Kartik wakes up, "where did she go?" He said looking around, he rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?" He looked it's his watch. "It's not that late" he said lazily lying back down, with a grin on his face. "Having her sleeping in my arms is the best feeling ever and obviously the other things we did too" he grinned reliving last night.
"how hot are you my sherni"
"Where is she, why did she leave" he pouted. "I'm going to find out" he said getting up with a smile. "Also I'm going to tell her what's in my heart"
He left and quickly had a bath going unnoticed, as everyone else was in the kitchen, and others were outside.

*
"Good morning, sleepyhead where did you get too we didn't see you last night" said Arjun
"Yeah you missed a good night"  said Salil. 'Actually I had the best night' he reflected suppressing his smile in front of them. "Ahem I um..
"After badi dadi insulted him why would he stick around"
'love you Vikaas my little rescue pal'
"It's ok Vikaas she is older to us we should respect" he patted his little brother's shoulder. Kartik quickly had some breakfast, but his mind was else where, he quickly exited from there.. he walked outside and saw the girls. Naira was sitting with her sisters and laughing about something.

 "Haye she is looking so cute and beautiful in that dress and her smile uff" he was lost watching her.
 " I just need to get her alone" he was about to go get her.
"Wait Kartik, what are you going to say it will look a little odd, but we work together so.. I can" he said confidently.
"Exactly Naira bhabhi" said one cousin they were discussing some topic.
" hi ladies," said Kartik, everyone stopped talking. 'Why am I feeling nervous'

" the boys are in the kitchen" said Preeti sipping her tea, thinking he has lost his way, they resumed the conversation, but not Naira she saw him standing there puzzled, 'why isn't he going to the boys..unless..

" Kartik kuch kaam, tha kisi se, yah phir mujhe?" She yelled so he could hear her over the voices. He nodded.
"Haan, tujhse Naira". He called her gesturing her to come over. She nodded, she got up and walked over to him. "What's up?" He shook his head "not here", he was tempted to hold her hand but there were too many eyes. Once they were indoors, he took the opportunity and held her hand. She looked up at him.
 
" why did you leave?" He asked directly as they walked together.
"Because i-
"Naira!" called a voice ahead of them she left his hand.
"There you are, kaki is calling us" he took her hand. "Come quick" he said taking her along.
"Salil I need to talk to her it's important.. regarding um work"
" what bhai always about work, I can't take my wife right now?"
"Salil I'll see what the work is and then I will come"
"Ok fine, don't be long" she nodded.
"Hmm what did you want to tell me?" she asked Kartik.
"Not here, this isn't the right place come" they walked together. He closed the door in one of the free guestrooms.
"Last night was.."
"A mistake, right? I already know that Kartik, I even told you before anything happened I understood this was just comfort which you wanted from me haina?"
"Nai  Naira, not this time" he held her shoulders.
"I um..how do I say it I'm feeling nervous" he said.
" don't just speak whatever is on your  mind" she gave him a subtle smile.
" I love you" He blurted out. She was quiet. "Did you not hear i Iove you Naira"
"Oh I understand , cool joke Kartik for a second I thought you were being serious"
" what no I'm serious baby i really love you" Kartik had a serious look and Naira did too.. but then she bursted out in laughter.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry but this has just gone too far bas karo ab"
" I'm telling something serious and you are making fun of my love"
" off ho, Kartik, just because of last night you think you love me."
"Not since last night, it's since a few days, Naira I can't stop thinking about you..
"I can't hear this, I'm leaving" he pull her hand and she fell on his chest. " look into my eyes there is love only for you" he held her face,
"something inside me changed"
"Kartik please just stop" she pushed him away.
"Naira please wait" but she left.
" oh shit, it didn't go how I imagined. 'What did you expect Kartik, that you confess your feelings and she will just run into your arms.
"I'm an idiot I just blurted out so abruptly, no I have to tell her properly until she listens."

Naira runs to her room and closed the door.
 "was he serious? no it's all a game to him,but his eyes I saw the change, Kartik does he really loves me, no I had told him before but he didn't listen why would he change now.." Someone knocked the door.
"Di it's me" Kavya came and started talking to her about something, but her mood was off but got distracted.  "Hmm chalo"  Naira went into the hall, everyone was there Kartik, Salil etc, she saw Kartik and their eyes met briefly they were all called to the hall, Preeti spoke about tonight's cocktail party, but it was like noise her mind kept drifting to Kartik. 'I need to get her alone I need to explain I have to but yeh gadha Salil chode use tab na sala chipko'
"Always holding my Naira's hand, huh if only he knew jealously se maar hi jata"
"Kaun maar jata?"
"Vikas Bollywood night huh who are you going to dress up as?"  They started talking..
"Naira beta please can you bring the candles from the other room" Naira nodded
 "sure kaki" Kartik saw Naira leaving. 'I must make her understand' Naira was walking the room was quite far..
All of sudden she felt her hand being grabbed,
"Chodo hame" then she saw his face. "Kartik"
"Please just five minutes" she saw the desperation on his face.
"ok" she nodded.
" so Bollywood night, you decided who your going to  be?" He said keeping it casual talk.
" um.. I'm thinking deepika or anushka from yjhd or band baja"
"and you?"
"Ranveer from band baja baraat" they reached the room.
" what did you want to say" she said. She started to gather the candles..
"Hmm?" Seeing her busy, he lost his courage of what he wanted to tell her, he didn't know he went blank.
" nothing, just um.. who you will be tonight"
"Ok.." ' she replied "well now you know"
"Naira do you need any help?" Another head popped in the room, "yeh Arohi can you just take...  Kartik left the room feeling numb and feeling that Naira has lost interest in his love,.
'it's too late I blew it now she will be so busy with everyone else when will I get a chance?' he shook his head.
'But I will tell her and make her understand another way' everyone got busy, for the party. The decoration in the hall looked really grand transforming the setling into a lovely night.

"Batameez dil " said one cousin seeing Kartik
"Looking ace bro" Vikaas hi fived him, 'I wonder what she is wearing' he said trying to take a peek. Naira entered with a blue sari on but it was the exact same style as Deepika from yjhd so batameez dil. Kartik couldn't take his eyes off her. She looked stunning, then he saw Salil and his blood boiled, he couldn't handle seeing anyone with his Naira.  Naira's eyes wondered 'oh my.. he is matching me, kitna hot lagra hai, no no, stop Naira don't think about him' she looked to Salil and smiled, trying to forget who her mind kept fixating on. The party went full swing but they kept their distance, Kartik felt his heart strings tug he couldn't take it anymore and pressed sent on his phone. Naira's phone beeped "new message" from..she was about to check it..
"Naira di come let's have some desert." Kavya pulled her along. Naira walked with her, and collided into him. "Sorry" he apologised.. he held her steady around her waist to stop her from falling.
 "It's ok ,check your phone, please"
"Hmm" she nodded and he gave her that killer smile that made her forget everything.
Naira waited with Kavya to be served. She casually took out her phone, she entered her passcode. 'Kartik sent something.. hope it's not something inappropriate..
"Ok it's an actual sms, what does it say."  She opened it, and her eyes scanned the first line.
"Dear Naira my sherni", please don't stop reading this, I don't know how to express to you so I thought I will say like this" Naira was startled by the sms content, she wanted to read further.

"Di"
" huh?"
"it's our turn so you want chocolate cake or pastry I am thinking.. Naira di say na?" She turned but her di was no where to be seen.
Naira walked around the venue once she found a spot, she quickly resumed reading the message.
"Ever since I met you I knew their was something about you that is special, and we have a connection. These few days I have missed you so much I've dreamt about us in the future"  she smiled. "Kartik has dreamt about us in the future he never said, "ok Naira calm down ese hi bol raha hai, don't get excited." She resumed reading the message.

"I have not been able to tell you but my feelings for you have grown deep" she paused trying to register the last line she read. 'I didn't have a clue even his feelings have grown for me' she grinned reading the message further.

" I love you Naira I love you so much it hurts this isn't a game I swear to you and last night was very special for me, we connected deeply not physically but emotionally too. I have fallen in love with you" she needed to register this in her mind. "Kartik loves me, like seriously wala love oh my god" she squealed. Excitement rushed through her. " I'll quickly read all of it"

*
Kartik waited, he started to sweat, feeling nervous, he heard a jingle of bangles, and footsteps. 'It's her or..'
"  I wanted to tell you this but you keep running away." He heard her sweet voice.  He heard it get closer. 'Yes its her!' His heart danced.
" If you feel the same way come to the poolside i'm waiting love from
your Mendak." He smiled to himself but also tense, what if she refuses..

"I." She said wrapping her arms around his chest. He froze.
"love you too" she said softly
"Naira?" He said scared to hear the answer
"Yes, your Naira" she rested her cheek on his back, Kartik removed her hands.
"Aree" she said.
"Hmm it took you so long.. he said down crossed legged folding his arms.
"you know I've been waiting since morning" he sulked like a child.
"Sorry baba"she said but he didn't listen, she played along with him. she came to his level and kneeled behind him. "I'm sorry baby" she placed her arms around his neck. He smiled at her action.
"Ab to maan javo" she said rubbing her cheek against his. He shook his head.
"Sorry, she whispered close near his ear, her lips brushed his lobe and she took the opportunity to bite it and took it between her teeth sensually biting it and then lovingly sucked it.
"Sh-erni" he said in a hoarsely tone, then she realised it.
"Am I forgiven?" She said in a seductive tone. She kissed the side of his neck inhaling his scent. He closed his eyes relishing the way she was making him feel, both her hands were looped around his neck.
"I love you so you are forgiven" they both laughed, and angled their faces towards each other, when their eyes met they both went silent. Kartik saw her upfront and close,  her beautiful eyes with eye liner adorn, her pink plump lips, everything was attracting him. 
"I really love you Naira" she swallowed hard hearing his confession up close.
"I love you so much Kartik" his eyes  soften and heart dance happily seeing her say those 3 special words. He couldn't contain his feelings, he leaned in and she felt his lips upon hers, and she closed her eyes taking in this mutual feeling. she placed her palm on his cheek,caressing it with her finger tips which brushed against his ear, as the kiss got passionate, his finger tips caressed the side of her face enjoying the kiss, which felt more meaningful now. Kartik was about to pull her on to his lap, as the kiss was getting deeper.
Then he heard a noise and broke the kiss.
" baby you hungry?" He placed a hand on her tummy briefly,  She shook her head lying.
"Aree, if you don't eat properly" he caressed her cheek. "you will fall ill my darling" she smiled at his care for her.
" you stay here I'll just be back" he kissed her cheek and left before she could say anything.

Precap..
"What was that then last night huh?"  she said with tears.
"Naira I meant every word I love you alot but we can't be together.

Tbc
How was it?👇🙏😘