KAIRA TS : Because they are each other's Saviors (Finished) - Page 2

Naira was searching along with others, Naksh returned and informed them that Kartik was nowhere to be found. They were still looking for him when she involuntarily started moving towards Kartik's room. They had checked the room, he was not there but Naira had to see for herself. It was a weird feeling, she felt something pulling her in that direction. The moment she entered the room, she could sense Kartik's presence and she moved towards the sofa. The moment she looked behind it, she found Karthik in this terrible condition. He was lying there, hyperventilating, covered in sweat and almost unconscious. Naira shouted his name and he responded to her voice in a low moan. He said her name and Naira shouted for Mishti and the other family members. She moved the sofa and rushed to his side. She tried to wake him up but the moment she touched him, her heart stopped. He was burning with fever. Naira completely broke down seeing his condition, he was completely red and clearly in a lot of pain. The families came in rushing, Dadi broke into a shrill cry seeing her Kittu in that state. The kids panicked and so Priyanka and Varsha took them to another room. Both Naksh and Akhilesh called for doctors but they couldn't come there immediately as the place was far from the main city and it was late. The doctors were going to take some time to reach there. Manish had tears in his eyes, no one could figure out what was happening to him. Swarna who was sitting beside Kartik suddenly rushed out of the room and came back with a first aid kit in her hand. She opened the box and took out an epinephrine autoinjector. Dadi was scared looking at the pointed end that Swarna just uncovered and everyone surrounding Kartik stared at Swarna, trying to figure out what she is doing.

Dadi: Ye tum kya kar rhi ho Swarna?

Swarna: Maa ji, Kartik ki allergy trigger ho gyi hai. Lagta hai usne walnut kha liya hai kahin se jiske wajah se ye sab ho raha hai. Hume use ye injection dena hoga jab tak ki doctor yahan nhi aa jatein.

Dadi: Haan haan, de do.

Manish was extremely scared, he couldn't lose his son, and Naitik, being a father himself, understood his situation, came near him and consoled him. Swarna's hands were shivering, she obviously knew that her son was scared of injections, but she had to do it in order to save his life. She held Kartik's waist to steady his legs and injected the epinephrine into his thighs. As she gave him the shot, she herself and Naira, both hissed at the same time, as if the shot was given to them. Kartik screamed in pain moments after the shot was injected.

Kartik: Maa (accidentally holds Swarna's hand that was on his waist)

Swarna squeezes his hand in return and Kartik pulls her hand to his heart, calling out Maa once again. Swarna felt complete at once but his condition did not let her feel happy. Swarna pulled her hand away but Kartik did not allow her. She once again attempted, and Kartik, being weak now, left. Swarna broke the EpiPen and handed it to Surekha to dispose it off. Naira kept her hands on his cheeks, asking him to be brave, telling him that she was there for her. The shot worked immediately and Kartik, who had his eyes shut till now, opened them slightly.

Karthik (coughing but yet trying to speak in between): Na..Nai..Naira

Naira: Ssshhh... Kartik, main yahi hun, tumhare paas, hum sab hai, tumhe kuch nhi hoga, tum bas himmat rakho.

Kartik squeezed his eyes shut once again and yelled in pain. The men came forward to pick him up and put him on bed. They covered him with a blanket and Swarna and Naira started rubbing his hands. Rajshree and Devyani ran to the kitchen and got a bowl of ice cold water and a few strips of cloth to put on Kartik's forehead. They handed it to Naira who started putting the cold strips on him immediately. Swarna moved toward Kartik's feet, opened his shoes and started rubbing his feet while Dadi came near his side and filled the place occupied by Swarna earlier. Kartik was becoming normal, though his eyes were shut, they could already feel him relaxing, he wasn't hyperventilating anymore. Soon the doctor came in and all except Naira got off the bed, allowing the doctor to check on Kartik.

Doctor: Inhe kisi cheez se allergy hai jiske contact mein aane ke kaaran inki tabyat itni kharab ho gyi.

Swarna: Ji doctor, Kartik ko walnut se allergy hai, mujhe bhi shak hai isne galati se walnut kha liya hai.

Doctor: Allergy ka pata hai toh inhe khayal rakhna chahiye. Ye allergy inki jaan bhi le sakti thi agar aap logon ne inhe epinephrine time par nhi diya hota toh. Aapne medication dekar bahut hi acha kaam kiya warna situation haath se nikal jati.

Kartik opened his eyes now, feeling much better but the pain was still evident in his eyes. He looked towards Naira and assured her that he was okay. Naira looked at Swarna with thank you written all over her face. Swarna assured her that she didn't need to thank her and that it was all going to be fine. Manish came close to Swarna and put his hands on her shoulder, squeezing it slightly, his way of thanking her and showing her that she indeed was the best mother.

Naira: Doctor ab sab thik hai na? Kartik ko abhi bhi bahut tez bukhar hai.

Kartik: Main thik hun, I am feeling much better.

Doctor: Ji abhi chinta ki baat nhi hai. He has stabilized already, bas ye kuch medicines hai, fever, pain and rashes ke liye. You need to rest for the next few hours, no stress, physical or mental. Subah tak aapki allergy puri tarah thik ho jayegi and the medicines would wear off too and then you will be perfectly fine to enjoy your wedding. Just rest for the night Mr. Kartik.

Kartik: Thanks doctor.

Naira too smiles at the doctor and Akhilesh walks him out. Dadi comes and sits beside him and gently strokes his hair. She was still crying and this made Kartik sad too.

Kartik: Dadi main thik hun, aap kyun ro rhi hai.

Dadi: Tumne toh humari jaan hi nikal di thi Kittu. Bhala aisa koi krta hai kya. Sabka khyal hai tumhe, sivaye apna. Itni lapaharwahi kaise kar saktein ho tum.

Rajshree: Haan beta, apna khayal to tujhe kabhi rehta hi nhi hai. Dusron ke baarein mein humesha sochta hai aur khud kisi na kisi musibat mein pad jata hai.

Kartik: Kya Nani, ab aap bhi, ab kam se kam aaptoh mujhe mat dato.

Naira: Kyun nhi daate sab tumhe, tumne kaam hi aisa kiya hai.

Suhasini: Baki sab ki chinta aur pyaar mein tm itna doob gaye ki khudke baarein mein bhul gaye.

Kartik: Acha ab (coughs) ab main thik hun na toh aaplog shant ho jayiye. (He eyes Naira to help her) Aaplog jayiye so jayiye, main bhi rest krleta hun. Kal haldi hai, sabko itne kaam (coughs) kaam hai na.

Devyani: Woh sab hm dekhlenge. Tum aaram kro. Ekdum baat mat karo. Bas gehri saasein lo aur dawai khao.

Suhasini: Haan, Akhilesh mangwa raha hai dawaiyan. Zyada samay nhi lagega. Hume toh ye samajh nhi aa raha hai Kittu ki tum apni sehat ke saath aisi galati kaise kar saktein ho. Tumhe apni allergy ke baarein mein pata hai na, yaad hai, bachpan mein kitni bar isi tarah tmhari tabyat kharab hui thi, ek baar toh hm tumhe kho dene wale the, kya usse tumne kabhi koi sabak nhi sikha.

Manish remembers the times when Kartik fell sick in his childhood and how he and Kartik's mother Soumya took care of him.

Keerti: Haan Kartik, mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai, Maa ke jaane ke baad jab tumhe allergy hogyi thi, koi samajh bhi nhi paya tha tmhe kaise sambhale. Us waqt tumhari tabyat kitni kharab hogayi thi.

Swarna holds Manish's hands in order to comfort him, knowing what he would be remembering at the mention of the most difficult day of his life, the day he watched his 10 year old son trying to get himself killed.

Kartik: Tab main bacha tha Keerti, kisi aur ki galati ki saza khudko de rha tha (looking at Manish and Swarna). Par ab main woh bacha nhi hun. Itne saal akele raha hun, pehle school, then college, then masters ke liye USA, itne saalon mein ye galati ek baar bhi nhi hui mujhse. Apna khayal rakhna janta hun main.

Suhasini: Phir iss baar ye kaise ho gaya. Akhilesh ne Naksh ke saath sare arrangements kiye hai, use toh pata hai humare ghar mein walnut nhi aata.

Surekha: Haan maa ji, Akhilesh ji ne humesha is baat ka khayal rakha hai, tab bhi jab Kartik humare saath nhi rehta tha.

Suhasini: Toh phir ye kaise hua. Kittu yaad kro, tumhe shaam ke baad se kya kya khaya hai.

Kartik: Dadi maine toh bas dinner kiya tha.

Naira: Aur dinner ke baad tak toh Kartik bilkul thik tha. Hum dono ne ek dusre se baat bhi ki thi. Haan, baat krtein waqt maine Kartik ko cupcakes khilaye the.

Suhasini: Cupcakes, kaunse? Kahin aisa toh nhi tumne isse nuts wale cupcakes khila diye. (Naira remembered that the cupcake she fed him was nuts one, that might have had walnut in it) Humare Kittu ko sabka khayal rehta hai par tumlog uska khayal kyun nhi rakh patein. Pehle hi woh tumhari wajah se bahut kuch seh chuka hai, accident, jail, aur ab ye. Kittu tm par apni jaan chidakta hai aur tumhe itna bhi nhi pata ki isse kis cheez se allergy hai. Ye sab tumhari wajah se hua hai.

Naira was in tears all over again, knowing it was her fault Kartik had to suffer so much. Swarna wanted to interrupt and support Naira but our Kartik was smart enough to tackle the situation.

Kartik: Arey arey Dadi aap befaltu ka Naira par gussa ho rhi hai. Bina puri baat sune hi usne daantne lagi. (Making cute faces) Usne toh mujhe chocolate cupcake khilaya tha, kyunki mujhe mirchi lag gyi thi. Nuts wala cupcake toh maine baad mein khud khaya tha. Woh maine hi dhyaad nhi diya. Naira ko toh pata hai meri allergy ke baarein mein, usne khud mujhe roka tha walnut khane se ek baar. Woh wahan hoti toh mujhe khane kahan deti. Woh toh (coughs) woh toh maine uske jaane ke baad nuts wala cupcake khaya tha. Ab uski galati kaise hui. (Making his puppy dog face all over again)

Suhasini: Jo bhi ho. Galati hui hai. Humse wada kro dubara ye lahparwahi kabhi nhi hogi.

Kartik: Nahi hogi, I promise.

Suhasini: Tumhe pata hai na Kittu hm tumse kitna pyaar kartein hai, tumhe ek kharoch bhi aajaye toh humari jaan nikal jati hai. Aur tum ho ki apna khayal nhi rakhtein. Ab tm aaram kro, hum yahi hai tumhare paas. (Looking at everyone) Aap sab jakar aaram kr lijiye, hum hai yahan Kittu ke paas.

Kartik: Aapko yahan rukne ki koi zarurat nhi hai Dadi, aap jakar so jao. Aapko toh sabse zyada aaram ki zarurat hai, warna aap kal meri haldi enjoy kaise karengi, aapko toh mere saath dance bhi karna hai.

Suhasini: Hum tumhari baaton mein nhi aayenge. Hum yahi rahenge bas.

Akhilesh: Maa, Kartik thik hi toh keh raha hai. Aap jakar so jayiye, Kartik ke paas main aur Surekha ruk jayenge.

Manish signs his mother toh listen to Akhilesh and get some sleep. Suhasini agrees.

Suhasini: Thik hai phir. Tum dono iska khayal rakhna. Aur hume batate rehna.

Surekha: Ji Maaji, aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye.

Swarna looks at Kartik who was holding Dadi's hands trying to comfort her. She was desperate to sit by her son's side and take care of him but he would never allow her to do so. Manish held her shoulders and turned her around, and with a heavy heart, they left the room. Devyani, Bhabhi Maa (Kaveri), Bhua Dadi and Rajshree went near him and asked him to take proper rest and they too left the room with Ananya, Ranveer and Naksh. Gayu, Keerti and Surekha kept on standing there, looking at Kartik and Naira who were staring at each other, unable to get their eyes off each other. Naira's eyes were filled with guilt while Kartik's were full of love and comfort for Naira. Surekha came towards Naira and Kartik and asked Naira to go and take rest as it was her haldi tomorrow, she too needed rest but she did not know, Naira had already lost her sleep, she would definitely be thinking about Kartik all night, worried for him. Gayu and Keerti came near her and asked her to come with them. Naira nodded in a no but Kartik signed her to go, he will be okay. Naira had to leave but her heart was there with Kartik all the time.

It was midnight now, the family members were already asleep as it was going to be a hectic day tomorrow but one soul in the palace couldn't rest, and it was Naira. She was in bed but was not asleep, thoughts of Kartik being in pain because of her lingered in her mind. The fact that she could have lost her love today because of a stupidity took away every bit of patience from her and she was just tossing on the bed, fidgeting with the phone, wondering if she should call Kartik or not. Gayu, who was sleeping beside her woke up because of her restlessness and asked Naira to come outside with her.

Gayu (Pulling Naira out of the room): Tu kyun tension le rhi hai Naira, Kartik thik hai. Usse kuch nhi hua na. Tu kyun ghabhara rahi hai?

Naira: Gayu Di, aaj mere wajah se Kartik ko itni takleef hui hai. Mere wajah se uski jaan ko khatra ho sakta tha. Main kaise shant rahu ye jante hue ki ye sab mere wajah se ho rha hai.

Gayu: Khudko blame krna band kr Naira, tere wajah se kuch nhi hua. Tujhe kahan pata tha Kartik ki allergy ke bare mein.

Naira: Mujhe pata hona chahiye tha di. Kartik ko meri har zarurat, har cheez ka dhyaan rehta hai. Use toh itna bhi yaad rehta hai ki mujhe kis kis cosmetic se, kis kis cheez se kya problem hai aur main, mujhe uske barein mein toh pata hi nhi tha. Maine toh kabhi janane ki bhi koshish nhi ki na Di. Aaj Dadi ke samne usne phir se mere liye cover up krdiya aur mujhe unki daant se bacha liya. Woh aisa kyun hai di, kyun woh har bar aisa karta hai.

Gayu: Usne toh aaj bhi wahi kiya jo woh humesha krta hai, tujhse pyaar.

Naira: Ye kaisa pyaar hai di, main kehti hun ki main usse sabse zyada pyaar krti hun, aur aaj jab use meri zarurat hai, main uske paas nhi hun.

Priyanka and Keerti were roaming around the palace when they heard Naira Gayu and came towards them.

Keerti: Guys tumlog soye nhi abhi tak? Naira tumhe toh rest krna chahiye, kal tumhari haldi hai.

Gayu: Masi, Keerti di, ab aap hi samjhaiye isse. Zidd pe adi hai ki Kartik ki tabyat iske wajah se kharab hui hai, aur madam ko Kartik se milna hai.

Priyanka: Naira, jo hua use bhul jao. Tumhari wajah se kuch nhi hua. Tumhe Kartik se milna hai na, chalo mere saath. (The four of them started walking towards Kartik's room)

Naira: Par Masi, wahan Chachi hongi.

Priyanka: Unki tension tm mat lo, ye sab mujhpe chor do. Surekha so rhi hai wahan.

Gayu: Aapko kaise pata, aur aap dono kyun nhi soye the abhi tak.

Keerti: Woh mujhe neend nhi aa rhi thi, Aditya so chuke the toh maine socha thodi der bahar ghum leti hun. Bahar aayi toh dekha Masi bhi jaagi hui hai, toh bas hum yun hi round marne nikal gye the.

Priyanka: Mera room Kartik ke paas wala hi hai toh main Kartik ko bhi dekhne gayi thi woh aur Surekha dono soye hue the.

They reached Kartik's room. The door was open, they peeped in and found Surekha sleeping on the sofa while Kartik was in bed, probably asleep but yet restless. Naira was about to enter when Priyanka stopped her, asked them to hide and entered the room herself. She gently patted Surekha and woke her up.

Surekha: Priyanka, tum yahan? Soyi nhi abhi tak.

Priyanka: Woh mujhe neend nhi aa rhi thi, toh maine socha Kartik ko dekh aaun. Akhilesh ji kahan hai? Woh bhi toh aapke saath rukne wale the.

Surekha: Woh bahut thak gaye the din bhar ki bhaag daud se toh maine unhe apne room mein bhej diya.

Priyanka: Aap ek kaam karo, aap jakar room mein thodi der so jao, main yahan hun. Thodi der baad jab mujhe sona hoga main aapko phone krdungi. Okay?

Surekha: Haan, ye bhi sahi hai. Thik h main phir so jati hun thodi der. But Kartik ka dhyaan rakhna hai. Woh baar baar neend se uth ja rha hai. Bache ko bahut takleef ho rhi hai. Tum dhyaan rakhna aur koi problem hote hi mujhe phone krdena.

Priyanka: Haan haan, aap jao.

Surekha moves out and Naira, Keerti and Gayu enter the room.

Priyanka: Naira, main bagal wale room mein hi hun, tum Kartik ke paas jao. Thodi der baith jao. Surekha jab wapas aayegi main tumhe bata dungi.

Naira: Thank You Masi. Thanks Gayu Di, Keerti Di.

Gayu: Tu jaa.

Naira goes near Kartik and sits beside him. He twists in sleep and Naira keeps a hand on his forehead that was hot, not as hot as it was hours ago, but still it was like he had some 99 degrees fever. Naira got up to get the cold water strips when Kartik held her hand and stirred in his sleep. She tried to get her hand out of his hold when she heard him groan in sleep. She looked at his face and saw him waking up. She shifted towards him again, trying to put him back to sleep.

Naira: Shh.. Kartik, so jao. Tumhe rest chahiye.

Kartik: Hmmm... (Realising it was the night before his wedding, she should be asleep by now) Naira, tum yahan? (Getting up hurriedly) Tum yahan kyun ho? Tumhe toh apne room mein hona chahiye tha na? Jao aur jake so jao.

Naira: Haan, tumhe lagta hai ki tumhe iss haal mein chorke mujhe neend aayegi? Chalo, tum leto. Tumhe abhi bhi bukhar hai halka sa.

Kartik: Naira main thik hun, tum please rest krlo, dekho kal shaadi hai, aur main nhi chahta ki meri wajah se meri dulhan ki sundar sundar aankho ke niche kaale kaale ghadhe pad jaye.

Naira: Tum aise kyun ho Kartik. Itne selfless. Humesha dusron ke baarein mein sochtein ho. Kabhi khud ke baarein mein nhi sochtein. Kaise kar lete ho. Aaj shaam ko bhi tumne mujhe Dadi ki daant se bachaya tha and raat ko bhi. Tumne kahan kyun nhi ki tumhe cupcakes maine khilaye the?

Kartik: Kyunki tumhe nhi pata tha na. Tumne kuch jaan bujh ke thodi kiya tha. Waise bhi tumhe walnut ki zarurat nhi hai mujhe marne ke liye, tumhari ye smile, ye aankhein, ye hi kaafi hai mujhe maardalne ke liye.

Naira: Main serious hun Kartik. I am so sorry. Meri wajah se tumhe ye sab...

Kartik: Naira.. ye sab mat socho. Tumhari wajah se kuch nhi hua.

Naira: (Looking down) Nahi Kartik. Ye sab meri hi galati hai. Mujhe pata hona chahiye tha, ki tumhe walnut se allergy hai. Maine hi tumhe woh cupcake khilaya tha, anjane mein hi sahi, but khilaya to maine hi tha na.

Kartik: (Cupping her face with his hands) Ye meri Naira nhi hai. Meri Naira kabhi bhi itni kamzor nhi padti hai, woh toh strong hai, meri Sherni hai. Mendhak toh main hun, jo aise hi phudakta rehta hun. Tum toh meri takat ho, aur tumhi aise upset ho rhi ho.

Naira: Tumhe pata nhi hai Kartik, tumhe us waqt us haal mein dekh ke meri kya halat ho gayi thi. Agar tumhe aaj kuch ho jata toh main kabhi apne aap ko maaf nhi kar pati. (Literally crying by now)

Kartik: Kuch hua toh nhi na, main thik hun bilkul.

Naira: (Hugging him very tightly) Main tumse bahut pyaar krti hun Kartik, I love you. Tumhe pata hai na main tumhare bina nhi reh sakti, toh tumhe apna khayal rakhna chahiye tha na. (Breaking the hug and sobbing like a cute baby) Kabhi bataya kyun nhi mujhe aur us samay dhyaan kyun nhi diya. Daant ke rok detein na mujhe

Kartik: Main, aur tumhe rokta, meri itni mazal.

Naira: Ab mazak udana band kro mera. Sachi batao, tum thik hona?

Kartik: Haan baba, main thik hun. Tum jao aur aaram se so jao. Main bhi so jata hun, subah tak ekdum thik ho jaunga.

Naira: Paka na?

Kartik: Haan baba, ab jao, isse pehle ki koi hume dekhle aur ek aur nayi musibat aa jaye. Waise maine toh notice hi nhi kiya, Chachi thi na yahan, woh kahan gayi.

Naira: Woh Masi ne unhe apne room mein bhej diya thodi der ke liye. Keerti Di aur Gayu Di mera wait kr rhi hongi Masi ke room mein.

Kartik: Toh humari behenein bhi shamil hai tumhare is plan mein. I like it.

Naira: (Getting down from the bed) Acha ab main jati hun, tm so jao. Good Night.

Kartik: Good Night. (Naira trips while wearing the slippers) Aaram se. Dhyaan se jaana Naira, please. Ya ruko, main tumhe chorke aata hun.

Naira: Ji nhi, tum yahan chup chap so jao. Main chali jaungi.

Kartik: Thik hai. Jao. (Making an angry face)

Naira: (Walks towards his side of the bed and leans to give him a peck on the cheek) Good Night.

Kartik: (Melts immediately) I love you.

Naira: I love you too.

Naira walks out of the room and pauses outside the door to give him a last look, followed by a flying kiss that he duly returns. She then goes to Priyanka's room and informs her about Kartik being alone. Priyanka offers to take Surekha's place till the time she returns. Keerti leaves for her room and Gayu and Naira leave for theirs. They reach their room and climb into the bed.

Gayu: Ab toh confirm ho gaya na ki Kartik thik hai, ab toh so ja.

Naira: Haan Gayu Di. Good Night.

Gayu: Good Night.

Naira pulls the blanket over herself and slowly drifts to sleep, dreaming about her happily married life with Kartik. And there, our Frog Prince too was dreaming the same dream, even their conscience knew that they were two bodies but one soul, Kaira..