“wow don’t know where the time went..Preeti went into the main room, Naira was sitting on the sofa with the baby monitor in her hand..

“ok Naira you can go home now, see you tomorrow early” 

Kartik was about to take the stairs..

‘damn it I completely forgot Naira was babysitting'

Naira placed the baby monitor back on the sofa and got up sleepily

“ok.. bye..” she walked to the door just about managed to put her sandals on.. her eyes were barely opening.. Kartik observed her from a far, Preeti came and stood next to him wondering why he wasn’t taking the stairs.

“look at her   how will she drive in that state”. Preeti turned for a second to her, and saw her open the front door.  

“your right. well you do something I’m going bed goodnight.. she passed him and went up the stairs, Kartik didn’t know what to do, he didn’t want her to go alone at this time and she is so sleepy that is visible.. what if she falls asleep on the wheel, he could prepare the guess room for her and she could stay the night, but he was hesitant, how can he just ask her to stay he had no idea on family, whether she is married or engaged to someone, or has a boyfriend,  and would she even feel comfortable here, she barely knew him and vise versa, he trashed that idea in his mind. Hmm what to do I just leave her to go home like that... He thought..  

‘yeah you just keep thinking Kartik. While she leaves.. Kartik snapped out of his thoughts

“Naira wait.. Kartik called, he could see her leaving out of the door.. He raced off the staircase steps and got outside and startled her by standing in front of her blocking her way.

“I’ll drop you home” he said

“what?”  she was a little alert now.

“yeah come..” 

“no sir, its fine I can manage”  she walked further towards her car.

“you can barely keep your eyes open.. I will drive you, please I insist” He took the keys from her hands.

“ok?” she really couldn’t keep her eyes open, she had been up since 5am, and she didn’t have the strength to argue, she sat in the passenger seat mechanically.. and Kartik sat in the driver’s seat, he put on his seat belt.

“put your seat belt on”, she followed his orders and did so sleepily. He began to drive..

“so tell me where shall I drop you?”

“hmmm?” she replied..

“Naira.. first tell me where then you can fall asleep”

“ok yeah drop me to the chawl”

“chawl?”

“hmm I live there with my papa”  she drifted back to sleep..

‘she lives in a chawl, I never go to chawl’s there so clustered and tight spaced... but what to do she lives there so no choice today’

“ok and your mum?”

“mum.. mum I don’t .. she..  she words trailed off..

“ok she’s out.. i better get to this chawl quickly” he said

A  few minutes or so later..a loud horn honked.. and made Naira's sleep break.. she just recalled his words. I said drop me to the chawl have I lost my mind.. I  can’t be dropped by him in the chawl at this time of night.. it will be news tomorrow, how would it look, if everyone sees me come out of a car, dropped off by a man, what will people think and say. This thought made her senses alert..

“oh no wait.. I can’t go chawl not today.. I said the wrong place I’m so sorry..” she looked at him in the drivers seat, she was in a bit of a panic.

 “ok.. no problem calm down.. and tell where if not the chawl..

“my friend Gauri’s house  I’m staying there its not far from here.. its near the multiplex..

“oh yeah I know that one, ok no problem, I will drop you there..” he said taking a turn

He looked over to Naira but again she went to sleep. a set of traffics lights came.. he looked over, she was slouched to her side her hair all over her face.

‘she’s really tired, looking after a baby is a tough job and on top of that our dinner delayed her further..

he shook his head feeling bad. Kartik continued to drive and he forgot about a road that he didn’t like to drive down it.

“oh shit I completely forgot this road.. its rocky..” he went down it and it jerked a few times.. finally it came to an end will a big jerk, Naira head fell against his shoulder..

“oh no.. he looked over and quickly thought, he parked up the car and was in a pickle what to do.. he gently held her shoulders and pushed her back on the chair.. her head was resting back on the  seat and he placed her falling duputta back on her neck.

“I’m on the road.. but where do I drop her?” He looked over to her.. she was lightly snoring.. I should wake her up but.. actually I have an idea.. he took Naira’s bag he felt a little bad to do so.. this was invading her privacy, he took the phone “Gauri’s number must be in here..” he switched it on, there was photo of her  with a guy as her dp. Kartik looked at it amused.. He smirked.

 “she can do way better than that.” Ok focus stop snooping and do what your suppose its nearly 2:00am!.. his mind screamed . he went and searched for Gauri.. and found her number and began to call it.

“oh who’s calling at this hour, hmm Naira?” Gauri groaned and picked the phone up.

“Hello?” she said in a sleepily tone.

“Hello is this Gauri?” Gauri didn’t find the man familiar at all..

“yah.. who is this?”

“um I’m Kartik..listen I have your friend Naira actually in your car?”

“huh.. Naira?, wait a minute” Gauri got up out of the bed and switched the light on,

oh oh crap Naira’s bed hasn’t even been slept in.. and here I’m thinking she came and went to sleep 2 hrs back!

“yah ok listen she..” Kartik went to explain..

“maybe because I went to sleep early today I just assumed she was asleep too and today the day has been really hectic you know I had to.... Gauri just went on and on Kartik sighed.. this girl talks way too much.

“Gauri yeah about her she’s.. he tried to get to the point across If he could actually get a word in

“but what sort of friend am I”.. I should’ve checked na and… Kartik rolled his eyes he didn’t have time for this.. Gauri was beginning to irritate him.

“Yah listen! As I was saying Naira is in my car this very moment, she fell asleep late babysitting.. now I am parked in your area, can you come take her please” He said that in one breath, it felt good to finally get his point across!

 “oh ok I see…  Gauri went silent..

“Hello you there?”

 “yah yah.. but I’m in my night suit I can’t come to the car.. I’m a girl what will people think.. and my parents are asleep.. what shall I do?”

“areee. He sighed what a situation he has gotten himself in..

“ok what is your house number I will come and drop her, can you at least open the door for me?” he said sarcastically..

“of course yah..  actually my home is a bungalow  it’s a white door, the house just opposite.. she went on and Kartik got it.

“ok be ready I’m coming. He cut the call, he got out of the car and opened the passenger side, he saw her a sleep on her left side, he  gently unfastened her belt and then placed his palm on her left shoulder to lightly shake her hoping this will wake her up.. but it was no use.. ‘seems she is a deep sleeper.. ok next step will have to do but before that I will take her bag and put  her car keys and phone back inside, then he placed her sling type bag around her shoulder’ he then bent to her level down and pulled her a little forward towards him so she was leaning on him horizontally, he placed one arm underneath her knees and the other one underneath her small back, and pulled her up into his arms, and got up on his feet and kicked the car door shut, he walked with her towards Gauri’s house, Naira stirred moving her head slightly, her one hand came clutching her duputta and the other held his blazer collar. Kartik felt her finger slightly brush his neck.. he quickly wanted to get to Gauri’s house before she wakes up to this possible misunderstanding.

Luckily Gauri had opened the front door, and was standing in her night suit. She saw Naira face asleep, and then saw Kartik carrying her..

“omg what happened to Naira oh god devi maiya..” Gauri panicked.. Seriously this girl is going to get me in trouble.. Kartik thought.

“calm down, you don’t want your parents waking up right?.. look nothing has happened she is just in deep sleep that’s it.” Gauri shut the door behind him.

“oh well that’s a relief” she was happy to hear her soul sister is fine..

“ok well I have to go you said you will take it from here?”

“hmm.. yah yah but what you want me to carry her in to the room?”

“well you said..

“yah..I can’t possible carry her..”

“I suppose I will have to do this too he said

“yah please you have come this far so might as well na..” he sighed

“ok come on show me where does she sleep?”

“in my room, this way..” she guided Kartik with a sleepy Naira in his arms.. there were cuddly toys all over her bed. Kartik looked at Gauri.. then the bed hinting to clear it up..

“hmm? oh yeah, I forgot.. I will just take these off.”

“yes that would be a good idea". Gauri began to take the toys off, but left one teddy bear.

“what about that one?”

Hmm? oh no that’s her childhood toy, I can’t take Mr Minto out she will be upset. Kartik smiled.. shaking his head..

“ok fine leave him..” Gauri removed the cover and Kartik placed her down gently in the bed, she was finally sleeping but her hand was still gripping his collar,

“oh.. here Mr Minto will keep you comfortable.. he held her hand and replaced it with her teddy bear, she took the teddy and went to sleep on her side.

“and Naira don’t worry you can come at 10am tomorrow.. you take rest”

“Hmm” she responded sleepily

“ok I don’t think she heard me.. but you pass the message on not 7am but 10am she will start tomorrow with full wages included. The way Gauri was looking at him he hoped she heard him..

“ok thanks for dropping her Kartik, nice meeting you have heard a lot about you”. oops.. she let it slip.

“meaning?” he himself was too tired to comprehend what she was saying.

“never mind I’ve said too much.. she will see you tomorrow.. bye”

Kartik said bye and quickly left from there.. He had smsed his driver earlier to come get him from the area as he didn’t have a ride back. He felt better he dropped Naira and knowing she was safe and indoors now..

Next morning Naira woke up.. after a goodnight rest.

“oh no its 8am I’m late! Gauri.. oi.. she threw a pillow at her to get her attention..

“kya yaar I’m sleeping..”

“you didn’t wake me.. I’m going to be late for work!

“chill yaar.. your going in late today”

“what?” Naira sat up she didn’t get it..

“yah” Gauri also sat up mirroring her.

“yesterday Kartik, he dropped you home”

“shut up.. and stop this teasing”..

“seriously he did .. actually he didn’t drop you he carried you from the car and placed you right in bed”  Naira covered her mouth.. she couldn’t believe Kartik did that, now a vague memory washed over her,

“yeah I remember being carried and also gripping something?

“yeah his collar you wouldn’t let go.. he is one handsome dude no wonder your having trouble working for him, who can blame you.. Naira blushed..

“I must thank him today.. listen I can’t sleep" she said getting up

Naira got out of bed and slipped on her chapel, Gauri too tired watched her friend move around the room .. “I’m going to have a bath.. and then leave and tell me everything properly when I come home ” she yelled to Gauri and shut the bathroom door. Gauri smiled and then went back to sleep it was too early for her to start the day.

*
Naira came to the haveli entrance she was wearing a orange salwar. She went to press the bell but the door opened before she had a chance.

“Naira where have you been dear your 4 hours late, memsaab is not happy..” Sangam warned her.. Just at that very moment Preeti came storming in “Naira! what time do you call this.. I told you 7am, its 10am right now!   Naira was not expecting this reaction..

‘but Gauri said I have to come later, that’s what Kartik said?’

Tbc

How is it going?
🙏👇🙏🙂