Story picks up from the place where Karthik had left Naira alone in the snow...
Naira was wandering in the mountains, her eyes searching only for Karthik, her heart yearning for shoving away his anger, bringing his genuine smile back to his face and make him shout at her more, if it helped him to reduce his pain. Amongst all this, her mendak prince was bent upon punishing her more, though it hurt him badly to do so, Deep within his heart, all he wanted to do was to hug her, cry with her get their "Jai-Veeru" fights back. He could not believe that from the time they were in Zurich, he had not got to spend some quality time with her; or rather not even talk with her; leave alone the promise he gave to Mishti for returning as Kaira. He had seriously begun to wonder if that would ever happen now
In this state of mind, when he says to Gayu that let us go back; let Naira come back on her own, little did he know that a sad pair of eyes were watching this, his mendaki's ears were sharp enough to pick this up. Not wanting to hurt him more and to leave him as per his wish, Naira began to run in the opposite direction; unaware of where she was going, her eyes filled with tears that she had lost her best friend, her rock of support in a second of whatever she had done. She wished she could live that day again, thought one more time before bursting on him with her baseless accusation. She wanted to do anything to undo that act of hers which had cost her her happiness, her BFF's happiness and above all the wonderful bond that she shared with her mendak. In her hurry to get away from him, let Karthik have her wish she didn realise that she was stumbling down a slope and the rest was a blur.
On the other hand, Karthik and Gayu reached back to the base point where AK was waiting for them anxiously. Karthik's senses alerted him that something was wrong when he saw that Naira had not reached there yet. AK was happy to see them despite the turmoil that she was going through and was asking them about their experience. Gayu oblivious to the fact that Naira had not reached there yet started explaining animatedly about playing in the snow. At this point, there was an announcement that the spot was being closed temporarily, without adding any further detail. At this point, Akshara enquired "Where is Naira? You three were together right"? While Gayu says that she was coming back alone, Karthik could not meet AK's eyes. Akshara panics that she had not come and it was getting dark. Karthik cannot help but feel extremely guilty and worried at the same time. He offers to go and look for her and says"I'll bring her back" and takes his phone out to call her. His internal senses screams to him that something was terribly wrong when he gets a switched off message and without wasting a second rushes back to catch the cable car. The operators don't allow him saying that the spot has been closed; but Karthik pleads with them saying that his friend was lost.
The operator then discloses the reason for the closure" There has been an accident. An Indian girl in her early twenties has slipped down the slope and has lost her life. The rescue team is retrieving her body". Karthik stood rooted to the spot, his ears refusing to believe what he had heard and praying to all gods above that it was not his Naira. He begs them to take him there as he fears what might have happened with her. They finally give in and he gets into the cable car. There are continuous calls from AK and Gayu but he could not muster the courage to pick it up; no not at this point in time. He wanted to break down but he knew he could not now.
When he reached the spot, his legs hardly gave way to him, he found a police officer on the spot and enquired if they had seen an Indian girl with a green coat. The officer seem shocked and said" We are just retrieving the body of a girl in a green coat. We request you to come to come and identify if she is your friend". This is when Karthik shows the first signs of break down. He shivers and whispers" No, I won't come. It can't be my Naira. It cannot be her".
The officer says" We understand your situation; but we request you to cooperate with us". With his legs weakening, Karthik follows the officer, where a small place has been earmarked" Accident area". He sees a girl of Naira's height in a green jacket with the same hair length lying there, face turned the other side. He begs the officer once again " No I cant see, it cannot be her; the colour of the coat is same, its her height but No, It cannot be my girl". The officers gently turn the face around to Karthik for him to see. He shuts his eyes tightly and with an intense prayer to God he opens only to see the face of the girl." Its not her" He declares as he falls to the ground. Not being able to cope up any more, he breaks down completely remembering how harsh he had been with her. With tears making way through his eyes he shouts into the air" NAIRA!! Where are you? Please don't do this to me.. NAIRAA..."
To be continued
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
