"You stayed over and then?" Asked Gauri, Naira was happy her best friend has come back they were in her room catching up

"and nothing.."  she said shifting on her bed.

"Seriously nothing?" yes Gauri not everyone has to be intimate just sleeping is fine.

"yeah anyways he is busy so am I and I need to finish this assignment it's due tomorrow" she said writing more notes.

"ok so what about your new bua?" Naira looked up from her notes. "I don't really know she is quite wealthy she owns a chain of companies all over the world but but I don't really know her" she said

"Which company?" Naira shrugged her shoulders "I don't know but i will ask her when i go to visit papa next"

"yeah you should and what about  the wicked step mother how is she behaving" Naira laughed

"She is a changed woman even called me beti but know it's just an act,she chases around my bua because she sees rupee signs"

"Hmm I hope your bua doesn't give her any importance"

"The boys are happy so I am glad, bua has connected well with them" she smiled then got on with her work.

Two days passed..

"Mr Goenka why have you called a press meeting at your home?" Said one reporter they were all sitting in front of him with mics and ready to ask questions. Kartik stood in a suit with his hair gelled back he saw called around thirty people to his home.

"thank you all for coming it's the time that I reveal to you all the truth" as he was speaking the camera was rolling. All his important investors and business associates were present too he felt nervous of the outcome but this has to be done if he wants to move on in a life with her in it..

"I am not Siya's father and my marriage status is not a happy marriage as you all think it to be"

"So Preeti has had an affair and you excepted this child as your own that is big of you" said one reporter.

'I can easily damaged Preeti's reputation but then..'

"My brother died Siya is his daughter she isn't Preeti's at all" he revealed mamimg it clear that she is zero percent related.

"So why lie to everyone that- " Kartik cut off her words and explained to everyone from his parents dying to his brother and bhabhi's sudden demise and then giving Siya his name and marrying Preeti as a compromise.

"so you finally all know the truth also that I am divorced and if that means I lose investors then I am ready for that too thank you all for coming sorry to have wasted your time." but what's this everyone applauded him and his investors were understanding.

"Kartik you went through a lot I appreciate your honesty we will continue business with you all usual" said one investor then another all of them were quite understanding that he wished he did this ages ago the meeting was a success!

"Cheers" he said sipping a glass of fine wine with his best friend who came by later on after his press conference was over.

"Finally your done with that Preeti how does it feel?" he said

"Its feels like a huge rock has been lifted off me seriously now that everyone knows" he said taking another sip.

"So are you going to let her know, I am talking about Naira?" Kartik nodded

"Yes actually she has pushed me to do this I am head over heels in love with her"

"so Elena was..

"Dude forget my past Naira is who I want to spend the rest of my life with"

"wow I have never seen this soft side of you" said Kush seeing this change in his best friend.

"Shut up anyways are you going to stay long? Because I am going to go meet Naira"

"Wow she isn't even here and already I am treated like the third wheel anyways I thought you both had a argument?"

"Yah we did but its sorted I didn't even take it seriously and I have a key so I can rock up anytime like I have been doing" he smirked at the last few words

"Khush raho my friend" said Kush

"Cheers to the future" they both clinked their glasses he went to take a sip.

"Just a minute" he got a call "hi Manav bol any information..she what!" He got up " what happened?" Kartik didnt say a word and went outside to the garden where dadi and his chachu were sitting.

"Chachu"

"Beta I..

"Is it true?" Asked Kartik

"Is what true?" He asked

"Preeti committed a murder which you helped cover up!

"Beta what is this Kittu kya bolre hai?" Said Dadi with sheer panic on her face.

"Look its true but it was a while back now forget about her" Forget about her? forget how she strangled someone and left that person in the hotel room to die,  Kartik didn't know this side of her, he knew Preeti was bad but to this length of killing someone send cold chills down his spine.

"now look I do have some good news" he said breaking Kartik's train of thought.

"Kya?" He asked

"Goenka jo 20% shares  tha is now back to you" Kartik jaw dropped

"seriously Preeti is out of the business?" chachi nodded

"Yes"

"I have my company back, but I didn't get any notice but it's all good now and she-"

"Beta this is good news" said dadi trying to put a positive spin on things.

"Thank god I never gave her any shares of this place" said Kartik he felt a bit relieved now knowing she has not got any part of anything nor the business and Siya's savings she spent it all so that is done and that account Kartik shut long back and made her a new one where only he is in charge of.

"I will need to make a quick call and clarify something" he went off to call up but he came to know 20% is still not under his name.

"but chachu said all the shares are mine now toh phir?" Kartik's thoughts got disturbed when Siya's baby monitor went off.. "I am coming mera baccha" he went upstairs.

"Kya Hua meri gudiya ko?" He carried her up in his arms and hugged her. "you are starting to look alot like bhaiya you know" he kissed her cheek he then went downstairs with her."ok..ok miss independent" he said as she was wriggling to get down he placed her in the walker then remembered.. and went in the garden but no one was there.

"Dadi?" He called

"Beta we are in the mandir room" Kartik went over there.

"Chachu the 20%  is still not under my name I just called up"

"Ghirdhar beta what is going on?" Asked dadi seeing a nervous look on her son's face.

"Trust me it is but the 20% isn't under Preeti's name or Kartik's..

"Then who?" They asked in unison now very confused

" Siya's?" Asked dadi but he remained quiet.

"Ghirdhar?" Said dadi

"Naira's he said

"Naira's?" Kartik asked..  "your dadi told me your both in a serious relationship so..

"no no, why did you involve Naira Preeti hates her! and chachu after you told me what she is capable of..

"Ghirdhar you should've asked me first" scolded dadi

"Maa I made a mistake but I thought it would keep Kittu safe if I kept it under another name.

"So instead you put her life at risk!"

"This was a stupid thing you did beta" Kartik had stopped listening to them he was in his own thoughts.

'chachu' messed up yet again, and why am I not surprised he tricked me into marrying Preeti knowing her character and past but right now what is Preeti's next move! What if she tries something tries to harm my Naira,With worrying thoughts Kartik left them and went into his office he was pacing up and down.

His phone beeped "Preeti"

"Listen I..

"Save her if you can"  Kartik acted like he didn't know..

"Save who what are you saying?" 

"Oh don't play dumb Naira has my 20 % share that little bitch will pay a heavy price I know she is in college right now" Kartik thought how did she know this oh God he needs to divert her from doing anything.

"Preeti don't worry  I'll get them back" he took a deep breath to gather his thought.

"ok listen I will make her sign,hello, hello..damn it!"

"Dude what happened" said Kush coming into his office clearly he can't hold his drinks very well.

"She switched her phone off I need to do something"

"Kush I got to go can't explain, tell dadi ok bye!" Kush lazily nodded.

*
Naira's last class just ended she went to the library to get some books but she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"Now how will I complete my essay without those books" she sighed walking out of the library.

"Kartik?" She said seeing him in front of her.

"thank God your ok" he took her in a hug She came out of the hug but still holding him around his waist.

"Tum yaha mere college mein?" She asked at his sudden appearance.

"Isn't your college over. its 6pm na" he asked her trying to stall her..

"Yeah it is but I needed to go get some books for my course" she replied

"But your here at this time?" She asked again wondering why..

"Yeah I thought to surprise you and um take you home" he said holding her protectively around the waist. She gave him a subtle smile

"ok" she replied

"Come let's go before the traffic becomes alot" he walked out with her and they started walking slowly they went into the car actually he sat her down properly and closed the door.

"I have noticed your looking here and there even outside you were behaving like..what's going on?" She asked

"Naira" he turned to her and then caressed her cheek "I love you alot"

"I love you too you know that" she held his wrist that was caressing her cheek.

"This was not how I wanted go do this" he took her hand and kissed it.

"Will you marry me?"  She was taken back by his words did he just promise marriage.

'Oh God she looks nervous and worried'

"You don't feel the same I under-

"Yes"

"what?"

"Yes I will marry you mendak" she just said yes! He couldn't believe it! Kartik cupped her face.

"Yes?"

"yes,yes" she cupped his chin  100 times yes" she said they both had happy tears in their eyes, they started kissing, they missed each other and how much it was evident in their liplock.

"Even if it means I have to be your secret wife" she said

'That means she knows nothing about the press conference she agreed to be with me either way, she will feel so happy when she finds out'

Tbc

Precap: Kaira run away from Preeti's hit man and end up at a secluded cottage.

How was it?👇♥️🙏🙏🙏