Separated Love

Chapter 5: Kartik Has a Question for Naira

    The sun is finally out, and I haven't gotten any sleep. My ankle's swelling has gone down a lot, and I can walk just fine on my own. Thank God nothing serious happened. I walk outside to check on Kartik. He's still fast asleep. I remember his words from earlier. I'm sorry Kartik. I should have trusted you and told you everything. Trust just doesn't come easy to me. I grew up as Tina who had to constantly fend for herself all alone. I'm used to living on my own, and having little to no trust in others. Even then, you were the person I trusted the most. I just need to learn how to trust blindly. I will work on that. I tell him all of these things because I know he's asleep. I sit on the couch, and put his head on my lap. I start running my fingers through his hair. I want to kiss his forehead so badly but decide against it. I feel tears trickling down my face. Before I can wipe them away, they land on Kartik's sleepy face, waking him up. I quickly move my hands away. He wakes up super confused.
    "My head is hurting so much," he says as he lifts his head off my lap. Once he's sitting up, he looks at me. He's clearly thinking about how his head ended up on my lap. I look away. Embarrassed that he has caught my caring gesture. He runs his hand through his hair and scrunches his forehead deep in thought. Just then his eyes widen and he looks at me. "Naira, what I said last night..."
    "Kartik, you don't have to explain yourself." I stop him because everything he said was stuff he needed to get off of his chest. "You can't keep drinking like this. It's not good for you." I change the subject.
    "Naira please I don't want to talk about this."
    "But I do Kartik. Do you understand what you're doing? You're not only hurting yourself but all of your loved ones around you." I clearly mean that he's hurting me in the process. I can't see him like this.
    "Why do you care? Naira-"
    "Because it's you Kartik!" I say cutting him off mid-sentence. "Do you really need an explanation?" He is surprised by my honesty. Yes you idiot I still care for you. I'm head over heels still in love with him. My honesty silences him and the anger on his face completely goes away. "Kartik, I can't see you like this." I struggle to get the words out of my mouth. I can feel myself about to cry.
    "Hey, please don't cry. I'll work on it." Tears start welling up in my eyes. It's been so long since he has shown so much care for my emotions.
    "Promise me Kartik that you won't drink like this again. I'm not going to ask you to stop completely because I know you have to slowly taper off of it. Promise me you will work on this addiction."
    "I promise Naira." He smiles looking at me. I want to hug him so badly. Every fiber in my body is telling me to lunge into his arms. Instead I get up and get him some ibuprofen with water. "How's your ankle now? I'm sorry I couldn't be much help last night." He seems ashamed of the fact that he got drunk instead of helping me, but he helped me more than he knows.
    "You being here was enough." I'm surprised by my own confession that I've now said out loud, but it's the truth. His presence is enough to get me through any hurdle in life. He is surprised again by how forthcoming I am right now.
    Just then we hear keys go inside the lock. We both look at each other scared and say, "PAPA" at once.
    "Kartik! You have to hide! Go inside my room." The door starts to open, but one of our neighbors starts talking to my dad. I hear a bunch of voices. Kartik runs into my room. I realize that Kartik's shoes are still on the floor. I grab them quickly and throw them behind the couch as Papa walks in.
    "Hi Princess! You're already awake! I thought I would surprise you." Bhai and Keerti di walk inside. I haven't seen them in so long. Oh this is gonna be so much harder. I hope Kartik hid in a good spot. With worry clearly written all over my face, I go and meet them. I hug them both at the same time, turning them away from my room. I look towards my room and see Kartik is still trying to find a spot to hide. We make eye contact, and with my eyes I point towards underneath my bed. He goes underneath, and I remember that my journal is in there. I hope he doesn't read it.
    We all sit down in the family room. I don't know how long Kartik can stay under the bed, and I don't want him going through my journal. I tell Papa that we should show Bhai and Keerti di the picture we have framed of everyone in his room. I say this loud so Kartik can hear. Keerti di looks at me weird. As we make our way to Papa's room, I hear Kartik making his way out.
    "Did you guys hear that? Did someone open a door." Keerti di asks.
    "Oh that was me! Haha see!" I say quickly placing my hand on the door knob - absolutely making no sense. Keerti di is definitely on to us. Once again she makes a suspicious face. She's smiling a bit which worries me.
    "Papa, I'm gonna go visit Kartik!" Oh no. Papa doesn't know that Kartik lives here or that he's my professor.
    "What? What do you mean? Does he live near here?" Keerti di looks confused and I make a face to her. I think she understands that I haven't told Papa anything.
    "Yeah, he actually recently moved here. He's a professor at Naira's college." Papa looks on surprised. I wonder if Kartik has even made it back to his place yet.
    "Keerti di, are you sure you don't want water or something before you leave." I say, trying to stall for some time.
    "No it's fine Naira. Naksh, will you come with me? I'm sure Kartik will be happy to see you." She starts making her way out when she sees Kartik's wallet. Crap! She looks at me, smirks, and then heads out. Thank God she didn't say anything to Papa. I walk Bhai and Keerti di out. When I turn back around I notice Papa is looking at me.
    "Naira, did you know that Kartik was living here and is a professor at your college?" Well looks like it's time to tell him the truth.
    "Yes Papa I knew. I didn't want to worry you so I didn't say anything. Kartik is not only a professor at my college...he's my professor for my class." Papa's eyes widen, and I can tell he wants to say something but holds back.
    "Princess, next time just be honest with me. I wouldn't have gotten worried. I want whatever is best for you. If you don't mind being around Kartik, then I have no objection to it." I honestly feel better now that Papa knows. I tell him I have to get ready for college and make my way to my bedroom. I shut the door and quickly look under the bed. My journal is exactly where I had left it. I don't think he read it. I hope he made it back to his room without any trouble.