a twist in the tale; swabhiman (chapter 5)

on the walk back to the house, things started to get a little quiet. kunal didn’t bring up naina’s alcohol tolerance again, naina didn’t talk to karan, and meghna started noticing that something was wrong between them.

meghna: guys, we can’t walk home in silence like this, let’s do something.

karan: what do you want to do, bhabhi?

meghna: let’s play truth or dare? we’ll go in turns and we can ask anyone we want to.

naina: okay, sounds good.

kunal: who’ll start?

meghna: i will. naina, truth or dare.

naina: truth.

meghna: why are you not talking to karan? what’s wrong?

naina: di, nothing’s wrong. everything’s fine between,

naina stopped talking. she saw a small shack playing music and making patterns on the floor with laser lights. naina remembered something, it was a memory, one that was similar to this that happened a few years ago. she had danced on those lights like there was no tomorrow. karan realised naina stopped walking with them.

karan: naina?

meghna looked back and saw her sister standing there still.

meghna: naina, why did you stop?

naina didn’t reply. instead she smiled and ran, she ran towards the lights, towards the music and just danced. it was the first time in seven years that naina had let go of herself. she was free. meghna then joined in and started dancing with naina and kunal. they were all having fun, except karan. he just stood there. but today was different, he wasn’t standing there because he couldn’t join in nor did he feel left out. he stood there looking at naina, looking at how free and happy she was. deep down, karan wanted to be that free, but he couldn’t. it just wasn’t possible. back at the house, naina immediately went to the pool area and sat to dip her legs in the pool.

meghna: naina, we’re going to sleep. good night.

naina: di, jeeju! it’s only ten. stay up for awhile, please?

kunal: okay fine, but just for awhile.

naina agreed and went to get some beers for all of them. they all sat there in silence, drinking and looking at the stars. karan was sitting on a bean bag away from the pool eating biscuits.

meghna: why don’t we continue that game of truth and dare?

kunal: yes, we should! i want to ask naina now, truth or dare?

naina: truth, again.

kunal: how many boyfriends have you had?

naina: three.

kunal: niceeee!

meghna: kunal, you’re drunk. please stop drinking.

kunal: nooo, i’m not!!

meghna: (rolled her eyes at kunal) karan, truth or dare?

karan: i’m not playing, bhabhi.

meghna: come on, karan. don’t be boring.

karan: truth.

meghna: are you happy with this marriage? you know what, forget the game. i want to ask you the same question too naina. are you guys happy with this marriage?

naina and karan looked at each other and then naina replied.

naina: why would you ask me a question that you know the answer too.

meghna: because i’m not sure what’s the truth, naina.

naina: what difference does it make, di? karan and i are married and we’re going to have to live with it and so we will.

meghna: i guess karan feels the same way then? anyways, look, i just want to tell you that i know you guys probably don’t want to share a room and you don’t have to just for our happiness. we’re not at home so you’re free to do what you want for the next five days, okay?

karan and naina: okay.

meghna: i’m really tired, we’re going to sleep now. good night and sweet dreams.

kunal: good nighttt!!

naina: good night, guys.

karan: night.

after kunal and meghna left, naina got up to sleep as well. karan was still sitting there waiting for naina. they were in the living room and just as karan was about to say something, she got a call.

naina: hello?

rohit: you’re in greece? what are you doing in greece?

naina: calm down. how did you know i was in greece? wait, no, how did you get my number? i changed it so i could make calls here.

rohit: i still track your phone, naina. i know where you are at all times, just in case of emergencies, remember? and you have a different sim card you use in different places of the world and i know all the numbers because you gave me a list.

naina: oh right, the tracker. yeah, i used the greece number from the list. okay, makes sense.

rohit: now, will you please tell me. what are you doing in greece?

naina: i can’t talk right now, i’ll explain it all later. bye.

naina walked up the stairs to her room. karan didn’t hear most of the conversation so didn’t think much of it. after they both changed to sleep in their respective rooms, karan knocked on naina’s room door and entered.

karan: naina, can we talk?

naina didn’t say anything.

karan: naina, i’m talking to you.

nothing.

karan: please say something, i hate it when you don’t reply.

instead of saying something, naina walked towards the door wanting to leave the room.

karan: naina, please don’t leave. i just wanted to apologise. i’m sorry. it was wrong of me to think that you married me for any other reason than your sister’s happiness, i’m sorry. i didn’t realise that i’m not the only one going through a lot with this whole marriage thing, you are too. i was selfish and for that i’m really sorry. i won’t tell you to leave anymore. although, if you want to leave i won’t stop you and if you want to stay it’s your wish but i won’t be able to accept this marriage for my own reasons. (pause) you don’t need to sleep at the store room back home and i know you don’t want bhabhi to worry so we can share the same room. i’ll just make a partition that way we still stay apart.

karan made his way to the bed making a partition with pillows.

karan: which side do you want? left or right?

naina still didn’t say anything. she wanted to but she didn’t know what to say, he said so much to leave her speechless.

karan: okay, it’s okay. i’ll take the left side, you take right.

karan went to the bed and slept on his side waiting for naina to come. he didn’t know if he should’ve waited for her to reply but now all he could do was wait for her to come. he couldn’t even look back at her as he was afraid she would notice. naina didn’t know what to do, karan was so nice but at the same time he made it clear that they weren’t ever going to be able to have a proper relationship. he went one step forward and two steps backward. but, if naina didn’t sleep with him, her sister would find out and worry and it was only a matter of time before someone found out they weren’t on good terms back home. so, naina agreed and made her way to her side of the bed.

thank you for all the love on the previous chapter! there will be one more honeymoon chapter. i hope you’re enjoying the honeymoon chapters because a big twist will be coming up real soon and so there will be a lot of focus on that for some time. please comment any suggestions or something you might want to see in future chapters!