I was in Singhania house today, it has been a week to that dreadful night. Kartik still won’t talk to me. I was there, for 2 days, couldn’t eat, couldn’t go about, couldn’t do anything but think about that horrible evening. I had tried calling him, he wouldn’t respond, I went I’m to office to talk to him, yet he didn’t answer. He would come at ashram, only when he knew I want there. Turn up at our flat so late in night that I would be sleeping. He slept in the same bed I knew by the creases in the sheet. But he wasn’t ready to talk.
I decided not to con him into it either, he will whenever he wanted to. I’ll have to keep patience till then. I kept going about my work, though mechanically.
It was as if a part of me was taken away from me, it crushed my heart to see this happening. I knew he loved me, but I had betrayed him so, he didn’t want to trust me. I was broken, so was he, but we were trying our best to not get our families involved into this. Without any discussion, we had agreed it was the best if we are not talking stayed only within us.
I couldn’t stay at our flat for more time, in that small little place, within a very short time, we had too many memories. Every corner, every inch of that place haunts me, shows he his turned back. I went there just to sleep, that too to make sure no one saw us, separate.
Papa called me to have food, I couldn’t deny, but this wasn’t a good idea. I wasn’t able to keep anything down. I tried eating, I really did, even when I was alone, but it didn’t pass through my throat. I was basically surviving on coffee, and bananas. That was all I could keep. Going down and eating with everybody is going to be a challenge. They’ll realise within one minute that there is something wrong.
“I actually had lunch papa, before coming here.” I lied to him, he gave me a knowing look. “Princess I’m yet your father. I do not have to hear in from you to know that there is something wrong.”
I gave him a guilty look, and went into his inviting arms. And cried, loosing it completely in his arms. Sometimes that is all one needs, a shoulder to cry on, I can solve all my problems, I’m a modern independent woman. But yet a woman, I had emotions, a supporting hand even if only morally, was I all I wanted.
“I’m sorry papa, I didn’t want to give you a scare. And anyway I and him always keep having a fight. We’ll get over this too.” I assured him.
“I know you would princess. I trust you, and Kartik. You don’t have to hide your emotions from us though. We are a family after all.” He told me. I nodded.
“Papa I’m going to GV today, I want to know the truth. And Manish Uncle and Suvarna maa are the only people who can help me with that and without their version of maa’s death and if there is any truth to it.” I said. “And if there is, to think about ways to convince Kartik of that truth.”
“You can do this my princess, you are your mother’s daughter. She had a knack of solving almost unsolvable things too, I trust you. An we are all with you in this, we owe this to Kartik for giving us our princess back.” He assured me.
I felt much better, better than I had in a week. I laughed at my immaturity, I knew my family was there, I could have easily told them. But no, I convinced my self in thinking that if I don’t tell them, they won’t understand it. I forgot that even if I was married now, he was yet my father. The person who never had required me to speak to know what I wanted. After all he was the person to first realise what Kartik and I had was probably not friendship.
I prepared my self to go to Goenka Villa. I knew Kartik would be more angry if I did, but I had to. I drove myself to the place, after taking a deep breath I stepped in.
Keerti di was the first one to see ne enter, “Naira, what a surprise. Come on in.” She said giving me a tight hug.
Just when dadi shouted, “No, do not dare enter. We do not want your presence in our house. You took away our Kittu as soon as you came in his life. Broke our family just after marriage, you cannot enter.”
I somewhere knew this would happen. I was prepared even, but it still did hurt. I was the person who had broken her family, suvarna maa and Keerti di tried to explain to dadi, but she was adamant.
“I won’t come in dadi, not until the day I bring back your Kartik back to you.” I told her. “I’m sorry for taking him away at the first place.”
“Maa can you please come and talk to me, whenever you find time.” Saying that I left GV, shattered. My fears were all true, they hated me. How much ever I knew this, to actually go and face them is difficult. I was gradually, walking out of the villa, tears on the brim of my eyes, I couldn’t control them once I crossed the gate. That was all the strength I had, I was walking down the road, not really thinking about where and what. I heard honking, some car may be, I ignored it. Someone tugged at my hand, he shouted, “Naira.”
The car just went past me, the wind shaking me, the person, kept his firm hold on me, clutching my wrists. I was an inch close to some mishap. But someone had come to my rescue. “What do you think you were doing? What are these buttons in your head for? What would we have done if something had happened? Do you even realise what would happen to your husband? My son?” Yes he was Manish Uncle. He has saved me.
Seeing my condition he said, “Come home. Get some water, I’ll even call a doctor and Kartik. He’ll take you home.” I tried to deny, “No uncle, I can go home, I’m fine. You needn’t worry.”
It would have worked if I hadn’t swayed on my feet while saying that, “Yea, I can see how fine you are, Shut up and come home. Only Kartik didn’t promise to take care of you, the whole Goenka family had. You are all of ours responsibility.” He said.
I shake my head, to deny, I was about to speak when he said, “I’ll drag you home if I have to, don’t argue. Don’t forget, I’m the father of your husband. I can be just as stubborn.”
I walked in with him, dadi tried to say something, when he said, “This is not the time maa. She almost met with an accident.”
“Oh my God, are you alright? Did you call a doctor. Keerti call your brother. Mansi get some water for her.” She fussed over me. She was like that, angry in a second, loving in next. I couldn’t understand her well. But then you never need to understand everything.
Authors notes-
So another chapter done, and my 20th chapter. Well it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you guys. Your words of encouragement, motivation.
About the chapter, in the last part I know we haven’t see that side of MG and KDadi yet, but there are glimpses which make me believe in this. If you ask me to explain I probably wouldn’t be able to, but they do care, it’s just their way is very very different. At least they both love K very much, so they know importance of Naira in his life. And she is important for them too. This may seem farfetched right now, but that’s what I think, do tell me what are your views on this topic.
And wedding is here, everything but the wedding is done. I hope you are all watching it, after all its Kaira Vivaah. It looks so exciting.
Keep commenting. Keep loving kaira, shivin and yrkkh.
Happy reading.