Thank you everyone for your love and support. I may not be able to update anytime soon as Eid Al-Adha is nearing. Still will try to do another one before taking the break. No promise though!

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Yes, Naira knew whenever he was angry with her; it was better to leave him alone for sometime. Sooner or later his anger always vanished in the irresistible presence of his dear wife. It didn't matter what was the reason behind his anger because at the end all he ever needed was his Naira by his side to pacify him.

Today she just couldn't let him be that way. She wanted to spend the last one-hour with him celebrating one of the most memorable days of their lives. She was way too excited to tell him about their baby and see the happiness on his face. Her sole intention was to make the day special for him before it came to an end. But everything went wrong!

It pricked him to see tears in her eyes, but he couldn't think straight right now. His mind was clouded with rage; while his emotions were overpowered by the turmoil he had been going through in last few months. When she didn't say anything, he continued in irritation "Iss se achha toh tum kisi company mein job karti, at least kuch rules and regulations toh hote. And why is it always you? Ananya is also responsible for this academy as much as you are. Tumhe hi kyun saab sambhal na hota hai?!" He paused and said in a sarcastic tone "It's because tumhe sabki problems solve karni hoti hai! Baas khud ki chodke."

Naira's eyes shot up at this and shook her head in disbelief as she spoke "When your team needs you, do you leave them on their own or actually work together to solve the problem?" Her voice cracked as she continued "Meine toh kabhi complain nehi kia when you need your time?! I know I couldn't make enough time for us and I am always sorry for that. Lekin ye sirf kuch waqt ke liye hai Kartik. Kya mujhe itna bhi haq nehi hai apne team ke liye karne ka?"

He told her bluntly "No, I don't leave them, but we do have our own individual responsibilities. In team, you don't leave one person to shoulder all the workloads. What's the point of having a team and people working for you, if you have to worry about every single small thing? And please don't talk about my work. I do need the time because it's very important. There are so many people, who are associated with our company, and companies from all over rely on us."

Then he spoke after a pause "Plus it's not like you have to work. I do earn more than enough for both of us. You wanted to open the academy and you did. Good, but...."

Kartik stopped at once realizing what nonsense he was blabbering. He just sounded like one of those male chauvinists, who love to keep their wives hidden under their clutches and gain satisfaction seeing them living under their mercy. He closed his eyes in exasperation. Kartik thought; he should get a tight slap for being a self-centric jerk, who went too far to boast his ego in his anger.

However, he didn't mean any of it. That was not what Kartik wanted to say. Hell he would never think or even dream of saying such words to his Naira. But oh well he just did! It was as if someone let loose a wounded lion, who didn't think twice before destroying everything in his path. And this is what happens when you have no self-control over your anger. Now the damage was done.

Though a bit late, Kartik realized he just did something terribly wrong and he was ashamed of it. He didn't have the guts to meet her in the eyes. He so wanted to apologize, but his best friend "The Temper" and his Elephant Size Ego didn't let him. Alas he wasn't ready to accept his mistakes yet!

Naira looked at his bowed down head with her hollow eyes. She never imagined that he would ever say such hurtful words to her. Did he really think so lowly of her work? She spoke with a disheartened voice "Kartik it was my dream to open the academy, not theirs. No matter how many people work for us, or whoever is involved in the academy, still it is my responsibility to oversee everything. I have to make sure everything goes smooth. No one can think better for the academy, but me."

She paused and took a deep breath. As she continued her tone became stern "And if you think it's not important after working so hard to get here, then I have nothing to tell you. I don't run it only for money. I need to run it because it gives me happiness. Agar tum chahte ho ki mein ye chod doon and ghar mein bethi rahon, then I am sorry! It's not possible. I can't shatter hundreds of people's dreams. They depend on this academy. Their future depends on it, and I am not that selfish to crush their hopes."

Naira wiped the fresh tears with the back of her hand. She didn't want to cry, not at least now. She wasn't that weak. Nevertheless she couldn't control it. Getting her voice back, she told him something that she would never have done in her right senses "What else can you expect from the guy, whose family has the very same mindset? Jinko ek self-independent ladki nehi, baas apne ghar ke liye ek Bahu chahiye tha. Aur dance karna toh tumhare khandan ki Shaan ki khilaf hai. Hai na? But I never thought the man I fell in love with, he would sound so selfish today? Tum aise toh nehi the?"

And all hell broke loose! Though her opinion about his family wasn't wrong, her allegations regarding him...that did it! How could she think like that about him?! Oh well! Yes! He was a jerk, an asshole, a hotheaded pig...and may be many more things at times. But he was nothing like his family, and definitely not a selfish person. He loved her for who she was. He loved everything about her...her work, her passion, her dreams, her innocence, her self-confidence....simply everything...inside and out. With time his love and respect for her only increased manifold. He freaking loved her so so much that it was even beyond his own imagination.

If no one, he wanted her every dream to come true. He knew what this academy meant for her and that's why he made sure to get rid of every obstacle that came her way. He never thought low of any profession, and never differentiated between men and women. To Kartik, his Naira and him were always equal. He believed sheer hard work and dedication could take you to any heights. And he had witnessed how hard she had worked for this academy to bring it to this position. Kartik always wanted Naira to be as successful as him, if possible even more.

Now his few words and she blamed him without thinking twice! In their quarrel, what Kartik failed to process was that what she told him was also in the heat of the moment, just like he did to her. It didn't come from her rational thoughts, and rather was an impulsive reaction due to her being hurt by his words. As a consequence Kartik, who still didn't calm down, his anger went to a different level.

He spoke in a menacing tone "Meri family buri hai theek hai. Paar tumhari family kaunsi alag hai? If you were to really go back to them, would they let you open the academy or fulfill any of your dreams? Shayed nehi! Aur mujhe kaunsa accept kia hai unhone?!" And that did hurt her, because he was right!

She still cried over the fact that her family had abandoned her, especially her father. Even though unintentionally, Kartik just had to push it far, even after being aware of that harsh truth and make her feel terrible all over again.

Now he looked directly into her eyes, as if to penetrate deep into her soul "Agar mein itna hi bura hoon toh mujhe chod kyun nehi deti tum?" His tone was challenging, as if he was testing her patience.

Naira looked at him shocked and heartbroken. She became numb as his words replayed in her head over and over again. Her face turned pale and she looked so vulnerable. She didn't even realize when he stepped forward and closed the distance between them. Kartik grabbed Naira by her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her body came to a standstill as it crashed against his hard one. Their faces were inches apart as he whispered in an emotionless tone "Why don't you leave me then and be happy with your life?!"

Listening to his harsh words, she remained like a statue and kept staring at him without blinking. As her voice betrayed Naira, her eyes conveyed the message to him. When Kartik couldn't take her motionless gaze at him anymore, he let go of her with a jerk. He closed his eyes as he almost shouted "Chodke chali jao mujhe. I will not stop you. Mein rehlunga tumhari bagair." And it did pierce his heart! He then looked away as he said "You know what? Iss se tumhe bhi shanti milegi aur Mujhe bhi chutkara. Perhaps the time has come when we choose our separate paths." With that he left the room banging the door behind him really hard. He straight went to the guest room and closed himself inside.

On the other hand, Naira slid down on the floor clutching her belly. She didn't cry or even move from her spot. She kept looking at the door thinking he would come running inside and hold her in his embrace. He would take away all her pain and hurt. He would console her and heal her by showering her with his love.

Her Kartik would say that he was sorry and didn't mean any of it. He would tell her that he didn't want her to leave him. Even if she tried, he would never let her do that. He did want her just as much as she wanted him, and his life would be meaningless without her. But to her disappointment, the door remained closed as dead.

Precap: The last part to their past!

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