“I came as soon as I could did you break it off with Anant?” she looked down. “come in and I will explain”

“ok?” he said following her in.

She turned to him “If me and you got together then.. what I mean is what will happen next”  “can you guarantee me a secure future with you?”

“I love you , you know that” he replied.

“I know and if it was just us two then fine but I can’t risk Kittu’s life, look at your past, when..tell me when were we ever solid enough to make it work? From what  I remember you didn’t let me in I found about you from a friend”

“Things will be different you have to trust me this time”  

She sniffed. “I trusted you last time and look what happened, I won’t let anyone do that to Kittu, If your past follows us into our future then”

“how Shakti is dead and..

“but your step mum isn’t she’s in prison how do you know she doesn’t have people on the outside”

"For God sake, Naira stop with the excuses and get to the point what are you trying to say and..

“I’m getting engaged on Saturday”  she shocked him.

“this saturday?” he couldn’t believe his ears.

Yeah and married the day after then me and Kittu are leaving NYC..but you can still..  he shook his head.

“you don’t even love him then how" he yelled.

“no that’s true but once we are married I guess my feelings will grow and I will learn to love him, you did say that night that you wanted me to be happy and fall in love again”

“that was before.. you remember what happened that night” she was quiet. “because I  do”

“Kartik stop there” he took a step forward.

“we made love,” he took another step forward and held her hand.

“ stop please...”holding his hand falling weak at his actions.

"we became one Naira" he pulled her and she fell on his chest. She removed her hands but he didn't let her go so easily,

we made Kittu,” gripping her shoulders..he came close to her, she could feel in warm breath on her cheek.

“stop, stop it please.. he kissed her cheek before she could react. He quickly faced her to continue his talk.

“don’t you want that, imagine how happy Kittu will feel when he knows his mummy and daddy are together and happy” she closed her eyes.

“please Kartik stop..

“no Naira!”  he held her face “ please esa mat bol” their foreheads touched. she closed her eyes.

“ I love you so much just give us a chance, mein mar jaunga tumhare bina” Naira just froze at his words.

“Nai Kartik ese maat bolo please”  she held his hands.

“please Naira,please jaan” he pleaded. 'Naira for Kittu you have to be strong!

“Nai Kartik! abh yeh, hum kabhi ek nai hosakte” his eyes snapped open in pain and hurt.

“It’s in the past now and we don’t have a future too much has changed.” he let go of her.

“what, ho kya gaya tumhe kitni pathar dil hogaye tum!” she was hurt by his words.

he took several steps back.

“But I won’t keep you away from Kittu he is your son you can be there for him but us..”
He was shocked by her reaction.

"But I wont be, Kittu will be living with him, he will be bringing him up and that i won't be able to see!"

" I'm only thinking from a mother's point of view, you won't understand"  he felt his eyes sting his tears were coming.

"Fine whatever, but you cant keep Kittu"

"What, I'm his mumma"

"And I'm his papa, you didn't make him yourself!"

"And Anant that gadha wont be my son's father I will fight you for custody Naira!"

"Oh hello, do you know who you are giving dhamki to, mein khud ek lawyer hu Kartik and you have got zero chance of getting Kittu!"

"Ek criminal ko bacha ki zimidari kaun dega" she said in a harsh tone.

"Kya kaha Naira?" He said in an emotional tone. "M mujhe criminal bola, tumne?" he couldn't believe"  He left without saying anything further. She raced after him, regretting it immediately.

“Kartik!, kartik ruko. She caught him just before he left, he turned around to her at the front door frame.

“ why you clearly think Anant will make a better papa to him,, what’s left to say.. he shook his head, she could see the hurt visible in his eyes as he walked away. She closed the door and couldn’t control her own tears. Kittu came, “Mumma?” he tugged on her dress. She looked at him and carried him giving him a tight hug.

“I'm sorry Kartik, I'm so sorry ” she said hugging Kittu. Aaj raat Kittu mumma ke saath soyega. She sniffed.

"Mumma is feeling so alone" she kissed his cheek.

*
“So that’s it?” Kartik nodded to Ian when he sat next to him in his hotel room.

“Yep, I tried believe me I did but she’s stubborn like me that’s one of the reasons  I fell in love with her”He smiled.

“Life’s a really bitch sometimes and well lets say mine has been since the day I was born”

“Oh dude I feel so bad, maybe  I can talk to her, you know tell her exactly what happened how I found you, in what state..

“No Ian buddy I don’t want sympathy and besides  its done, she’s moved on it’s about time I do the same and let her go, my flight leaves midnight”

“wait, wait and your kid your going to leave him too?.”

“Ian, he’s what 3yrs, he doesn’t even know me not really , yeah he’s my flesh and blood but I haven’t been there for him as a daddy not once, I love him I want to get to know him, but Naira she’s getting married to someone else I can’t be around that it would kill me. Maybe when Kittu is a little older and if he wants to get in touch then maybe later that can happen” Ian was lost for words he didn’t know what more he could say.   
     
“I wish I never left for those 2 years. Biggest mistake of my life” he said shaking his head as he got up to continue his packing.

*
Naira wore her ear-ring, then began to put on her saree, she pleated it and tucked it in, she put on her blouse which had heavy embroidery work, it was sleeveless and quite backless, she managed to tie the top string  but couldn’t quite tie the bottom one.

Her look

“Let me help you” she turned around and saw Kartik in black Jeans and a red shirt. without a word she turned around for him. His fingers brushed against her naked flesh. She inhaled. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I have to” she replied.
“no you don’t its your life, do what.. he untied her blouse. “what you want to” he pushed her blouse  semi down. she could feel her shoulders go bare her open hair being moved to the side . She closed her eyes letting him kiss the side of her neck, her lips parted at his actions as she felt him pinch her bare waist.

"Kartik." She sighed in pleasure

“don’t marry him” he whispered in her ear and tied  up her blouse. She opened her eyes.

“what?” she asked,

“hmm” he nodded throwing her pallu over her shoulder..

“look at you in this saree you look gorgeous and I know you still love me” he carried her up in his arms, she looped his neck. He walked over with her towards the bed. Their eyes locked. He placed her down and buried his face in her neck. She couldn’t help but enjoy their closeness

 “Tell me when you want me to stop” he said now completely on top of her kissing her all over her again on her bare shoulders, and near her cleavage..

“never” she replied gripping his face and captured his lips.

“Naira!?” her mum called and her eyes snapped open.

“Come on get ready it’s a big day today, your getting engaged. Her mum said excitedly. She looked around.

“It was just a dream, what a dream it felt so real” she panted. She got out of bed and looked at her phone, no call from Kartik she couldn’t help but feel sad. ‘why would he call you Naira  after all you did break his heart’ Ever since she told him the news, he hadn’t called and he didn’t pick up her calls. Her thoughts got interrupted and her mum came and told her to quickly have a bath and get ready, the hair and makeup women are on their ways.

Tbc

🙏🙏🙏🙏👇👇👇👇