Part 3A
Ppphhhrtrrt. Naira was shaken away from her thoughts by Pungi's horn. She turned to see Pungi smiling at her knowingly, pointing to her, then at Kartik and then folding her hand in a mark of approval.
"what??. No. No, pungi. You misunderstood. I just meant - "
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
There was no mistaking that voice. "now what?" Naira said, wondering what was rukmani daadi's problem this time.
"chalo!" she said to pungi.
Together they raced towards the hall, where, to her horror, Rukman dadi was angrily brandishing a finger at Kartik's face. " how dare you threaten Anu?"
Threatened? Kartik has threatened Anmol? Naira thought, Her eyes immediately found his - he met her eyes briefly and shook his head.
That was all she needed - she didn't need even a moment to wonder who was wrong here - she had already made that mistake once. She trusted Kartik.
She nodded back at him.
That was all he needed. He was usually a calm cordial guy. He was friendly, easy going, was never rude to people unnecessarily. But when he had overheard Anmol and his friends plotting against Naira and pungi, he couldn't control himself, especially when he heard Anmol say he would make sure Naira would suffer.
As long as he was around, nothing and no harm would touch Naira. He has promised himself and her that much - and he had informed Anmol as much in no uncertain terms - that if anything were to happen to Naira or if Anmol were to even think of harming Naira or pungi in anyway, then he would forget his decency too.
And Rukmani dadi had heard him - and he did feel bad about that, because he didn't want to hurt anyone in this family -maybe he could have dealt with this differently.
He was ready to apologise, but he caught Naira entering the kitchen out of the corner of his eyes. He looked up and their eyes met.
She looked from Rukmani dadi to him to Anmol as Rukmani dadi screamed at him that how dare he threaten her beloved grandson.
Would she trust him? Would she think he was wrong this time too? The last time that had happened, he has been hurt and had decided to leave. But she had stopped him, and he did.
But now, now he wasn't sure. Maybe they weren't the best of friends, but they had this unspoken connection - he knew he would trust her with his life, and she seemed to trust him too. The walls she had built around herself seemed to be slowly but surely coming down.
He didn't realise it, but he was actually holding his breath as he searched her face for that trust.
She looked at him, and nodded firmly.
That was all he needed.
Smiling, he nodded back at her before turning to Rukmani dadi, " I am sorry. But Anmol was wrong, he said he would do anything to hurt Naira and pungi to get back at them for the other day" he spoke without taking a breath, as he knew Rukmani dadi wouldn't allow him to speak if he stopped.
And right he was, " and we should trust you?"
Naira curled her fists. Those words touched a deep part inside her and unleashed old wounds again. She knew first hand that how distrust from family felt. She didn't want him to go through the same thing.
Would Rukmani daadi never change? How many times did Kartik had to prove that he deserved their trust, respect and love?
She was about to say as much, when he spoke, " Anmol was wrong. But I am sorry I yelled at him. and I will tell you how many ever times you want me to. Aap mujhse bade hai, daadi"
Naira smiled - so this was how he had made her family his - this was why everyone loved him - right from Mishti to Bhabhi Maa.
" mein tumhare daadi nani Hun. You are not family - no matter how much these people tell you. You are and always will be an employee. Never forget that"
Naira didn't remember being so angry. " ENOUGH"
Startled Rukmani daadi turned to her, she was aware of Kartik giving her a surprised looked, shaking his head, urging her to stop.
She chose to ignore him, and focused her attention on Rukmani daadi, "till how long will you spew venom Rukmani daadi?" She asked and was met by equal parts shock and anger.
" stay in your limits, Naira" she warned
Naira chuckled humourlessly, " we have been taught to respect elders daadi, but we have also been taught to stand up for what is right, today, Kartik is"
" really?? You want to support him - him - a stranger, instead of your own cousin, your own family?"
" Kartik is family"
" of course, what would you know about family you were the one who ran away"
Ouch. All these years and it still hurt. Naira looked away immediately, even as tears stung her eyes. Everything flashed before her eyes like it had happened yesterday. Suddenly feeling suffocated, she ran outside, wanting some fresh air.
" Naira!" Kartik called, turning around to watch her run into the garden. His heart sank. He didn't know what had happened all those years back, but he knew that the broken bond was slowly forming again, Naira was slowly warming up back into the family. She was beginning to really belong.
And all that had gone down the drain. Because of him.
He clenched his jaw and turned to Rukmani daadi, " I am sorry daadi. My mistake, sorry" not waiting for her response, he turned around to go look for Naira.
" sorry se kaam nahi Chalega. In logon ne Tujhey kuch zyaada he dheel dey Rakhi hai. Just because these people treat you like family, you take advantage of that. Not anymore. Let Akshara come. Get ready to say goodbye to your job and this family"
"fine" he muttered distractedly, turning around and walking out of the house and into the garden.
His job and this family - they were important to him. But there was someone more important to him than anything else in the world and she needed him right now.
Author notes
AN1 - ok the whole rukmani scene was very similar to episode i know. But i wrote it before i saw the episode and seems too much of a hassle to edit it out now. Sorry.
AN2 - the teaser will feature in the next part.
AN3 - do you feel the part is too choppy, i mean kartiks feeling nairas feeling. Too sudden?? Lemme know.
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