Ties that bind us together

Udaipur, India

"No, no, no, Akshi... Chodo use. Don't touch her. Don't touch her. Akshi..." Naira mumbled. She is thrashing and mumbling no, no again.

Kartik came from the washroom and hurried towards his wife, shaking like a leaf. "Naira, Naira, wake up; everything is alright. Wake up, Naira". Kartik shook her to wake. "Naira, wake up". Naira jerked up. She looked up with teary eyes at her husband. Kartik hugged her tightly.

"My baby is in pain, Kartik. She is in so much pain. I can feel it", she mumbled. Kartik had no reply to this. Naira is having nightmares like this from the time their Akshu was snatched from them. She is convinced that her daughter is not okay. She is in some pain.

"Naira, our Akshu will be fine. I know we are not with her right now. But trust me, she will be fine" Kartik tried to console her, but he was also afraid from inside. He can also feel that his daughter is in pain. Their child is not with them, but they can feel about her and don't know whether it is correct.

"Kartik kaha hogi humari beti. Kis haal mai hogi. Please mujhe meri Akshi chahiye, please", she cried in his embrace.

"We will get our Akshu back. Don't worry. Humari beti hume zaroor wapis milegi. Kanhaji itne kathor nhi ho sakte. Woh humesha humari betiyaan humse nhi cheen sakte. He will give our Akshu back to us", Kartik told her somewhat assuredly. For many years, every morning, they assure each other that they will find their daughter again.

"Hum hi kyun Kartik? Humari betiyaan hi humse kyun alag hui hai? Pehle Kaira aur phir Akshu?" Naira cried bitterly. Kartik embraced her as he had no answer to this question.

Kairav knocked on their door and entered with teacups. Kartik waved him to enter inside. Naira wiped her tears. She tried to be strong for him but failed miserably.

He put tea on the bed, and Karirav hugged Naira. He loved his sister dearly, although she had been with them for only a week and still had their hearts. After her disappearance, Kairav took responsibility for taking care of his parents. They were shaken to the core after Akshara's disappearance. It was Kairav who took them out of that trauma. He did everything in his power to cheer them up. He gave them hope to find her again. He refused to accept that his sister could not be found. He is their pillar of strength in this time of crisis.

"Good morning, mumma," Kairav said, kissing her left cheek. Then he kissed her right cheek from Akshu's side. He does this every day. He tried everything to cheer her up.

"Good morning, my tadpole" Naira caresses his cheeks. She knows all about his efforts to cheer them up and acknowledges it, too, but her heart will not be at peace until she meets her daughter again.

"Mumma, I am a man now. Don't call me that", he whined.

"Haa, haa Naira yeh bahut bada ho gya hai. Toh phir iski shadi krde ab", Kartik teased his son.

"Nhi, utna bhi bada nhi hua hoon", Kairav said hurriedly. Kartik and Naira started laughing at his horrific face.

"You need to get married someday, beta", Naira told him softly. Kairav just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know what to say. He handed them cups of tea and started talking about random things.

"Papa, Mr. Raheja wanted the products by the 20th" Kairav and Kartik discussed their recent deal, and Naira was lost in her thoughts. It's been 24 years since they lost their daughter, but that pain of losing your child never subsides. She always has a lingering pain which never goes away.

Kartik's phone started ringing, which broke Naira's attention. She passed him the phone. "It's Harsh", she told them.

Harsh is one of my oldest friends. He was the officer who was assigned to Akshara's kidnapping case. He did everything in his power to find her. For 5 years, he tried his best to locate her. He didn't let her case get closed even after not getting any leads. He got close to Goenkas in this process, particularly with Naira and Kartik. They became best friends. No, they were not best friends; they became family to each other. Even after shifting to New Delhi, Birlas remain in close contact with them.

"At this time. I hope everything is alright", he whispered and quickly picked up the call.

"Hey, how are you?" Harsh asked him.

"Hey. You are calling so early. Everything okay. Shivu theek toh hai na", Kartik asked him.

"Yes, yes, everything is alright. Put the call on speaker. I want to give a good news to Naira Bhabhi too", Harsh happily asked him. Kartik put his phone on speaker.

"Hello. Naira bhabhi, how are you? I have some great news for you guys", said Harsh.

"I am good Harsh bhaiya. Aap sab kaise hai? Shivu kaisa hai ab?"Naira asked him.

"Everything is fine here. Bhabhi, our shivu, is finally cancer free" Harsh shared the good news with them.

"Oh my god! This is the best news I have heard in a while. Humara bacha theek ho gya. Kartik tumne suna humara bacha theek ho gya hai", she expressed her happiness. Kartik and Kairav are also happy with that news. Shivu is like their grandson, and he is finally hale and hearty.

"This is great, Harsh. We are so happy", Kartik told him.

"Yes, we are also delighted. So, we have decided to celebrate his birthday with great pomp and show. I want you guys to come here and bless our kids", Harsh cordially invited them.

"Of course, we will come, Harsh uncle. Humare Shivu ne itni badi bimari ko haraya hai celebrate krna toh banta hai", Kairav told him.

"Yes, absolutely correct. Aur Kairav beta, I think you are right. I have got the lead. I will mail you everything, and we will discuss this at night", Harsh told him and cut the call.

Kartik and Naira looked at Kairav in confusion. "Which lead? What is Harsh talking about?" Kartik asked him.

Kairav sighed. He had to tell them about his suspicions. "Mumma, I have hired a new detective to find Akshu. He got some theories, and I have discussed it with Harsh uncle".

"What? When did it happen? And why haven't you discussed it with us? Which lead?" Naira asked questions rapidly.

"Mumma, shant! Take a deep breath. Let me find something concrete, and then I will give you all the answers. I have an excellent feeling about this. I don't want to jinx it. Please trust me and let me do things my way." Kairav didn't want to tell them anything. This time, he wants to show them actual results. He didn't want to get their hopes up and then let it break like it did hundreds of times.

"But Kairav, I want to know. I want to know everything. She is our daughter aur uske bare mai hume pta hona chahiye", Kartik said frantically.

"Papa, please".

"Kartik let him do whatever he wanted to do. Give him this chance. We have tried everything to find her, so let him try this. He will probably get results, and we will get our daughter back. Our Akshi back in our arms", cried Naira.

She wants her daughter back. Who? What? She didn't know. She needs her as soon as possible. Kairav took her in his embrace. "I promise, mumma, I will bring our girl back this time. Our Akshu will unite again with her family", said Kairav in a determined voice.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N Things have started to get interesting. Stay tuned😉😉