Chapter 8: Karwa Chauth

Next day,

At Naina's apartment, at night:

(The festive atmosphere was in full swing on Naina's balcony. Strings of twinkling lights adorned the railings, and the scent of incense mixed with the cool night breeze.

Naina, in a bright red saree with gold embroidery, stood beside her neighbors—Riddhi, Meher, and Diya—all equally dressed up in colorful lehengas.

Rohan, Riddhi's boyfriend, leaned against the railing in a navy kurta, keeping the group entertained with his jokes.)

Riddhi: (glances at the sky impatiently) Yaar, ye chaand ko hamare fast ka koi idea nahi hai kya? Kab nikalne ka plan hai iska? Meri toh bhookh se jaan nikli ja rahi hai!!!

Diya: (giggles, adjusting her dupatta) Woh bhi fast pe hi hoga shayad. Isiliye aaj thoda late nikal raha hai!

Meher: (teased, nudging him) Rohan, tumhaare paas koi shortcut hai, chaand dikhaane ka?

Rohan: (smirks) Shortcut toh hai, but uske liye telescope chahiye.

(Everyone burst into laughter as the doorbell suddenly rang.

Naina excused herself and made her way towards the main door.)

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At the Door:

(Naina opened the door, expecting maybe a delivery or one of the neighbors.

Instead, standing there was Vikram. Dressed in a  kurta-pajama, his face held an expression she couldn't immediately read—somewhere between nervousness and determination.)

Naina: (in disbelief) Vikram ji?

Vikram: Hello ji. Main andar aa sakta hoon??

(Still processing his sudden appearance, she stepped aside, letting him in. Vikram smiled and walked into the apartment and made his way towards the balcony.)

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On the Balcony:

(As Vikram walked out to the balcony, the conversation died down, and all eyes turned to him. He greeted the group with a slight nod and a polite smile.)

Vikram: Hello, everyone.... Aap sab log kaafi ache lag rahe ho.

(The awkward silence lingered until his eyes landed on Rohan. His face lit up as he extended his hand.)

Vikram: Tum Rohan ho, right?? (they shake hands firmly) Thanks yaar, tumhaare kapdon ne meri jaan bachaayi uss din. Warna mujhe to sardi, khaansi aur fever hi hona tha!!!

Rohan: (chuckles, scratching the back of his neck) arrey, Koi nahi sir.... Aap Kabhi bhi le lena.

(Everyone laughed, the tension easing slightly.

Naina then approached Vikram and they move a little to the side, away from the group.)

Vikram: (smiles sheepishly) kaafi time ke baad, tumhe phir se saree mein dekh raha hoon!!! bahut acchi lag rahi ho!!!!

Naina: (blushes, but couldn't hold back her curiosity) thank you... aap bhi kaafi smart lag rahe ho... but don't mind me asking, aap, yahaan kya kar rahe ho?

Vikram: (smiling) Main vrat khulwaane aaya hoon.

Naina: (surprised) Kya? (She glances at him and then the others) Aapko kaise pata chala ki main vrat rakha hai? inn teeno mein se kisi ne bataya hai kya, aapko?

Vikram: nahi.... mujhe iske baare mein kuch nahi pata.... (looking genuinely confused) Main toh, apne vrat ki baat kar raha hoon.!!!! (His gaze locks onto hers) Maine tumhaare liye vrat rakha hai, aur main yahaan aaya hoon taaki tum mera vrat todo!!!

(Naina stared at him, her jaw slightly agape.)

Naina: (shocked) Aapne vrat rakha?

Vikram: Haan.... no food and no water since morning!!!!

Naina: kaam ke saath kaise manage kiya aapne?

Vikram: I kept things light for today. No complicated surgeries.... Waise, Tumne mere liye vrat rakha hai.... toh mujhe bataya kyun nahi??

(Naina hesitated, glancing down for a moment before speaking.)

Naina: (hesitantly) aapko, yeh sab pasand thodi naa tha!!! Aap hi toh kehte thay, ki yeh sab old-fashioned hai!!!! this is all nonsense!!!!

Vikram: (lets out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping) Naina, tab main ek alag hi zone mein tha... tumhaari feelings ki kabhi parwaah nahi ki maine!!!! I hated everything related to you!!!! (goes into guilt mode) meri wajah se tumne, karwa chauth ka vrat bhi rakhna chod diya tha. hai naa??

Naina: (voice softened, almost breaking) Main kabhi nahi chhoda, Vikram ji.

Vikram: (eyes widen in disbelief) Kya?? Naina? kya keh rahi ho tum??? As far as I remember... main toh karwa chauth ke din kabhi ghar pe hota hi nahi tha.... jaan boojhkar late aata tha. how did you manage?

(A faint smile appeared on Naina's face, though her eyes glistened.)

Naina: Main, puja toh raat ko hi kar leti thi, jab aapke parents karte thay. Phir intezaar karti thi aapka. jab aap ghar aate thay, most of the times, aap drunk hote thay. Main aapko sambhal ke bed tak le jaati thi. Aur phir uske baad, kitchen mein jaake khana kha leti thi.

(Vikram stared at her, stunned. His throat tightened, and tears pooled in his eyes.)

Vikram: (he whispered, his voice cracking) I'm so sorry, Naina!!! Main kabhi imagine bhi nahi kar sakta ki maine tumhe kitna torture kiya.

Naina: (places a hand on his arm gently) Chhodiye na.... Woh sab past ki baatein hain.

Vikram: (shakes his head) har time, mujhe kuch naya pata chalta hai, ki maine tumhaare saath kya- kya galat kiya. (Glances at the clock, he groans lightly) Yaar, abhi sirf 8:30 hua hai, aur mujhe abhi se bhookh lag rahi hai, aur pyaas bhi lag rahi hai.... (in disbelief) Tum kaise, itni der raat tak bhookhi-pyaasi reh leti thi??

Naina: (smiles faintly) Ho jaata tha, Vikram ji.... (she switches to a more cheerful tone) Lekin, ab aap tension mat lo. Please jaake baithiye. Chaand abhi thodi der mein nikal hi aayega. Phir saath mein dinner karenge.

.

.

(Just then, Diya and Meher quietly approached them.)

Diya: Naina di, aap dono bhi jaake aaram kar lo. Poora khaana aapne hi toh banaya hai... you must be tired. Hum teeno pooriyaan ready kar lete hain. Taaki pooja ke baad, hum sab khaane pe tut padhe!!!!

Naina: (chuckles) haan theek hai. that's a good idea...

Naina: waise, raita bhi banana hai.... ek baar check kar lo, dahi fridge mein hina chahiye.... if not, then order kar lena.... And I have a poori press in the kitchen cabinet. Agar poori belne mein confident nahi ho, toh use that.

(The girls laughed and headed to the kitchen, leaving Vikram and Naina to share a quiet moment amidst the festivities.

Vikram watched her as she smiled, a mixture of guilt and admiration swirling in his eyes.)

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.

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Later:

(The moon had finally appeared, casting its soft, silvery glow over the balcony.

Naina stood beside Riddhi, holding the thali steady as she performed the Karwa Chauth pooja with her boyfriend.

The couple exchanged shy glances, their nervous excitement evident.

Naina watched them with a fond smile, guiding Riddhi through the rituals with ease.

Once the pooja was complete, Riddhi's boyfriend helped her take a sip of water and fed her a small piece of sweet, following the traditions.

As the moment concluded, Riddhi's boyfriend gestured for them to head inside.

The two of them made their way into the living room to join Diya and Meher, leaving the balcony to Vikram and Naina.)

.

.

Then,

(Naina, adjusted her bangles nervously and lit the diya that was placed on her puja thali and then carefully lifted the thaali to do the puja.

Vikram stood beside her, his eyes, remained fixed on Naina, taking in the glow of her face illuminated by the diya.)

Naina: (covering her head with the saree pallu) aajaiye!!!

(Vikram nodded, stepping closer to her as she held the channi [sieve] in one hand and the diya in the other.

She looked at the moon through the sieve first, her lips moving in silent prayer, before turning to Vikram.

As her eyes met his through the sieve, time seemed to pause.

His intense gaze made her heart skip a beat. She bit her lower lip nervously, lowering the channi, and handed him the diya.)

Naina: (speaks softly) Lo... aap bhi dekh lo!!!

(Vikram took the sieve from her and, following the tradition, looked at the moon before gazing at her through it.

His lips curled into a faint smile.)

Vikram: Puraani rasmein toh bolti hain ki chaand ko dekho, par sach kahoon toh mujhe toh apna chaand yahaan dikhta hai!!!

Naina: (blushed deeply, but shakes her head) Bas, bas.... zyada filmy mat bano ab.

(He chuckled, handing her the sieve back, before gently taking the thali from her hands. The ritual continued as he took the glass of water and helped her drink it.)

(Then he picked up the small piece of sweet from the thaali, and brought it closer to her lips.)

Vikram: Tumhaare liye!!!

(Naina smiled and took a small bite. her heart swelled with emotions she couldn't put into words.)

Naina: aapne bhi toh fast rakha hai na?? now it's your turn!!!

(She lifted the water glass from the thali and mirrored his gesture, offering him water.)

(Their eyes locked as he drank the water. Then she offered him the piece of sweet which he graciously accepted. Naina smiled and placed the thali back on the table.)

Naina: Happy Karwa Chauth, Dr. Vikram!!!!

Vikram: Happy Karwa Chauth Ms. Desai!!!

(Vikram smiled and stepped closer, his gaze softening as he gently reached out to her and closed the space between them.

He held her tightly, one hand resting on her back, the other gently cradling her head.)

(As Naina rested her head against Vikram's chest, she felt his grip tighten ever so slightly.

His fingers trembled against her back, and his breathing grew heavier.

She pulled back just enough to look at him, her brows furrowing in concern.

Vikram's eyes were glistening, his jaw clenched as if trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to escape.)

Naina: Vikram ji, kya hua?

Vikram: Naina.... main toh maafi ke laayak bhi nahi tha.... phir bhi tumne mujhe itna pyaar diya... itni khushi di

(His voice faltered, and he lowered his eyes feeling ashamed.

Vikram: Aaj ke din mujh se bhookha- pyaasa nahi raha jaa raha tha.... and you waited for me until after midnight!!!! Yeh soch kar, mujhe apne upar bahut ghinn aa rahi hai!!!

Naina: Vikram ji... it okay!!!! jo hua so hua!!!!

Vikram: Nahi Naina.... I was a monster!!!! Main, Dr. Vikram... jo doosre ke dard ko samajh kar, unki madad karta tha... woh apni wife ke dard ko nazar andaaz karta gaya!!!!

(Naina, was not the one to get very emotional. She would sometimes feel a little uneasy.

The moment was already emotional and now she felt that it was growing heavier with Vikram's words.

Suddenly pulled back slightly and looked up at him with a mock-serious expression.)

Naina: Aap, aur aapka fashion.... Dono hi past mein atke raho!!! yeh kurta pajama kab liya tha, aapne?? 2008???

Vikram: (blinks, caught off guard) Kya? Main yahaan, apni dil ki baatein kar raha hoon.... I am very emotional right now.... aur tum mere kapdon ka mazaak uda rahi ho?

Naina: (holds back her laughter) toh aur Kya karoon? Bahut heavy ho raha tha scene... socha, thoda light kar doon.

(He narrowed his eyes at her, his lips curling into a reluctant smile.)

Vikram: Tumhe aur Kiara ko toh koi serious moment handle karna hi nahi aata. Hamesha hasi-mazaak ghusaana hota hai.

Naina: (quipped) Arrey, genetics ka kamaal hai!!!!

Vikram: (laughs slightly) Tum kabhi serious nahi reh sakti, na?

Naina: Bilkul nahi!!! Agar main serious ho jaaungi, toh aapke yeh overdramatic moments ka kya hoga? Balance kaun banayega?? Waise dekha jaaye toh aap aur Kiaan bhi ek jaise hi ho.... over dramatic!!!! Ek ladki se kya break up karwaa diya.... Sahabzaade exam mein hi fail ho gaye!!!!

(Vikram's eyes widen and a small snicker escapes his lips. But he tried to control)

Naina: Vikram ji... please ye rona- dhona ab bandh karo.... I am out of tissue boxes anyway!!! Past ko yaad rakhna zaroori hai, because it makes us a better person.... Lekin uss past ko, apne sar par mat chadhne dijiye!!!!

(She came forward and tapped his forehead lightly with her finger.)

Vikram: Yahaan pe, bekaar cheezon ke liye jagah nahi hai!!!! Agar past yahaan ghus gaya... toh future ke plans kidhar jaayenge??

(Vikram let out a genuine laugh, shaking his head as he held her hand.)

Vikram: fine.... Aaj se no rona- dhona!!! Main tumhaare saath hoon, Naina. Aur hamesha aage badhta rahunga.... I promise!!!

Naina: Good.... (tugs his arm playfully) ab chalo, everyone is waiting for us at the dining table.

(He nodded, following her toward the table, feeling lighter than he had in years.

Her laughter, her teasing, and her forgiveness were exactly what he needed to leave the weight of his guilt behind.)

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Author’s Note:

Wow, that was CRAZY, right?! I didn’t expect Vikram to keep a fast for Naina either! What do you think—do you think this is a turning point for him, or is there more drama ahead?

Any married ladies here? 😏 Does your husband fast for you too??

Let mein knowabout tour thoughts in the comments!

If you were shocked by this twist and want more, hit that ⭐ vote button and share your feelings below! Your votes keep the story alive and motivate me to write even faster. Stay tuned for more surprises coming your way! ❤️