KARTIK'S POV
I and Naira were taking Kairav back to the bus, to Thomas. I was carrying Kairav in my arms and Naira was patting his cheek to wake him up but he still hadn't opened his eyes.
"Kairav....baby please open your eyes", Naira pleaded him, almost bursting into tears while I held him close to my chest.
We finally reached and everyone was shocked to look at Kairav unconscious.
"What happened to him?", Thomas asked worried as he approached us.
"I dunno anything. I just want you to check him up and assure things are alright", I said looking at Kairav and Thomas nodded.
We took Kairav into the bus and made him lie on a seat. I stood near Thomas while he did Kairav's check up and Naira held Kairav's hand, sobbing silently. We waited for a few minutes to let Thomas finish his check up, but we were growing impatient.
"Is he bit?", I asked Thomas, dreading to listen to his answer.
"Thankfully no....I don't see any bite marks", Thomas replied and I sighed in relief.
"Then what's wrong with him?", Naira asked Thomas, clearly impatient.
"Its because of dehydration. He was without water for too long. Because of this heat and extreme tiredness, he got unconscious", Thomas replied as he took off his stethoscope and faced us.
"There's nothing to worry guys. The kid's gonna be alright. Make sure he's hydrated well when he gains consciousness", Thomas instructed and Naira nodded.
Thomas walked out of the bus. Naira held Kairav's hand and kissed it.
I was about to say something that I spotted Watson coming out of the woods with that Chinese looking guy.
"I'll be right back!", I said and Naira looked at me confused.
I got down the bus and walked towards Watson and the Chinese looking guy.
"Why are you here?", I asked that Chinese looking guy with gritted teeth as I held his collar.
"You said he'll be cool with it?!", that Chinese asked Watson and Watson shrugged his shoulders.
"Gotta make him cool buddy. Kartik, let go off him", Watson told me with a calm voice and I looked at him in disbelief. Watson gave me an assuring look and I let go off the Chinese guy.
"Why did you bring this Chinese guy with you Watson? Couldn't you just leave him there?!", I asked Watson frustrated.
"Hey...I'm not Chinese. I'm Korean", that guy replied but I didn't pay much attention to him.
"Kartik....come with me", Watson said placing his hand on my shoulder and taking me to a corner.
"Kartik....that guy's harmless. He has no food, no weapons. If he'll keep wandering in the forests, he'll die!", Watson explained me and I continued to stare at him.
"Kartik....we survive this by helping and saving each other, remember? We survive by pulling together not pulling apart", Watson said his famous dialogue and I scoffed.
"But that doesn't mean we pick up every guy with no food and no weapons. We are out of food ourselves. A new addition will just increase problems", I tried to explain my point to Watson.
"Kartik...the more people, the more better. Besides he saved your kid, he himself made a place in this group. You should be grateful to him and give him what he deserves", Watson made my views clear and I nodded at him.
I turned back and walked towards that Korean guy.
"Kartik Goenka....I'm sorry to scream at you before. I was out of-", I was about to continue that the Korean guy interrupted me.
"Out of your mind...I could see that. I won't blame you though. I would just like you to ask your friend to open my handcuffs", he said raising his hands to me show his shining handcuffs. I turned towards Watson. He shrugged his shoulders and walked towards us to open that guy's handcuffs.
After his handcuffs were opened, that guy forwarded his hand for a handshake. I forwarded my hand and we shook hands with a firm grip.
"Tae. Tae Rhee. I'm from Korea. Thanks for counting me in. I'll prove to be of great help", he said and I nodded.
"How's your son?", he asked me concerned.
"He's alright. He got unconscious because of dehydration. By the way, thanks for saving my son's life", I thanked him and he smiled.
"Kartik....Kairav's up!", I heard Rebecca's voice and I quickly got into the bus. As I got inside, I saw Kairav lying on the seat, his eyes open. Thomas checking him and Naira holding his hand and caressing his face.
"Is he alright?", I asked Thomas.
"He is...", Thomas replied smiling and got down the bus.
Kairav looked at me. I looked at Kairav. Naira looked at both of us confused.
"What the hell do you think you were doing? Why would you run away?", I asked Kairav totally pissed at him.
"You don't need to know that", Kairav murmured, not even looking at me.
"Kairav!", Naira scolded him.
"Its okay Naira...let him speak. I wanna hear him and what the hell do you mean I don't need to know that. I'm your dad. I need to know every single thing that goes on in your life or your brain", I raised my voice but he still wouldn't look at me.
"How did you start caring so much about me all of a sudden? You weren't interested to know anything about me or my life a few days ago...and today everything changes. You suddenly become interested in knowing everything", Kairav also raised his voice and talked, looking me in the eye.
I looked at him blankly. I cant express how I felt at that moment. So blank...so empty. I just now lost my recognition as his dad. I was just a stranger to him, nothing more.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"I don't wanna argue now. Now, at this moment, in the middle of a road! We'll have this conversation later. And I don't want you to run away anywhere. Capisce...?", I asked him towering over him. He just kept staring at the floor.
"Capisce?", I asked him again raising my voice.
"Capisce", he murmured, still not looking at me. His voice was quivering...like he was about to sob but he was controlling his tears.
I sighed and got down the bus.
"Everything went well in there?", Watson asked me.
"I need some time alone", I said and walked away from the group.
NAIRA'S POV
Kartik got down the bus and I looked at Kairav. He was just laying there on the seat, staring at the wall of the bus. Tears filled his eyes. Some made way out of his eyes but he wiped them off.
It was their first argument. First ever argument. And I knew both of them were guilty as well as hurt. My boys....sometimes they can be so out of control. I never...I repeat never wanted to see them like this!
"Daddy loves you and you know that. He's just mad because you ran away", I said caressing his face.
"I don't think so. There's much more than that", Kairav replied with a straight face. I looked at him confused.
"How're you feeling now Kairav?", Rebecca asked as she climbed into the bus.
"He's fine", I replied smiling.
"Can I come in?", that forest guy asked as he followed Rebecca.
"Yeah...I guess. I'm surprised you're still in single piece, without any broken bone...quite opposite to my husband's intentions!", I remarked and that guy chuckled.
"I'm Tae. Tae Rhee. I used to deliver pizzas before things went bad. I'm on my own with no food...no weapons. The last bullet was wasted in saving your son", Tae.....yes Tae said.
"I know thank you so much Tae...I dunno how to thank you. You just saved my precious little boy", I said tickling Kairav and he giggled a little.
"By the way I'm sorry for my husband's behaviour back there....both of us were out of-", I began to say but Tae interrupted me.
"Out of your mind...I know. I won't blame you for that. Besides your husband has already apologised to me. But I really wanna thank you guys for counting me in your group", he thanked and I smiled at him.
"Oh...you've yourself made a place in this group", I said and he nodded.
"Hey little guy...how you doin?", Tae asked Kairav.
"Can you all please stop asking me the same question again and again?! I'm alive...I'm breathing. My heart is beating normally. By the way...thanks for saving my life....Tae", Kairav thanked as he smiled at Tae and Tae nodded.
"Rebecca....can you please look after Kairav for a few minutes?", I asked Rebecca.
"Of course Naira", she replied.
"Thanks...I'll be right back", I said and got down the bus to search for Kartik.
I looked around for him and finally spotted him standing, leaning against a tree, staring at the ground. I sighed in disbelief and walked towards him.
"Mind telling me what the hell happened between you two when I was away which caused your son to run away?", I asked, standing in front of him with hands on my hips.
He looked up at me.
"So you think that I made my son run away?", Kartik asked back.
"Come on Kartik....don't derive the other meaning and answer my question!", I said in a serious tone.
Kartik chuckled.
"So you really think that I might've hurt my son today. It happened because of me. I guess you're right....I'm not right for him. I neither could be good father nor a good husband", Kartik said and I rolled my eyes.
"Kartik....we aren't blaming you. No one's blaming you. You're assuming things!", I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"I wasn't there to protect him. I didn't save him. He was saved by a stranger. Do you need any other proof?", Kartik asked me back.
"Kartik....calm down. You're over thinking", I said and he looked at me.
"I'm not over thinking Naira...I'm not good enough for both of you. Anna died. That little girl died when I promised to keep her safe. When Kairav disappeared, I was constantly getting Anna's pictures in my mind. I didn't want him to meet the same fate. You wouldn't imagine, how much I cursed and punished myself in my brain", he started talking to himself and I cupped his face.
"Nothing has happened to Kairav, Kartik and nothing will ever happen to him. I know you're there to protect him....you're always there. You'll always be there. Please don't punish yourself", I requested him and he looked up at me. He took my hands off him.
"Naira...please go. I'll be fine. I just need sometime alone to process things in my brain. Much has happened today", Kartik said as he tried to steal his gaze from me.
"But Kartik-", I began to say but he interrupted me.
"Naira...I said leave me alone please!!", Kartik raised his voice and I stepped back.
I shrugged my shoulders upset with him and walked away. How much ever I explain him, he continues to blame himself!
"Is everything alright between both of you?", Watson asked.
"You don't need to know that. Your friend has gone mad", I said and got into the bus.
KARTIK'S POV
We were on road again. Watson was driving and I was sitting on the front seat. It was my turn to drive, but since Watson claimed that I was not myself today, he did not let me drive.
"Where are we going?", I asked him.
"Wherever the road takes us", Watson replied looking at the empty road. I nodded.
("Lead Me Home" song from TWD starts playing)
Oh lord live inside me
Lead me on my way
Oh lord live inside me
Lead me on my way
Lead me home
Lead me home
Oh lord in the darkness
Lead me on my way
Oh lord in the darkness
Lead me on my way
Lead me home
Lead me home
Hummm
Hummm
Oh lord heaven's waiting
Open up your door
Oh lord heaven's waiting
Open up your door
Lead me home
Lead me home
It was almost night but still there was a little brightness. I was about to take a nap, that the bus suddenly stopped.
I opened my eyes with a snap to look at some goons surrounding our bus from all the sides. They had weapons but no vehicle. They pointed their guns at us.
"What's wrong?", Naira asked.
"Just raise your hands up", I replied as I looked suspiciously at the men.
Watson turned the engine off and looked at me. Two of those men walked forward and got into the bus. Their faces were covered.
"Get down now with your hands up", they ordered us. Everyone looked at them worried.
"Now!!!", they shouted.
I gave the people an assuring nod and all of us got down the bus with our hands up, facing those people.
That's it for today!
Phew!!