2 hours or so later Naira came down with Siya.

“Look who is awake” dadi turned and saw her  being carried down the stairs  she got up from the sofa and went to the two of them.

"Siya beta come here to your badi dadi” dadi smiled stretching her arms out to carry her  but Siya wouldn’t move she was stuck to Naira like glue.

“dekho beta look who has come to meet you” dadi made all attempts to hold her but every time she did Siya turned her head and cried for Naira.

“alle alle what's wrong baby?” she said dadi looked at the two of them what a sweet bond Naira has with her, she is so good with her, Kartik got up from the sofa.

“Naira bring her here and sit next to dadi so she gets familiar with her” Naira nodded and did just that. Her and dadi walked back to the sofa area and sat down with him on the opposite sofa facing them. Naira held the baby securely in her lap

“Siya has grown so much since the last time I was here”  she stroked the little ones cheek, she looked up at her badi dadi, and a smile appeared. 

“yeah she would..you only visit once a year on my birthday” the comment made Naira take note.

'Kartik’s birthday is coming up?' when is it? her mind reflected. 

“Dadi Siya like your bangle, here now she will play with you watch..” dadi smiled and took her and she was right her bangle on her wrist  did the magic Siya was engrossed in looking at the shine and attempted to chew on it.

“oh Siya your beautiful” she smiled and kissed her cheek. Naira was happy to see her bond with her badi dadi

“So your birthday is coming?” she asked him casually,  Kartik sipped his tea 

“Yah and dadi always makes a special appearance she is the best gift” he smiled.  

“that’s lovely, um is Preeti home I bought the sari back for her I didn’t see her so I left it in her room”

“yeah that should be fine, she’s not here gone shopping with her sister” he replied.

“now I need to get back to the office to do a quick conference excuse me ladies” he said leaving them to it.  

“beti your really good with her” said dadi.

“thank you that means a lot” Kartik walked ahead then realised he left Naira with his dadi? Oops he better rescue her before dadi tries to match make her with one of her friend’s sons or something.

“how long have you been working here?”

“a few months”  she replied. 

“and you like it, I mean my grandson doesn’t trouble you does he?” the question stuck in her head, trouble are you kidding me he is the perks of this job.

“no he is.. she smiled.

“dadi I just remembered something, sorry Naira don’t mind”

  “no it’s fine, I’ll take Siya in the garden for some fresh air.. dadi gave her Siya and Naira went leaving them both alone. “Kittuu what is urgent?”

“hmmm.. oh I.. I have… you seen my office I got it refurbished since the last time came co come and see” he said pulling her hand like a little kid.

“ok,ok beta I’m coming” she smiled and giggled at his enthusiasm, he became like a little child, Naira watched from the corner waiting for the garden door to be opened by Sargam, she notice the change in Kartik when he was around his dadi he was different extremely gentle and sweet, like a little child. She smiled to herself how sweet was this side of him. During the day Naira was busy with Siya only when she was about to leave to go home she saw Kartik and dadi again.

"Naira come and have some coffee and biscuits with us.”

“sorry dadi I have to get home, another time?” she didn’t want Kartik to get the impression that she didn’t have a life besides being here.

“wait when are you back..next week?” he asked as he munched on a biscuit.

“yeah I don’t work weekends so I will be back on Monday”

“Wait actually I need you on the weekend” 

huh he needs me for… her mind thought as he didn’t make it very clear.

“hmm. it’s..  he said munching. Dadi looked at him and shook his head the girl is waiting for an answer.

“right.. it’s for..

“areey it’s his birthday on Sunday be sure to come to the party” Dadi answered for him.

“yeah keep Sunday free, and you  won’t be babysitting its strictly to have fun and you can bring a friend too. 

“My Kittu’s party” she said teasing him, “Kittu?” said Naira.

“it’s his childhood name, actually it’s what I call him my Kittu Bittu” she smiled  Naira smiled at him. He sat up straight.

“dadi stop calling me that it’s embarrassing na.” Naira tried to hide her smile but she couldn’t even dadi didn’t take notice of his words.

“you know why Kittu.. because when he was a child he looked like a Kitten with dark cute eyes  I will show you photos when you come next.

“dadi don’t embarrass me please”

“ok I guess I will see you on Sunday then” Kartik got up from the sofa.

“Yeah and come dressed in whatever your comfortable in, its my party and you are my guest so..” he smiled. Naira made a move to leave, she waved bye to dadi  and he walked her to the door

“sir is your actual birthday on 5th March itself?” she asked him

“Yah yah dadi has it all pre-planned she makes all her calls to her friends, my friends, family etc months  in advance even before I know  about it, it’s all dadi’s organising I leave it to her.”  His birthday is 5th just like mine she thought.

*

She only had a day to get his gift sorted out, her and Gauri went shopping the very next day. They had tried to find something that was a reasonable price at the same time high status type, finally she had come up with something.

“Gauri do you think he will like it.. it’s not that expensive and I …”

“arey yaar don’t worry your Kartik sir will like it I’m sure.  She smiled. 

“thank you bhaiya  pack this up” she said at the front counter. She took the bag and they walked out of the shop

“Are you going to tell him?” asked Gauri

“what? his birthday party.. is in the evening tomorrow and I think…

“no that not..” Naira was not getting what her friend was saying.

“you know it’s the fact that you and Kartik share the same birthday, its’ your birthday tomorrow too. She said with a smile.

“I know what a coincidence me and sir share the same day so cool na?” she said

“yah yah cool but aren’t you going to tell him?”

(tut) what’s the need Gauri..I will just keep it to myself no need for a big show my birthday has always been simple and I’m use to it that way.”

Naira walked and a part of her thought if Kartik knew then would things be different, but why, why would they, I’m not his girlfriend so what is the big deal?!  She usually celebrated her birthday by going Mandir in the morning and taking god’s blessings, and that’s exactly how her day started she went mandir then she went to her father’s house. He blessed her. 

“beta happy birthday” he said sitting on the sofa she walked in. 

“thank you papa” he hugged his daughter.

“take a seat I feel like I haven’t seen you for so long how are .. ” 

“obviously your daughter mixing with the rich people now who are we to her” 

“give your tongue a rest woman. “eh Kaushaliya get the thali my Naira is 23yrs today, mu to meetha hona chaiye” 

“there is no need for that” she said being mean.

“didi!”

“Mohan, Kirtan” she kneeled to hug  her brothers. They hugged their didi tightly. “how are you both?” she rubbed each ones head

“fine di, you? we haven’t seen you in long time?” pouted Kirtan.

“sorry chotu you know I’m busy at work na?” Mohan turned and looked to his mum.

“maa didi ‘s birthday give some meethai na…” then he turned back to Naira. She spoke with them and her step mum came back with a box of meethai.

“beta feed me one first” said Saurabh, he didn’t trust his wife what if she harmed his Naira, once he had a taste he fed her the ladu and the boys feed her and each other, it was a very sweet moment.

 “how is work?”

“good, everything is good but now papa i best get back I didn’t even meet Gauri’s parents I came out when everyone was a sleep I went mandir then came straight here” She got up to leave 

“ok beta have a good day today, I wish I could do more for you.. hold on.. he took a money note out of his pocket.

“come here” she turned to him.

“here from me for your birthday”

“no papa there is no need seriously”  Kaushaliya saw from the corner as Naira reluctantly took the note.

“ your right there is no need” she snatched it from her hands.

“Kaushaliya!” Saurabh shouted.

“what, she earns enough and here we need for our boys”

“what? she always puts money in for us and for them every month in the bank how else do you think we have light and water still?”

“I don’t care.. beta you understand na we need every penny and your brothers they will need education hmmm.” she explained and left from there.

“beta I’m sorry” he didn’t know what else to say, his condition made him helpless.

“no problem papa, really I’m fine with it, she’s right my brothers need it more” she hugged her papa she didn’t want him to feel bad. Then she left from there. once she was out her mood wasn’t great she wondered how nice life would’ve been if her mum was still here.

Her birthday didn’t start in the best way, her step mum always knew how to ruin it. She parks up and comes to the front door, she walks up the steps, before she can open the front door it opens. She walks in

“Gauri?” she calls but no answer.. she walks into the drawing room, still no answer.

“Where is everyone?” she walks through the kitchen

“Surprise!”  There  is the 3 of them Gauri with her mum and dad, standing in front of the  table with party hats on, and a table full of cake and other good food. Seeing this Naira breaks into a smile. Gauri rushes over to her

“Happy birthday soul sister” she throws her arms around her.

“Thank you, thank you” she replies hugging her back she didn’t expect this.

“Happy birthday beti” says Gauri’s mum” giving her a hug

“ beta come cut your cake” says Gauri’s dad.  Naira nods and they all go over to the table. They all make a fuss over her, feeding cake in turns, giving gifts and capturing it on camera. Her birthday started to feel special.

Tbc

Precap:
Kartik comes to know something?

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