Thank you everyone for your votes and comments! I was a bit sick and am still unwell. Won't promise, but will try to make next few chapters quicker. I know it's all sad sad. Inshallah in few chapters, things shall get interesting.

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Kartik didn't know how to start but felt the need to tell her. Naira could feel the hesitancy in his voice when he was speaking "Naira ek promise karogi?" Naira nodded in positive "hmm" He took a deep breath and started "Promise me whatever happens, tum humara sapna pura karogi?" He paused before continuing "Chahe mein tumhare saath hoon ya na hoon" Naira, who had her eyes closed until now, loosened the grip on Kartik's shirt. Her eyes shot up with fear and her face turned pale. Still in his hold, she looked at him with horror in her eyes. She questioned with a broken voice "What are you saying Kartik? Why are you talking like this?" And the damage was done!

There position was such that a teardrop dropped from Naira's eyes and fell near Kartik's cheekbone. The hot sensation that he felt from her tear and looking into her sad eyes made him feel extremely guilty. Guilty for hurting her with his words when he already knew how her reaction would be like. She stared at him with blank eyes. Without speaking a word, he gently wiped off the tear marks that formed on her face. He cupped her face and brought it down near his face. With all his love and affection, he dropped a kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered there for sometime. Then through his eyes he motioned her to put her head back on his chest. Without protesting she complied with his wish and closed her eyes with an unknown fear.

She waited for him to continue, "You know Naira! There is nothing about me that is hidden from you! Tumhe toh pata hai Mom ke bare mein! I know that we barely talked about her. Kabhi zaroorat hi nehi padi. I remember her, but not so well. After Mom's death, I know Ma as my Mom only. Ma was mom's best friend and she used to visit us often. We used go to her house too, especially me. We shared a great bond since I was a child. I was 5 years old when Mom passed away after giving birth to Keerti. She made Ma promise that she will take care of Keerti and me in her absence. A year passed and in that one-year we became Ma's world.

Dadi proposed Ma to get married to Pa. Ma immediately refused and so did Pa. Where Ma wasn't ready to take her best friend's place, Pa couldn't imagine anyone else in his life other than Mom. Dadi made them understand that we needed mother's love and support, especially Keerti as she was only one. She tried to reason that for how long could Ma keep taking care of us! Someday she would have to settle down and leave us. Ma's answer was clear that we are her children and she would never leave us. She was adamant on her decision. Eventually Pa gave his consent for the marriage for our sake.

I was old enough to understand the happenings. So I asked Ma; why couldn't she stay with us in our house? Ma replied with a smile that she will be with us all the time and for that we didn't have to stay in the same house. I was very upset and told her; how my friends told me that my Mom is dead and she isn't my Mom. I had tears in my eyes and asked her; can you not become my Mom please, just like Dadi had asked?" Ma had no answer for my innocent question. That day Ma just cried holding me in her arms.

The wedding was kept very simple. Soon our house became a home again. Even though Keerti was younger than me, I was always Ma's favorite. Nothing had changed even when Karun was born in 3 years time. While Ma kept showering me with her love, she had never let Mom's memories to fade away from my mind.

When I was old enough to understand, she told me; how it was my Mom's dream to become a doctor. Her family wasn't supportive of her dream and got her married when she was in 2nd year of her medical school. It was an arranged marriage. When Pa found out about it, he wanted Mom to pursue her dream. By then I was born and our family became her priority. Pa just couldn't convince her to go ahead with her dream, but she told him about her wish. She wished to open a hospital. Mom also told him that may be one day I will chase her dreams. She didn't want me to chase it to fulfill her dream, but only if I shared the same dream as hers.

I don't know when my Mom's dream became my own. Now when I look back, I can't think of myself in any other profession but as a doctor. I did fulfill one of my Mom's dreams, while Pa fulfilled another one. Ma told me how Pa made sure that my Mom's dream hospital becomes a reality. Now she is living with us through these memories.

You know that's why I refused to marry three years ago when Dadi insisted on it. I didn't want you to prioritize our family and neglect your dreams. I know you have already told me that when I am with you, you have nothing to worry about. I believe the same that together we can deal with any hurdle. Still I didn't want any pressure on you. Once you are settled in your career, then only I wanted to get married and start a family. What goes for me, it also goes for you.

Since we came back in India, Negi Uncle (the hospital Administrator) told Pa that it is time for them to hand over the responsibilities of the hospital to me. I told them that I wish to wait until our wedding. I want to spend some time with you. First I want to start our married life and then together we can take forward this hospital. We will fulfill my Mom's wishes while we chase our own dreams.

Just like Pa and I have fulfilled Mom's dreams, I also want to you fulfill our dreams. Dreams that you have; dreams that I have. Dreams that are yet to be fulfilled."

Kartik closed his eyes before saying this "For that if I remain with you or not!". And a light sob escaped Naira's lips. Kartik realized that his shirt has become wet with her continuous crying. His own eyes became moist now "Jaan why are crying like this? I was just saying for the sake of it. I didn't mean to hurt..." She cut him off saying "Tum bohot bure ho Mendak! Bohot hi bure!" While shaking her head in denial "No you just hurt me. You knew! Still you did. I will never forgive you for this. I hate you!". With each word her sob just got louder.

Kartik tried to make Naira look into his eyes, but she didn't move an inch. Instead, she kept burying her face close to his chest while hitting him with her small fist in a protest. When he failed to make her look at him, he forcefully brought her fisted hand near his lips and kissed on it. He tried to calm her down "Ssshhh! Don't cry Jaan! Meine toh baas aise hi keh diya tha. If in the future ever..." Before he could complete the sentence, Kartik realized that her body has stiffened. He thought that it would be wise to change the topic because his Naira wouldn't be able to handle this. He brought his hands around her and held her firmly. His tone was full of mischievousness "Waise thodi na mein tumhe chodke jaunga! Where will this Mendak go leaving his Sherni! Hmm tell me?". He patiently waited for her to say something. When she didn't say anything, Kartik became concerned; "Naira kya hua hai? I know there is something that has been bothering you".

A fresh pool of tears made its way from her eyes. Kartik got really worried now and asked again "Please kuch bologi? You are really scaring me. Look I am sorry. I know.." She didn't let me him continue and started with her broken voice "I had a bad dream...and and" She couldn't finish and burst into tears; "Please don't leave me. Don't leave me Kartik. Please! I will..." By now Kartik could hardly hear her but he got the message.

She was scared, scared to lose him. First she saw a bad dream and now he had to start this conversation to make things worse. But his Naira wasn't like this! She isn't the type to take tension after seeing a bad dream! Then why suddenly now?

He pushed that thought aside and went on to pacifying her. He ran his fingers through her hairs and whispered sweet things in her ears, while holding her close to him with another hand. After remaining like this in his warm embrace for about 20 minutes and listening to his rhythmical heartbeat, Kartik felt that she has calmed down.

Naira was the first one to break the silence "I don't want to stay with you anymore. I want to go home". She pushed his hand from her waist and was all ready to get up to leave, when Kartik pulled her to him with a jerk. She landed straight on his chest and she was facing him now. His hold on her got tighter than ever "Didn't I tell you already that dare you leave me! Which part of dare you leave me didn't you understand"? But one look at her and he knew she is still miffed with him. He mentally slapped himself and decided not to drag the matter; "Ok fine I am sorry. I am really very sorry. But please stay with me. Aur thodi der ke liye. Once we go home, everyone will be there. Humari dono families honge ek saath. I won't get time with you. Tumhe pata hai na kyun?"

This time Naira couldn't help but smile at his cuteness. He requested her with such an adorable puppy like face that she couldn't deny. Looking at his lovely face, she forgot all her worries and thought to pull his leg "Don't you think raste mein kuch zayda hi pyaar ho gaya hai ek din ke liye? Chalo! What will people think? Roadside-Romeo bulayeng tumhe!"

She attempted to get up again, when he pulled her with a force once again; "Oh hello! What do you take me for, an idiot? Mein kya bewqoof hoon? Aur ye kya Roadside-Romeo bula rahi ho mujhe?" She laughed while showing him her tongue "Bewqoof nehi ek Mendak ho. Aur Romeo bhi". He glared at her while she just giggled it away. His voice was filled with irritation "Pata hai mujhe. You don't have to tell me again. Aur agar mein Romeo hoon, toh tumhara Romeo hoon. Koi Roadside nehi!" In an instant his tone became full of cockiness "By the way this isn't a busy road. Upar se it's very late at night. Barely anyone would pass by this road now. Kartik Goenka always makes solid plans when it comes to romance. Samjhi Unromantic Sherni!"

He mentally patted himself for being this good, while Naira made an O-shaped face listening to his declaration. She completely ignored the comment that he just made on her and teased him "So Dr. Goenka spends his time planning about romance in his cabin?" Kartik replied with full attitude "Toh! Mera cabin, mera dimag aur mera romance! What's your problem? And what were you saying? Hmm what will people say? Well tum meri hone wali biwi ho aur mera pyaar bhi, then who are they to say something? Agar dekh bhi liya, toh ankhein band kaar le. Mein toh nehi rukne wala" Naira just shook her head in amusement. She thought; what is she going to do with her shameless Kartik, her Mendak. She looked at him with pure love in her eyes. A smile formed on her lips. Yes, she can only love him. Seeing her smiling like this, Kartik too felt content inside. He always wished to see this Naira. His crazy Sherni...always smiling and enjoying the life.

Precap: The night continues... My last moments with you! "Cherishing Old Memories"