Chapter 1: Life Without You

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Hi Everyone. Thanks for your support and sorry for posting the 1st part late, even though I had it ready. Please do continue with your love and support, and don't forget to leave your comments, views, criticisms, suggestions or wishes. Yes, I do have the story sketched in my mind already, but your wishes and demands are always welcome. I will try best of my ability to fulfill them whenever possible. Thank you. 

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The intense heat of sun that directly fell on Naira's face broke her sleep. She realized it is morning already. Thus, it was a way for her to escape those nightmares. Stepping inside her room, she checked the clock that struck 6. She quickly freshened up and went to kitchen to make breakfast for her parents (Akshara and Naitik Singhania). Without making too much noise, Naira finished making breakfast and ran to take shower. After getting ready for the day, she hurriedly stepped out of the house. This was her daily routine, to make sure that she leaves the house before her parents wake up from their sleep. This has been going on since the day her life has changed completely. She feared what if her parents end up bringing a conversation that she wasn't ready to discuss yet and perhaps never will be! Somewhere she knew they have already come in terms with her situation, but she didn't want to hurt them more. Even looking at her, probably hurts them deeply. Hence she decided to avoid coming in front of them as much as possible.

After driving for half an hour, she reached Goenka Villa. As usual she found Dadi siting on the sofa, looking particularly nowhere. She was in a trance and looking straight out of the entrance, not even noticing Naira coming in. Naira knew she was waiting for something or perhaps someone. She wiped the lone teardrop that formed in the corner of her right eye and walked up to Dadi to touch her feet. On sensing the touch, Dadi gave Naira a faint smile and blessed her keeping her hand on Naira's head. Naira failed to return even that faint smile and just walked away to the kitchen saying, "I will bring your tea". After giving tea to Dadi, she prepared breakfast for everyone. With a tray full of breakfast, she went to Swarna and Manish's room, her Ma and Pa's room.

Since her son's demise, Swarna started living in a confinement of her own room. It was Naira's daily routine to make sure Swarna eats and have her medicine on time. Once she was done, she asked Manish to get ready and come for breakfast. Just like everyday, she found Keerti and Karun (Kartik's younger siblings) in the breakfast table. The irony is that they had never showed up on time for breakfast until someone from the family had woken them up. Now time has changed and they are also changed. The sparkle on their eyes is not the same anymore. They have become responsible and mature in last few years. There is one thing that they are very particular about - their Bhabhi should never be hurt or troubled because of them. They firmly believe that their Bhai's soul will rest in peace if their Bhabhi remains happy. They also love her dearly. They will never express but after their Bhai, they considered Naira to be their responsibility.

After setting up the table, Naira brought Dadi in the dining table. In the mean time Manish has arrived too. Once she made sure that everyone has eaten breakfast, she left for hospital. Though, not before Keerti and Karun making sure that she had her own breakfast. This is how they were living their lives now. They were binding each other from falling apart. Both families and work became Naira's everything now. While taking care of her own parents, she was both a son and daughter-in-law for Goenkas at the same time. Likewise every member of Goenka family loved her deeply, whilst Manish and Swarna considered her their daughter since the day they came to know about her.

Everyday starting from breakfast, she would make sure that all Goenka members have their lunch and dinner on time, especially Dadi and Swarna. Normally she would make three trips to Goenka Villa everyday and sometimes stay over. Being a doctor, her duty would sometimes come in the way of her responsibilities. She made sure to appoint a trustworthy caretaker, who would follow her instructions strictly. Maybe not completely, but she could rest assured that her family was well taken care of in her absence. After all these are the only relations that she can call her own now.

Now she was standing in front of her cabin. Like every morning, she caressed the nameplate ever so lovingly. It read - Dr. Kartik Goenka. Yes, it was his cabin and he was a well renowned Orthopedic Surgeon. Ever since he was gone, she has shifted to his cabin abandoning her own. The cabin that still has the nameplate of Dr. Naira Singhania, but remains untouched. Now Dr. Kartik Goenka's cabin was her small world, where she felt his presence all the time. Turning the knob, she pushed the door open to enter into a world, where she can live with his memories only. She sat on the chair and picked up the photo frame that was kept on his desk. It was a selfie taken by him, when they confessed their love to each other. How happy and excited he was to show her the framed picture on his desk.

Teardrops rolled down her cheeks and fell off on his face, on the frame. She wiped them off from the frame with the corner of her saree's pallu and mouthed "I love you Kartik. I love you a lot. Please come back to me". She kept the frame back on the desk and spoke "You left me, but know this I will be always yours. I am still waiting and always will be". After complaining, pleading and reminding him about his promises, she finally got engrossed in her work. For the outside world, she was Dr. Naira Singhania, a successful and well-known Cardiac Surgeon of India, but an unfortunate fiancé of Dr. Kartik Goenka. BUT deep down in her heart, she has already taken Kartik Goenka as her husband and she knew her Kartik had believed the same. He believed her to be Dr. Naira Kartik Goenka. Yes, she was living a life of a widow of late Kartik Goenka.


Precap: Past and a long conversation with Kaira moments.

NOTE: I know it was an emotional one and had no Kaira, but please bear with me. You will have your Kaira moments soon.

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