An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 90

Raman's voice echoed through the hall, laced with frustration and disbelief. "Naira, you didn't even tell Kartik? What the hell is happening here?" he demanded, his tone sharp and unrelenting. The realization that he had been kept in the dark about something so crucial in his daughter's life gnawed at him, filling him with a sense of betrayal.

Kartik stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Naira's. She stood stiffly, her hands clenched into tight fists, her body radiating defiance. Their gazes, heavy with unshed tears, held a myriad of emotions—pain, longing, and an unspoken history that had led them to this moment. It had been months since they had last seen each other, yet the circumstances that now brought them face to face allowed no room for reconciliation.

Kartik's eyes faltered, dropping from Naira's face to her slightly rounded belly. His breath hitched as the truth struck him with an almost physical force. A tear escaped, trailing down his cheek, and despite the emotional turmoil brewing inside him, a small, bittersweet smile played on his lips. He was going to be a father. But the way he had come to know of it—through an unexpected confrontation rather than a joyous revelation—felt like a cruel joke. The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a steely resolve as he met Naira's gaze once again.

"Guys, what is going on? Will someone please explain?" Navya broke the silence, her voice tinged with concern.

Kartik let out a humorless chuckle, folding his arms across his chest. "What should I even say, Navya? I know nothing. The only person who can speak today is Naira. She owes us all an explanation." His tone was controlled, but there was no mistaking the accusation in his words. "Speak, Naira. We are all ears. What was so overwhelming that you chose to keep this from me, from your family?"

Naira's eyes flashed with anger. Kartik's impassive demeanor, his cold detachment, only fueled her resentment. "What do you mean you know nothing, Kartik? The problem has always been you—your mistrust, your baseless accusations! Don't pretend like you were oblivious to what was happening between us!"

"I knew we were having problems, Naira, but how does that justify keeping something as important as this from me?" Kartik retorted, his voice rising.

"How does it not?" Naira shot back, her frustration boiling over.

"Alright, enough!" Ishita interjected, her voice firm, cutting through the tension. "Kartik, Naira was with you in LA. How is it possible that you had no idea she was pregnant?"

Kartik's expression darkened, confusion mingling with anger. "She was with me? What? Are you serious? I had no idea where my so-called wife was for the past two months!" His words sent another wave of shock through the room.

Raman, who had been listening intently, sank onto the couch, rubbing his temples as if trying to make sense of the chaos unraveling before him. "Naira, where were you? What is going on? My pregnant daughter did not tell me she was expecting, my other daughter knew but said nothing, and now I find out that my daughter's husband was completely unaware of her whereabouts? What is wrong with you, Naira?" His voice, though quieter, carried the weight of disappointment and exhaustion.

Kartik took a deep breath, his tone softer but no less insistent. "Why are you silent now, Naira? You had no hesitation throwing accusations at me before. Why the sudden silence?"

Naira clenched her jaw, glancing at her parents before finally speaking. "Mom, Dad, Kartik and I were constantly fighting. There was no trust between us. We barely even spoke. Our relationship was crumbling. Kartik believed I was having an affair—with his friend, no less!"

Kartik scoffed. "And you didn't trust me either, Naira. Let's not act like this was one-sided."

"Let me finish, Mr. Goenka!" Naira snapped, her voice sharp. "Yes, I doubted you too. But how could I not? You accused me of betraying you, humiliated me with your suspicions. How was I supposed to trust you? You think I should have told you about this pregnancy? Would you have accepted our babies, Kartik? You weren't even ready to be a father! All we ever did was fight! Would you have stood by me?" Her voice cracked, the weight of her pent-up emotions finally spilling over.

Ishita moved forward, wrapping her arms around her daughter. She knew Naira wasn't entirely right, but a mother's heart ached to see her child suffer alone.

Abhimanyu spoke up, his voice firm yet gentle. "But Naira, why didn't you tell us? Did you not trust us either?"

"No, Bhai. It wasn't about trust. Kartik should have been the first to know. And if I had told you all, what would I have said? That I was going to be a single mother? It wasn't easy for me. It took all my strength to even confide in Di. And I made her promise not to tell anyone because I wanted to tell you myself."

Raman turned to Nandini, his voice laced with disappointment. "Naira may not be mature enough to understand the gravity of this situation, but you are. Did you really think hiding this was the right thing to do? And Kartik, how could you not even check on your wife? How did it not occur to you to find out where she was?" His gaze bore into both of them, his disappointment palpable.

Nandini, overwhelmed with guilt, lowered her head as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry, Dad..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Sorry? Sorry for what? For hiding the truth? For assuming you knew better than us?" Raman's voice was stern, making Nandini flinch.

Manik, unable to watch her suffer, pulled her into his arms. "Papa, please don't be so harsh on her," he said respectfully. "I understand that you're upset, but yelling won't change what's already happened. Let's focus on how we move forward."

Raman sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Abhimanyu, take me inside," he muttered, exhaustion evident in his posture.

As the tension settled, Kartik turned to Naira, his voice quieter but firm. "Can I talk to you alone?"

The others hesitated before silently leaving the room. Naira watched them go, her heart pounding, as she turned back to face Kartik.

Nandini and Manik were about to leave as well when Kartik stopped them. "Nandini, just a minute."

Naira nodded at them, signaling it was okay. Understanding the need for privacy, they stepped out into the garden, leaving Naira and Kartik alone in the echoing silence of the hall.