His phone was ringing but his hands were not free to pick it up, she really was afraid of the dark and she didn't let him move.

'it's probably Preeti best to ignore it will probably cut off soon' his mind reflected.

'Naira get a grip let him answer his phone and move away from him' her mind thought.

"Um sir you should answer might be Preeti ma'am"

"ok.. but will you be ok?, I mean the light isn't on and...

"yeah answer but...." She wasn't making any sense, she wanted him to answer his phone but not leave which was humanly impossible as his phone was on the dressing table.

But?" he asked when she didn't say anything further. He heard her sigh. Kartik didn't know what to say...

"Give me your hand?" ok... her mind thought she wasn't getting anything he was suggesting.

"Get up" she did as he said.. "now walk with me up to the table we will get my phone and come back ok?"

"ok" she said in a soft tone.. "come" he held her hand..

"damn it Kartik answer your phone!" Preeti was losing patience.

"Preeti whats up?" said her sister.

"He's switched his phone off, and it's time to get home but no answer.. you know what I'm leaving without him, take Siya let's go" Urmi nodded and went over. The phone stopped ringing as his hand got near it.

"She's probably fuming" he chuckled. Once again he felt Naira's grip get tight on his arm.

'This darkness is really bugging her but why?'

'Got it' he thought as he took it.. don't worry we can use the light in here.

Just as he clicked the phone the lights in the room came on. Naira looked up and he saw the relieve on her face, she was still gripping his arm. Then their eyes met and she let go.

"Thank god for that hmm?" he said pressing buttons on his phone. "will you be ok I will just make a quick call to Preeti" she nodded folding her arms and he put the phone to his ear tp. Urmi check who is calling?"

"it's him. Preeti rolled her eyes.. leave it. Urmi shrugged her shoulders and let it go to voicemail.

"she's not picking up, what time is it?" he said looking at her and his watch. "It's nearly 1:00am? He put his phone in his pocket "I'll drop you home" she didn't say anything just watched him take his blazer. "you look cold here" he put it around her shoulders she held it in place "Naira you ok?" "hmm" she nodded. "come" he let her go first and followed behind. The car drive was quiet at a traffic light he occasionally looked at her but it was as if she wasn't there, they reached Gauri's house. He parked but she didn't notice.

"Your home" but not answer.

"Naira?"

"hmm?" she turned to him then looked ahead and noticed she was home.

"thanks, she replied ready to open the car door.

"wait?" I want to ask you something" he said

she turned to him. "me?"

"Yeah" he replied.

"sure what you want ask."

"Why you afraid of the dark?" Naira didn't want to say anything, she could feel the tears well up. "i.."

'well done Kartik you made the poor girl cry'

"sir it's just a painful memory which i....i can't" she shook her head not being able to talk about it her tears spilled. He quickly removed his belt.

"Hey, hey.. come here" he took her in his arms. He was feeling bad for even asking. She snuggled her face into his chest, gripping at his shirt. He rubbed her head trying to comfort her. She turned her head with her cheek against his chest. "shhh" he rubbed her cheek and trying to wipe the tears away. She felt a little better, when she felt him rub his thumb against her cheek bone.

'Naira enough now he is feeling bad now you don't make him feel worse' her mind reflected.

She sniffed and motioned her head upwards sitting back on the seat "Sorry" she wiped her nose with the back of her palm. "areey don't' say sorry" he took a tissue and handed it to her, she dabbed her eyes and nose.

"here" she removed his blazer and handed it to him. He took it, he was going to say for her to hand it tomorrow but then he thought.

"If you want to take the day off tomorrow then it's fine" She looked at him, taking the day off and the mind going into overdrive isn't a good idea.

"no sir, I don't need a day off, I will see you tomorrow"

"ok.." he replied. She opened the car door.

"bye see you tomorrow"

"yeah see you" he replied. Then the door opened again and she peered her head in. "and the sari I can change now and give or..

"no, no don't worry about it, keep it it's really no problem.. Preeti has hardly worn it so..

"I will see you tomorrow, and um.." she didn't know what to say but she wanted to make him feel he wasn't to blame about anything.

"drive safe" is all her mind could come up with it was a little blank.

"I will and you get a sound sleep" he smiled. She nodded sweetly and shut the door once he saw her go in and shut the door he drove off. Naira was so tired she didn't even feel like changing she opened the door the night light was on.

"Gauri ki bachi aren't you tired?"

"nai yaar I'm just chatting to someone, how was the party?"

"yah ok but some incident happened and sir.."

"Hold" Gauri put her laptop a side."something happened between you and Kartik?"

"no not what your thinking.. let me change and then we can talk."

Gauri nodded eagerly, Naira took her nightdress to change in the bathroom. About 25 mins later she came out.

"Gauri" she called, as she went closer to her bed

"you gone to sleep?" Naira shook her head as she saw her friend fell asleep with her glasses on, she removed them and put them to the side.

"Naira, sorry I feel asleep" she stirred.

"Areey Koi baat nai we will talk tomorrow" "ok.." she replied in a sleepy voice. Naira smiled at her she thought if she was blessed with a sister she would be just like Gauri.

*
"Kartik where did you get to last night?" Kartik walked into the hall trying to ignore her.

"hey don't walk away when I'm talking to you!" He was annoyed with her zillion questions

"for god sake Preeti I already told you now drop the subject. He told her he dropped Naira then met Kushan and they got a little drunk and lost track of time.

"Why you both shouting, Preeti he is saying now just leave it" Urmilla was the only one Preeti listened to.

"ok fine..listen Kartik me and di are going for shopping not sure when we will be back"

Like I care he thought. "ok have fun" then he headed for his office but the doorbell rang. Sargam went to get the door.

"oh badi malkin" she smiled. Kartik and preeti exchanged a look who could it be. Kartik took a few steps forward he saw a suitcase being placed in. He adjusted his shirt button as he walked towards the front door. The elderly woman saw Kartik and her smile lit up to her eyes.

"Dadi!" he smiled and hugged her. "kesa hai mera Kittu" He let go and faced her

"I'm good how are you and you're here to stay I hope" his face lit up when he saw her, he adored his dadi around her he became a little child.

"Preeti look who is staying with us for a few days" he put a arm around her and turned "dadi" he exclaimed happily, Preeti walked with Urmilla.

"oh dadi it's so great to see you" she came with a plastic smile, then she draped her pallu on her head to take blessings. "bas, bas,no need to take trouble to do this" she knew Preeti never did this type of traditional things,Preeti rolled her eyes, then got up, the two women never saw eye to eye.

"what brings you here" she said standing next to Kartik.

"why? I can't come to see my Kittu when I get time?"

"Preeti what silly questions you asking, don't take notice of her we are thrilled you're here" the door bell rang again. Preeti and Urmilla slowly walked back to the kitchen. Kartik squeezed his dadi's cheeks.

"I'm so glad you here" he kissed her cheek.

"oh beta me too" she pressed her cheek to his, she adored her grandson.

"who is she?" dadi looked at the girl in a simple orange salvar. Kartik looked at who she was referring too. "Hey Naira come, come" he gestured with his hand calling her. Naira walked forward with one plastic bag in her hand. "meet my girlfriend.."

"eh behave" she hit him on the arm. "sorry beta I'm Kartik's dadi and you are?" she looked at Kartik.

"Naira meet my dadi and dadi meet Naira she is Siya's babysitter.

"hello beta"

"Namaste" she said sweetly. When she said that Kartik remembered his very first meeting with her and he smiled at the funny incident.

"such a well mannered girl not all of India has lost their culture and roots."

The sweet lady had taken a liking to Naira she could not stop staring at her.

"He did mention Siya having a babysitter but I thought she maybe middle aged not a young beautiful girl like you" Naira smiled at the compliment.

"you must be maybe 2 years or so younger than him right?" Kartik looked at dadi.

"hmm yeah I'm not that much older" she replied.

"are you married?" she looked at Kartik, she was feeling a little embarrassed.

"Dadi enough the poor girl is going to run away if you keep asking such questions behave.." he said cheekily.

"you be quiet I'm speaking with her"

"it's ok sir no I'm not married as of yet" she said twisting the bag in her hand.

"there you have your answer" replied Kartik.

"any boyfriend beta?"

"ok that's it, enough sorry about her, Naira Siya is upstairs.." Naira nodded and left to go up the stairs, once she was out of sight she nudged him.

"why did you do that, I wanted to know the answer" said dadi

"kya dadi, let her do her job peacefully, and I want to hear all about your trip"

"wait aren't you stuck in the office all the time?"

"come on dadi if anyone can take me out of the office than its surely your arrival"

"Kittu when did you grow.. chal,let's have some tea and catch up" He smiled this was the best time he loved to spend time with her, he was her little laadla.

Tbc

Precap:
Naira shops for Kartik's birthday gift

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