NaiRan OS : It's just the beginning

"Karan bhaiya chalo na Dance krte hai!" A visibly excited Khyati came running up to him where he was sitting very far away from all the festivities going in full swing. Her face was beaming with joy.

"Nhi Khyati, mera mann nhi hai" and like that in a second that smile vanished because of him.

"Theek hai bhai, agar apka mann nhi toh koi baat nahi" and she went away.

Although Khyati didn't say anything to him but he knew his refusal dampened her mood. He loathed himself and hated every second of it whenever he made his family unhappy. He had become used to his father taunting him every time and blaming him for everything that goes wrong. His family had left him in his own shell, no one bothered to disturb him when he was in his room and no one batted an eye when he kept to himself and stayed locked up in his room all day. A perfect cocoon he had created for himself, his family was used to it by now. He had started to believe that he was only a bad luck for everyone and that is why he should remain isolated.

Deep in thought Karan Singh Chauhan failed to realize that a pair of keen eyes was watching him throughout this whole ordeal.

"Heyy!" Someone tapped his head.

"Pehchana mujhe? Chatte wale Akdu?" and she sat beside him, giggling on the name she sweetly addressed her with just to get on his nerves. Oh how could he forget a girl like her? She was a thorough batameez and did she ever leave a chance to irritate him?

"Tumhara chaata nhi dikhrha? Kahin who bhi toh tumhare sath rehke rehke pareshan hoke bhaag toh nhi gaya?" she threw her head back and laughed.

Karan rolled his eyes and turned towards her to give a fitting reply of her nonsense jokes but when his eyes glanced at her, melodious laughter bubbling from her lips, he couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked at that very moment. Yes, she was pretty and beautiful, there was no denying the fact but here in this moment laughing with pure child-like joy, she looked ethereal, like an angel descended from heavens above. Her eyes shined and he felt himself getting lost in those rich brown orbs. His lips curved into a smile, her laughter was contagious.

Her sudden clicking of fingers brought him out of his daze. "Shit!" Karan mentally smacked himself, what he had been doing? Admiring Naina? What on the earth he was supposed to say now. Did she notice this? If she did, it would be the end of him. She would never stop making fun of him. Why did she have to look so beautiful? It was all her fault.

"Dekho, tum mera dimag kharab mat karo or kahin or jaake baitho" He shook his head in annoyance hoping against hope that Naina missed whatever foolishness he had displayed a while back.

"Tum har waqt itna saddu bnke kyu rehte ho? Tumhara khana hajam nhi hoyega kya agar kisi se bhi dhng se baat krloge? Ya sara pyar tumhe sirf apne chaate par hi aata hai? "Her eyes were twinkling with hidden amusement.

"Mne tumse kaha na ki yaha se chli jaao? Ek baar me baat samjh nhi aati hai kya?" Karan didn't want to interact with Naina further; he feared that he would end up doing something stupid like this again. No! That will not happen at any cost. Maybe it's just the heat getting to his head, messing with his brain. Moreover, he was used to sitting in a corner like this be it any occasion or function. Interacting with someone was something he would never even dream about. Especially when that someone was chirpy, noisy and batameez Naina!

"Yeh tumhara Chauhan house nhi hai, jaha tum jisse mann chahe order dete firo, yh meri Di ki reception party hai. Or yaha mera jaha mann krega mai jaa skti huun ya baith skti huun" If people could kill by their eyes, Karan Chauhan would be a dead man by now! Naina Solanki's khol lined eyes were practically throwing daggers at him.

He grumbled an incoherent response and shifted in his seat, ignoring her retort. Arguing with Naina would be of no use. Maybe if he stops responding she would go away.

"Or ap? Ap kese hai? Bht dino se hamari baat nhi hui" Her voice ringed in his ears again.

"Mne.."

"Mai apse nhi apke chaate se baat krri huun, ab th hum dono dost hai na" Glaring Naina morphed into laughing Naina again. Her laugh was melodious. No, he couldn't let himself get carried away again.

"Tumhe aur koi kaam nhi hai kya? Mujhe akela rehene kyu nhi deti?"

"Mujhe koi shauk nhi hai tumhe disturb krne ka but mumma ne kaha ki sbhi mehmano ka or khaskar jeeju k parivaar walo ka dhyan rkhna hai. Mai th tumse bas yh puchne aayi thi ki tumhare liye kch laayu? Cold drink ya coffee? Kuch loge?"

"No, Thankyou"

"Okay fine"

Naina turned on her heels to walk away but bumped into a side stool and lost her balance. She failed to compose herself and crashed onto the ground even before Karan could register what has occurred.

"Ow" Naina bumped her arm and back really hard. Her wince made Karan rush to her in lightning's speed.

"Naina! " Karan's hands stopped mid track. No! He couldn't touch her. Looking around, he snatched the tablecloth, wrapped his hands and it and helped Naina sit up gently.

"Oww! Ah" Naina rubbed her elbow in an attempt to soothe the pain. She looked up to find Karan kneeling beside her and gazing at her arms. Surprisingly, he was not bearing an impassive face, like he usually sports; he was peering at her with another emotion. Was it care that flicked in Karan Chauhan's eyes? Care for her? Was he capable of showing emotions apart from irritation and anger?

"Naina, Hath dikhao? Jyada dard hai? Ek minute ruko" Karan lifted up Naina, with his hands perfectly wrapped and secure. Naina couldn't help but gaze up at him; this was a new side of Karan for her. Inside his irritated and don't- touch-me-shell he was a nice person, Naina already knew this by now. The way he helped restart the generator without being asked to, the way he didn't spoke the truth about the arrangements in front of his family was proof that he was good at heart but concern for her? His Batameez' Naina? That was something new. Maybe he was little reserved, but what that has to with being so touch conscious? Karan Singh Chauhan was mystery which she wanted to uncover. Joking about his chaata and taking digs at him seemed the only way for her to interact with him. There was no History of them being polite' or cordial' to each other and this was how their equation had been right from the start.

Karan caught Naina's eyes peering at him. Those beautiful were eyes staring at him intently. But right now it was not the time notice all this. He gently placed her on the sofa after pulling up a cushion behind her.

"Suno?" Karan called up a servant from afar and after orderinghim to bring up some painkiller and sprays went back to Naina.

"Tum.. Tum theek ho?"

She nodded. Karan could see the uneasiness on her. Maybe her back was hurting her and causing discomfort.

"Tum Naina batameez th ho hi sath me Naina Bewkhuuf bhi ho. Theek se chlna nhi aata tumhe?"

"Ab..Ab isme meri kya galti thi wh stool waha pet ha th?"

"Sttol that h dekhke th chlna aata.."

"Sir, yh raha apka saman" Paused their endless bickering

"Thankyou" He nodded

"Haath aage kro" Naina raised her elbow, as instructed. Karan sprayed the gel on the entire area. He took out his hanky and wrapped it around the sprayed area. The real problem cropped up now, how could the spray be applied to her back? Her hands couldn't reach that part properly. He will have to ask Maa, Sharda Aunty or someone.

"Tum ruko mai kisi ko bulata hun" Karan stood up

"Nhi Karan, I am fine. Abhi sab busy hai main hi chahti meri wajah se who apna kaam chodh kea aye. Jara si baat ke liye. Really, thankyou but mai theek hun" Naina too attempted to stand up but her back throbbed in pain making her misbalanced.

"Ow" This time Karan held her quickly and steadied her and made her lie down again.

"Tum theek nahi ho Naina" After contemplating with himself for a while he asked her "Tumhara room kaha hai?"

"Kyu?" Naina's eyes widened.

"Kyuki tumhe waha lejana hai. Ankhe bddi mat kro. Is halat me tum kaam nhi krskti. Tumhe rest ki jrurat hai"

"Nhi Karan, I am perfectly fine. Mai.."

"Shhh.. bilkul chup. Kya tum yeh chahti ho ki mai bahar jaake sabko tumhari halat ke bare me bata du? Or wh sab yaha aajaye?"

He knew that was the last thing she would want right now so without waiting for her reply he lifted her up in his covered arms. It was good that he wore triple layers today. As Karan started climbing the back end stairs one by one, different kind of thoughts started running in his mind. Why did Naina's wince bother him so much? He had had minimal interactions with any girl. He had always kept himself away from people. Then why now, he is carrying this girl in his arms up to her room. The girl, who always manages to irritate him, never lets him enjoy his solitude, the girl who gets on his nerves, every single time, she has a knack of finding him in a crowd of people to blabber continuously whether he is interested or not, the girl who has ample jokes to crack about his chaata and the only girl who calls him chaate wala akdu'. She is that one person who has teeny bit idea about his different condition and yet has never pitied' or hated' him, neither has she been indifferent' to him. These emotions he had been used to by now, instead she has chosen to tease him about his chaata and joke with him like a normal person. Normal" that's what he has wished to be right from his childhood days, he wished to mingle with people like a normal' persons, to hug his mother like a normal' person, to go out, enjoy himself, everything like a normal' person would do but now his weird behavior has become normal' for his family. No one bother If he doesn't comes out of his room because that is his routine not carrying a girl in his arms. With Naina, his limits have been put to test. He has danced in this shaadi, talked to one person continuously, whether it was bickering or taunts, he has set up a date for his bhaiya and bhabhi and what not and now he is carrying Naina to her room.

It is just because he has a heart too. Basic humanity! Yes that's what he is displaying. Opening the door with his foot, he placed Naina on her bed but got stuck when he attempted to move.

"Ouch"

"Tum ruko, mai nikalta hun"

One of her locks got stuck in his sherwani's button. If he tried to jerk it, that would hurt her. Karan started prying away her hair slowly. While doing so, he glanced at her face.

Naina kept on gazing at Karan, he looked nice but up close he was even more handsome. His eyes were beautiful. They had an extraordinary shine to it.

Naina's face was glowing, it seemed extra beautiful today right from her eyes to her cute nose and her soft pink lips. What was he thinking? Karan mentally smacked himself and hurriedly removed the last few strands.

"Hogya" He stood up hurriedly.

"Ab tum rest kro, Mai Sharda aunty se kehdunga ki tum thak gayi ho issiliye rest krri ho" Karan opened the door to exit.

"Karan?"

"Han, Naina? Kuch chaiye?" She smiled at his concern laced voice.

"Nhi. Kch nhi Thankyou" She beamed at him. Her smile was infectious and Karan couldn't help but return a small smile of his own.

"Guess what? Chaate wala akdu is back!" Naina smiled to herself.

Little did they know that Fate had other things planned for them. This was not the end, this was just a beginning.