Till Death Do Us Apart [✓]

||Episode 28: What's Happening?||

---dont forget to check out my new book TANGLED BY DESTINY, y'all---

The clock struck midnight, and the room was silent except for the soft sound of Naira's even breathing against Kartik's chest. The calmness of the night was broken by the shrill ring of Naira's phone. Half-asleep, she groaned, her hand fumbling across the bedside table until she grabbed it. Blinking against the brightness of the screen, she answered without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep. But the moment she heard the voice on the other end, her eyes flew wide open. Her body went rigid.

"Hello, Naira," came the chillingly familiar voice of Aditya. It was calm, calculated, and dripping with malice. "Long time no see, huh?"

Naira's heart stopped. Panic coursed through her veins as she sat up abruptly, clutching the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Aditya," she whispered, her voice trembling.

The sudden movement woke Kartik. He propped himself up on his elbow, his eyes instantly focusing on Naira's panicked expression.

"Naira, who is it?" he asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Naira couldn't answer. Aditya's cold laugh echoed through the phone. "Ah, Kartik's there, isn't he? Good. This saves me the trouble of repeating myself," he sneered.

Kartik grabbed the phone from Naira, pressing it against his ear. "What the hell do you want, Aditya?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Aditya chuckled again, clearly enjoying their distress. "What do I want? Justice. Revenge. Whatever you want to call it. You've played me long enough, Kartik. Now it's my turn. Let's see how you handle my trump card."

"Stay the hell away from my family, Aditya," Kartik warned, his grip tightening on the phone. "If you even think about coming near us, I swear—"

Aditya cut him off with a mock sigh. "Oh, spare me the threats, Kartik. You should know by now that I'm not easily intimidated. I'll see you both soon."

And with that, the line went dead. Kartik's jaw clenched as he stared at the phone, his mind racing. He turned to Naira, who was pale and visibly shaken. Her breathing was uneven, and her hands trembled as she clutched the blanket.

"Naira," Kartik said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly but didn't pull away.

"He's back, Kartik," she whispered, her voice breaking. "he has done so much he shouldn't be here."

Kartik pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Listen to me, Naira. He can't hurt us. I won't let him. Whatever game he's playing, we'll handle it together. You're not alone in this."

Naira buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking his shirt. Kartik rubbed soothing circles on her back, his heart aching at the sight of her breaking down. She had been so strong, carrying the weight of their past and the pain Aditya had caused. And yet, she hadn't let it consume her. She had fought through it all, standing tall even when everything around her threatened to crumble.

As Naira's breathing began to steady, Kartik guided her back to bed. He tucked her in, sitting beside her until her eyelids grew heavy. "I'm here, Naira," he whispered. "I'll always be here."

Once she fell asleep, Kartik lay down beside her, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts raced. Aditya's threats echoed in his mind, but more than that, he couldn't stop thinking about Naira. She had endured so much, from Aditya's manipulation to their own personal tragedies. And through it all, she had remained unbroken. Strong. Resilient.

"She's stronger than anyone I know krishna ji," Kartik thought, his chest tightening with a mix of pride and guilt. "And I'll be damned if I let Aditya or anyone else hurt her again. I'll fix this. I'll protect her, no matter what it takes."

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Kartik woke to the sound of Naira stirring beside him. He turned to see her stretching, a faint smile playing on her lips despite the lingering worry in her eyes.

"Good morning, Sherni," Kartik said, his voice soft.

Naira smiled, her cheeks flushing. "Good morning mendak," she replied, her voice still groggy. Kartik leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

After a moment of quiet intimacy, they got out of bed and headed to the dining table for breakfast. Laughter and light conversation filled the air as they shared a peaceful meal. It felt like a brief respite from the storm brewing on the horizon.

But their moment of calm was interrupted by a call from Swarna. Kartik's mother sounded urgent, her voice trembling with panic.

"Kartik, Naira, come home immediately," she said. "It's important."

Alarmed, Kartik and Naira hurried to Goenka Villa. As soon as they entered, they were met with a shocking sight. The household staff was throwing Naira's belongings out of the house—her clothes, her books, even her personal keepsakes.

Naira froze in her tracks, her heart sinking. Kartik's eyes widened in disbelief as he grabbed one of the staff members. "What the hell is going on here?!" he demanded.

The staff member hesitated, glancing nervously at the senior Goenkas standing in the background. The atmosphere was thick with tension as Kartik and Naira exchanged a stunned, fearful glance. Whatever this was, it was only the beginning of Aditya's twisted game.

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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!