Shubham left in the early morning the next day for a business meeting. Mansi's wedding preparations started in full swing. The next day Naira was dancing on the terrace which is her favourite hobby but was hidden by everyone till now. She secretly comes to the terrace every morning by saying she is going to water terrace plants and dance her whole heart. Kartik too came there for exercise when he saw Naira doing dance gracefully while he was lost in her. After the music stops Kartik clapped for Naira cheerfully to which she got frightened.

Naira: wo wo kartik ji mai to yaha bas pani dene aayi thi plants ko, man kiya to thoda bahut dance kar liya.

Kartik: are relax naira tum itna dar kyu rahi ho aur please mujhe jii mat bolo

Naira: kartik jii mera matlab kartik please kisi ko batana mat ki I come here to dance everyday.

Kartik: Ohh wow tum yahan roz aate ho dance karne manna padega Naira bahut beautiful dance karti ho tum bilkul angel lagrahi thi

Naira: Aisa kuch nahi hai tumne kuch zada hi tarif kardi meri Kartik bas dance karna acha lagta hai to thoda bahut kar leti hun

Kartik: Ohh to madam ko dance ka shauk hai aur kis kis cheez ka shauk hai?

Naira: Kartik please kisi ko batana mat

Kartik: are isme darne ki kya baat hai, acha chalo nahi bata raha par mujhe to batao aur kis cheez ka shauk hai tumhe

Naira: painting ka..

Kartik: Really Naira mujhe bhi dikhao apni koi painting

Naira: idhar nahi hai koi bhi painting meri wo mere mumma papa ke ghar me hai..

Kartik: Ohh okay i wish i could see those paintings par dekhunga zaroor ek din..

Naira: abhi neeche chale bahut taiyariyan karni hai functions ki

Kartik: After you, Beautiful..

Naira: huh she replied with an bewildered face

Kartik: Wo I mean bolte hai na ladies first so please..

He said cutely while showing a way downstairs. Naira smiled little and went downstairs followed by Kartik.

Dadi: Naira maine tumse kaha tha ki mansi ke shaadi ke cards aa gaye hai un par guest names likhne hai likh diye engagement toh family ke bich hai par shaadi mein toh sabko bulana hai na

Naira forgot about it but she knew if she said it she would be in big trouble and Kartik understood through her expression that she had forgotten it so came as her saviour.

Dadi: bolo chup kyu ho saap sung gaya hai kya.. Dadi raised her voice

Naira: Wo Dadi..

Kartik: Ho gaya Dadi maine dekha Naira ko wo raat bhar jaagkar sab cards par naam likh rahi thi

Dadi: Acha thik hai jaakar lunch ki taiyari karo lunch ka time ho raha hai.. she said coldly and left.

Naira felt hurt but at the same time she was happy that Kartik took her side.

Naira: mere dimag se hi nikal gaya tha kartik tum na hote to dadi mujhe bahut dat ti

Kartik: its okay.. koi na

Naira: mai pehle naam likh leti hu nahi nahi mai pehle lunch ki taiyari karti hu phir mansi ke sath parlour bhi Jana hoga

Kartik: relax relax ek kaam karo tum lunch ki taiyari karo aur cards mai aur mansi kar lenge.. aur kisi ko pata nahi lagega.

Kartik and Mansi helped Naira in the preparation of the function without anyone's notice.It was night by now and tomorrow it's big day for Mansi everyone is sitting in their porch area and having desert

Dadi: chalo ab kittu ke liye bhi ladki dhundni shuru karni chahiye hume

After listening this Kartik spit out the pastry which he was eating

Swarna: kya hua beta thik ho

Kartik: haa mumma matlab itni jaldi kyu dhoond na hai ladki abhi to mujhe apne pairo par khada hona hai

Everyone started laughing

Akhilesh: are hum sab mazak kar rahe the

Surekha: haan beta par agar koi ladki ho jisse tu pyar karta ho to bata diyo

Kartik looked at Naira while she was standing near the couch on the other side looking disturbed with these talks.

Mansi( shouting) : Mumma

All of them saw Mansi come running in the hall.

Mansi: mumma papa dadi bhai mai bahut badi gadbad ho gayi

Kartik: kya gadbad ho gayi

Mansi: Kal meri engagement hai na aur maine abhi dekha mai mang tikka nahi layi kal ke ke liye

Manish: are koi nahi bina mang tika ke pehen liyo kalki dress

Mansi: nahi tauji meri shadi hai mujhe koi compromise nahi karna please

Naira: mansi tum meri jewellery me se dekh sakti ho mang tika agar tumhari dress ke sath acha lage to lelo

Dadi ( rudely) : ghar ki beti hai kisi ka utra hua thodi pehnegi

Kartik: dadi wo bhi ghar ki hi hai na aur sharing karne me kya jaa raha hai

He looked at Naira who was eyeing him to stop.

Dadi: maine ek baar keh diya na kal subah Mansi aur kartik jaakar le aayenge jo bhi chahiye usko

Mansi: nahi mai nahi jaa sakti mujhe kaam hai bhabhi aapko meri dress pata hai na aap jaa kar le aana kal please bhai ke sath

Kartik: haan Naira tum hi chalo mere sath mansi ko kal thakaan ho jaygi

Mansi: haan isiliye to keh rahi hun bhabhi chali jayegi

Dadi: Toh baki ki taiyariya kon dekhega

Kartik: Dadi ghar me staff hai to sahi aur chachi aur mumma bhi hai

Dadi: acha thik hai

Kartik: Dadi aap tension mat lo

Dadi couldn't say anything else in front of Kittu so she went from there without saying anything giving looks to Naira who was looking down in fear. Kartik and Naira went to a jewellery shop the next day around 12pm, picked Mansi's set and they both headed towards the house. On the way Naira fell asleep in a car. She subconsciously kept her head on Kartik's shoulder, held his hand and slept peacefully after a long time. Kartik adored her, clicked one selfie and pecked her head softly in order not to wake her up. After an hour Kartik parked the car in a parking lot.

Kartik: Naira wake up hum pahuch gaye

Naira: sone do na kartik..

She said like a baby and snuggled in her more. Kartik giggled

Kartik: Naira hum pahuch gaye uth jao..

Naira heard this and slowly opened her eyes realizing his words and the situation. She immediately sat straight. She calmed down, realizing they were not at home.

Naira: Kartik hum kaha hai?

Kartik: chalo batata hun..

He got out of the car, came to the side of Naira, opened the gate and gave his hand to Naira. She confusingly held his hand and they both stood in front of the white royal government building which has a beautiful small circular garden in front of the main entrance in which there is one huge board written ART AND CULTURAL MUSEUM.

Naira: hum yaha kyu aaye hai Kartik

Kartik: wo mere ek dost ka exhibition laga hai yaha to isiliye thodi der ke liye aaye hai

Naira: Wow! Kartik exhibition, pata hai mera bhi hamesha se man tha ki meri paintings ka bhi exhibition ho wo sab chodo Kartik hume chalna chahiye thodi der me Mansi ki engagement hai

Kartik: par Naira yeh exhibition mere dost ka sapna hai thodi der ke liye please and Mansi ki tum tension mat lo usse maine baat karli hai aur dadi se bhi kar lunga

Naira: acha chalo par zada der nahi karenge

Kartik: aapki icha sarakhon par mohtarma par andar to chalo pehle

Naira nodded and they both went inside. It was a huge building with an antique style interior with wooden flooring and the hall was filled with the huge crowd gathered around the paintings which were displayed there.

Naira: That's great Kartik dekho sare log kaise paintings ke aaspaas gathered hai mujhe to dikh hi nahi rahi paintings

Kartik: to paas jakar dekh lo

Naira: okay mai bas 5 min me aayi

He nodded with the eyes and Naira went towards the nearest painting. She struggled to go in front to see the painting through the crowd and was dumbstruck to see a painting. She was confused when she heard an announcement.

Kartik: Ladies and Gentlemen, I need your attention for a minute. I want to inform you all that the artist who had painted such a beautiful painting is between us. I don't know if you liked this surprise or not Naira but I want to give you this surprise. I have to do this because after seeing these paintings in your house one thing was confirmed: these paintings were not for keeping in closed doors of the house but to let the world know about your talent, your potential. Happy Birthday Naira.

That was when Naira froze in her place. She had tears in her eyes as she never expected her dream to come true like this. She forgets her birthday but Kartik gave her the perfect gift. Naira was so overwhelmed with this surprise that she couldn't say a word. She was in shock with this surprise, confused by thinking how Kartik knew her birthday and when did he arrange it?

Kartik: Naira please come forward everyone 3 cheers for Naira.. "NAIRA..NAIRA...NAIRA"

Naira came forward with trembling feet as she was getting conscious because she hadn't received such praise before in her entire life. She reached the stage and was hell nervous with trembling feet.

Naira( stage fear): Thank you Kartik for giving me this surprise on my birthday. I completely forgot that today is my birthday but he remembered it. Thank You so much for making it the most memorable birthday of my life.Thank You everyone for coming here and making my day memorable. Thanks a lot. It really means a lot to me. It...

Naira's phone rang in between and she saw the caller ID which was showing Dadi. She panicked and picked up the call

------------------------------------------

Precap :Kartik & Naira's first 💋

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Co-author:penaholic_whisperer