After a long time here is an update. This one is specially for @Ayantika_Bose, a very belated Birthday Gift to you. Hope it does compensate for my lateness.This is also for all the friends and readers, who have always been asking me about an update and waiting for so long. 

Give it a read if you still remember the story and would actually like to read. Let me know through votes and comments, what do you think!!

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When he finally went to claim her lips and just barely brushed hers with his, she turned away her face to the other side. Kartik tried to hold Naira's chin with his free hand, but she ended up hiding her face even more into the pillow. Realizing her disapproval at the moment, he backed off immediately........................

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Still, in that position, he shifted his gaze to their intertwined hands. Without letting go of her hand, he brought it close to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand and slowly placed it over the bed again, freeing it finally from his hold. Then he got up and came down to the level of her stomach. Knowing very well what he was up to, Naira tried to roll her body sideways and shift to the other side of the bed. However, Kartik was too quick for her. He held her by the waist and prevented her from turning at all.

He didn't look at her but what he said was directed at her only "Tum mujhe apne apse pyaar karne se rok sakti ho! Magar mere Bachhe se pyaar karne se mujhe kaise rok sakti ho, Naira!" He wasn't accusing his wife, nor his tone was angry. He just stated the truth in a calm tone, and she knew her husband was right!

Brushing his fingers above her waistline, Kartik sneaked his hand under the soft fabric of her saree and ran those long fingers of his over her navel so softly yet sensually that Naira's breath hitched, making her body react on its own accord. Next, he removed the thin fabric, exposing her yet flat stomach in front of him. Taking a brief pause, he stared at it and adored something that was invisible to the eye but well known to the heart. Soon placing his hand over her tummy, first, he gently rubbed his thumb over her smooth skin. Then stroked it with all the love and care.

On the other hand, Naira remained silent. However, the way her body was reacting to his every touch, it gave away all to him. He knew exactly what she was going through! Still, his wife would remain a stubborn kitten! The façade that "it doesn't affect me at all" she wouldn't give up on it too soon.

He simply continued with his wish to shower his wife and child with immeasurable love at his heart's content. Kartik dropped chaste kisses all over her stomach and spoke while caressing her belly one more time "Baby ko pata hai na, Papa apse kitna pyaar karte hai! Wo bhi Sabse Zayda!" After a pause, he spoke a bit loudly this time "Haan apki Mumma se bhi karte hai, but unko Papa ka pyaar nehi chahiye! So, it's ok! We are going to be in one team and let your Mumma be a grumpy tigress. Papa and Baby will have a lot of fun together." He exclaimed "Of course without your Mumma! Sirf aap aur mein!"

Finding no response still, he teased her more to get a reaction "Aab kia kare! Apse pyaar karne ke liye apki Mumma se bhi pyaar karna padta hai. Kyunki aap unke andar jo hai!" Now he lightly placed his ear near her stomach and spoke in a whisper "Sach bolu! Your Papa doesn't need a reason to love your Mumma but right now she is miffed with me. Mein unse pyaar toh kia, woh theek se mujhse baat bhi nehi karti! Aap meri help karenge na unko manane mein?!"

"Your Mumma said I don't love her. Aab ye bhi koi baat hui?! Mein bata nehi sakta mein unse kitna pyaar karta hoon. I love her the most in this world aur aab aap se bhi because you are the symbol of our love. I don't know what made her think so, but wo toh meri Jaan hai. Unke bina meri jaan jati hai. Aab unko main kaise manao? Aap hi boliye, Bachha!" asked Kartik so cutely, as if the tiny soul will actually answer his question.

He sadly continued, "Yes, Papa made a mistake but he is truly sorry! Unko maaf kardena chaihye na mujhe or at least punishment hi dede! Koi toh reaction de! If I didn't love her toh aap kaise hote!" Kartik said the last sentence a bit too loudly, which was heard by Naira.

Being embarrassed, the young father bit his tongue and shook his head upon realization. After all, he wasn't supposed to talk to his kid about such things. So he immediately composed himself, dropped a kiss on her belly and apologized "Sorry! Shouldn't have told you this. It's Mumma-Papa's secret only! Ok!" " Now you go to sleep. Papa has forgotten to lock the door. I will be right back and pacify your Mumma until you wake up." saying he nuzzled his nose over her belly, then brushed it with his fingers one last time and went to lock the door.

When Kartik came back, he found his wife has turned to the other side and was showing him her back. Her hand that was earlier clutching the pillow, it was now resting over her stomach. He noticed, along with his tie now her bangles were scattered over the other empty side of the bed as well. However, he didn't see any trace of her Mangalsutra. He assumed she has hidden it under the pillow, and he could only shake his head thinking that she was still trying to hide it from him.

As he approached closer, Naira felt the bed has dipped as he sat down right behind her. Immediately after that Kartik lay down next to her and took her in a back hug. His hand went on top her hand that was resting over her stomach and pulled her more in his embrace. While his hand has started playing with his wife's fingers, Kartik let his face rest in the crook of her neck.

Naira felt a shiver run down her spine as his warm lips came in contact with her soft skin. While he found her scent to be intoxicating, she felt her skin would burn any minute under his feathery kiss like touch. She took a sharp intake of breath as he hid his face even more and almost dug it into her skin. Her trance broke only when he spoke, "Do you know how much I have missed you?!"

This time also Kartik was expecting silence from her side but to his surprise, she almost spoke in a riddle "Phirse dil ki itne bhi karib maat aao that you end up regretting it later..." "One More Time!" she added shortly after while emphasizing on each word. In response to her puzzling talk, Kartik's hand left hers and his arm went around her collarbones, invading that sensitive area of her body as he carefully rested his arm over it, feeling those prominent bones of hers.

Naira didn't even realize when his other hand slipped underneath her and he was holding her by the abdomen as if taking her entire petite form halfway on top of him. Hand with which he was still circling her collarbones right above her chest, using its palm Kartik started to rub her shoulder soothingly that was in contact with the bed. After that, he planted a soft kiss over the delicate flesh of her neck and replied in that same tone "Ye doon dil dur hi kaab the jo phirse karib ayenge!"

Even though his wife's words sounded odd to the ears, he didn't ponder too much over them or let any second thought cloud over his mind. "But! If that's how you think, then let me!..." saying he paused and sensually ran his fingers over her clavicles as if drawing a certain pattern. He only stopped when they came over her other shoulder and completed his sentence, "Because I want to regret it my whole life." in an attempt to lighten her mood, not fully understanding or giving it a thought, what she really meant by that.

Then immediately Kartik dropped a wet kiss over the exposed skin of her shoulder, making Naira close her eyes in both pain and pleasure. Pain because of her wrong interpretation of his words and pleasure because of his sensuous touch. His hand traced down from her shoulder to her arm and found its way back to her hand that was clutching her stomach. When his one torture wasn't over yet, he started with another. His nose nuzzled her shoulder and soon started doing its work above her neck, tracking it along all the way from the shoulder, creating havoc inside her and evoking desires that she didn't want to think of or feel right now, fearing she would lose all her senses and end up giving up to him.

Kartik's not so sane actions came to a halt when his lips reached near her ears, but not before nuzzling the side of her face with his sharp nose passionately. He whispered in an audible tone that could solely be deciphered by her "Mujhe bohot kuch kehna hai tumse, paar uss se pehle mere liye ye jaan na jarori hai ki akhir aisa kya chal raha hai tumahri andar jo tumhe itna pareshan kaar raha hai! Please, batao mujhe! I know tum naraz ho mujhse, but there is something more that is bothering you. You are hurt; I feel it! And it hurts me to see you so hurt!" "I know maine bohot galtiya ki hai, and jane anjane mein sabse jayda tumhe dukh pauchaya hai, apni Naira ko." he told her feeling extremely guilty about the past incidents.

"I can't change any of it or take back those words that I have hurled at you in my anger. No sorry, no apology would be enough! But please let me heal you! Let me take away all your pain. Wo haar ek dard jo maine tumhe diya hai, mein apne pyaar se saab meeta dunga. Please, give your Kartik one chance!" he requested her almost in a pleading tone. "Naira, kuch toh bolo? Aise chup maat raho, please!" he told her as he squeezed her hand lightly and moved closer, pulling her in him even more, if that was possible at all.

"So I can leave myself vulnerable to you again!" saying she slightly pushed his hands away, freeing herself from his hold. It came out as a question cum accusation. Her next statement was more disturbing when she said, "Don't make me so weak that if I break again, I would never be able to gather myself together anymore."

Kartik immediately turned her on her back to face him, and asked her as he leaned over her "Tum aise kyun bol rahi ho?" Her face was void of any emotion, while worry lines were visible on his forehead. He didn't know what turn the conversation was actually taking or why would she say such a thing, but he did what he felt would be appropriate. At this moment he could only assure her and that's what he tried to convey to her when he said "Mere rehte, aisa kuch nehi hoga. Mein aisa kuch nehi hone..." "Tumne hi toh toda hai mujhe" saying she cut him off in between, leaving her husband dumbstruck and in a deep thought.

Taking the opportunity she got up. Kartik did the same involuntarily, as his mind was too occupied to think rationally. His eyes followed her every movement, but he was too numb to react. Her words kept echoing in his head as if they were piercing his brain like sharp painful needles. Her every word made him all the more desperate to know what was in her heart. He wanted her to complain, yell, and take out her frustration, anger or whatever it takes for her to open up. He wanted her to talk her heart out. He needed to know what was it that was hurting her so much. Which action of his had triggered so much pain inside her?"     

Upcoming: Naira became numb when he said "Chali jao tum! Tumhari Papa and family aab bhi neeche hi honge."--------One had red eyes while the other one was shedding tears............ A Dream or Reality??!!