naira: Thank you Kartik..i feel better..

Kartik (smiles): You are welcome....kisi ajnabi ke saamne ronaa acha hota hai..hum apno ke saamne kamzor nahi pad sakte...apne feelings theekh se share nahi kar sakte...kyunki hum unhe takleef nahi dena chahte...

Naira: hmm...sahi kaha...papa ke jaane ke baad..sab kuch itna jaldi ho gaya..mera divorce, admission..mujhe theekh se ronaa hi nahi aaya...I just couldn't grieve his loss...

Kartik: ek baat puchoon....tumhara divorce? I mean...

Naira (smile): Irreconcilable differences....yeh reason thi mere divorce ki...court ke hisaab se....

Kartik: I didn't get it....

Naira: mere bhi samajh me nahi aaya....but mere ex-husband ko yahi laga...he thought I was not compatible with him....mentally, emotionally and ..she looks down...and physically...

Kartik: how long were you married?

Naira: 1 saal ke andar divorce ho gaya...hum saath rahe sirf ek mahina..

Kartik: just 1 month....it was love or arranged...

Naira: dono bhi nahi...It was Forced...

Kartik: Forced? Tumne zabardasti shaadi ki? How could you even agree to something like this

Naira: mere liye toh arranged thi..but Rajveer ke liye it was forced..usne apne dadaaji ke liye yeh shaadi ki.

Kartik: Did..did you love him?

Naira (thinking): Rajveer ko maine pehli baar hamari shaadi ke 5 din pehle dekha...pehli nazar me mujhe acha laga..hamari shaadi ho gayi...3 din ke baad honeymoon gaye...wahan 4 din baad hi Rajveer ke dadaaji ki death ki news aa gayi...phir saare rituals, customs....yeh sab khatam hote hote pata hi nahi chala ek mahina guzar gaya..aur Rajveer America chala gaya..6 mahine baad divorce notice....phir papaaa chale gaye...divorce bhi aa gaya..aur aaj main yahan hoon tumhare saamne...tum hi bataoo time kahan thaa Pyaar karne kaa..

Kartik : toh iss sab me tum dono ke beech differences...I mean I still don't get it...

Naira : samajh toh mujhe bhi nahi aaya...shayad Rajveer ne mere baare me bahut jaldi ek opinion bana li thi.....aur who usse change nahi karna chahta tha....usne mauka hi nahi diya..khair..its over now...uski dobaara shaadi ho gayi hai...he is happy..atleast photos me toh khush hai...I...I must sleep now...kal jaldi uthna hai...Thanks Kartik ...

Naira drifts into a peaceful sleep, first time after her father's death. Kartik is still sipping coffee and thinking about his life.

Flashback

Gloria: Kartik...lets get married..

Kartik : married? So soon

Gloria: Soon? We have been dating since a year...I love you..

Kartik: Love?....you got it wrong...

Gloria: so what are we doing together for so long...

Kartik : we both like each other's company....that doesn't mean we have to get married....this isn't love...

Gloria (confused): what do you mean? What about those dates? You made me feel special...those long hours of phone calls, those weekend trips...

Kartik : come on Gloria..I never did anything special for you..you know me...I don't believe in love....

Gloria (angry): If this isn't love for you..then you don't deserve me....Goodbye...

Flashback over

Kartik checks with Naira. She is sleeping peacefully.

Next morning

Naira: Good morning....

Kartik : Morning....tum nikal rahi ho...2 min...breakfast bana raha hoon..

Naira settles on the chair. She watches as Kartik expertly chops onions and tomatoes, beats the eggs and pours the mixture on pan. A delicious aroma wafts in the house.

Kartik : what? Aise kya dekh rahi ho?

Naira (surprise): I can't believe...tum..tum ek physiotherapist ho...aur expert cook bhi...

Kartik : yep...alag combination hai...mere Dad ek 5star hotel me chef the...unhe hamesha kitchen me dekha hai...so I just picked it up..i know thoda odd hai...tumhare ghar par toh tumhari Mom khaana banaati hogi naa..

Naira: Nahi...Papa banaate thy ..woh bhi specially mere liye..Mrs Singhania toh school principal thi..unhe books, meetings, school se fursat nahi thi...

Kartik (flipping the omlette): interesting....

He takes the omlette and places it on a plate and serves some sauce with it

Kartik : here is your order Ma'm....2 eggs laid flat with some hint of juicy tomato and tinge of pink onions...

NairaF: meri Princess ka favorite omlette.....jaisa usse pasand hai....

Later

Naira (happy): mujhe toh yakeen hi nahi ho raha hai...itni badi good news di aapne kal...Bhaii kahan hai? (Keerti is pregnant)

Keerti: Naksh Mummyji ke saath bahar gaye hai....yeh bata teri research kaise chal rahi hai...aur tera apartment kaisa hai? Kuch friends bane?

Naira: maine apne research friend ke saath shift kar liya hai...akele rehne me darr lag raha tha..

Keerti: ohh..acha kiya...research friend Teena naa...

Naira: Haan Teena aur Kartik...

Keerti: Kartik ? Yeh naam toh suna hua hai...

Naira: bhabhi..maine bataya tha naa plane me usne help ki thi...who Teena ka room mate hai..bahut sweet hai...bahut acha khaana banaata hai....bahut helpful hai...bilkul Papaaa ke jaise...

Keerti (surprise): acha...apna khayal rakhna aur phone karti rehna..

Naira: aap bhi apna bahut khayal rakhna....mere chotu ka bhi...bye

Naksh softly hugs Keerti from behind.

Keerti: arre..abhi abhi Naira se baat huyi...tumhe pooch rahi thi

Naksh: acha...koi nahi shaam me baat karta hoon..ab toh lab me hogi naa..kya bata rahi thi..kaisi hai?

Keerti : Woh theekh hai...settle ho rahi hai....usne naye friends bhi banaye..aur naye room mates bhi mil gaye...

Naksh: Naye room mates...usne apartment kyun shift kar li?

Keerti: achi baat hai na Naksh..akeli rehti toh hamesha wahi saare baaten sochti rehti...koi saath me ho toh uska mann bhi laga rahega...

Naksh: hmm...sahi kaha...acha naye room mates kaun hai?

Keerti: ek ladka aur ladki hai...uski research friend Teena aur tumhe yaad hai plane me ek ladke ne uski madat ki thi....Kartik..woh bhi uske saath hai..

Naksh: Kya? Naira ek ladke ke saath?

Keerti (laughs): Tum toh abhi se buddho ki tarah baat kar rahe ho..wahan pe yeh sab bahut common hai...aur Naira ke baton se toh woh mujhe kaafi decent laga..

Naksh: Naira bahut bholi hai..aur ab bahut kamzor bhi..kahin woh uska faayda na uthaa le..

Keerti: Hmmm....ek kaam karte hai uske baare me thoda pooch taach karte hai..Naira se hi..waise ek badi surprising baat hai..

Naksh: woh kya?

Keerti: Naira uski taareef kar rahi thi..aur usne kaha...Kartik bilkul Papa ke jaise hai...

Naksh: Kya? Keerti....mujhe yeh theekh nahi lag raha hai....main aaj shaam me usse baat karta hoon...

Keerti: Naksh..relax....abhi usse wahan jaake bas thode din hi huye hai...usse settle toh hone do....aisa kuch nahi hoga...

Naksh: Keerti tum samajh nahi rahi ho...Naira aur Papa ka bahut alag relation tha....woh papa ko paaglon ki tarah pyaar karti hai....uske liye Papa duniya me sabse best the, sabse pyaare...who apne har rishte me unko dhoondti hai....Kartik se milte hi usse who Papa jaisa lagne laga hai.....main nahi jaanta who dono dost hai bhi ya nahi...kahin yeh dosti aage jaake....

Keerti: shayad tum theekh keh rahe ho...Naira emotionally bahut weak hai abhi....hume uska khayal rakhna hoga....

Dear Readers and Voters...thank you so much for your love and appreciation...I am seriously overwhelmed ! I hope to fulfill your expectations with this story.

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