Kartik and naira were at the beach. It was quite late so the beach was almost empty. Kartik was sitting on the ground with naira back against his chest. They both needed this closeness as if they were reminding themselves that everything was alright between them. Kartik pulled her more closer.

Kartik :- I love you Naira.

Naira :- I love you too Kartik.

Kartik separated from her and she turned around to face him. Kartik took her hands and kissed them. He reached inside his pocket and brought out something.

Naira recognised it and some tears came in her eyes. It was his engagement ring.

Kartik :- ye pehnaogi aaj phir se mughe.

Naira reached into her purse and brought out her own ring. Kartik stared at it. A symbol of there love, not wore by them because of there foolishness. They both looked at each other. Kartik was about to say something when naira stopped him.

Naira :- nahi kartik. Purani baaton ko ab yaad mat karo. Ab bas ek naye safar ki shuruwat karni hai.

Kartik nodded and handed over his ring to naira while naira handed over her ring to him. They looked at each other before naira held out her hand and kartik put the ring on her after which naira put the ring on kartik. Kartik kissed her hands. He cupped her face and kissed her cheeks and forehead before he hugged her.

Both were hungry especially kartik. For the last 2-3 days he hadn't eaten properly. But now his stomach was revolting. They saw some food stalls at the beach and ate there only. They fed each other while laughing and joking.

They both returned back to the society to find there families bonding. They were all sitting in the garden. Thankfully slowly and slowly they were talking. Without telling anyone they went upstairs to naira's flat. They entered her room. No. Not hers anymore. From now on, it was their room.

Kartik kissed her as soon as she turned around. It wasn't a simple or a sweet kiss. It was rough, passionate. He kept kissing her. He entered her mouth, roamed her insides, as if remembering her again. He kissed her voraciously. Naira moaned in his mouth. Kartik heard that moan. And he became even more aggrressive. He loved that voice. Loved the way she writhed under him whenever he would make love to her. He had missed this intimacy, for two years but not anymore. They were so lost in there passion that they didn't even realise when they reached the bed and when kartik came on top of naira. He separated from her.

Naira was breathing heavily and so was he. He didn't waste a second and attacked her neck. He still remembered all her sweet spots. Her most sensitive areas on her neck. He sucked and bit on her neck harshly. He needed her so badly. He was going crazy. His tongue and lips were replaced by his teeth. He kept on sucking and biting her. Kartik came up and looked her. Both of there pupils were dilated because of there need for each other. He leaned down to kiss her as his fingers intertwined with her tightly.

They both woke up in the morning. Completely naked. But in each other's arms. This was the most peaceful sleep they had in the last two years. They had missed this warmth, this closeness, this love. Kartik kissed her forehead.

Kartik :- good morning.

Naira :- good morning.

Kartik gently stroked her head. Naira smiled.

Kartik slowly got up from the bed and wore his clothes. Naira hugged him from behind.

Kartik :- chalo. Ab taiyyar ho jao. Phir college bhi jaana hai.

Naira :- jaana jaruri hai kya ? Dekho na sab hai yahan.

Kartik :- haa toh shaam ko mil lena sab se. Par tumhari padhai ke saath mein koi compromise nahi karunga.

Naira pouted. Kartik smiled.

Kartik :- vaise parso ko pata hai na kya hai ?

Naira :- haa. Bhai bhabhi ki wedding anniversary.

Kartik :- toh ek kaam karte hai. Aaj Shaam ko kahin ghumne chalenge sabke saath. Tum hummein leke chalna.

Naira nodded. Kartik went from there to his flat. He entered his flat smiling widely. He didn't even notice that everyone in his family was sitting at the dining table. He straight away went to his room.

Dadi :- kitne arso baad humne Kittu ke chehre par khushi dekhi hai.

Akhilesh :- haa maa. In 2 saalon mein pehli baar ye aise muskuraya hai.

Manish :- muskurane ki vajah vaapas mil gayi toh muskuraeyga kyun nahi.

Surekha :- vo toh thik hai bhai saab par–

Akhilesh :- par kya Surekha ?

Surekha :- kisi ne ye socha hai ki ye baat didi ko kaise bataenge ?

Everyone tensed on hearing that.

Manish :- jab ye ho gaya hai toh vo bhi ho jaega. Kuch na kuch toh karenge.

After sometime kartik and naira met near the entrance of the society.

Kartik :- chale?

Naira :- matlab.

Kartik :- matlab college.

Naira :- nahi. Hum ek saath nahi jaa sakte.

Kartik :- par kyun?

Naira :- kyun kya. Vahan koi nahi jaanta ki hum husband wife hai.

Kartik :- haa. Toh tum kaise aaogi?

Naira :- mein local train se.

Kartik :- bilkul bhi nahi. Pata hai kitni bhid hoti hai.

Naira :- haa. Pata hai.

Kartik :- isliye tum train se nahi cab se aana.

Naira :- arey par–

Kartik :- please. Mere maan ko shaanti ko rahegi.

Naira nodded and called a cab while kartik sat in his car. He was about to start the car when he saw his hands trembling. He was confused. Why were they trembling ? He also had a light headache. He brushed it off. He didn't tell naira that he was consulting with a doctor for her leg injury. The doctor had told him that a small procedure would take place and then her leg would be fine again.

Naira reached her college. She saw Tanvi and Kunal talking with rest of there friends.
Tanvi noticed her and waved at her.

Friend 1 :- guys vaise kal mein hi thi ya phir tum logo ne bhi dekha tha kal kg ko naira ko ghurte huye.

Friend 2 :- haa yaar. Dekha toh maine bhi tha.

Tanvi :- matlab ?

Friend 1 :- matlab Tanvi. Sab jaante hai ki pehle din se dono ko beech kuch na kuch khichdi pak rahi hai. Pehle vo uski class se bhaag gayi aur phir strike vali baat, tab bhi uss par koi action nahi liya gaya.

Tanvi :- un dono baar uski koi galti nahi thi.

Kunal :- haa. Tum log kuch bhi bolte rehte ho.

Friend 4 :- ohhh please Kunal. Tu toh rehne de. Humein pata hai tu usse like karta hai.

Friend 3 :- aur kal class mein. Tune shayad notice nahi kiya par kal kg naira ko baar baar ghure jaa raha tha.

Before Tanvi could say anything naira reached them. She had heard what they were saying about her and kartik. She knew one way or the other this information is bound to get out so she decided to tell them something instead of everything.

Naira :- hi guys.

All :- hi.

Tanvi :- kya baat hai. Aaj badi khush lag rahi hai. Aur ye kya hai?

Tanvi pointed towards her forehead.

Naira :- ye sindoor hai.

Tanvi :- par aaj se pehle toh tune kabhi nahi lagaya.

Naira :- vajah bhi toh nahi thi.

Kunal :- matlab.

Naira :- mera matlab hai ki mere aur mere husband ke beech ke saare issues sort out ho gaye hai.

Tanvi :- toh matlab you guys got back together.

Naira nodded.

Friend 1 :- hey congrats yaar. But if you don't mind me asking. Hua kya tha?

Tanvi :- kya yaar tu bhi.

Naira :- kuch nahi. Misunderstandings and trust issues jo ki bahut jayada ho gaye the but we sorted everything out.

Tanvi smiled and nodded. Kunal on the other hand felt dejected. He was planning to ask her for a date but now he couldn't. The bell rang and all of them went to her classes.

Naira was sitting in the classroom sitting with Tanvi. It was time for Kartik's lecture but she was surprised when someone else came in. The person then introduced himself as the new professor for the subject as kartik was just filling the position temporarily. Naira was disappointed.

Tanvi :- kya yaar. Pehle toh roz kg ko dekh kar class mein time kat jata tha. Ab kaise hoga.

Naira didn't say anything but internally she felt a little angry and a little possessive. She had been seeing from the very first day how girls in her class would stare at kartik especially Tanvi. She didn't like it but had to endure it.

Kartik was in his office a bit disappointed. He really wanted to see naira. He sighed. Why did that new professor had to join from today. He received a phone. It was Manish.

Kartik :- hello.

Manish :- kartik beta. Tum ho kahan abhi?

Kartik :- kya hua papa. Aap itna tension mein kyun sound kar rahe hai?

Manish :- kartik. Swarna mumbai aa gayi hai. Aur vo sidha college aa rahi thi. Maine usse bol diya ki tum ghar hi aa rahe ho. Isliye jaldi aa jao.

Kartik was surprised.

Kartik :- haa papa. Mein abhi aaya.

Kartik quickly went to his car and started driving towards the society. He knew that it was not going to be easy to convince swarna bur he had to.

He reached the society and quickly went to his flat. Swarna was there. She quickly hugged him as soon as she saw him. After sometime everyone was sitting in the living hall. Kartik nodded at Manish. It was time to drop the bomb.

Kartik :- maa.

Swarna :- haa.

Kartik :- Shubham ki maut ki jimmedar naira nahi hai.

Swarna froze.

Kartik :- humne thik nahi kiya uske saath.

Swarna looked at kartik with shocked expression. She remembered Shubham's last words. Kartik held up his phone.

Kartik :- aap ye dekhiye maa. Uske baad baat karte hai.

Swarna looked at the phone. It was a video in which a doctor was treating Shubham for his drug addiction. And naira was there with him. Swarna was shocked to see the video. Even the rest of the family members were surprised. They didn't know this.

Kartik :- maa naira Shubham ka treatment karwa rahi thi taaki vo thik ho jaaye. Drugs ke nashe se bahar aa jaye. Maine khud doctor se bhi baat ki. Ye dekhiye.

VIDEO:-

Dr. Batra :- jab naira Shubham ko hamare pass layi thi tab uski halat jyada serious nahi thi. Infact vo khud drugs chodna chahta tha. Usse emotional support ki zarurat thi jo usse nairaji ne diya tha. Usne aap sabko isliye nahi bataya kyun ki usse lagta tha ki vo aapki nazaro mein gir jaega. Usne naira se bhi yahi kaha tha ki jaise vo thik ho jaega vo khud aap sabko saari sachai bata dega. Par vo khud control nahi kar paya aur uss din drugs overdose ki vajah se..... I am sorry for your loss.

Kartik :- doctor saab aap jo ye saab keh rahe hai iska kya saboot hai. Mein kaise maan loon ki ye sab sach hai.

Dr. Batra :- hamare pass jitne bhi patient aate hai hum unki video recording karte hai. Research ke liye. Agar aap chahte hai toh mein aapke liye kuch clips arrange kar sakta hoon.

Video end :-

Manish :- kartik beta. Ye kya hai ?

Kartik :- ye vo sachai hai papa. Jisse hum mein se kisi ne nahi dekha. Naira toh Shubham ki sirf madad kar rahi thi. Shubham ne usse kasam di thi ki agar naira ne kisi ko batay toh vo treatment chod dega.

Everyone was shocked but not more than swarna.

Kartik slowly told them everything. Him going to the hospital, meeting with Dr. Batra, facing the truth.

Kartik :- mein parso dobara hospital gaya papa. Unhi se milne. Phir unhone ye video clip mere liye arrange karwaya jo maine abhi maa ko dikhaya.

Everyone was quiet. Not knowing what to say. Swarna even more so.

Kartik :- hum sabne jaane anjaane mein ek bahut bada paap Kiya hai papa. Par abhi bhi usse sudhar sakte hai. Maa. Kya ab bhi aapko lagta hai ki naira ki galti thi. Maa. Jo bhi hua vo bahut galat hua par usmein naira ki koi galti nahi thi maa. Abb toh usse maaf kar dijiye maa.

Swarna didn't say anything. She just got up and went inside a room. Kartik was about to follow her when Manish stopped him.

Manish :- ruk jao kartik. Tum nahi mughe jaane do abhi uske pass.

Manish followed swarna. Kartik sat there and dadi came near him and hugged him. It was already evening and swarna and Manish still hadn't come out of the room. The entire day Kartik could feel his health getting worse. His hands were trembling. His headache had increased, he was restless and was sweating badly.

He needed to talk to swarna. He got up when he felt dizzy. His head was spinning, he was about to fall when someone grabbed him. It was Akhilesh.

Akhilesh :- kartik. Kya hua ? Kartik. Bhai saab, bhabhi, maa, Surekha.

All came running.

Manish :- kartik. Akhilesh, kya hua issey?

Swarna :- kartik. Akhein kholo. Kartik.

Manish :- akhil. Issey hospital le chalte hai.

Akhilesh nodded as they picked up kartik. They slowly took him to the car and they drove to the hospital.

The doctor was seeing kartik. Everyone was worried. Keerti and naksh were also there. Swarna was shocked on seeing them. She had no idea that they were here. Who else was here. Was naira also here? And the rest of the family? She shook her head. It wasn't important right now. Kartik's health mattered more.

The doctor came out. Everyone asked him what happened.

Doctor :- dekhiye. Humne patient se poocha aur unke saare symptoms ek hi chiz bata rahe hai ki unhe alcohol withdrawal symptoms ho rahe hai.

Everyone was shocked. Since when did kartik drink?

Manish :- kya?

Dadi :- matlab ?

Doctor :- agar koi insaan bahut lambe se samay se har din drink kar raha ho. Aur vo achanak usse chod de. Toh body sharab ki demand toh karegi na. Ye ussi ke symptoms hai.

Akhilesh :- par doctor kartik toh drink nahi karta.

Doctor :- I am sorry to say this but iska matlab hai ki aap logo ko bhi unki drinking habits ka pata nahi hai. Patient kaafi lambe samay se drink kar rahe hai. Unhone kaha ki vo lagbhag 2 saal se drink kar rahe hai.

Everyone was shocked but not more than swarna. How did she not see this ? He was in front of her eyes everyday then when did he drink and when did she miss it ?

Keerti :- abhi vo kaisa hai?

Doctor :- abhi humne usse sedative diya hai. Toh vo thik hai. Vo so raha hai. Aap kal tak ussey le jaa sakte hai.

Naksh :- doctor saab. Koi ghabrane ki baat toh nahi hai na.

Doctor :- nahi. Aisi koi baat nahi hai. Dekhiye inka case jyada severe nahi hai. Lekin inka dhyaan poora rakhna hoga. Khaane peene ka dhyaan aur poora rest.

Manish :- haa. Hum rakhenge.

Doctor :- vaise aap mein se naira kon hai?

Akhilesh :- vo kartik ki patni hai.

Doctor :- agar aap unhe bula denge. Toh thik rahega. Neend mein hote hue bhi patient baar baar unka naam le rahe hai.

With that doctor went away leaving everyone shocked. Swarna sat on the chair. Her consciousness was clawing at her. She knew deep inside that somewhere it was her fault that kartik started drinking. For two years she kept on blaming naira for her son's death but it was not the case. She didn't want to accept the reality. She was feeling guilty. Her stubbornness, her hate was the reason that kartik was in such condition. She had to rectify it. It was clear that although kartik never showed it, he missed naira, he yearned to see her and not being able to see her caused him to start drinking. To lessen his pain. She knew now that she was responsible for her children's condition. She had to apologise, had to accept the reality. She had to face the truth.