Flashbacks Continued-
It was the day when they were getting engaged finally. Kartik and Naira both woke up with a happy smile over their beautiful faces.
K "Aaj toh humari.."
N "Sagai hai.."
"Yayyy!!" They were happily celebrating at their respective places.
Naira took a dubatta and covered her head coming in front of mirror. She did some drama while he imagined her that way and compliment her with his "Hayee" to which she blushed.
"Sab acha hoga." They assured each- other and waited for the day.
___
"Kaha hai Kartik?" His Dadi asked.
K "Dadi! Gooddd morning." He said hugging her cheerfully.
"Chalo humare saath. Mujhe kuch saman ke liye jana hai."
K "Jana zaruri hai kya Dadi. I mean.."
"Kyu tumhe koi kaam hai.
Mansi "Dadi, samjho nah. Bhai ko Naira bhabhi se jo milne jana hai." She said teasing him.
K "Mansi ki bachi." He glared at her to which she laughed.
"Kya Kittu itna bhi sabar nahi horaha tumhe?" She sighed.
K "Acha ab sab mujhe chida na band kariye aur chaliye. Jaldi wapas bhi aana hai." He ran from there in embarrassment.
"Humari Kittu ki khushi pe kisi ki nazar na lage." They all prayed for the same.
He got ready and his Dadi was already waiting for him in the car. But he was about to sit in the car while another car passed by them. It stopped and to his shock Sahil was there.
K "Tum yaha?" He asked shocked. Sahil smirked at him not answering his question.
"Maine bulaya hai usse." Manish said coming towards him.
Sahil "Hello Uncle. Hi Kartik. I never thought we would meet this soon." He was definitely saying this sarcastically.
K "But how could you come.. I mean.."
Sahil "I just came back from abroad yesterday. Aur tumhari engagement hai main kaise nahi aata." He plastered a fake smile on his face.
K "Happy to meet you again."
He hugged him and whispered "kismat achi thi usbaar isliye bach gaya. So be careful this time."
Sahil "Let the time decide."
K "Let's see."
Manish "Beta tum jao. aur rest karlo. We are going somewhere."
Sahil "Sure Uncle."
Kartik gestured Mansi and Shubham to take care of him untill he comes back.
___
Naira came downstairs. All the preparations was going on.
"Naira beta uth gayi. Tere liye haldi wala lap tyaar karwayi hai maine." Said her Nani.
N "Lekin suniye toh..Nani." But she left in hurry.
Seeing her brother, she went to check what was he doing.
N "Bhai."
Naksh "Dekh Naira. Abhi bohot busy hoon. Bhaisaab aap yeh kya kar rahe hai. usse dyaan se kijiye. Aur tum ye fix karo jaldi." He was also busy fixing the things.
She sighed and came to the kitchen.
N "Mumma. Aap kya bana rahi hai. Yeh cupcakes! Papa ne banaya hoga." She ate it quickly.
N "Yummy! Papa ke cupcakes ka toh koi muqabla hi nahi." Akshara laughed at her cuteness.
Akshara "Tumhari dress aur sabkuch ready hai nah. Last moment pe mujhe kuch nahi sunna. Mumma yeh fix nhi horha. yeh vo.."
N "Haan Mumma. sab dekhliya. sab theek hai."
Akshara kept her hand on her head as she was a little bit emotional.
Akshara "Humesha khush raho."
N "Kya Mumma! Itna kyu senti horahi ho aap. Aaj sagai hai bidhaai nahi." She hugged her mumma.
Akshara "Tum khush ho toh hum bhi khush hai. Ab Maa ka maan hai toh emotional hona toh normal hai nah. Acha tum jao. Tumari Nani ne haldi ka lap ready kia hai."
N "Haan mujhe pata hai. I'm just going."
___
Naira walked into the living room only to see Keerti trying to hang some flowers on wall with the support of a chair. She instantly held her hands and stopped her.
N "Bhabhi yeh aap kya kar rahi hai. Aap bhi nah. Apko kya zarurat hai yeh sab karne ki." She made her sit.
Keerti "Toh tum hi batao main kya karu. koi kuch karne hi nahi de raha. Bore hogayi hoon main. Please mujhe karne do na."
N "Bhabhi yeh kya zidh hai. Acha aap kuch aur kariye nah. Mere sath chaliye. Mujhe help chahiye apki."
Keerti "Naira woh sab chodo. Chalo bahar jate hai."
N "But Bhabhi, Bhai ko pata chala toh."
Keerti "Tum kuch mat batana. Hum bas jaldi ajayenge nah."
N "But phir bhi."
Keerti "Please.."
N "At least Mumma ko bata de."
Keerti "Nahi.."
N "Theek hai chaliye."
They both left the house unaware of something major was going to happen in their lives.
___
K "Dadi! Aur kitna time lagega?" He asked impatiently.
Suwarna "Keep patience Kartik. itna kya jaldi hai tumhe?"
Though they were teasing him but he was worried thinking about Sahil. But how to explain them that he was being impatient for a reason only.
K "Should I call Naira?" He thought and dialed her number instantly.
K "Naira, Are you okay?" He asked as soon as she picked up the call.
N "I'm absolutely fine. Mujhe kya hona hai."
K "Please take care. I love you." He said then waited for her response.
N "Hmm."
K "I said I love you."
N "Okay." She couldn't reply as Keerti was sitting beside her.
K "Hmm?"
N "Hmm!" He chuckled understanding someone was next to her.
Cutting the call, he decided to call Mansi She might update him about Sahil.
K "Is Sahil at home?" He asked directly.
Mansi "He is not at home Bhai."
K "Okay!" He cut the call thinking where he must have gone.
Just then his phone rang. That was an unknown number. He picked it up soon.
K "Hello?"
Sahil "Kartik, it's me, Sahil."
K "Why did you call?"
Sahil "I am planning to do something."
K "Don't you dare! Not this time."
Sahil "Kartik, listen to me before you regret." He said in a serious tone and Kartik was shocked to the core hearing him.
____
Keerti "Okay, let's go! Naksh ko pata chal gaya hoga."
N "Bhai toh mujhe hi dantenge. Oh no!"
Keerti "What?"
N "Bhai ka call."
Naksh "Tumdono bahar kyu gaye. Aur Naira tu bhi. Keerti is not feeling well. Is halat mein bahar kyu gayi woh. Abhi ke abhi ghar aao tumdono. Actually wait. Main aaraha hoon pick karne." She heard his scoldings just after receiving the call.
N "Bhai, please calm down. We are just coming. Keerti di ka maan horaha tha kuch bahar khane ka isliye."
Naksh "You could have informed me. Tumlog bhi nah."
N "Aapko aane ki zarurat nahi hai. Hum ajayenge."
Naksh "Okay. I am not coming. But please safely aajana."
N "Don't worry. I will manage."
Naksh "Fine. Come soon."
Naira turned to Keerti who was saying sorry to her.
N "Dekha bhai kitna gussa kar rahe the."
Keerti "It's okay Naira. Aaj main drive karungi."
N "Bhabhi aap?"
Keerti "Please nah Naira. Tum na mere liye ice cream leke aao."
N "Aur kuch?"
Keerti "Bas..itna hi."
N "Ohho bhabhi!"
Naira went to a ice cream shop and got her the ice cream. As per Keerti's demand, she was driving.
For a few minutes they were having fun on the ride but suddenly Keerti felt she was not able to balance the car.
Keerti "Naira? I think brake kaam nahi kar raha."
N "What?"
They both started to panic not knowing what to do.
N "Bhabhi, calm down. Please try to slow down the speed."
Keerti "Naira nahi horaha mujhse." She said helplessly.
The next moment they could only hear each-other's loud scream.
___
Naksh was the first one to receive Naira's call and he rushed to the accident area. Naira not being much injured informed his brother first and he didn't waste a minute taking her to the hospital.
Naira didn't get much injuries but Keerti had a very bad crush with her head so her condition was serious.
"I did examine Naira's injuries. Nothing serious. But I can't say anything about the other patient." The doctor said and everyone in the hospital was much worried about Keerti hearing those words.
Naksh felt heartbroken when his father held him at the right time.
Naitik "Naksh, hold yourself."
While Kartik reached the moment Naira came out of the doctor's cabin. She had a bandage on her hand. His heart ached seeing her in that condition but something stopped him to go near her at that moment. Also he was worried about his sister.
Naira was completely shaken at the sudden event of her life. Her family was present there. Her Papa and Mumma came running to her first checking her wounds if she was fine. She assured them she was.
Her eyes went on her Kartik who didn't meet her eyes like everytime. Maybe he was too shaken to say anything. She thought to give him some space.
Akshara "Naira, You okay nah? Tum pehle baitho. Aur batao yeh sab hua kaise?" She asked sobbing.
Naira slowly narrated the whole accident where as everyone heard it.
"Toh yeh sab tumhari galti hai?" She heard Dadi saying that.
N "Dadi, main woh actually.."
"Tum usse bahar leke hi kyu gayi Naira?"
N "Dadi, aap galat samajh rahi hai. Main bas.."
Naksh "Doctor. Keerti thik hai nah." The doctor appeared interrupting the conversation.
Doctor "I am sorry to say but Keerti is in coma."
They all got shattered listening this news.
Naksh sat in the bench not uttering any word. Kartik leaned towards the wall. This was cruel to even hear. Naira was the first one to react.
N "Doctor what are you saying? This can't.. happen! Coma.. no way.. she is fine.. Aap..aap.. please phirse check.. Bhai aap tension mat lijiye. kuch nahi hoga unhe. Doctor you must be mistaken." She stammered shivering at the thought of her Bhabhi being coma.
Kartik could see her condition getting worse but he was completely broken hearing the news.
Naksh "Keerti teri responsibility thi Naira." He was blaming her for sure.
N "Bhai?" She looked at him with wet eyes.
Naksh "Keerti ki yeh halat aaj sirf teri vajah se hua hai." He said and Naira looked at him shocked.
Kartik also didn't think it was coming. Naira could never stand the fact her brother blaming her for such a big reason. He just wanted to hug his Naira tight at that moment. But something stopped him. Something!
N "Nahi Bhai.. aisa nahi hai."
Akshara "Naksh, what are you saying?"
Manish "Sahi kehraha hai. Naira ki vajah se hua hai yeh sab. Abhi mujhe police ka call aaya tha. Woh car ka brake fail tha. Kisine janbujh ke kiya yeh sab. Aur tumhare alawa aur koi nahi tha waha par."
Naitik "Baas! Manish jii. Aap kehna kya chahte hai?" He asked angrily because everyone was blaming her for no reason.
"Sach toh sach hota hai beta. Ab humari Keerti ki halat aisa hai toh sirf aur sirf Naira ki vajah se." Dadi said snapping at her.
Naira ran to her Kartik who was the only one to give her comfort at that situation. She hugged him tight crying heavily.
N "Kartik, dekho nah sab kya bol rahe hai. Tum toh jante hona main aisa nahi kar sakti. You trust me nah?" She asked hopefully. But he was just silent.
Taking a deep breathe he pushed her and dragged her to the room where Keerti was sleeping like a lifeless body.
N "Kartik?"
K "Tumhe koi idea bhi hai yaha kya hua hai! Kyu kiya tumne!"
She was speechless at his outburst .Thunderstruck. Still she chose to keep a calm face.
N "Kartik. I can understand! Main samajh sakti hoon tumpe kya guzar rahi hogi. Lekin please aese mat kaho nah Kartik. please!
Ekbaar meri baat suno. I didn't.."
K "Tum kuch nahi samajh sakti. Yeh sab jo bhi hua hai. Sab tumhari vajah se hua hai." He shouted at her breaking her completely. She was stunned at her position.
N "Kartik? Please ekbaar meri baat...sunlo.. please.. Kartik.. I know tum gussa ho abhi. Tum meri baat samjhoge. Please Kartik." She was crying non-stop. But he was not going to melt. Maybe controlling himself from breaking apart.
N "Kartik!" She whispered not recognizing the person standing before her. He was not her Kartik.
K "Akela chod do mujhe. Please!" She wiped her tears and went close to him.
N "Sachmein chali jaungi Kartik." She said with a unreadable expression.
He was scared to the core from inside when she said that but something was literally holding him tight to not embrace her.
K "Haan haan chali jao. Aur yeh dhamkiya mat dena mujhe! Because from now on I hate you Naira! I HATE YOU!"
That was enough to break her heart into pieces. Suwarna, Akshara tried to talk to her but she left for her home alone. She was broken from emotionally and mentally. While he just stared at her from far feeling helpless.
___
Naira was packing her things because she wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. Her eyes went to the decorations around the whole house. A painful smile escaped her lips as she recollected the reality.
She got a call in the meantime. Wiping her tears, she received the call."
N "Hello?"
"Naira, Rishab here."
N "Anything important?"
Rishab "Naira, I am so sorry to disturb you at this moment. But mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai."
N "Rishab if it is not that important then let it be please." She said uninterested.
Rishab "No Naira. I can't let you ruin your life."
N "What do you mean?"
Rishab "I got a information about Kartik. And you will be shocked to hear this he is cheating on you Naira."
His words made her more angry. She was not a person to believe in anybody's words. Of course she was angry at him but he can't do this to her. She had that trust on him.
Rishab "I know it's your engagement today. But I'm your friend Naira. And your well-wisher too. Please understand."
N "Just shut up! Rishab kuch bhi mat bolo. And please don't call me again. Mera mood vaise bhi kharab hai."
Rishab "Mujhe pata tha tum nahi manogi. I have proofs. I'm sending you right now. See and tell me your decision."
N "What nonsense! Yeh sab.." She was not in a good state of her mind. Top of that his provoke actually worked as her mind started to doubt his love.
Rishab "Kartik is just using you Naira. Move on Naira. All the best. Bye."
N "He didn't trust me. He never loved me." She cried more and more.
"I love you Naira..Main humesha tumhare sath rahunga. Main tumpe kabhi give up nahi karunga. I promise.. I love you."
Those words rang in her ears causing more pain to her heart. She could not hear those fake words anymore.
N "I hate you Kartik! I hate you because you never loved me."
___
"Keerti is out of coma. Her injuries are yet to heal but she is out of danger." The doctor said and everyone was happily thanking God.
Naksh "Thank you so much, doctor."
Doctor "She is really lucky."
Naksh "Hum mil sakte hai unse?" He asked
Doctor "Yeah! Sure. But patient kisi Naira ki naam lerahi thi. I think she wants to meet her first."
Everyone got sad thinking how they blamed her. Kartik was broken already. Only he knew why he did that.
___
Keerti "Naira kaha hai? Aap please usse bulaye. Woh bechari kudhko blame kar rahi hogi."
Akshara "Beta ab bohot der hogayi hai. Sab apna apna bhadass nikal chuke." She looked at everyone angrily specially at Kartik who didn't meet her eyes feeling guilty.
___
N "Can somehow my flight get preponed? I want to leave today itself."
"Yes Ma'am, surely we can manage. We will send you the details right away."
N "Thank you." She cut the call and gave a last look to her sweet home.
N "I hate you Kartik. Itni hadhtak nafrat karungi tumse jitna kabhi kisine kisise nahi kiya hoga."
She didn't cry at all. But a lone tear escaped her eye.
N "I hope phir kabhi tumse mulaqat na ho. I will make sure we never cross paths again."
N "Sorry Mumma-papa. Aaplogo ko bina bataye ja rhi hu. Lekin apka yaha hona jaruri hai. I hope sab jaldi thik hojaye. Aur aap sab humesha khush rahe."
She closed her eyes to see his reflection. She hated him the most at that point. Keeping her emotions aside, she headed towards the airport.
__
Kartik walked inside Singhania Mansion only to find it empty. She was nowhere. His heartbeat raised thinking where she was gone.
K "Naira.. Naira!" There was no response to his call.
He went to her room and a letter was kept on table. Reading the letter he was dumbstruck. She didn't really write much but just mentioned "Goodbye"
"Kartik? Naira hai gharpe? Kuch bolo beta!" It was his Nani on the phone call.
K "She left Nani. Chali gayi mujhe chodke. Chali gayi woh." He whispered and broke down crying.
**************
Do you think Kartik is hiding something? Yeah? Then keep thinking until I update the next. Hehe. Do vote and comment if you liked the chapter. Take care ~J💕