Hello Everyone.
Chapter 67
When they meet……
Karthik felt his heart was going to throb out of his chest as he walked towards the rehearsal hall. He took a deep breathe in and pushed open the door.
Dressed in a loose black frock which reached till her knees naira had just finished her dance and, now stood near the stereo player deciding which song to play next. Since she had almost no intake of food from the morning, she felt weak and slightly dizzy. Then she felt a breeze graze her back as the rehearsal hall’s door opened. Her heartbeat became very fast and then she heard a familiar voice say,
“Finally…..” Karthik almost whispered.
Naira turned around with a gasp and her astonished eyes met with his. She stood where she was , rooted to the spot, her brain not functioning properly. Karthik briskly covered the distance between them.
She pressed back against the stereo table as Karthik left barely half an inch space between them. Naira just stared at him stunned into disbelief. Involuntarily, her lips whispered, “Karthik” as if the name was a part of her breath.
Hearing that Karthik lost the last shred of his control and taking her into his arms he kissed her mouth deeply as if trying to draw some life from her into his own lifeless heart. Naira was shocked to the core. He had never kissed her so possessively before.
Her mind had loads of question. How did her reach here ?!! Why was he here ?!! Had he been searching for her ?!! Why did it take him a year to find her ?!! Had he come back to apologise ?!! Did he want her back in his life ?!! Was she dreaming or was it really happening ?!!
Karthik kissed her until he felt her growing limp in his tight grip. Realizing what he was doing to her he pulled his face away and looked at her streaming eyes with his own wet ones. He had barely said “Naira” when she grew totally limp and fainted in his arms.
He looked shocked at an unconscious Naira in his arms. Great, He hurt her again !!
He shook her gently and patted her cheeks as he called out her name so as to wake her up. She gave no response. He lifted her up in his arms and was able to do so with less effort than he expected. She has almost become weightless. She has lost a lot of weight in the past year he thought.
This was not his Naira, he thought. No colour in her cheeks. So silent and not blabbering like a kid. No curvy and wavy figure. No mischief in her eyes. He had missed her but she has completely changed in this one year.
He carried her outside to the reception area to lay her down on the sofa that was present there. Just as he was about to touch her forehead, he head the creek of the opening of the door.
He heard a gasp and turned around to find his mother in law gaping at him and Naira. She looked completely shocked. She regained her posture and looked at Naira’s sleeping form on the couch.
“What happened to her ?!!” Naira’s mother cried.
“I don’t know. She just fainted. I hurt her again, I guess ” lamented Karthik.
“ She hasn’t been able to eat any food today. She is probably weak due to that. Can you please help me take her to our apartment. Its just across the street.” Naira’s mom spoke, rubbing her daughters hand to bring some life into her.
Karthik just nodded his head. He was quite surprised at the trust she put in him, when she knew what her daughter had gone through just because of him. He also wondered since when do they live in an apartment ?!! Where was Mr. Singhania ?!! How had he allowed his daughter to pursue her dream ?!!
All these thoughts and questions circled Karthik’s mind but he shifted his focus to his life lying there on the couch. She was more important than any of this right now.
Karthik lifted Naira in his arms again. He followed his mother in law as she walked into the building just opposite to the dance academy’s one. They entered into a flat and Naira’s mom showed him to their bedroom. Kartik gently placed Naira on the bed. She had started moving and whimpering in the lift itself. Now she weakly opened her eyes.
Karthik left her side and stood by the door of the room. Naira’s mother went out and brought a glass of milk for her.
“ Naira, please drink some milk. You will feel better.” Her mom said and forwarded the glass of milk towards her mouth. Naira didn’t hesitate this time and gulped the whole glass in a few minutes. She was faminished.
When she finished the milk, she looked around at her surroundings and found herself in her bedroom. How did she reach here ?!! Last she remembers she was in her rehearsal hall.
“ How did I reach here mumma ?!!” Naira asked and as if on cue her eyes travelled to the door of the room. She saw him. Her eyes captured him. So he really was here. Atleast one of her questions was answered.
Naira stared at Karthik. Karthik stared back at Naira. They just kept looking at each other. Trying to calm their incessant craving for each other for the whole year that they had been separated.
“Are you feeling any better now ?!!” Karthik asked, finally breaking the silence.
“Yes. How come you are here ?!!” Naira asked, trying to get answer for one of her earlier questions.
“ I had some work.” Karthik replied honestly.
“Oh..” Naira whispered. So he didn’t come here looking for her. Another answer !!
Understanding that her two kids needed some time alone, Naira’s mumma got up and left the room so as to give them the privacy that they needed. As his mother in law walked out, Karthik came and sat next to Naira at the edge of the bed.
He hesistantly took her hand into his and rubbed his thumb on hers. Naira was soo lost in his eyes that she didn’t deny when he tried to touch her. She still couldn’t believe that he was here, right in front of her. Karthik tried to observe the change in her features.
“ I missed you.” Karthik stated silently, looking deep into her eyes.
“ Me too.” Naira replied softly.
He then started delicately, “ We need to start packing. We can stay at the hotel where I am staying currently and then leave for delhi tomorrow morning.”
Naira looked at him with wide eyes. Has he lost his mind. For a moment she thought that he had changed but no, he was back to his own self. Forcing his decisions on her. Not even bothering to ask her what she wanted. She was noway going to live with him, when he did not even trust her.
Naira suddenly became serious and looked at Karthik who looked very tensed.
“I am not going anywhere. This is my life now. I have to support my mumma as well. How can you come up suddenly and invade into my life like that. Anyway, you did not come here searching for me. It was a business trip. ” Naira stated her stand.
To control the upsurge of emotions and tears, she got up and walked out towards the balcony of her room.
Karthik’s heart sank. Then, he walked out behind her. Karthik went and stood next to Naira who was leaning on the balcony railing. She was crying now, and it pained his heart to see her like that.He was again the reason for her tears. Karthik let her cry for some time.
“Naira, it’s true that this business trip wasn’t intended to search for you. But for the past one year I have been looking for you like crazy. I almost became insane when you left. ” Karthik said breaking the silence.
“I don’t believe you ” Naira Replied.
“You insulted me so much, and distrusted everything I said.You ought to accept the fact that you never trusted me. Our relationship was just the physical attraction that we had for each other. Also I am no more your wife. I have signed the divorce papers.” Naira said further.
“Which landed up all torn in dustbin the day you left me. You are still my legally wedded wife. We are still man and woman, Naira.” cried Karthik.
“Why ?!! What changed your mind ?!! Suddenly, you fell in love with me ?!!” asked Naira wiping her wet face with the back of her sleeve.
“Not suddenly Naira”. Karthik replied.
Then he realized the futility of trying to explain anything to her now as she wouldn’t believe what he said. She wouldn’t believe that he was already in love with her and that he was going to propose her, on the same night when they had that big fight. She wouldn’t believe that it was her father who had manipulated him to believe that she was in love with Rithvik.
Also even if she believed that, it would only hurt her that he had again trusted her father and not her. He didn’t wish to mention about reading her diary as he could not interpret her reaction. She might totally misunderstand him. There was also a possibility that she would think he was trying to pursue her only because he knew she was in love with him.
Now was not the time to explain her his situation. If she knew what he had believed about her, she would never come back to Delhi. She would only be hurt that he would ever think that she was in love with some other man. The misunderstanding about her and rithvik should be kept under wraps for now. That was beneficial for both of them.
Karthik tried to hold her in his arms but Naira just pushed him away. Karthik was taken aback by her action. Anger started to boil inside him and he decided to walk out of the room to control himself.
He walked angrily into the living room and sat down on the couch. Naira’s mom saw his state and asked him to calm down by keeping a hand on his shoulder. Then she went into her bedroom only to see Naira broken down and sobbing sitting on the balcony floor.
Precap : Naira’s decission !!
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Ohkay, so I want to clear that they are not divorced. They are still very much married as Karthik tore the papers and threw them in the dustbin.
The next Chapter will have a sweet mother daughter conversation and also a cute kaira moment. Naira’s decission coming up in the next Chapter. She won’t forgive him that easily. Our Karthik is up for a huge and hard task of convincing Naira and also making her realise that he loves her.
Since the majority of you liked the marraige track walla idea in the last Chapter, I have decided that I will add that as well before I end this FF. Also will be starting with a new work once this one ends !!
Do comment. Keep smiling. Keep watching Yrkkh !!