Inside Kartik's Room
Kartik enters his room shutting the door behind him with a frustrated sigh.He leans against it for a moment closing his eyes, trying to calm the storm inside him But it's useless The conversation at the breakfast table the forced pretense and the suffocating presence of the people he despises it's all too much
He walks to the window looking out at the bright Udaipur sky but all he feels is darkness inside him
Kartik: (muttering, to himself) Yeh sab kab tak chalega Har din jhoot bolna har din apni zindagi ka sabse bada sach chhupana kab tak
His grip tightens on the windowsill his knuckles turning white
Kartik: (whispering voice filled with longing) Naira
His eyes shift to his phone lying on the bedside table Without thinking he picks it up and dials her number The phone rings a few times before she picks up
Naira: (softly, teasing tone) Kya hua Mr Goenka subah-subah yaad kaise aa gayi meri
Kartik closes his eyes his lips curving into a small smile at the sound of her voice It's the only thing that ever brings him peace
Kartik: (softly) Bas tumse baat karni thi
Naira: (smirking) Baat karni thi ya dil halka karna tha
Kartik chuckles lightly shaking his head
Kartik: (teasing) apko toh sab pata hota hai Mrs Goenka
Naira: (laughs, softly) Obviously Kya soch rahe ho
Kartik leans against the window his smile fading as the weight of his emotions returns
Kartik: (sighs) Yeh sab jhoot yeh natak kitne din aur Naira main tumhe sirf ek friend bataunga mujhe yeh sab sehna pad raha hai kyunk mere hi gharwalon ne mujhe dhoka diya mujhe uss ladki ke saath zabardasti bandh diya jisey main dekhna bhi nahi chahta
Naira listens silently understanding his pain She knows how much it kills him to live under the same roof as the people who betrayed him
Naira: (softly, trying to calm him) Kartik bas thoda aur waqt
Kartik: (frustrated) Waqt aur kitna waqt Naira Har din jab main iss ghar me hota hoon jab main un logon ki shakal dekhta hoon jinhone meri zindagi barbaad karni chahi mujhe gussa aata hai ghinn aati hai Lekin sabse zyada dukh toh yeh hai ki mujhe apni khud ki biwi ko sirf friend kehna pad raha hai
Naira's eyes sting with unshed tears She hates seeing her Kartik in so much pain She wishes things were different But they made a promise to wait for the right time
Naira: (softly) Main samajhti hoon Kartik
Kartik runs a hand through his hair breathing heavily He knows she understands but that doesn't make it any easier
Then suddenly an idea strikes him He can't be in this house anymore He needs to see her He needs to be somewhere where no one can interfere just him and his Naira
Kartik: (serious, determined tone) Naira tum mujhse mil sakti ho
Naira is taken aback for a second
Naira: (confused) Abhi
Kartik: Haan Main tumhe ek jagah ka address bhej raha hoon
Naira's heart skips a beat
Naira: Kahan
Kartik takes a deep breath his voice softening
Kartik: Ek jagah jo sirf meri hai jahan main sach mein jee sakta hoon jahan koi mujhe zabardasti decisions nahi suna sakta sirf main hoon aur meri zindagi ke faisle
