“Finally back home, are we?” Kirti teased as Naira entered her house. She smiled and nodded.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed. Doctor ne kaha hai that you need absolute rest!” Naitik led her up the stairs carefully, while Naksh and Kirti watched from downstairs.
Once he was sure they were out of site, Naksh turned his attention to his wife who looked worried.

“What about Kartik?” He asked catching her attention. “He didn’t come to meet her at all. Well, after the incident where she tried to rip off the bandages, he hasn’t visited her at all! What’s the deal?”

“I asked him. He didn’t answer.” Kirti frowned. “... Naksh, can I go to my home for just a bit?” Naksh raised a surprised eyebrow but she was already walking to her room to get the car keys. She came back again. “I’ll be back as soon as I can!” She called as she ran out.

He blinked in surprise and shrugged, turning around and coming face to face with Naira, making him jump.

“Bhai, where did Kirti Di go?” Naira frowned.

…..

“Kartik, answer me!”

“What is there to answer Kirti?! I’m getting a divorce no matter what!” Kartik shouted back trying to ignore her as he continued to run around here and there, keeping himself busy. Kirti bit her lip to not burst out in anger.

“Kartik. Now you’re just being stupid.” She dead-panned. “You saw what she did 2 days ago, right?! So instead of going back to her and healing her pain, you’re going to continue hurting her even more?!” Oh really?

“THAT PAIN WAS ALL MY DOING KIRTI! MY DOING!” Kartik finally snapped, turning around. “IF, I had listened to her for even ONE second, IF I had tried to realize what I was causing her, IF I had tried to be in her place, SHE WOULDN’T HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID!”

Silence. Only Kartik’s rushed breath echoed around the room. Kirti looked at him with heartbroken eyes. So much love. Why are you doing this to each other?

“... T-that’s why I want to get divorce…” He tried to hide his tears. “... So she can just get rid of me… be free from this pain…”

“... Naira loves you Kartik, she loves you.” Kirti spoke up again. “She’d do anything for you, heck, you’d do anything for HER. please, doing this is just hurting her even more.”

“Per-”

“Kartik. Listen. Just- forget divorce. Promise me you’ll consider this before doing anything you regret later.” Kirti stopped him. He went quiet.

… Should he? He didn’t deserve her, than why should he even try? One glance at Kirti, and he made up his decision. “... fine. I’ll cancel the divorce papers for now.” Kirti immediately started beaming. “BUT if she herself wants a divorce, i’m not stopping it.”

“Deal.” They shook hands, and Kartik pulled her in for a hug, which Kirti started laughing to.

They didn’t notice, however, that Suvarna had heard everything. Her scowl deepened and she quickly walked away before they could spot her, which they didn’t.

“Hai bhagwan.” Suvarna, however hadn’t noticed that someone was spying on HER, and that seemed to be Suhasini Ji, Surekha and Manish. “Ab to mamlaa aur ulajh jayega!”

“Let it be maa. Love always finds a way.” Manish smirked.

…..

“Well?!”

“Naira, stop asking me where Kirti went and just eat! Afterwards you have to take your medicine-”

“No! Jab tak aap mujhe nahi bataege ki Kirti Di kaha gayi, tab tak-”

“Umm…” She froze at the familiar voice. It was him. It was her mendhak. What he doing at a time like this, it was lunch time! “Namaste.”

“Arre, Kartik? Kaise…” Naitik noticed Naira had not turned from her seat. “... aana hua?”

“Umm… I just came to personally give you these invitations to the mehendi. Just because the engagement was cut off, doesn’t mean we’re not celebrating everything else.” He handed Naitik the invitations. “Aaye ga zaroor.” His eyes lingered on Naira.

He wanted to see her honestly. That’s why he agreed to go when his baba asked him. Just a glimpse of her beautfiul eyes would brighten up his day, and her rosy pink cheeks. Her lips…

“Sure, we’ll come!” Naira’s grandmother cut his thoughts off and he quickly nodded, giving another parnaam and leaving.

“Haan, sab jaa rahe hai, except for Naira.”

“Wo kyun?!” Naira asked at his brother’s comment.

“Arre are you going like this?! You’re hurt! What if you get sick or faint in the ceremony?!”

“I-i’ll manage bhai, I want to go. It’s Mansi’s wedding after all, and Anmol’s! I can’t miss it! And no arguments.” She shot up from her chair and went to walk off, but dizziness suddenly took over and she went to fall over-

Kartik happened to walk in and spotted her falling. His eyes went wide. “NAIRA!”

Huh? It’s the same voice from two days ago, when that someone saved me from hurting myself again. Naira realized as he raced towards her and caught her before she could hit the ground. Others immediately stoop up and raced towards her.

“Naira?! Are you okay?!”

“Hmm…? Yes… yes my mendhak, i’m kaay…” She said drowsly as Naksh picked her up and carried her back to her room with Naitik’s help.

His worried eyes still lingered on her before his attention was caught by Kirti who was just walked in.

“Arre Kartik? I thought you gave them the invitations.”

“Huh? Oh yes. I just forgot to tell you that our dear Rukhmini dadi-” Rukhmini smiled proudly at that. “-suggested we’d do it in a diffirent way, so we’re all coming there in desi costumes.”

… What?

Kartik soon left, despite hearing Naira’s shouts from above.

“Kartik! Don’t leave me again!” She shouted dazed as her brother and father forced her on bed. Kartik stopped for a split second before his shaking hands clenched into fists and he hurried off, not wanting to break down there.

….. So many complications. I’m making it long and complicated, I know, but wait until the next chapter. It’ll be a blast, since we’ll be at Anmol and Mansi's mehendi. Kartik feels pretty bad and blames himself for what happened, while Naira just wants her mendhak back. Also some brotherly Kirti/Kartik love, since I don’t see it much in the show. This time I went for a lighter, more funny mood, though with what i’m doing with this story, I don’t think it’ll be a funny one.
Sorry for any mistakes, please forgive me! Let me know how it was!