Separated Love

Chapter 4: Naira's Injury and Kartik's Drinking Problem

I've been going to classes for a month now. Talking with Kartik has been very minimal since we fought. We see each other in class, and only talk if I have a question on the lecture material. We have ran into each other a couple times in the apartment complex. I noticed that he seems to always come home late at night. I wonder why that is. Not like it's any of my business though. He can do whatever he wants. I don't care.
I walk into class, and a couple of the friends I've made come up to me.
"Did you hear that Fresher's Dance is this weekend!" Tanvi yells in excitement.
"I heard that someone's planning on asking you Naira. Rumor has it that it's going to be Kabir," Priya exclaims. What! How can someone ask me to the Fresher's Dance?
"Guys, I'm not planning on going." I tell them. "I don't really like dancing. It's not my thing. Plus we have a big exam coming up the following week so I can't go." I try to make up as many excuses as I can. I love dancing. Dancing is the passion I'm going to carry with me until I die. It breaks me that I can't dance anymore. My doctor told me that until I get the surgery, my ankle could easily get hurt once again if I begin to dance. I can't risk it. If I hurt my ankle again, the consequences could be much worse. At the corner of my eye I realize that Kartik has entered. He looks at me confused. I quickly get to my seat and prepare for today's lecture. As lecture is about to begin, Kabir walks in with a huge sign. Oh no.
"Naira, will you go to the Fresher's Dance with me?" He's holding a rose up to me, and all I can do is look down and then look at Kartik. Everyone in the class is looking on in anticipation to see what I'm going to say. I mean, what can I say? I only see Kabir as a friend. I'm still in love with Kartik. I'm technically still his wife. Oh God, Kartik must be feeling awful. I look at his face and the rage is very evident. His hands are at his sides made into fists. I can tell that he is clenching his jaw. As I'm about to tell Kabir that I'm not even planning to go to the dance, Kartik interrupts.
"Kabir, you can ask Naira this same question outside of class. Can we begin?" He says through clenched teeth. My heart is racing at the thought of how bad Kartik must be feeling. I'm going to tell everyone the truth after class. I'm married and I can't hide that from everyone. They don't have to know who I'm married to. At least that will get me out of this mess with Kabir.
As soon as class ends Kartik looks at me. Avoiding all eye contact with him, I walk towards where Kabir is sitting. He has a nervous smile on his face. I can feel everyone's eyes on us.
"Kabir, you're such a great friend and I really appreciate you asking me. However, I can't go to the Fresher's Dance with you. I'm actually married. My husband and I are separated but at the end of the day I am still his wife. I can't do that to him." Everyone silently gasps. Kabir seems hurt.
"Uh...it's okay Naira. I didn't know. I'm sorry if I made you upset. Your husband is crazy to let someone like you go." Kartik interrupts immediately.
"Well sometimes you should know both sides of the story. Maybe Naira isn't as innocent in this situation." This statement makes my blood boil. How dare he insult me in front of the entire class? Let me teach him a lesson.
"That's a surprising statement coming from you Kartik SIR. I had no idea you believed in listening to both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion." Everyone stands in shock. They can't believe I just sassed our professor, but he called it on himself. Before he can even answer, I pick up my stuff and storm out of the classroom.
As I'm walking outside, I feel a hand grab mine and pull me into another random room. Of course...it's Kartik. He pins my hands behind my back and looks down at me in anger. I struggle to get out his hold but he's simply too strong. Slowly his hold on me begins to weaken, but I'm not fighting to get out of his hold anymore. We both are looking into each other's eyes when he leans down by my ear.
"If you ever insult me in front of my students again like that Naira, I'm going to be forced to take disciplinary action against you." He whispers into my ear with anger laced in every single word. I stomp really hard on his foot. He gets hurt and instantly lets go of me to attend to his now injured foot.
"If YOU ever hold me against my permission, or try to ruin my reputation in front of my friends, I'm going to be forced to report you to administration."
"Why did you even tell them you were married? Was it to indirectly make me look bad?" Kartik asks. How can he misunderstand me this much? Does he not understand that I didn't want to go to a dance with any other guy?
    "You are the last person I need to give any explanation to. Now get out of my way." He tries to block me, making me trip and roll my ankle. "OW" I yell in pain. I instantly fall and pray that I didn't seriously damage my ankle. It begins to swell right away.
    "Naira! Naira, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hurt you. Oh my god are you okay?" He tries to touch my ankle and I instantly move it away. "Naira, let me see it. If you got hurt bad I'll take you to the hospital." Once again I move away from him. I grab the table to the right of me, and start to pull myself up. Kartik stands up immediately as well. As I try to take one step forward, my entire leg gives out. I'm about to fall forward but Kartik grabs me. Before I know it, he lifts me in his arms. "You never can just let me help you. We are going to the hospital. I don't care what you say." He places me in the car and tells the driver to take us to the hospital. I don't want Kartik to find out from the doctor that something's wrong with my ankle. If they do an x-ray they'll instantly find out.
    "Kartik, please. I don't need to see a doctor. I just need to ice my ankle. It's a minor sprain. Nothing else."
    "No Naira. You don't know that. It's so swollen."
    "Kartik, I am a dancer. I know if an ankle injury needs medical attention. This is just a minor injury. I will be fine after icing it and elevating it. Please." He looks at me and then my ankle. After looking back and forth at both multiple times he finally says something.
    "Driver, head towards home instead." He then turns his attention towards me. "Does Papa know I'm here?" Kartik asks.
    "No. He has no idea you live here or that you're even in my life right now." This sentence seems to hurt Kartik but he instantly masks this emotion.
    "Okay so then how can I get you into your room? You can bet that I'm not letting you walk all the way there."
    "Papa is gone to visit Bhai. He won't return until tomorrow." I say nothing else, but I know he understands that I've agreed to let him carry me inside to my room.
    Once we arrive at the apartment complex, Kartik lifts me into his arms once more and starts heading up to my place. While I'm still in his arms, I grab my keys and unlock the door. He walks inside making a quick observation of everything. I tell him where my room is, and he walks towards it. When we enter my room, he carefully places me down, and grabs a bunch of pillows to elevate my foot and ankle. He tells me he's going to grab some ice and leaves. I'm feeling restless. I don't actually know how severe this injury is, but I definitely don't want him to know from the doctor about my previous injury. He walks back into my room, and places the ice on my ankle. I get startled by how cold it is and flinch.
    "I'm sorry Naira. I'm so sorry." He's genuinely worried. My poor Kartik. I know he can never see me in pain.
    "Kartik, it's okay you didn't mean to. Just next time, please respect my physical boundaries. I can't have you doing that to me at college. Someone could have easily seen us. Then what would we have said?" He looks down, ashamed of himself.
    "Okay. I will be mindful of that going forward. Anyways, I'm going to head back down to my place." He starts making his way out the door when he turns back around. "Wait, if Papa is going to be gone until tomorrow, who will take care of you?" He has a good point. I am all alone, and I don't think I'll be able to walk around.
    "I'll manage," I tell him because I don't want us to be alone in my apartment. I don't trust myself.
    "Naira look - you're injured and can't take care of yourself. Let me take care of you today. Tomorrow morning before Papa comes, I'll leave. I just can't leave you here when you're in pain like this." He has a good point, but I don't want to take help from him. I don't want to be dependent on him again, but what other option do I have? I give in to his request and notice him smile a bit. "Okay, so first of all, do you need anything?" He asks.
    "Well, I have to study my lecture notes for today and prepare for next week's exam."
    "Oh don't worry! I can teach you everything!" He says in excitement. As soon as he says it, we both realize that he said this exact same thing to me, Luv, and Kush 2 years ago. The smile on his face quickly goes away and he looks down. "I mean, I can help you study for it since you're my student anyways." This is an argument that I decide is not worth having.
    "Okay Kartik. You can help me study for it." I smile letting him know that I am fine with him helping me. He instantly smiles.
    "Alright! Then let me get some snacks, water, and grab your bag." I tell him where everything is and soon afterwards we start studying. Kartik tests me on multiple concepts. I have to admit, he knows so much which is really attractive. He is such an intelligent guy. I look back at my notes and continue studying. As I'm trying to memorize a concept, I'm surprised by Kartik's sudden display in affection. He takes the lock of hair that keeps falling forward on my face and tucks it behind my ear. Looking at him and reveling in his touch, I blush and look down. Without acknowledging it, both of us continue studying. After some time passes, Kartik tells me to take a break.
"Naira, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course Kartik. You don't have to ask." He seems nervous about asking me his question which in turn makes me nervous about what he's gonna ask.
"I overheard you talking to your friends. Why don't you dance anymore Naira? The girl I knew could not be stopped when it came to dancing."
"Well let's just say a big part of that girl was taken away from her the day you told her to leave you and your family." I instantly regret saying that to Kartik. His eyes begin to tear up, and I feel so guilty. He apologizes for asking and says he'll be right back. I don't know why I was so hostile towards him just now. I don't blame him for what happened to me that day. I just got defensive because I've learned to be that way with him lately. I should apologize to him for what I said. I think he went back to his place. I grab my cellphone and text him I'm sorry. It says he read my message but he isn't responding. I must have really hurt him. I try to use a different tactic. I text him saying that I need to use the bathroom but can't get up. He responds to me in a second that he's on his way. Kartik enters my room a minute later and offers to pick me up.
"Kartik I'm feeling a bit better. Will you just help me with walking." He nods. He helps me stand up. With my left hand in his left hand, I feel him wrap his arm around me and rest his right hand on my waist. I instantly get nervous. Why have I been so nervous by his touch lately? He then proceeds to pull me closer to him. I try to inch away from him when he pulls me in closer again. This time he looks down at me, lifts my chin up with his index finger, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"Naira, stop pushing me away. This isn't the first time I've held you like this." I blush instantly. "So please let me help you, okay?" I nod in response. Being so close to him, I smell something a bit off from him. It's almost as if Kartik's breath smells like alcohol. I can't be right. Kartik doesn't drink.
Once I'm done using the bathroom, Kartik helps me walk to the kitchen. He asks me what I want to eat. From what I remember, Kartik is a God awful cook.
"Kartik, it's okay you don't have to cook. We can just order something."
"Hey! Are you trying to make fun of my cooking skills?" He says in a lighter joking mood.
"You'd have to have some skills in the first place for me to make fun of Kartik!" He immediately pouts and then we both break into laughter. Oh I've missed this. This is us.
"Okay, I'll give it to you that I'm not the best cook, but you know I'm great at listening - especially to you!" I'm amazed at what Kartik's saying right now. It's as if he has forgotten everything from these past 2 years. We are being completely normal.
"Okay fine I'll let you cook if you listen to me." I begin to tell him how to make paneer makhani with roti. He's doing a surprisingly good job. Every now and then he gets some flour on his face, and he looks absolutely adorable. He's so concentrated on his task making his super focused face that is so attractive. Before I know it, he has finished cooking and the food is ready. He sets the food down on the table along with some ibuprofen.
"Here Naira. Eat this and then take some medicine for the pain. I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going? Are you not going to eat with me?"
"I just have to go to my place real quick. I'll come back to eat in 5 minutes."
"No Kartik. Let's eat together first and then you can do whatever you have to." He looks at me, clearly thinking about what he should do. Then, at last he takes a seat by me at the dining table. As we are eating, I tell him that there is flour on his face. He keeps missing the spot of flour by his lip. I decide to help him. Using a tissue, I wipe away the flour near his lip. He closes his eyes and puts his hand over mine. I quickly move my hand away. While we are eating I notice that his hands keep trembling. What is going on with him?
"Kartik, are you okay?" He looks down and I know he is about to lie.
"Yeah Naira! This food is amazing, right?" He has the biggest grin on his face. I know he's trying to change the subject, and successfully does so with that smile on his face. He's super proud of his cooking.
We finish eating and he helps me get to bed. He gives me privacy to change and then comes back inside.
"I was wondering if I could stay with you tonight. You're hurt and don't have anyone here. What if you need something?" As much as I have enjoyed today, we can't keep pretending like everything is okay. I look at him to decline his request, but I don't have it in my heart to say no. Something is also clearly wrong with him so maybe if he stays here I can find out what's going on.
"Yes Kartik you can stay here. You can stay in Papa's room."
"Actually, I was wondering if I could just sleep on the floor in here. That way if you need anything I'll be right here." I agree to this and he sets up some blankets on the floor for himself. I lay in bed, and look down towards him. Look at where we've come in life. There was a time we would be laying in bed together, and he would take me into his arms. Now he has to sleep on the floor in my room. Watching him I begin to doze off.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, I realize that Kartik isn't beside me. Where did he go? I get up and use the support of the things around me to walk. I make my way towards the dining room. I see Kartik drinking coke.
"Kartik? Why are you drinking coke in the middle of the night?" He is startled that I'm awake.
"Oh I just got uh thirsssty." He keeps slurring his speech as he's talking. I think my doubt is right. I make my way over to him.
"Well, I'm thirsty too. Can I have a sip as well?" He quickly moves the glass away from me.
"No, just drink some water." Before he can move the glass further away, I snatch it from his hands. It isn't too hard with his delayed motor skills issue he's having at the moment. I take it and the smell of the drink makes it very evident that there is something mixed in this coke.
"So you drink alcohol now? Is that why you kept going back to your place today?" He looks down, and then in sudden rage looks back at me.
"Yes. You leaving me was the worst thing that could've happened. The first couple of months I cried every night in your absence. I was tortured by every memory of you in our room. If I looked at my bed, I remembered our pillow fights or the nights we spent cuddling together. If I walked towards the mirror, I remembered the first night of our marriage when I helped you take off your jewelry. If I went to the bathroom, I would remember when we apologized to each other for not trusting each other. How you were dressed like a clown just to make me happy. I dreamt of you doing that again. Coming back to me and apologizing for everything. If you had just came back to me once Naira and apologized for everything, I would take you back with open arms." He starts crying. "But no. Instead you told me how much you hated me. Instead you chose not to be there when I needed you so much Naira. I couldn't handle the torture your memories were putting me through, so I resorted to drinking. It helped drown out the pain and made me relax. So yes I do drink. I have you to thank for that." I'm shocked by his honesty. I don't know if he would normally be this forthcoming or if it's the alcohol talking. I'm glad he got all of this anger off of his chest. Hopefully one of us will feel better. I want to tell him that I wanted to be there for him too, but I realize that telling him this when he's drunk isn't the best idea. "And Naira, why didn't you just trust me? Why didn't you just tell me that Shubham had a problem?" He says this more calmed down but with more pain in his voice. "Naira, if there was ever a problem, I would tell you about it right away. I trusted you with everything. Why couldn't you do the same for me? It hurt me that you didn't tell me right when you found out about Shubham. That wasn't fair to me or our relationship." I listen to everything he says. As he's talking he begins to fall asleep on the couch. I help him lay down there, and make my way back to my room.
I'm unable to fall asleep the entire night. Kartik has a drinking problem. He started drinking after I left him. However, it's not his anger that upsets me, it's what he said about me hurting him. Kartik is right about how much he used to trust me with everything. If there was ever a problem he would tell me right away. Even during his birthday celebrations he told me not to keep anything from him. I admit I shouldn't have kept Shubham's secret from him. I mean I was going to tell him everything eventually the next day, but unfortunately by then it was too late. I just wanted to give Shubham a fair chance to tell everything to his brother and our family. Kartik is right though. I should have told him everything the day I found out. Thinking about this makes me feel guilty. A little bit of my anger towards Kartik starts to go away. For the first time I realize that maybe Kartik isn't the only one at fault in this relationship. I made mistakes too.

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Author's Notes
As you have read in this chapter, you can see the immense amount of love and care that Kartik and Naira have for each other. This love at times overpowers their issues that they have with one another. I wanted to establish that regardless of all the hurdles life is throwing at these two, the power of their love will still manage to bring them back together. Towards the end of this chapter we see that Naira has finally started to realize that she also made mistakes and isn't completely innocent. In the coming chapters you'll see that once she realizes there are areas she can improve on, she will begin to warm up to Kartik again. I want Kaira to start working on themselves before they start working on their relationship. The events that occurred in this chapter will help light the flame towards this journey of self-improvement.