It was evening time. Kartik was at the beach along with Kairav, Naira and Lisa as Kairav had wanted to come to the beach. He was playing with Lisa and Naira as Kartik was just sitting there looking at Kairav and smiling, who was laughing in joy.
The scene in front of Kartik reminded him of his very first days in Goa. He still remembered sitting just like that at the beach during sunset and longingly looking at a small family of four, wishing if he could have the same thing, and then, it had finally happened. The wish which he had wanted for the past five years had finally been granted, not in the exact same way, but beggars can't be choosers.
One decision can change everything for a person. His one decision had once ruined his life, and his one decision had given him everything back. He still wondered where he would be right now if he hadn't picked up Kairav's call that day.
Kartik didn't even realise when his gaze shifted from Kairav to Naira. God, she looked beautiful, so fucking beautiful. No one could say that she was a mother. She looked so happy, smiling and laughing with Kairav and Lisa. Her hair, face, and clothes were wet from playing on the water, some mud was also present on her cheeks, but Kartik could swear that he hadn't seen anything more gorgeous from what he was seeing at the moment. There was something about Naira that always pulled him towards her, even if he wanted to, he couldn't stay away from her.
Her hair flowing in the gentle breeze as she ran to get Kairav, laughing as she caught him and twirled him around. Her laugh felt so soothing, as it washed over him, calming his chaotic brain. The setting sun created a golden halo around her entire being causing her to look like an angel, so radiant, so ethereal, who had finally arrived back in his life, to give him his long awaited redemption.
As Kartik kept gazing at naira, his thoughts slowly changed from Naira to his counselor's meet which he just had in the morning. Naksh had always tried to get him to meet a counselor and he had always refused. He had agreed only for the sake of Kairav.
Kartik had thought to just attend the session and then would come out and tell Lisa and Kairav that it was of no use, that therapy wasn't for him, that it couldn't help him, that it was his first and last session.
But as soon as Kartik had come out of the counselor's office it had been like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders, his lungs expanding fully for the first time in years. It had felt so good, to talk, to let his feelings, to let raw emotion come out of his mind without someone judging him, without someone questioning him, without someone looking at him with nothing but pity.
As soon as he had started talking, the words had just flowed out from his mouth like someone had opened a dam which had been shut far too long. He had spoken about so many things, things which had burdened his heart and mind for far too long, many questions had arisen, of which he needed answers, so many-
Kairav :- PAPA !!
Kartik's thoughts were broken when heard Kairav shouting and waving at him.
Kairav :- papa, aap bhi aao hamare saath khelne.
Kartik smiled and immediately got up. He removed his slippers, folded his jeans to his knees and went towards his son, who was standing between Naira and Lisa. Kartik shivered slightly as the cold water hit his legs.
Lisa :- ek min. Kartik.
Kartik looked at Lisa.
Kartik :- haa, kya hua ?
Lisa :- tum paani mein nahi aa sakte.
Kartik :- par kyun ?
Lisa :- bhul gaye, abhi tumhare ghav poori tarah se bhara nahi hai.
