Thank you everyone for your response. So decided, will try my best to update once a week. And yes, we are back to present!

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Next morning Kartik got ready in formals. He wore a pair of pants and a royal blue blazer with a light grey shirt. He left the top two buttons of the shirt open. Shortly after getting ready, he drove to Singhania Mansion.

Singhanias were surprised to see him standing in front of their doorstep and that too so early. At first he seemed hesitant to go inside, as he noticed everyone was staring at him. Then keeping a straight face he entered the Mansion and greeted everyone. They also did the same.

Before they could bombered him with questions, Akhilesh (Kartik's Chachu) came from behind. Singhanias greeted him as well and he returned it with a smile. He was holding a thali that was covered with a silky red cloth. They understood it had shagun in it.

While Kartik remained quite, Akhilesh spoke "Humein office jana tha. Aab Kartik laut aya hai, toh humnein socha usse office jake ek baar dekh lena chahiye. Hum toh pehle se chahte the ye dheere dheere company ki responsibilities uthale. But isne kabhi mana hi nahi aur chala gaya abroad phirse. I mean pehle study ke liye aur phir job. Kher, abhi bhi ichha wahi hai! Aab dekhte hai, agar ye razi ho jaye!" Akshara and Naitik, who were standing in the front, both nodded at him in positive.

He continued giving a glance to Kartik "Paar aaj subah hi pata chala ki ye Bhai Sahab pehle apki yahan arehein hain. Toh mein bhi iske saath chala aya. Kaal raat Ma se baat hui thi na aap logo ki, toh socha shagun lane mein late kyun kare?! Phir Kartik bhi APNI BIWI, I mean Naira aur apne hone wale Bachhe se mil lega. Saath saath ye kaam bhi ho jayega."

While his Chachu openly teased him, Kartik immediately passed him a sharp look. Akhilesh looked at his nephew with a hidden smile and mouthed a silent sorry. Then he handed over the thali to Akshara and apologized "Sorry! Itna subah subah chale aaye bina inform kiye."

At that time, Akshara noticed Kartik's face that showed no remorse for showing up unannounced plus early. She just shook her head with a kowing smile and told Akhilesh "Please sorry maat kahiye. Humein khushi hai aap log aaye hai. Aur haan, iss baar hum Kartik ko andar aane de rahe hai. Next time, hum apne Damad ka achhe se welcome karna chahenge, aarti aur sare rituals ke saath!" Kartik remained quiet without making any eye contact with anyone, whereas Chachu said in agreement "Ji jarur!"

Before Akshrara could invite them inside, they heard Bua Dadi talking To Badi Dadi about Kartik "Kaveri manne pehle hi kaha tha ye Chora sehi nehi hoga. Humari Chori ko bari shaukh chadi thi prem vivah karne ki, vishwas tha uss Chore pe! Dekh liya uski natija? Je kia uss ki pasand ne! Chod diya na uss Chore ne usse! Aise Choro ko toh baas apni jarurat puri karne se matlab hai. Aur tabhi manne kaha tha Munna se ki apni Chori ne bilayet maat bhej, agar kuch uchh nich ho gayi toh hum ke karenge!"

Bua Dadi shook her head in denial as she continued "Manne toh jara bhi bharosa nahi hai aaj kaal ki Chora Chori pe. Aur vaise bhi in bato mein humari Chori toh gani bholi se. Usse thodi na hai koi samaj duniya dari ki! Lo je aab ho gayi na uchh nich!"

Her voice clearly gave out her distaste for their alliance "Shaadi karli toh ke ho gaya? Jaab tak uss Chore ki matlab ki baat thi, Chora Chori saath the! Jaab uss ka maan bhar aya, toh chod diya na humari Chori ko, wo bhi iss halat mein. Agar humari Chori ka na sahi, apne hone wale Bachhe ke bare mein toh kahyal kia hota? Manne toh kate na vishwas karu uss Chore paar."

They were walking to the sitting area while Bua Dadi kept talking. Suddenly they stopped, as they noticed the family memebers were gathered around the entrance of the house. As everyone made space, Akshara Naitik also moved aisde to give them the shocking view. Bua Dadi gulped seeing Kartik standing there, whereas everyone else became apprehensive with the sudden change in atmosphere.

Though Chachu seemed extremely disappointed; he kept a hand on Kartik's shoulder, as he was well aware of his nephew's bad temper. Kartik's face showed no emotion. The sharp features of his face hardened, as his calm demeanor was overtaken by a grim look. If only looks could kill, Bua Dadi would have been dead by now.

He thought with disgust "How could Naira's Bua Dadi think so cheap about me? Did her family also think the same? Did they really think I used their daughter and was with her just to fulfill my needs?"

He felt suffocated as more questions clouded his mind "Did they really believe that Naira and I shared a physical relationship only? There was nothing more between us, at least from side? It was all about my physical needs. Did they really think I wasn't in love with her, but I had lust for her? That I was solely interested in...."

He shut his eyes before he could think further. At that time his heart spoke "I would die a thousand times before even thinking like that about my relationship with Naira. How could Bua Dadi question my feelings for the woman I love with all my heart? How could anyone think so little of our love?"

He composed himself as his reverie broke with Bua Dadi's meek voice. Her voice held some sort of hesitancy "Aare Chora tu kab aya? Pehle bata deta, toh hum kuch taiyaari kaar lete! Akhir tu iss ghar ka Jamai hai!" Even though she managed to speak well, her face clearly gave away the hidden fear inside her.

Kartik disregarded her question deliberately. Instead he gave her a fake yet intimidating smile and taunted "Mein bohot galat ladka hoon! Iss liye aap dobara Naira ki rishta tey karne chali thi, wo bhi mere hi saath! Shayed taab apko ye nehi pata tha ki mein kaun hoon! Hai na Bua Dadi?"

Akshara, Naitik and Naksh were shocked with the revelation. They looked at Bua Dadi with anger in their eyes. Some of their family members were surprised as well, while Chachu looked away thinking, "how did Kartik find out about it? Humari family mein toh Bhai Sahab aur mere siva kisiko nehi pata!"

Everyone was forced to look back, when Kartik gave a sarcastic smile and answered her earlier question in a stern tone "Mere irade toh kuch aur the yaha aane ki. Paar aagar mein bata deta, toh mujhe pata kaise chalta apke itne achhe bichar hai mere baare mein. Achha hua ye sach sabke samne ageya. Mujhe iss baat ki bhi khushi hai ki ye saab dekhne ke liye Naira nehi hai yaha. Wo ye saab dekh nehi pati, usse bohot dukh hota apke muh se ye saab sunn ke. Khas kar iss halat mein, uski kisi bhi baat ko leke excited hona health ke liye achhi baat nehi hai."

Now Kartik had a scowl on his face. He spoke in an accusing tone "Kya laga aap ko aur Dadi ko? Ya jo bhi log involve the dono famileis se, ki kisiko kabhi pata nehi chalega? Haan shaadi ki baat kabhi aage nehi bari because uski jarurat hi nehi pari. Aur sach bolu toh agar humare ristey alag se bhi aate, toh bhi mein aur Naira ye kabhi hone nehi dete. Paar sach toh sach hota hai. Aap logo ne galat kia hai humare saath. Uski result jo bhi kyun na ho!"

He gave her a questioning cum angry look "Aab toh Naira aur mein aap familes ki pasand ki hai, iss liye shayed koi problem nehi hai humein accept karne mein! Phir bhi khatak rahi hogi na? Kyunki aap log galat prove huye hai!"

Kartik's tone became curious as he asked "Kya bataya hoga apne mere Dadi ko jo wo maan gayi? Naira ke dance, career, shaukh...saab kuch bataya na unhe? Mujhe toh Naira ke liye mana kaar diya tha! Phir aise kaise ussi ko hi choose kia mere liye? Aur mere Dadi ne bhi apko aisa kia kaha jo aap maan gayi, bawajood mujh mein apke bataye huye itne achhe qualities hote huye? Phir hum dono ka past bhi hona chahiye, agar aap logo ne bataya hai ek dusre ko jab rishtey ki baat ki thi? Wahi do log, wahi rishta! Saath mein past relations! Baas dobara aap logo ki through aya hai! Kaise maan gaye aap log?"

Bua Dadi had no answer to his legimate questions, so she fired back angrily "Chora bohot bol liya tune. Hum pe aisi ilzam maat laga. Manne kate hi jhut na bolu hu." Kartik shook his head in annyonece and snapped at her "Jhut nehi bolti hogi, but shayed sach chupaya ho! Ya phir aise baat rakkhi hogi aap logo ne ek dusre ke samne ki baat bhi baan jaye aur shaan bhi bani rahe. After all baccho ki khushi se pehle, khandan ki izzat aap saab ke liye bohot imporntat hai."

Then he looked at Natik Akshara "Naira ne bohot miss kia hai apni family ko. Especailly apne Mumma Papa aur Bhai ko." He paused before continuing and directly looked into Naitik's eyes "Dur toh kar dia tha! Lekin apka dil janta hai, aaj bhi apki beti apki Princess hai! Phir kyun?"

"Usse yakin tha agar uski Papa saath denge, toh saab theek ho jayega. Wo sabko mana legi. Lekin apne ne bhi usko akela chod diya."

His eyes tuned sad as he continued "Pata hai, usse kahi baar rote huye dekha hai meine. Tab bohot guilty feel hota tha mujhe. Ye sochke, kahi na kahi mere liye wo apni family se dur hai. Aur mein chahte huye bhi kuch nehi kar sakta tha. Usse apni family nehi lauta sakta tha. Lekin Naira ne kabhi ye jataya nehi hai mujhe. Wo toh apni ye dukh apni muskorahat ke peeche chupaleti thi, sochke kahi mujhe bura na lage. Apna dukh usse manzoor tha paar apne pyaar ki nehi."

He slightly smiled "Pagal thi wo! Pyaar toh akhir pyaar ho tha hai. Usse samajh ne ke liye bolna ya jatana jaruri nehi hota. Mujhe toh baas uski khushi chahiye hamesha se. Toh meine usse wahi diya jo mere paas tha, apna pyaar. Hum the ek dusre ke liye. Humara pyaar tha. Apne duniya mein, hum bohot khush the ek dusre ke saath."

"Paar parivaar? Kash ek mauka de diya hota apni Princess ko! Toh uski zindagi mein wo ek kami bhi puri ho jati. Kyun nehi diya?" saying Kartik looked away to hide his emotions.

After composing himself, he spoke with a horase voice "I accept galti meri thi. Uss din bohot gussa aya tha mujhe! Humara jhagra ho gaya aur jane anjane mein, meine apni Naira ko hurt kia. Na chahte huye bhi meine kuch aise bate kahi ki usse bohot dukh pauncha."

His eyes turned gloomy by now "Phir aur kuch aisa keh dia ki wo ghar chodke chali gayi. Uske baad apne gusse aur ego mein aake, meine cheeze aur bigar di. Samajh nahi araha tha; mein khafa Naira se tha, khud se ya halat pe."

He bowed down his head in guilt "Woh waqt hi kuch aisa tha! Janta tha mera gussa hamesha se hi mera dushman hai, phir bhi kuch nehi kaar paya! Baas Naira pe apni narazgi jata ta raha. Aaj baat yaha tak ageyi aur itni misunderstandings baar gayi hai humare beech. Aab jab sabse zayda mujhe uske saath hona chahiye, hum itne dur hai! Mujhe toh pata bhi nehi tha wo pregnant hai."

This time he looked up again and spoke with a firm voice "Haan mein naraz tha, gussa tha! But meine kabhi apki beti ko choda nehi tha. Wo apni mayke ya kahi aur bhi jake chup jati, mein usse dhund ke hi rehta. Kisiko pasand ho ya na ho, aap logo ki beti aab sifr meri hai. Aur usse mein apne aap se kabhi dur nehi hone donga! Alag hona toh bohot dur ki baat hai! Kyunki agar hum alag ho gaye, mein jee nehi paunga aur meri Naira toh jeete ji maar jayegi."

"Iss liye jo koi bhi Naira ko mujhse alag karne ki koshish karega, mein unse ladne se kabhi peeche nehi hatunga. Phir wo humari families hi kyun na ho." as he affirmed his thought, Kartik's gaze shifted to Bua Dadi immediately. He looked at her with murderous gaze "Agar aap mujhe do baate bhala bura bhi keh deti toh mein chup rehta, uff tak nehi karta. Magar apne Naira ke liye mere pyaar aur humare rishtey pe sawal uthaya hai. Wo mein kabhi bardasht nehi karunga."

His next words were more of an assurance to her parents "Chinta maat kijiye, Naira aisi koi decision lehi nahi sakti jisse usse baad mein pachtana pare ya uski parents ko dukh ho. Bohot pyaar karta hoon mein apki beti se. Aur jaab tak mein zinda hoon, mein apni Naira ka saath kabhi nehi chodunga. Ye kisi aur ke liye nehi, mere khud ka wada hai apne aap se."

There was an awarkrd silence after Kartik spoke his heart out. With the unexpeced turn of events everyone became very tensed. To divert everyone's attention, Akshara spoke as she led the way "Beta Kartik hum andar jake baat karte hai. Aap dono ayye na! Please come inside." With that, Chachu started walking inside along with Kartik. As they were walking, Kartik's eyes kept searching for that one person desperately. To his disappointment, he couldn't spot her anywhere nearby. His eyes then drifted to the stairs and Kartik let out a groan inwardly.

Precap: Papa-Baby Talk!

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