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Naina pulled the duvet close to herself, again her stomach lurched and gurgled. Waves of nausea added to her miseries. She raised her heavy eyelids halfway only for them to fall shut. She heard a knock on the door and asked the person to get in.

"Did I disturb you Naina?" Naina snapped her head towards the direction of the voice and smiled weakly.

"No you didn't, Shrikha. Just not feeling well today." Naina said as she pulled her lips into a pout. Shrikha kept her bag on the table and pulled Naina into a hug.

"Congrats! Sameer had called me to tell me the good news. I wanted to stay here with you but my boss has assigned me a little work." Shrikha spoke, placing her palm on her cheek.

"See who's he-" Kabir barged into the room but his voice trailed as he noticed Shrikha in the room. They stared at each other exchanging emotions through their eyes. He smiled softly, breaking a part of her heart that wanted to go back to him.

"Hi, Shri...Shrikha." Kabir greeted her with a smile. Shrikha pursed her lips and averted her gaze.

"I missed you both so much. Mr Maheshwari did tell me that you guys are dating. I am so happy for both of you."Naina said.

"We aren't dating," Shrikha whispered, which was inaudible to Naina.

"Naina you look so pale," Kabir said in concern as he sat next to her.

"I feel so sick," Naina mumbled as she sighed, leaning against him.

"I came here with an expectation of being invited by sweets and lots of food but you are not well," Kabir said, pouting his lips dramatically.

"I will make something for you, Naina. My mother used to make it for me when I used to feel nauseous." Shrikha said as she patted Naina's cheeks and walked out of the room. Kabir stared at her retreating figure.

"Where's your husband? He's not even in his cabin."

"I don't know. He's been missing since morning." 

"So what have you guys decided?" 

"About what?" 

"The contract. Are you going to leave him after you give birth to your baby?" Kabir asked as he noticed her changing expressions.

"I don't know. I will have to leave him and my child according to that contract. I will have to do that because that's what is written." 

"You fucking don't have to follow that shit. It's crazy that you guys haven't spoken about it yet. You are just eighteen and leaving your child is an idiotic decision. Have you ever thought about yourself? What will you do after you leave this mansion? You will still be a student after a year and you won't even have a place to stay. What you have to do is walk up to him and say that you do not wish to follow that contract. Sameer will surely agree to whatever your decision is. If he doesn't I will make him understand. It's not that easy to let go of your child." Naina bowed her head to hide the tears that threatened to overflow. Kabir's eyes softened as he saw her. She was like a younger sister for him and knew that she deserved much better. His palm raised as he placed it on her jaw gently. 

"You want me to speak to him about this?" He asked at which she bobbed her head in a way of no.

"I don't want to burden him anymore. He did take care of me all this while, once the contract ends I will leave."
She mumbled while Kabir sighed.

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"We need to speak. You simply can't disappear without giving me a proper explanation."Shrikha said to Kabir sternly.

"There's nothing to speak about. Everything is over between us." 

"Kabir stop fucking up my life! Just give me a valid reason and get the shit cleared." Shrikha yelled as tears rolled down her cheeks. Kabir ran his fingers through his silky locks.

"I have given you a reason before too. You deserve someone much better than me." He mumbled against his breath.

"Kabir please stop this!" 

"Shrikha you need to understand and move on."

"So you guys have come. It's great to see you after so long." Sameer said as he walked into the mansion. He squirmed his eyes as he noticed Kabir glaring at him. Shrikha excused herself as she did not wish to be seen in tears by Sameer.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" Sameer questioned as he was getting screwed up receiving glares from Kabir continuously.

"Don't you feel guilty for letting your wife suffer? Does this contract matter in your life?" 

"I don't have time to be guilty. I was not the one who made that contract. She hasn't spoken to me about it. I cannot force her to stay with me."

"So is it that easy to leave her?" 

"If she is happy then it's absolutely fine."

"Don't you guys feel anything for each other? Stop giving me an excuse that it's just care and responsibility." 

"We know our limits. We both have accepted our fate and just care for each other. After Nanu the only person whom I truly care for is her. She's my wife, my responsibility at present."

"Fuck your responsibilities. You guys are crazy. She's still a kid but at least you are a mature idiot. Think about yourselves, your future. A child needs the love of both mother and father. Do you want your kid to crave for mother's love? Who would know what a mother means more than you!"Kabir yelled, raising his hands in the air totally frustrated as he was failing in his attempt of reuniting them. Sameer pressed the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"I can take care of my child, alone." He answered and walked upstairs.

The sky had turned dark, Naina smiled softly as raindrops touched her skin. It was the softness that called the body and brain to rest and let the heart go to its steady rhythm. She felt much better but at the same time missed Xander as well as her husband. She peeked upwards as she felt a palm over her head. Sameer sat next to her, still staring at her as if she would disappear from his sight. He lifted his hand and touched her glowing face. Naina did not stop him, instead, she looked at him, wide-eyed. Her breaths fastened as his fingertips traced her temples trailing down to her cheekbones. Then softly outlined the shape of her mouth as if he meant to commit it to his memory.

"You are so beautiful, Khaza."
He uttered as his fingertips rested on her plump lips. The gesture made her heart spin like a top inside her chest. His ocean blue eyes remained fixed on her. Naina was still numb as his fingertips left her lips and trailed a path down her throat and then brushed her arms, intervening her fingers with his.

Her eyelids flickered half-closed as she could feel her skin burning when he touched her. She could feel where his finger had been even when they had moved on. She pursed her lips and drooped her eyes feeling shy as he kissed her knuckles. Naina gasped as his hands slid to grip her waist and pulled her towards him.

"I missed you and Xan."She mumbled. He bent to put his cheek against hers. She giggled as his stubble pricked her.

"I understand when you say that you missed Xan but did you miss me too?" He asked her as he moved back to look at her pretty face.

"You are my husband who has been missing since this morning. It's my 'duty' as a wife to make sure that you are okay." His expressions dropped as he listened to her but then covered it up quickly loosening his grip on her. She crawled to him and wrapped my arms around him as she sat in his lap. She did miss him and knew he wouldn't push her off. She hid her face in his crook of neck inhaling in the scent of sweat and strong cologne.  His heavy breathing fanned down my back. She held him as hard as she could. 

“Hug me back, for the last time. Please.” She whispered next to his ear. His arms came around Naina's petty frame into a stronghold, gripping her until breathing was impossible. He was scared of this feeling. He was scared whenever he felt happy. He squeezed her more to himself, knowing that he would miss her too but too adamant to accept the fact.

"Only if we were a normal couple."
They uttered against their breath and smiled painfully still holding onto each other.

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