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Sirat placed Akshu back in her crib, glancing up at the clock she looked back to Kartik who was still working on laptop.

Sirat- Aap abhi jagoge?

Kartik- Haan, agar tumhein lights on hone se dikkat hai to main bahar jaakar apna kaam complete kar sakta hoon.

Sirat- Uski zaroorat na hai. (settles on the bed) Aap kab sone jaoge?

Kartik (looks up, blinking rapidly)- Thoda time lagega, kya hai client ne achanak meeting kal pre-pone kar di. Aadhe se zyada presentation to taiyar hai, par fir bhi thoda time to lag jayega.

Sirat (nods)- To ek kaam karti hoon main aapko company de deti hoon.

Kartik (shakes his head)- Uski zaroorat nahi hai, tum bhi thak gayi hogi aaram kar lo.

Sirat (stands up)- Na, main thik hoon. Abhi neend na aa rahi mhare ko, aur aap bhi akele kaam karte-karte bore ho jaoge. (walks over to him) Aapke sath main rahoongi to aapka bhi man laga rahega.

Kartik (hums)- Achchha thik hai, agar tum jaagna chaho to par mera dhyan presentation mein laga rahega.

Sirat (sits beside him)- Koi na, aap mahri bad-bad ko vo ke kehve hain background music samajh lena aise aapko bhi neend na aayegi.

Halfway into his work, Kartik suddenly noticed Sirat wasn't talking anymore. Turning around he noticed, Sirat was asleep.

Kartik (shakes his head)- Itni thakan thi ki baithe-baithe hi so gayi.

He saved the work, and picking up Sirat in his arms laid her on the bed. It's while tucking her in he noticed her frowning.

Sirat (mumbling)- Parwah hai mhare ko... Dhyan rakhoongi...

Kartik- Sirat? Tum jaag rahi ho?

However, she didn't say anything after that.

Kartik (frowning, settled back on cot)- Kuchh pareshan kar raha hai kya Sirat ko? Shaam ko baat ki thi humne, tab kuchh kyon nahi kaha isne... Kal fir poochhunga, aisi kya cheez ho jo ye sapne mein badbad kar rahi hai.

***

Sirat opening her eyes, looked around to find herself alone. Her gaze fell on the clock, she jumped out of the bed.

Sirat- Itne der ho gayi, Kairav ki bus ka time ho gaya hoga, nashta, khana, sab- (in her rush, collides with Kartik)

Kartik- Ouch, uthte saath sabse pehle mujhe marna tha?

Sirat- What my luck! Sorry, sorry, jaan boojh ke na kiya manne.

Kartik- Koi baat nahi, par tumhara dhyan kidhar tha? Practice ke liye jaldi nikalna tha kya?

Sirat (shakes her head)- Vo Kairav-

Kartik- Use main ready karke bhej diya hai.

Sirat- Nashta-

Kartik- Maan, Chachi aur Gayu ne nashta bana diya hai.

Sirat (looks around, her gaze falls on the crib)- Aur Akshu?

Kartik- Use bhi maine doodh pila diya hai, bas main tumhein uthane aa raha tha.

Sirat (sighs)- Thoda pehle utha dete, ye sab kar deti na main.

Kartik- Haan, par kal tumahri pratice ka pehla din tha mujhe laga thak gayi hogi tum. Aur tumhein ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai, hum sabko vaise bhi aadat hai.

Sirat (shakes her head)- Vo pehle tha, ab zaroorat hai mhare ko. Ye mhara sasural hai aur aapka, aapke bachchon ka, aapke pariwar ka dhyan rakhna mhari zimmedari hai.

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