Next part as promised 🙂👇

“there she is” pointed Gauri

“oh my goodness what is she doing near a  cliff side! ” Kartik yelled like she could hear him!

“she isn’t thinking straight,hurry!” Gauri said in a panicky voice. Kartik hit the accelerator,taking a turn.

“Gauri can she swim?”

“um…  said Gauri in uncertain tone.

“oh my god seriously you call her your best friend and you don’t even know a simple thing about her.”

“wait..park here.. it’s her, she’s going to jump hurry please!” Gauri said in a frantic tone. Kartik jumped out of the car.

“wait here” he slammed the door.

“maa I’m coming” she said closing her eyes near the edge taking a step forward.

“Naira” Kartik ran “no!” he heard the splash.. and with all his energy he jumped in after her.. he looked around and spotted her fairly fast,luckily she was floating above water. He pulled her out of there and carried her back to shore, he gently placed her on the sand,  Naira?”  he patted her face. “please be ok..” he straightened her on the ground and  started cpr.. 1,2 3 …

“Is she ok?” he ignored Gauri’s question as he himself had no answer..

“call an ambulance now! He ordered she nodded fast.

“come on Naira, he held her nose closed and pinched her chin down, breathing air into her as he gave her mouth to mouth.

 “come on, come on…please” he kept checking her pulse.

“Gauri go wait at the top and tell them to hurry!” she nodded..

“come on sweetheart please” he could feel his eyes moist, he felt a cold shiver, from the water he was drenched in and the thoughts his mind went through when she didn’t respond.

“please.. please..be ok please”   her eyes opened widely followed by a strong cough,  the water spilling from her mouth.

“oh god thank god” he lifted her in seating position and rubbed her back

“your ok.. hmm.. it’s fine” he pulled her to his chest. One hand on her cheek and the other on her back comforting her" He felt relief wash over him.

“why.. why” she mumble against his wet clothes, he tilted her back holding her shoulders so he could hear her properly.  "Why did you save me, I w-wanted to die” she sobbed..

“I don’t want to live anymore” she cried..

“no! don’t say things like that please why do you want to end your life?”

“it’s easy for you, you have your dadi, you have people in your life, a life of security me I just have my papa and he might be taken from me..

“i- i..”  she struggled to speak “I might lose him too and you.. you didn’t care you fired me in a second. Like I would ever..” 

“listen?” he said taking her in his arms again. 

“no!” she sniffled shifting back.. He felt the water drip from his own wet hair he quickly, ran a hand through it.

“like i-  she struggled to with words,  “Like  - I  would ever let anything happen to Siya, I love her, you know how much and still you thought I was …that hurt more than anything else sir” she wiped her nose, he looked at her vulnerable state and was feeling like the worst person in the world.

“Naira I I’m so sorry, I didn’t think” she avoided his gaze looking to the side of the ground, hugging her knees.

 I, please I’m so sorry.. I will tell you a million times if it makes you feel better..” she looked up. 

“you know my papa could be gone and that will be it, I won’t have anyone anymore, he looked at her eyes.. he could see so much pain in them. “I don’t have anyone anymore..”  she looked down, then up again.

“no one” she said in small teary tone, she sighed hard following by a short of breath.

“no don’t say that, you have me” he  pulled her close against his chest comforting her again.. “you will always have me and that is a promise” he kissed her forehead and she sagged against him her eyes closed. He felt her motionless “Naira?! he moved the wet hair strands out of her face.

“Hey” he patted her face gently.

“Gauri!” he shouted. The ambulance people came down and told them to place her on the stretcher. “Is she ok?”  after some examination, they nodded  Kartik and Gauri exchanged a look of relief. The ambulance left and Kartik gave Gauri a lift to the hospital. They both waited for some update, a doctor comes out, Kartik springs out of his seat. “is she ok?”

“she has a pulse but its weak” don’t worry we have stabilized her she will wake up very soon, we have put her on a drip.

“tell me when did she last eat some food?” Kartik thought hard but honestly he didn’t know what to say. “I can’t say as I don’t know”

“ok well she is out of danger”  

“that’s great” he replies, his phone rings.. “excuse me” he replies attending the call. “hello ,yes sir.. today but we said tomorrow.. yes ok.. fine I’m coming” he said cutting the call.

“I have to go but let me know when she is awake?” Gauri nodded.  Kartik left from there. Kartik went on to attend an important meeting, then came home.

*

“Finally your home did you look into another babysitter.. “I tell you Kartik I can’t do this every day” she said carrying Siya to him.  “I don’t know what makes you human if you are even?” he said taking Siya from her.

“excuse me?”

“its all about me me me, think about someone else for a change like Naira!”

“she quit not our problem”

“poor girl tried to end her life today!” he shouted

“what? Why because she quit and now is making us feel bad how weak, are we supposed to feel sorry for her?”

“Enough! I’ve had it up to here, I’m going for some fresh air” he said handed Siya back to her.

“what but.. what am I suppose do I have plans..” Kartik just slammed the door ignoring her.

*
Kartik came near her ward, she was sitting up, he could see Gauri talking mostly.

“how is the patient.” He said walking in seeing her in her hospital gown . Naira sees him, Gauri gets up.

“I should get going I will be back tomorrow,ok take care” Naira nodded. Kartik came into the room holding flowers. They both looked at each other, not exchanging any words. He was lost for words he was feeling guilty he drove her to take her own life. She saw him look helpless, she didn’t blame him for what happened.

“are those for me?” she said breaking the silence. He looked at the bouquet in his hands. “yes, they are” he walked forward

“it's to brighten up the place” her lips broke into a slight smile.

“there lovely, you can place them there” he went over and did just that, then turned back. “How are you feeling?”  she coughed. “ok I think”

“I’m sorry” they said in unison.

“No Naira, I’m sorry” he said sitting next to her on the edge of the bed.

 “I should not have fired you like that, I feel so bad for doing so..” he says looking down.

“no sir don’t” she placed her hand on his. “it wasn’t your fault please stop blaming yourself” but he couldn’t help it, the mental image of her sobbing her heart out to him this morning was torture,  she removed her hand

“I was at a low place,very low that-”

“about your dad I heard Gauri filled me in” he said

“hmm..” she went quiet, knotting her fingers. “Listen to me” she looked up. “I know you feel like you don’t matter and that it doesn’t make a difference whether you’re here or  not”.. He gently held her face. “but it does Naira”

“really?” he nodded trying to convince her.

“you make a difference, you have touched lives” she looked down just listening to his voice she knew what he was doing and it was sweet.  “I know you have touched Siya’s, life and dadi’s”  she smiled.. “ahem and mine” she looked up from her lashes.

“yours”

“of course, you have a lovely aura that makes everyone fall in love with you” he said

“Visiting hours are over” said a ward lady. He removed his hands.

“ok, give us a minute please” she nodded and left the room. Kartik turned back to her.

“ok I will go now, and don’t worry you’re not fired, come back when you’re ready to work and don’t worry in your absence you will still get paid full wages. That was a relief to hear, “thank you” she replied.

“my pleasure”  he smiled getting up,  “I will see you tomorrow bright and early” he said squeezing her hand and she nodded holding on to it and then released it quickly . He turned once more

“Sleep well” he said in a soft tone.

“I can’t sleep without Mr Minto” she replied.. “but I will try”

“Gauri didn’t bring him?” she shook her head “she forgot” she said looking down.

‘ she is one forgetful person’ thought Kartik

“I’m sure she will tomorrow” Naira nodded,they said bye and Kartik left her room. He was driving home and then decided to take a u turn. “Kartik you’re here at this time?” she said yawning.

“yeah Gauri I know its late sorry, I just want to grab something from Naira’s room..

“oh” she shuffled her feet, “usually no boys are allowed in this house but my parents are not back till tues so its ok come”

“thanks” he rushed in and grabbed the stuffed toy.

“Mr Minto I forgot she can’t sleep without him”

“thanks” he said taking the toy and leaving.  Gauri shut the door.  He parked up outside the hospital. “Sir visiting hours are over”

“I just need a..

“Kartik Goenka its you na?”

“yes it is, 

“sure go through” ‘thank god someone allowed me’ even though Kartik was a vip type of person, he only used it if necessary he never had the habit of flashing his cash around and being arrogant about being a millionaire.He raced to her ward, then slowly peered his head in the room, it was dark, but night light was on as she has darkness phobia. He took Mr Minto out of the bag, and placed him next to her, she was asleep on her side, her face peaceful, angelic like glow, he found his thumb begin to caress her cheek. She stirred a little, and he removed his hand quickly, he didn’t want to wake her, she found Mr Minto and cuddled up to him. Kartik smiled at the sight and left from there.

*
Kartik came through the front door.

'Poor Naira,Kittu take me to see her, I really hope she is feeling better”

“yes dadi I will take you but right now I think she needs to rest” dadi nodded in agreement. 

“We will go tomorrow and I will take this little princess” he said picking up Siya “for a nice visit”, Siya cooed.

“Great idea Kittu I’m sure Naira will be happy to see her”

“yeah and I also want to erase my mistake” he said with deep thought.

“I wish I had been here, I’m sure Preeti didn’t hesitate to fire her too” said dadi

He wish that were true but the truth was he was too hasty and he knew it.

“Preeti just wants to get a replacement but I told Naira we will keep her on”  He said giving Siya to dadi.

“I’m happy Kittu, Naira is a lovely girl and Siya is very taken to her. He nodded.

“she is” he smiled.

The next morning Naira woke up.. “Mr Minto?” she said taking the teddy. “who dropped him off.. obviously its Gauri” she got up and went into the washroom, shortly she came out.. Gauri was sitting on the chair, with a smile Naira grabbed her teddy.

Gauri Mr Minto” she said with a smile. “thank you”  Gauri laughed to herself

“what’s funny?” she asked not getting her humour.

“not my credit, your saying thanks to the wrong person”  Naira looked confused..

“ok.. who then?” she asked

“Ayush” said Gauri

“Ayush?” she said in disbelief, then she looked ahead. There he was with Hemant Maya and Sonali at the door way.  Gauri went to the door and greeted all of them.

“What is this yaar, said Sonali hugging her.. Naira saw all friends one by one, as they came to her bedside.

“babes.. you scared us all… said Ayush and he hugged her. . she looked at Gauri

‘why did she call Ayush too!’  she cut the hug really short as she called Maya forward..  They all asked her how she is feeling.. then Naira’s breakfast came she didn’t want to eat in front of everyone... she held Mr Minto close.

“thanks I guess” she said to Ayush.

“what for?” he said in confusion.. standing at the far end of the room against the wall.

“you know for..

“Naira, no..” said Gauri, trying to hint to her, all eyes were on Gauri.

“guys, I think we should go get some coffee and come back..  what say?”

“yeah great idea” said Hemant they all said bye to Naira.. once they were out of sight Naira took her breakfast tray forward, Gauri came back in the room.

“do you need any help.. Naira shook her head, she was quite independent and could feed herself.

“oh Gauri who bought Mr Minto?” she asked again

“hmm? Oh yeah. Kartik, he came by yesterday late night and picked him up from my house”

“sir did.. seriously?”

“yeah, how sweet right?”

“yeah I guess” she replied with a little smile to herself

'he said he would visit first thing in the morning.. where is he then?’

Tbc 

Precap:

Kartik walked near the room, he heard laughter including Naira's lovely voice, but seeing Ayush there was off putting, he didn’t know whether to leave or enter..

How was it? Please still give your votes and comments because I love reading them I hope you guys liked it  ♥️🙏🙏🤗