The door opens

"Beta how are you" says Manish .

"fine thanks mamaji" she replies, coming into the house.

"I hope my son isn't working you too hard" 'yes Kartik isn't home this will easy' her mind reflects at the relief.

"no it's fine.. she nods in agreement. "By the way very impressed with your article you wrote for our company, you really are an excellent writer"

"oh thank you so much mamaji" she replies the article was written a few weeks back, why is he mentioning it now.. either way it was nice to be complimented for her skills.

"yes" he said scratching the side of his head "infact how would you feel writing more often, in your own time of course I know you are full time with your job in the company. "oh" this takes her by surprise.

"yeah I guess. I would really like that"

"great, we are thinking of putting together a column in the papers monthly and with your writing style it will really benefit the company. Naira smiles as they talk and walk into the hall way.

"I will have Kartik talk you through it next week. 'why Kartik' she thought but didn't say anything. "that will be great" she replies.

"he is around here somewhere." He says looking around.

"Shaguna get Kartik"

"no its fine.. I have to leave now.. she did not want to see him right now.

"beta he won't be long take a seat. So she does so reluctantly.

"yeah dad what's up?" he says rubbing his eyes. She turned to him.

"still asleep? Seriously Kartik when will you take life seriously!" his dad yells. He stops once he sees Naira ' what is she doing here?!'

"Anyway Naira is here, explain to her about the articles I was talking to you about yesterday"

"(tut) dad, it's a work thing we can chat on Monday, its no emergency" he says lazily.

"Kartik! Do as you are told!" Kartik jumped at his tone of voice, even Naira notices it.

"Yeah Naira if you have a minute then, I can tell you"

"ok" she replies. ' she wasn't talking with him but she didn't want his dad to get him in trouble again'

"good, I will just be back leave you both to it" he leaves them alone. "the articles need to be like your previous one but different" he says walking up to her. She wasn't paying attention her mind is on what just happened now. "and that's about it"

"how are you?" she says out of the blue.

"tired, now if your done then I'm going back to .." he saw his dad come back.

"Explained everything?" Kartik nods "yep"

"yeah it's clear I will get going now, actually I came by to give you this" she pulls out the invite. Manish looks at the invite.

"Salil's birthday party, ah yes Savitri was saying on the phone the other day"

"yeah she wanted me to personally deliver to you and Kartik"

"thank you we will surely be there. he says looking at his son.

"yeah we will" he echoes his dad's answer.

"ok I will see you tomorrow then" Naira couldn't shake this mood Kartik is in, he didn't seem himself, but she didn't want to ask him either so she makes her way to the door. "N listen." he calls.. "wear a nice outfit something lilac" he says in a hoarsely tone, she turns on her heel. "You know for Salil" he says winking at her. He looks too cute in those denim jeans and tracksuit top.

"of course, for Salil I mean" before she knew it they were flirting once again, sharing cheeky flirtish smiles, She turns around and smiles to herself as she exits the house. She felt happy that her and Kartik were sort of talking again, but why did she flirt back?. her mind questions..

*

"you bought a new outfit for the party?" he asks sitting on the bed.

"party.. wait how did you.." says Naira,

"in this family no one can keep a secret" he says getting up from the bed.

"the outfit for me right?" he says with a smile.

"ofcourse but salil not now, you can see it tomorrow"

"ok" he says tapping her cheek playfully as he goes into the bathroom.

'I hope I impress someone tomorrow and I'm wearing his favourite colour" she says holding the bag close to her chest.

*

That morning Naira and her saas wished Salil happy birthday, Salil had to drop off to the office for a good few hours which worked out well as they wanted to decorate the house nicely "Those decorations look perfect" says Savitri

"maa I still think the party would've been better in a hotel..

"no it is perfect here, how are the decorations and did you inform Kartik, give him a call and tell him to come on time he always comes late to these events"..

"yeah everyone knows, he will be on time too." she replies. Soon enough the guests arrived, Naira's two sister's, papa and her masi-maa. 2 hrs passed, she was making conversation with everyone, then her mind wondered,

"where is Kartik?" 'fashionably late' she thought . Her saas came by, "Naira let's cut the cake, "ok but Manish Mama hasn't arrived yet I thought.."

"your right, but now its getting late we should do it now"

Savitri has made up her mind, she gets the caterer's to bring the cake out and present it on the table. Naira stands next to her husband as he blew out the candles and offers the first piece to her much to her saas's dislike, Naira turns his hand to give maa first and he does so. He cuts the 2nd piece and offers it.

"Tara really you didn't need to accompany me" Kartik walks in that moment, with her on his arm. He's eyes immediately fixate on her, she looks ravishing, in her lilac ghagra choli, her hair out loosely with little curls at the end, her subtle make up, her lips adorn in a fusia pink shade, he cannot keep his eyes off her.

Their look how she looked at naksh engagement and guys  Kartik isn't in same outfit his description will come below , and her dress is in lilac colour image them like that. 🙄😍

"your drooling" says Tara

"hmm?" he says closing his mouth.. "Very funny anyway we should go say hi"

"Bhai is here and with a date?" says Salil. Naira turns and see Kartik with Tara on his side.

"Let's go say hi" he says talking her along, she doesn't want to go but too late, in seconds she is in his presence.

"Kartik, hey your late" Kartik with one hand in his pocket and the other with Tara linked through it. Smiles and hugs Salil.

"Happy birthday little bro" he says pulling him into a bear hug and giving him a pat on the back. Naira avoids his gaze looking down. "and what's this" Salil looks at Kartik's outfit "my wife and bro are both color coordinated?" Naira then notices she looks Kartik up and down. Its true Kartik was in jeans and a lilac Kurti top.

"what can I say great minds?" he says looking at Naira.

"I guess" she replies opposite him,

"nice" says Salil. "Tara get me a drink" she nods like she is his puppet. "bhai I know which one you will like, come Tara I will show you" he goes with her.

Kartik then moves in front of Naira.

"Hi bhabhiji" he says pulling her into a hug one arm around her back and the other remaining in his pocket.

"you are looking f**king stunning" he whispers, she smiles to herself, hearing this compliment from him. Of course Salil too told her she looked pretty today but his words didn't have any affect on.. Kartik's did, he releases his hand from his pocket as he feels her hands wrap around his back, he can't help but give her waist a squeeze, , she relishes the feel of his hand on her bare waist, and she could feel their hug is lingering in front of all these people she has to stop it. She pulls back..

"enjoy the party" and walks away.. his mind reflects, what felt like a long hug in reality was less than 10 seconds Looking that damn hot and I don't even get a proper hug this is so not on'

"KG I got your drink too" Tara hands him a champagne glass, he takes the drink
"Thank you" he drinks and sees Naira across the hall, busy chatting with her sisters and friends, shortly Salil comes and joins them along with Arjun next to him, Naira and Arohi are laughing, Kartik admires her smile, he watches her from afar as she nods, laughing, then moist her lips. 'I want those lips'

"Tara come lets take a little walk" she nods. Naira is standing laughing and listening but her mind keeps drifting to Kartik who she can see is walking with Tara.

"Di lets take a selfie" says Arohi..

"o-ok" she replies getting pulled along with the little group.

"ok everyone look here"

"di.. where are you looking" says Kavya, Naira couldn't see Kartik in sight anymore and it was bothering her. "sorry I'm ready" she says smiling with the group. "Nice click" says Arohi looking back at the photo.

"Di I still want to see your photos from Paris"

"yah Kavya I will show you later my phone is upstairs" Kavya nods. Naira sees the disappointed look on her youngest sister's face.. "Kavi actually I will go get it now", Kavya nods eagerly, she smiles at her and heads up the stairs, taking a turn and goes to her room, on the way her choli string gets caught on the door handle, she quickly releases it. Then decides to tie it tightly, she unties the knot,

"let me help you with that" she knows that voice all too well, she feels his knuckles brush against her upper back, as the touch is all too familiar, he pushes the dupatta down, she gasps, looking down at her exposed navel, and the knot of her blouse instead of tying she felt it untying, making her hit the reality button.

"Kartik" she gasps "w-what are you doing here?" she says.

"shhh" he turns her around to face him.

"I love your dress ,you are looking gorgeous baby" he buries his face in her neck. She can feel his warm breath tickle her. Her mouth falls open.. her eyes shift to the door which is open.

"w-what if Salil comes up here"

"Mmmm you smell nice" he ignores her questions and traces his tongue slowly up from the deep of her neck to her, pulse point. Her sane thoughts starts to fade, as she lets the Kartik trance take over her, she closes her eyes for a second, slowly grasping his hair.

Whilst his mouth is busy working her neck, his hands are busy behind her "she felt him pull her blouse string.. and it untied, pleasantly shocked at the happenings she held it up from completely falling, which was mid-way exposing the swell of her breast. She gasped moving back.

She quickly ties it back as fast as she can.. he walks towards her gracefully in that lilac kurti top and jeans.. she looks down unaware of his next move, when he grabs her wrists, gripping her hands behind her, he crashes his lips against hers, she kisses him back, equally matching his level, getting so lost in his kiss, she angles her face giving him better access, she sucks on his top lip, not wanting to release it, she is loving the moment completely lost in it, exactly what she was craving this past week, but did not act on it. He suddenly lets go of her wrists. Making a distance.

"just a preview" he says rising a brow with a seductive look and leaves the room. Once he is out of sight, she sits on the edge of the bed panting, she licks her lips, she is in a mind numbing head rush of him.

"oh wow" that's the only word that escapes her mouth. Speechless she was after his kisses, she quickly adjusted her choli and steadies her breath, adjusting her dupatta back and then made her way downstairs, as soon as she was back in the hall. He sister comes bye.

"Di , don't you want to dance with jiju?" says Arohi pushing them both together.

"hello pretty girl"

"Salil, you having a good time?" she says making conversation but looking here and there.

"of course, you made it special, you and maa are the best" he says taking her more close to him" Naira smiles but she isn't feeling comfortable this close to him.

"you thirsty" she says gradually stepping back. Salil clicks his tongue

"I am I will just be back" she says walking away. Naira looks around, but she can't see him anywhere, she grabs a drink, Vikaas and Kavya are talking she spots them.

"Hey Vikaas, Kavya you both know each other?"

"yes di, Vikaas and I are doing the same course" Naira smiles as she sips her mocktail.

"that's cool" she replies, a few aunties get in her way she talks politely to her saas's friends and makes her way back to Salil..

"Salil. Where is that idiot cousin of yours"

"Kartik left a while back" ' with that Tara!' she thought no way.

"oh.. ok.." now she felt confusion, she is looking down at the ground.

" you ok?.. where are you lost" he snaps his fingers. She looks up, "no nothing I thought your cousin was a party type guy, but he is such a lightweight"

"actually he did say something?" 'like what?' she thought.

"who Kartik?" she asks. Salil nods.

"Salil come here beta someone I want you to meet" says Savitri interrupting their conversation. "you too Naira"

"come maa is calling us" he says taking her hand . 'maa ughh did she have to choose this moment, what did Kartik say?'

"This is Salil and this is my daughter in law Naira" Naira greeted the snobbish women from the ngo her saas works in.

"your daughter in law is beautiful" says one, they made small conversation with the 3 of them, once it was over, she turns to Salil.

"you were saying Kartik said something?"

"mmm ya, he said to check your phone" he shrugs his shoulders.

"oh excuse me, Mr Malik is here" he waves at him from a far.

"we should go say hi come."

He says to her and she reluctantly goes with him. All smiles and pleasant behaviour, she finally gets a chance to herself, she runs over to her room, punches in her security code. 'one message from Kartik'

"I got bored so I left the boring party I'm back at the office.. if you want some real fun come meet me (wink) ' Naira nearly drops the phone, the offer sounds so tempting, today she was feeling extremely needy and the need to be satisfied, she has to admit she was bored of this party herself. She takes her phone, and leaves her room "Masi-maa she calls her from the crowd. "Laali you enjoying the party."

Naira nods. "Maa I wanted to ask you a favour..

*

Kartik is taping on his laptop, he had to check some things on the company account. "of course the printer room" he says aloud to himself, closing the office, "He remembered where he kept the master file. He starts to print out copies, completely engrossed in the task.

The printer room dim lights

"fun you said?" he turns around and sees Naira at the door way.

"well, well to what do I owe the pleasure" he says pulling the papers from the printer.

"oh hottie you came in the same outfit"

"yeah I know how much you loved it" she says closing the door.

"I am impressed" he says gathering the papers and looking up at her.

"I know how much you liked it so.."

he snorts. "you came because you couldn't bare the thought of me with Tara right?"

"ughh.. why ruin the moment, forget Tara, Salil everyone. She walks up to him.

" kartik I"

before she can finish a sentence her lips are in-between Kartik's in a searing kiss, she forgets everything as she feels those lush lips upon hers, before she had any sane thought, her arms fly up and loop around his neck locking him in close, his one hand is around her waist, caressing her silk like skin, which is exposed before him in her ghagra. His other hand, is holding her nape in place as they kiss, suck, nibble on each other's mouths, taking small breaths in-between, the kissing slows down but no change in the intensity and passion of it, their tongues dance together they cannot get enough of each other, his hands move down and grab each butt cheek, through the material, making her moan in a high tone against his mouth, he lifts her off her feet and places her on the table, not leaving her lips a part from his for a second, he could feel her grip get strong around his neck, she untangles her arms, and begins to caress his nape, her fingers were magic against that spot, Kartik felt the need, to loosen her blouse, which he does and she isn't behind either she pulls his kurti top up and over his head, dropping it to the ground, pulling him close again and reclaiming his lips. deep pants and slight sounds are heard but nothing vocally, they were too focused on undressing each other to speak, something's didn't need words, he rocked her world once again.

2986 words 🙌 I think my longest chappy so far.

Show me your love for this part.. you know what to do😉