Part 39 | One Step Away

" ...... And Together we are better than we could ever hope to be, alone. You will always be the best part of my day.

I love you Mrs. Aditi Arjun Rathore. "

The crowd broke into cheers as Arjun placed a tender kiss on his wife's forehead.

Going down on his knees, he pecked her invisible baby bumb, " Mommy and Daddy got married baby! "

A chuckle escaped Aditi's mouth as she wiped her cheeks, " I am not crying! I blame the stupid harmones. "

Happy laughs resonated higher in the beach air.

" Time for a family photo! " Dhruv announced.

Among the happy smiles of the family the photo had captured, were two souls, standing at the extreme end looking at each other with an ache unsaid.

The wedding did end on a good note but in the back of their head a constant voice reminded them that the time has come to part away.

Yet again.

----

A knock on the door brought Naira out of her thoughts.

" Hey! " She looked perplexed at the person before.

" Ridhi? "

Why is this women here?

" Are you free? There's something we need to talk about. " Ridhi asked.

" Come in! " Naira invited.

Once comfortably seated Ridhi continued,

" I... Do you know about your husband's history .... With me? "

" I know. "

" Kartik is a gem of a person and the biggest regret of my life is losing him. A stupid mistake of mine costed me my love back then. "

There it comes....

" He was a perfect boyfriend... The kind who would bring a tub of your favourite icecream to make up for even those silly fights, who would scream " I love you" down in a hall not caring who's around." she chuckled.

" One you can cuddle with all night, who dances on the bed for the lamest music of your choice , never says no when asked to take out for shopping! Who makes an effort to understand you, make you smile even on your worst day. Even when angry, sends a good night message and checks if you have reached safe. He's too good!! "

" Why are you telling me all this? " Naira narrowed her brows.

" Because I don't want you to repeat my mistake. "

" What? " Naira looked at her bewildered.

" Arjun said you both aren't together at present. "

" Okay, I don't see how it is any of your concern! " Naira questioned clearly Annoyed.

" Naira I lost him the night I cheated on him, and nothing I do now can possibly bring him back into my life. And I am not trying to get him back. I-I... " Ridhi sighed.

" Kartik is a good man and he deserves someone much much better than me. He deserves a loyal love, warm and uncomplicated. He deserves to be loved in the right way, by someone who makes him believe he's worthy of all love in the world. "

Her eyes softened at Ridhi's words.

" I got to go, it's time for my flight. " She stood up to leave.

Before she stepped out Ridhi said" I'm glad you were able to fix what I broke in him, Naira. Let him in and he will never get tired of showing you his love."

Naira stood there staring at the her retreating figure dumbstruck.

maybe we were taught wrong.

The first impression isn't always the lasting one.

People do grow, learn and change.

For better or worse.

-----

Wandering up and down the empty house, Naira glanced at the clock. In another 5 hours her flight will be up in the air.

A pull-on travel bag and a handbag sat in the corner packed with her belongings.

Her fingers grazed on the caller id,' Kartik Oberoi ' previously saved as 'hubby'

Her mind in a dilemma of conflicting interests.

A part of her wanted to meet him and demand an explanation. Maybe it isn't as bad as she thought. What if They can talk, sort it out and life goes back to what it was with him.

Maybe there's still a chance.

May be It isn't too late.

Then there was this not so optimistic part of her screaming to run away from the choas. Afraid it would hurt if the true didn't sound as beautiful as she wished it would.

Afraid of going back to square one.

Afraid of being reminded once again that she isn't worthy of a family.

Her body shuddered at the sudden roar of the sky. Intense lash of rain followed.

" Oh god! " She sighed.

" I need a distraction. " She mumbled before throwing her phone away, heading to the kitchen to prepare some coffee.

Ever since Naira moved out of Oberoi mansion, she never made coffee. Rarely consumed a cup from the cafe near her workplace.

It reminded her of him.

And She couldn't afford to breakdown! She was putting in her best efforts to move on, trying to mend her broken heart!

The door bell rang bringing her zoned out self back to present.

" Are they back already? " She wondered drying her wet hands with a towel.

She paused on her tracks to take a minute to calm her suddenly racing heartbeats caused due to the thought of meeting him again.

One last time before she leaves the country.

Will she return?

She didn't have an answer.

Probably this is the last time.

Exhaling deeply she approached the main door with a smile to welcome the newlyweds along with the others.

In fraction of seconds the smile on her face faded into confusion and was then replaced by fear.

The rattle of the door knob wasn't usual. It look like someone was trying to break into the house. The struggling noise intensified with every bang on the door coming with more pressure each time.

Naira ran to the kitchen to grab her phone. Her hand frantically searching for the number to dail.

She gasped when she heard the sound of door cracking down. It can't hold for long. Hiding beneath the dining table Naira covered her mouth, mindful not to make even the slightest sound.

pick up the call... Please pick up....please

She had her phone pressed against her ear calling repeatedly, desperate to reach the person on the other side.

" H- Helloo... "

---------

When the proceedings for registration of Arjun - Aditi's marriage came to an end, it was half past 6 in the evening.

Kartik seemed distant, lost in his thoughts. Along with the newly weds and his brother he will be heading back to the city in another 4 hours.

He didn't like the idea of going back to his barren life he had been living for the past 8 months, to wake up in his mansion alone.

She made it a home, Now it's just a mansion.

Rudra sat next to his brother.

" When's her flight? "

" Midnight. 1 am " Rudra replied.

Kartik sighed defeated, " I shouldn't have come here. "

It wouldn't be fair if one says Kartik hasn't faced check mates in his life. He has seen a lot of them in business but in the end he always succeeded in achieving what he wants.

He is an achiever. He has always been one.

But today sitting in a park bench outside a government office, He felt like a complete failure.

He couldn't even save his marriage!

Suddenly the existence of The Business, huge bank balance, power, resource, influence, success, awards... It didn't make any sense to him.

What's the point, he thought, they couldn't bring back his love.

Now that he had laid his eyes on his love of life, it didn't make it any easier for him to move on without her.

Kartik heard a distant cry.

The brother duo paced to Dhruv's car to check on Siya.

" Hey, What's wrong? " Kartik asked concerned.

" M-my water broke! " She let out a cry.

" Rudy go call Dhruv, Now! " Rudra rushed in immediately.

Kartik took control of the wheels.

" Siya, Take deep breaths for me Okay. The hospital is just a km away. "

In a Swift motion he reversed the car, bucking up his seat belt.

In another minute Dhruv was in the backseat, beside his wife who had gone into labor.

Rudra, Arjun, Aditi and Ishaan followed them in another car as Kartik quickly drove to the hospital.

----

Dhruv's phone vibrated with Naira's name displayed in bold. Dhruv had passed his phone to Kartik while he was called inside the OT for delivery.

Kartik was hesitant to answer the call for the first two times But within a span of few seconds, the phone started vibrating violently for the third time consecutively.

" H- Hello... "

Kartik heard a shaky voice from the other side of the phone.

" Dhruv.... I-I ..... Where are ... Y-you... "

" Naira " Kartik called out concerned.

" K-Kartik " she breathed.

He shivered hearing her spell his first name after months.

Heck! How badly he yearned to hear his name roll out of her tongue.

" T- There's someone at the door.. " she whispered low.

" What!?" Kartik sounded terribly confused.

" I- I don't know... Kartik I don't know what to do... He - he's ....... " The talking stopped.

The line went dead after a glass clashing sound bloomed, taking away his heart beat along.

" Naira.... Naira!!?? " he yelled but there was no response.

" Kartik! Why on earth are you yelling at her. " Arjun rebuked.

" I am not.... I- I.... Naira " Kartik stuttered, his mind failing to function momentarily.

" What's wrong ? " A concerned Arjun saw his bestfriend's face go pale. As if Snapped out of sense, Kartik sprang on his feets.

" Arjun, she isn't fine. We need to get to her right now!"

" Rudy!! " Rudra looked alerted in his direction.

" Get the damn car! " Yelling Kartik ran outside the hospital.

Ishaan who just arrived at the hospital was still on his car, right before the main entrance of the hospital.

On noticing a frantically sprinting Kartik followed by Rudra and Arjun, he called out for them loud.

" Guys what is - "

" To your house. Now!! " Arjun ordered before he got into the passenger seat. Kartik and his brother occupying the back seat.

" GO!! " Yelled the trio and Ishaan sped up his car without any further delay.

" F***! It's pouring" Rudra cursed.

Instantly kartik questioned, " Is your mom at home? "

" No, she is at the airport to send off your's and Arjun's parents. Only Naira is at home. "

" That isn't good. " Arjun passed a worried look to his friend.

Restlessness coursed through Kartik's blood. Her astra phobia added to his worry.

Those 10 minutes ride, felt like the longest wait of his life. 600 seconds of pure desolation. he bounced his knees impatiently. All worst possible situation running on his mind, messing his brain cells.

Kartik kicked open the main door with zero ounce of patience.

The house enveloped in dark and dead air.

" Nairaa!! " He yelled, desparate for a reply.

When Rudra switched on the lights, the living room was a mess. Ripped off curtains lying on the ground, Living room's table turned upside down besides broken pieces of flower vases scattered across the floor.

" She isn't in the kitchen. It is empty downstairs. "

The minute Ishaan announced tensed, Kartik found his legs sprinting upstairs, skipping steps as he climbed.

He quickly scanned every room in the floor, constantly mumbling a line under his breath.

"She is fine."

His legs stopped before the room in the extreme end, the last room unchecked in the entire house.

What if she isn't there...

He couldn't think. He didn't want to, afraid of losing the last shreds of his sanity.

Rudra walked forward and flung open the door. As he switched on the lights, Kartik dropped his shoulders letting go of the breath he had been holding for long.

Fresh air filled his lungs making it a lot easier to respire.

Naira was found sticking herself to the walls in a corner, her hands wrapped around shaking sweaty body. Tears rolling down her cheeks, trying hard not to make noise.

" Naira" kartik whispered softly, conscious to not scare her.

Her head snapped sideways upon hearing a familiar voice. His voice.

" Ka-arti-kk "she croaked. Without wasting any second, she lunged at him with a force that made him stumble on his feet.

His cells felt rejuvenated with life feeling her skin beneath his arms.

She cried into his chest while he held her tight like there's no tomorrow.

He quickly checked her for any visible injury, thankfully there wasn't any.

" It's you! " Ishaan gasped, his mind processing.

" Oh my God, It's YOU. Isn't it? Her husband! " He said those words with bitterness.

Kartik gave him a quick glance but didn't care to reply. All he could see and care about was his women, now unconscious in his arms.

Kartik clenched his fist when he noticed corners of her lips bruised and slightly bleeding.

It must be him.

Damn! He found her.

" I have got you baby. " He bent his neck down to plant a kiss on her forehead.

Ishaan got his answer right away.

^^^^^^^

" I don't need anyone's permission to take My wife along, do you get that!! "

" She isn't sa-"

" My Wife. Stays. With Me. " He punctuated every word of the sentence with finality.

************

Looks like No one's catching a flight

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