Till Death Do Us Apart [✓]

||Episode 25: Danger||

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Naira woke up to the faint rays of sunlight streaming through her curtains. The heaviness in her chest from the previous night lingered, but she forced herself to get out of bed. She had barely slept, tossing and turning as the events of the past day replayed in her mind. Her body felt tired, but she knew staying in bed wouldn't help.

After freshening up, she made her way downstairs to join Naksh and Keerti, who were already seated at the dining table for breakfast. The warm aroma of freshly made parathas filled the air, but Naira's appetite was nowhere to be found. She sat down, playing absentmindedly with the edge of her dupatta.

"Good morning, Naira," Naksh greeted, his tone soft. He could sense her unease but didn't press her immediately. Keerti smiled at her, trying to offer some comfort.

"Morning," Naira replied, her voice barely audible. She reached for a glass of water, avoiding their concerned gazes.

Naksh exchanged a look with Keerti before clearing his throat. "Naira, we've been meaning to talk to you. Are you planning to go back to the Goenka villa anytime soon?"

Naira froze, the question catching her off guard. She put the glass down and shook her head slowly. "Not for the time being, Bhai. I don't think I'm ready yet."

Keerti placed a reassuring hand on Naira's. "That's okay, Naira. Take all the time you need. But remember, Kartik... he loves you. He's hurting too."

Naira's lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to believe that, but the pain of his accusations still stung deeply. Before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up and saw a message from her dance academy. Her eyes widened as she read the urgent text.

"What happened?" Naksh asked, noticing her panicked expression.

"It's from the academy," Naira said, her voice trembling. "One of the students has gone missing. They need me there right now."

"Missing? How could that happen? Do they have any idea where the student might be?" Naksh's brows furrowed.

"I don't know, Bhai," Naira replied, already standing up. "I need to go."

"Wait, Naira," Keerti interjected. "Are you sure you're okay to go alone? This sounds serious."

Naira shook her head. "I'll be fine. I just... I need to be there. The students are my responsibility."

Naksh and Keerti exchanged worried glances but didn't stop her. "Call us if you need anything," Naksh said firmly. Naira nodded, grabbing her bag and rushing out of the house.

Meanwhile, at the Goenka villa, Kartik sat at the dining table, staring blankly at the plate of food in front of him. His appetite had vanished the moment he woke up, the guilt from the previous night still fresh in his mind.

Swarna approached him with a concerned expression, placing a cup of tea in front of him. "Kartik, you haven't eaten anything. Is everything okay?"

Kartik looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret. "Maa, I... I messed up. I hurt Naira more than I ever should have."

Swarna's heart ached for her son. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Kartik, you're human. We all make mistakes. What matters is that you're willing to make it right."

He nodded slowly. "I'm going to apologize. I'm going to fix this. I can't let her think that I don't value her or her pain."

Swarna smiled gently. "That's the right thing to do. Just speak from your heart, Kartik. She needs to know how much she means to you."

Kartik stood up, his resolve firm. "I'll go to Singhania Sadan now. I have to see her."

As Kartik drove toward Singhania Sadan, he couldn't stop the flood of emotions coursing through him. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he spoke aloud to himself. "Naira, I'm so sorry. I was blinded by my pain, and I took it out on you. I should have seen how much you were hurting too. I'll make this right, I promise."

When he reached the Singhania house, he was greeted by Naksh and Keerti. Kartik's heart sank when they told him Naira had gone to the dance academy due to the missing student. His mind immediately went to Aditya. He knew the man's twisted mind too well, and the thought of him being anywhere near Naira sent a chill down his spine.

"I'll go to the academy," Kartik said, his voice laced with urgency. "I have to make sure she's okay."

Naksh nodded. "Take care of her, Kartik."

At the academy, Naira rushed inside, her heart pounding. The usual vibrancy of the space felt absent, replaced by a tense and eerie atmosphere. She called out, "Is anyone here?"

Before she could get an answer, the lights flickered and then went out completely. Darkness enveloped the room, and Naira's breath quickened. She tried to find her phone in her bag, but her trembling hands made it difficult.

"Hello?" she called again, her voice echoing. "Is anyone here?"

Suddenly, she heard the sound of a door shutting behind her. The noise was loud and final, sending a jolt of fear through her. She turned toward the sound, her heart racing. "Who's there? Please, answer me!"

As panic began to set in, a faint hissing sound reached her ears. She sniffed the air and froze. A strange, chemical-like smell began to fill the room. Gas. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. She covered her mouth and nose with her dupatta, trying to stop herself from inhaling too much, but the gas was overpowering. Her vision blurred, and her legs felt weak. "No... no..." she whispered, staggering to find a way out. But her strength was fading fast.

Meanwhile, Kartik sped through the streets, his mind consumed with worry. "Please, Naira," he muttered under his breath. "Be safe. I can't lose you too."

As he neared the academy, his grip on the steering wheel tightened. The thought of Aditya being involved filled him with both anger and fear. "I'll protect you, Naira," he vowed. "No matter what it takes."

Inside the academy, Naira's breaths came in short gasps as the gas overwhelmed her. She tried to stay conscious, her mind desperately clinging to the hope that someone would come. But her body betrayed her, and she sank to the floor, her vision fading.

Outside, Kartik parked his car hastily and ran toward the entrance of the academy. He pushed open the doors, calling out, "Naira! Are you here?"

His voice echoed through the empty hallways, but there was no response. Panic gripped him as he moved deeper into the building, his eyes scanning every corner. "Naira!" he shouted again, his heart pounding.

Naira heard Kartik's voice faintly in the distance, a small flicker of hope lighting up within her. "Kartik..." she whispered weakly, but her voice barely made a sound as her consciousness slipped away.

Kartik quickened his pace, his desperation growing with every step. "Hold on, Naira," he murmured. "I'm coming 🥹"

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Hey guys!! If you guys liked the chapter give it a vote and leave your feedback in the comments, i am planning to update the one-shots books as well, it would be glad if you guys give some ideas.

Will post the next chapters soonish!

Bye!