NaiRan FF: For-Never? Chapter 8 *UPDATED* - Page 2

Naina's POV

"lUk tsa" I ordered green tea from office canteen, Cantonese is a language I had mastered after coming to Hong Kong.

I checked my watch, exactly 10 minutes break was what I had, the Korean project was on which left no time for anything. My phone buzzed from the pocket, it had to be Tom or someone from office but the caller ID read Mama', wasn't it midnight in India, and I checked my watch for confirmation. Why was Mama calling me at this me at this time?

"Mama?" I answered the call worriedly.

There was no reply from the other end "Mama?"

"Cheeku," it was Meghu Di, her voice was rough and for once I knew she was crying. Years of separation could change us, but not our bond.

"Meghu Di" tears started rolling down my cheeks involuntarily, "How are you?"

"Cheeku, Mama,..." She sobbed.

"What happened to Mama?"

"She met with an accident and is hospitalised," the world felt slipping away from my feet, I was talking to Di after 4 years but it wasn't pleasantries what we exchanged but rather tormenting news.

There was silence in the both the ends, none spoke apart from Di's occasional sobs that escaped her mouth. After what felt like an eternity she spoke again, "Can you be here? I can't handle all this alone Cheeku, I really can't" she broke down.

I kept on using tissues to wipe my tears so that no one saw, the tough Naina Solanki who made people cry was crying herself.

"Please?" she requested.

"I'll book my flight now, ..." there was a disturbance in the line, someone talking to Di in the background and it didn't take me a minute to recognise the voice, how could I forget?

It was Karan.

The doctor is calling you inside Bhabhi'

My heart was shattering into pieces after hearing his voice, all the wounds which I had managed to believe were healed was still fresh.

"Cheeku, the doctor is calling me inside; I'll text you the details of the hospital within half an hour. Please come, okay?" she still sobbed, I knew.

"Yes, Di" I replied and the line went blank.

Laying my head on the table I processed everything, picking up my phone I dialled Tom's number and informed him about my leave.

~

"Mrs Chauhan, we can't conceal vital facts, to be honest patient's condition isn't really pleasing. She hasn't yet responded to any medicines, it is difficult to give any hopes of recovery at this point of time," Doctor spoke in a cold tone.

Meghna went numb, nothing processed fine inside her mind, and doctor's words boomeranged and made her dizzy, "aren't there any other options? There has to be something right?" Kunal asked consoling Meghna.

"Mr Chauhan, we are trying everything that's possible but we can't comment on anything until and unless the patient reacts to the treatment, please try and understand," he rubbed his temples and went through Sharda's files and continued "we don't want any of you to have high hopes for the best of recovery that is why I have discussed this..." Meghna cut him off

"How can you say that doctor? I know my Mama's is strong, she'll fight back. Are you saying to give up, so easily? No." Both Kunal and Doctor were taken aback by Meghna's outburst, Kunal tried calming Meghna down yet all his attempts went in vain.

"Kunal, let's shift her to some other hospital, please" Meghna begged and broke down, Kunal hugged her tightly "Sorry Doctor" and took Meghna outside.

"Give them some time Meghna, everything will be alright, I promise" Kunal consoled her.

~

Naina's POV

"I don't think you need to take Champ along with you Nina" Tressa suggested while Namik gave her a death stare, "I'm going with Mummy" and folded his hands angrily.

"then go pack your bags, all you need, okay?" I told, he hugged me by my legs and stuck his tongue out to Tressa and ran inside.

"but Nina, don't you think taking him along is a bad idea?" Tressa had been my support system since my first day in Hong Kong and knew each and every detail about my past life, and her concern for me and Namik just melted my heart.

"I know Tressa," I sighed "but do you think this devil of a son will let you breathe without me?" she smiled.

"but on a serious note, I've never left him alone without me and you know how I'm dependent on him, it's me who needs him." She smiled understandingly.

The flight was charted to fly by 8 pm, running errands we completed all the packing. I had made myself so busy that I didn't let thoughts of Mama's accident take over me or else I would have broken down.

"if there's anything just let me know," Tressa said as we stood outside the departure terminal of Hong Kong International airport.

"also, I have contacted Dimpe to look after Champ in India," she said and hugged her tightly "Thank you" I muttered, "and it's dimpy" we laughed.

"be a good boy and don't trouble your Mummy, okay?" she hugged Namik.

Waving goodbyes we went ahead to the immigration and that's when everything started consuming me again, mama's accident, facing Karan, and most importantly Raina, my baby.

A lone tear escaped my eye, "Mummy, are you crying?" Namik asked worriedly to which I shook my head. This little one doesn't know the odds he is going to face.

I tried calling on Mama's phone to know her progress, but the phone went unattended. In 5 hours I'll be in India, the place I left 4 years ago, the place which took away all my happiness yet that place had the best of my memories.

~

I'm giving the build up to the story, so how was writing the story from Naina's POV?

Hope you all liked it. Please do comment and like and let me know how the story is doing so far.

Fastening Namik's seat belt, we fished through channels in the aeroplane T.V. Namik wasn't like the usual kids who enjoyed travelling through the flight, he found it rather boring sitting almost jailed in a place for hours. I could recall how frustrated he had become when he accompanied me on a few business trips.

The anxiety level inside me rose each passing second, there were a thousand vital facts that I had successful hid from Namik all these years and going to India has certainly posed a risk for me. Also, Mumma's accident news is something I haven't still recovered from.

Why was all the mess only in my life?

Neither the glossy magazines nor the view of the sea from the window helped distract me from all the thoughts, instead, they were getting deeper and older and the older, the more it hurt.

When I closed my eyes, all I could see was the blur vision of the day from where all of it started, the day that undoubtedly changed me and my life, to be honest, I don't know whether the change was positive or...

Bundi, 7 years ago.

Meghna Weds Kunal' banner decorated with red hearts hung in the front of the house.

Everybody ran errands to complete different chores before the groom and his relatives arrived. After cross checking, if all the arrangements were done, I run to help Di get ready, "stop checking your phone and wear this Anarkali," placing the blue Anarkali on the bed, I said.

"This is heavy, really heavy," Di made a face and went on to check her phone again, probably for the nth time. "You know na, I'm too good looking to handle, but in the wedding, the bride has to be the gorgeous one, that's why you are forced to wear all this!" I joked only to get hit by a pillow "Accha Bachu"

It took almost half an hour to get the tomboyish Meghna Solanki look like a to-be-bride. I also mentally thanked Neesha, my IIT roommate and bestie for her makeup tips.

"Cheeku.." I heard Vishal Bhaiyya call my name from downstairs. Giving Di a final touch up against her constant refusal I ran down "There is a problem" he said frantically breathing and I raised my eyebrow.

"We had arranged for 12 bedrooms for the close relatives in the guesthouse, right," I nodded "Sandhya aunty called just now, Jeeju's brother is coming all the way from London to attend the wedding," I sighed.

"SO, you want me to arrange another room for about half an hour?" I partly questioned, "yes"

Mentally cursing this' brother of Jeeju a thousand times, I was finally done with arranging the room, all the bedsheet covers were changed, lights were checked, curtains were replaced and floors were cleaned at least thrice.

Oh no. How can I forget? I had to buy some essentials for the Pooja from the market. By the time I reached the market I was half dead from all the running.

I should have eaten the breakfast, sighed. Handpicking the entire items for the Pooja, suddenly, there was a disturbance in the market. A car had stopped right in the middle of the busy market, blind enough the person! The car was a BMW, and the answer for the driver being blind was justified, wasn't the rich people supposed to show off their money by parking in the middle and troubling others.

Shrugging off the thoughts, I continued shopping but hardly after ten minutes had I felt my vision turning blurred, stupid Naina, who skips their breakfast when they have to do so much of work.

The tempting smell from the Pani Puri stall dragged me to it and I ordered a spicy one.

"Gosh!" I screamed seeing a dog and turned away. But a bigger problem was awaiting me, stupid me!

My eyes froze, I had dumped the entire pani puri's in my plate on a guy. The teekha liquid which was supposed to endeavour my taste buds now soaked his hair and streamed down to his face "What the hell, you blind woman" he shouted.

"So..sorry" stammering I replied. "Sorry?" with his raised eyebrows and gritted teeth he looked with all possible plans of killing me.

"Sorry, is all that you say after this?" he pointed towards him, stupid me inside me woke up and made me laugh. Oh no, again.

"WHAT" he shouted when he caught me laughing, "sorry," I said again and tried to walk away before I end up doing anything even stupid.

Something stopped me from moving, it was the guy who was now holding my hand and glaring at me "How dare you?" he shook his head in an attempt to get the still flowing syrup from his hair.

"Leave my hand," I glared back.

Chote Saab, madam ji just called. Can we hurry up?' his driver walked up to us and asked to which he nodded. "Badtameez" pushing me with a thud, he walked off in attitude.

This ignited the ego inside me, didn't I say sorry? Tell me!

"Oyye, farzi hero" I called out loudly gaining everyone's attention. He turned back and stared at me "yeh lo, your cap" I threw his cap on his face which had fallen down during our encounter and with that, I walked away.

"Cheeku, what got you late?" Vishal Bhaiyya asked worriedly when I turned late and by the time I had come, Jeeju and his relatives were already there and the whole house turned nosier, "coz of a farzi hero" I blurted recalling that arrogant jerk "What?" Bhaiyya asked confused. I simply shook my head and tagged along Bhaiyya to help.

Jeeju and Di went on to blessings from every soul inside the house, bending from one person another. It felt beautiful to see two souls who were deeply in getting united and everyone blessing them.

There was a genuine smile on Di's face and that was the most beautiful ornament she was wearing. Most of the guests retired to take rest after their lunch and we took this as an opportunity to tease the new couple. We all were sitting in the balcony and cracking lame jokes and mostly it was Kunal Jeeju who came with the lamest of ones.

"When we were in college, one day I was trying my best to impress this topper" Jeeju was reliving their college days "but, then" he sighed.

"What happened then Jeeju?" I quipped in excitement to know further while Di kept on glaring and nodding in a big NO.

"I had prepared at least a 2-page long sentence to tell her about how she had started to mean so much to me, but then, just as I started to speak she asked me a question and I stood there biting my nails" now it was Jeeju's turn to glare at Di.

"What?" Di raised her eyebrows and Jeeju shrugged his shoulders, "Don't look at me accusingly, who knew an IIMA student would turn out to be this foolish," Di defended herself.

"Yeah right. That question appeared for Albert Einstein's IQ test" Jeeju retorted back. "Guys, stop with your inside stories and continue the story even we are eager to know" I stated pointing me and Vishal Bhaiyya.

"She asked me," Jeeju looked at Di, "the price of one-kilo onions"

There was a silence before me and Vishal Bhaiyya erupted into a non-stop laughter, "price of onions?" Vishal Bhaiyya asked still holding his tummy.

"How unromantic of this topper" Jeeju made a face and Di hit Jeeju playfully "Thank you, Mister too romantic'".

Amidst the laughter, I looked down from the balcony and there were noises of people fighting. That's when I got a clear picture; Gopal Mama had got into a fight with the caterer, no I had to stop them.

Excusing myself I rushed downstairs to stop them, we needed the caterer for today's dinner also, if we left then everything would be in trouble.

But then something unexpected happened and even before I could process what it was, I rolled down the stairs along with someone and landed on the floor with a loud clunk. "Ouch" I wailed in pain.

What was it?

Frantically breathing, I slowly opened my eyes. I was on top of a guy who was also gritting in pain but wait. He is...!

The Farzi Hero.

Shock consumed me and I immediately stood up, but my hair had entangled to the hook of his golden Sherwani which pulled me back to my initial position "Aaa".

"Wait" in his stern voice he ordered and untangled my hair from the hook.

"Cheeku" Di ran up to me worriedly and looked for wounds, but luckily there were none.

"Karan, are you alright?" Kunal Jeeju went over to the farzi hero and asked with a lot of concern.

He scowled at me and I narrowed my eyes if he was showing tashn, then why not me, "Yes Bhai," his eyes still on me.

After a brief few seconds "what exactly happened?" Jeeju enquired looking at us.

Farzi hero again looked at me "Maasi Ma had asked me to call you Bhai, I was coming upstairs when this" he pointed his index finger towards me "this blind girl knocked me down from the other side and we both rolled down the stairs"

"Oh hello!" I pointed my index finger at him, "You don't know how to walk? Then you better lock yourself in a room" I retorted back.

"You! If you don't know how to speak, then better shut up"

"Accha? Ek toh chori, upar se" I forgot, wait, "upar se?" I muttered under my breath, recall stupid recall. "Upar se.." I again pointed my finger at him, "Seena zori" he completed the sentence.

"Thank You" I mocked him, "now say sorry" demanded me. "What! It was your mistake" he jagged out frustrated.

"Wait a second. Wait. This was a front facing accident; I didn't come from behind and knock you down. You should have watched your steps,"

"Cheeku," Di nudged my arm almost as an indication to end the fight, but we had already locked our horns, now there was no turning back, he had to apologise.

"What are you trying to claim? Everything is my mistake?" though Kunal Jeeju tried calming the akdu down, looks like he too was all set for the fight.

Sensing the fight getting into another level, Di dragged me from the spot so did Jeeju. "Naina, calm down, he's Kunal's brother" she whispered while walking towards the lawn.

"No wonder, Mr. London Return" muttering angrily I walked towards Mama and caterer.

~

Chapter 4 updated. Now the story is going a backward direction. Hope you all are enjoying reading it. Do let me know about your opinions.

And, yesterday's episode. I'm glad that Karan has at least started knowing who Naina is and has some trust in her even after the whole fiasco. And the BGM, I really can't get over those lyrics, especially the new addition to them 'Tu jashn hai...' OMG.

Thanks to Nami Di for posting the lyrics along with the meaning in the forum.

Hiding the whole drama and Karan's secret from Meghna, Naina surely has her reasons. But, I still want them to team up against Sandhya, coz two people fighting the same person separely and together has a big difference. Unity will bring in more strength to them. Hopefully, that will happen soon.

And, the precap. Finally, they are all set to be friends. YAY *does happy dance*

But at the same time, I'm upset for the less screen space MeghNal are getting now a days. I understand it is diffciult to give both the couple same screen space, but since a few days, Kunal has become only a background character with little to no dialogues. I want him also to have a lot of screen space and more MeghNal scenes too. Aiyyo, also more K Bro scenes. I want the sisters to build their bond.

Uffe, forgot. Congrats to all the Swabhiman team members who are working their asses of day and night to entertain us. The trps have increased from I guess 2.4 to 2.7.

Cheers to all the Swabhiman Fans too.

"I can't do this," I declared angrily turning my face away; we were to arrange a date for Di and Jeeju before their wedding. Excited, I had come up with a whole lot of ideas but, this Janab clearly rejected them and went on to select a dull off white colour decor for the setup and not to forget no flowers, no hangings' was his order.

Seriously! Did he really know what a date was?

"Go tell that to Dadaji," he said dispersing off the instrumentalists I had called to make their special evening even more special.

"EEER" closing my eyes in annoyance I sighed and again looked around the arrangements what he had done. Such efforts, you see.

"This looks like a hospital bedsheet cover" I pointed towards the table cloth, not just the table everything looked like he had stolen from a hospital, so sick in appearance.

"This is called class'" he stressed on the word class, "everything looks perfect, if we had gone by your plans then it would have looked like a circus," he smirked proudly "things hanging from god knows where" he added.

"Oh please. This isn't class."

"According to London standards, they are!" he snapped back.

"Mr London Return, this is India, this is Bundi to be specific and not your London" thankfully Jeeju wasn't this boring to be with, Di was indeed lucky.

"Why don't you keep your big mouth shut if you don't know anything?" he suggested irately. What the hell, wasn't I who was supposed to be irritated?

"You know too much about right, your firangi girlfriends would fall for hospital decked so-called romantic' dates. No my Di!"

"Let me get this clear. Point no.1, I do not have a girlfriend. Point no.2 you might have been poking your this big nose" he pointed at my nose "in all her dates with your too mushy too girly too pathetic ideas. Let me do this my way!" now my anger was burning, here I was trying to be as polite as possible and to help him out, but no, he has to throw around tantrums and behave like a jerk.

"Sure, I don't think you'll ever even have a girlfriend because you and your ego are a couple! The happily forever types, nobody can match up to that." He narrowed his eyes and was about to say something but I cut him off "and, if you really think this idea of ours if fantastic, mind blowing, then carry on, I don't wish to help you out anymore."

"Thank You" he shouted from my back as I walked towards the small pool area the place had. Quickly a text message was sent to Di to be ready by evening to meet my friends. Just hope this jerk calls Jeeju too, or else with his extra classy ideas, there would only be the girl who will spend her date alone.

"Wow" Di's eyes brightened as she saw the decorations, at least nature has shown some mercy by letting stars shine in the dimness of the night, and "Thanks, Karan and Naina" she hugged me. Mr London Return had a smirk on his face as if he had achieved the noble price for arranging a date, I stood there mouth shut.

"But Meghna, don't you think the place looks a bit dull?" Jeeju asked as he slid his fingers into Di's palm, "it looks like a formal lunch over with international clients, rather than a date"

Tables turned. Now it was my time to smirk, that too wide enough. "this looks perfect for two to-be-married people to discuss their future. No distractions, nothing. It'll help." Karan butted in to save his classy idea in front of me.

"And you can't see their already budding romance" taunting him I point towards Di and Jeeju's entwined hands, but he gives me that you don't teach me to look'. Such a jerk!

Di blushes while Jeeju pinches my cheeks "you're the best Saali", from my handbag I take to put a few scented candles which Mr.London Return had asked me not to use and lighted them.

Cracking my eyebrows and hands on the hip I ask "Jeeju, how is it now?" he gives me a thumbs-up much to Mr London Return's dismay.

"S-ooo" Jeeju asks after some time and this was our cue to practically get out of their date venue, smiling "yes yes, Jeeju don't worry, we are leaving" hugging Di I walk outside. A few seconds later, Mr London Return too bid byes but Jeeju called my name out. He had asked Mr London Return to drop me home, late night, a girl alone were Jeeju's reasoning. Sweet of him, but no thanks, not with this Jerk, but seeing Di's worry I was forced to oblige.

Shaking my head from left to right, I enjoyed' the best car ride of my life. Urgh.

No music. No opening window. No uttering a word.

And sadly to add to my misery, my phone had gone dead beside the view outside had nothing but darkness as we passed through the highway, checking my watching I realised it will take another 45 minutes to reach my house and the silence was already killing me. I haven't sat this quite in my entire life, was this guy on some mission to torture me?

Suddenly, the car comes to a halt with a burst sound which shocks us. Mr London Return gets off the car to inspect what has happened and as expected the two tyres have burst.

Kicking the tyre frustrated he looked around for some help. Of course, the road was abandoned "Hey Bhagwan" I sigh and expectedly wait for his answer, what we're going to do?

"What? Even I don't know, okay." He was curt in his reply, later he understands that he has been taking out all the frustration on me and clarifies, "I'll call up someone to fix this" to which I nod.

He excuses himself to call up someone while I stand in the middle of a dark, abandoned road which looks like just out of a horror movie. The wind blew unevenly making the leaves of trees on the either side of the road sway.

He came back disappointedly, "problem", he corrected himself "problems"

"Will you speak up or wait until I forward the mic?" I snap at him. His expressions change, "there's no signal, and even if there's signal I don't have balance"

"WOW" sarcasm dripping I reply, he looks at me expectedly, it strikes me "no, my phone is dead"

"WOW" he sarcastically copies me.

Upset, I decide to stay inside the car until a divine magic happens and we continue our ride. Click.Click.

The door didn't open, I tried again. Click. Click.

"Mr London Return" I call out to him and seeing my attempts to open the door he slaps his forehead.

"Who asked you to get out of the car?" he asked angrily, "what?" confused, I asked.

"There's something called auto lock, for your kind information." He retorts.

"Whaaat" now my eyes widen, how could I forget? "Don't ask me the question what do we do now!" he reads my mind and says.

Pressing my lips furiously, I jump on to the bonnet. "Get off," he orders immediately. "Not until you open the door" I reply back.

"Who was the one who came out of the car without a reason? Now suffer."

"Oyy mister! Without a reason? You know what? Forget it" I breathe calmly "I'm too tired to continue with this fight" I add.

"At this rate of your speaking skills, I had booked an ear replacement operation for myself." I don't know what he wanted, didn't I make it clear that I didn't want to fight. Now, this guy is picking up reasons.

He jumps onto the bonnet and sits crossing his legs "I'm tired too" he mutters and lays his head back.

~

Karan's POV (Present)

I freeze. I had forgotten all about this suitcase. I had shoved it up on top of the cupboard. It feels as though someone has punched me in the gut. My heart beats frantically. My hands go cold.

It is funny what memories can do to you. How they can grip you by the throat, choke you, strangle you. And just when you thought you had it all sorted, too.

"Shit", I finally say as I look at the contents of the suitcase now scattered on the floor.

~

Now, Karan's POV. The story is going to be a mix, of both past and present so if there is any confusion please feel free to point it out and ask.

Naina motivating Nirmala is a must watch in today's episode. Again, Sandhya's plan to keep Karan away has succeeded, but wait and watch Sandhya, the checkmate is going to be by the Solanki Sisters.