Third person P.O.V
Varun was astonished as Sidharth took Alia inside. What was going on? Wasn't she leaving with a happy face? And why was Sidharth with her?

"Varun, who's there? Tell the mailman to deliver the neighbours' stuff somewhere else!", Parineeti yelled.

"Parineeti, you know he's secretly talking with his dulhania. You'll find out, she will soon walk out of the door!", Shraddha added.

Alia and Sidharth slowly walked to the living room. Their eyes were red and swollen from all the crying and Alia had a really puffy face. She was also having trouble with walking. Sidharth looked like he could sleep any moment.

When Parineeti and Shraddha saw them in their state of mess they turned to Varun with a questionable look on their face. He replied in the negative.

Alia and Sidharth crashed on the sofa and closed their eyes. They forgot the harsh reality and soon drifted off to sleep.

"Well, that's just awesome. They crash into the house, leaving us all curiously and then they don't tell us anything!" Parineeti said sheepishly.

"Parineeti, have you seen them? They're an emotional wreck. Have you seen Alia's face? And Sidharth's hand? She must've held it all the time, that's why it's so red. " Shraddha said.

"And Sidharth's eyes were completely swollen. He must've cried a lot!"

"Yeah, but what happened?", Parineeti asked impatiently.

"We will see. Are you guys hungry?", Varun asked.

They both weren't hungry.

"What's for dinner?", Parineeti asked.

"Lasagna."

"Oh."

Varun walks over to Sidharth and he lightly pushes him, in order to wake him up. 

"Sidharth, are you hungry? You need to eat something bro."

"I'm not hungry. I just want to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Varun. Long flight."

"Okay uhm, Shraddha will take you to your room. She will help you."

"Okay..."

He untangled his hand from Alia and he caresses her hair once more before standing up. Shraddha helped him to go their room.

Varun was watching with a little jealousy. He went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner because he was hungry and Alia probably would be too.

Parineeti woke Alia up.

"Babe, do you want something to eat? Are you hungry? You need to eat!"

"Yes, I'm hungry. Can I get some food please?"

"Varun is preparing it."

Varun. Alia slowly let her mind wander off to him. Why wasn't he present when it happened. When she got to know that she had to do it or else...

"Varun...... How is he?"

He entered and put the lasagna on the kitchen table. "I'm good Alu. What about you?"

"I've been better"

Parineeti helps her walk to the kitchen table and lets her sit down.

"If you need anything just call me okay?", she asked.

"Yes Pari, you can go to sleep if you want to."

"Gladly. I'm really tired."

"So am I."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight Pari."

Parineeti smiled to Alia and wished her goodnight as well.

Varun sat besides Alia. They were both silently eating when Varun broke the silence.

"Do you like Italian?"

"It's okay."

"You're tired na? Quickly finish your food, than you can go to sleep."

She nods.

"Vee....."

"Yes?"

"I missed you.... A lot..."
Varun smiles. He tugs her hand and he gives her a comforting smile. She smiles back to him.
They ate their food until it was finished.

Varun took the dishes and put them into the dishwasher and went back to Alia. She had already managed to walk a few stairs but it was clear that she needed help.

Varun's P.O.V
I quickly ran over to Alia. She was having some serious trouble with walking and I wanted to help her.

I offered her my arm and we slowly climbed the stairs until we arrived at our room.

"Alia, can you still manage?", I asked.

"To do what?"

"To walk."

"No. I bruised my ankle."

"Oh. How did that happen?"

"It's a long story Vee.."

Alia sat down and she looked at me with a small smile. I smiled and I sat besides her.

We both knew what she needed.
Without words we made eye contact and we talked through our eyes.

I pulled her into a hug and I sighed. What had happened to her? I was desperate for answers but I knew that she and Sidharth needed some time before they could say anything.

She let out a long sigh. We stayed like that for what felt a century. It was comfortable but also uncomfortable as I wanted answers.

Then she pulled away. Without looking at me, she went to the bathroom to take a shower. I was left there completely speechless and I couldn't do anything but wait till she returned and ask her what had happened.

Parineeti's P.O.V
It is quiet in my room. Shraddha and Sidharth are sleeping together again, which means that I had to go back to my own room.  Since Arjun left it's quiet here. It's sort of strange but I miss his jokes. I miss the way I hate him when he's near me and when he does something which is ridiculously weird.

Our endless discussions are gone; the room is quiet.

I decide to call him, and ask him where his ass is. Oddly enough the phone rings once and he picks up, almost immediately.

Hello Jaan! I'm surprised that you called! Missing me na?

Arjun! Where is your lazy butt?

I'm at a friends house. I'll be home in a day. You and the kids must've missed me!

Me? Kids? Arjun what the fuck! You'll never change! Idiot!

But you like it right?

Oh my lord Arjun!

He laughs and she does as well.

It's nice to hear you laugh Parineeti.... I haven't heard that in a long time...

Did you just call me by my actual name? I'm so proud of you! You did it!

Tigress....

No, forget it. Arjun is back again..

He laughs again

How are you? Are you all right? And the others? What about them?

What the hell! I must be dreaming! Arjun Kapoor is asking how I'm doing! Bloody hell!

Tigress! I'm only asking for the sake of our future children!

We will never have those!

You never know... you like being with me na? You'll see, one day we will have our own army!

Boy.... Why are you like this! Haven't you got any self respect?

Bold! That's how I like my Tigress!

Shut up! I'm not your Tigress. Duffer.

Okay Jaan, I need to go now. I hate you and I'll see you in hell! Bye!

Hope I'll never see you again donkey!

And then I'm left feeling completely confused. Why did I miss him again? He's an idiot and he will always be one.
It's better if I never call him again.

Sidharth's P.O.V
When I came out of the shower I looked into the mirror. My face was less swollen than it was before and my eyes were also less red. I looked a bit better, but I still looked and felt like a living corpse.

"It's all just business!"

"You have to do it or we will make matters worse!"

"I can't. You'll have to..."

"You're an asshole if you break this tradition!"

Flashbacks of what happened came to me. I didn't what to think about it. It was too much. I just wanted to sleep. And to forget. I didn't want to have a nightmare and I didn't want to remember. I went to bed. Besides me was Shraddha reading a story on Wattpad. When she saw that I had joined the bed she put her phone away and she looked at me with curious eyes. Then she noticed the big bruise I had on my head and she immediately wanted to take care of it.

"Hey, what is this? I'll go get the first aid kit!"

She ran away and after a few minutes she returned. With iodine she cleaned my wound and then she did what she had to do. I didn't say a single thing.

Then she put me in bed. There were a few bandaids on my head and she put me under the blankets. Then she went to sleep herself. But she first asked me whether I needed anything else.

"Shraddha, it's okay. Go to sleep. You need it."

She sat besides me on the bed.

"Sid, I'll do what I have to in order to help you. Don't worry about me, but worry about yourself. I'm here for you."

"Thanks Shrads."

I pressed a soft kiss against her check and she blushed.

"Sid, you know what we promised each other right? We wouldn't kiss each other ever again. You know what will happen if-"

I pressed another kiss on her cheek. This time closer to her mouth. I held her face in my hands.
I stayed in that position and spoke. "I don't care what we did a few years ago. I want to kiss you on your check whenever I want to. It should be possible. Right?"

She nodded. A bit hesitant at first, but then she nodded.

"But why?"

"I don't know. I just have this need to protect you from everything and keep you safe, hold you in my arms forever."

"Sidharth..."

"Yes Shraddha..."

"We're not a thing right? Just kisses on the check . Because if we are then you gotta tell me, because it's not really  obvious and-"

"Shrads, stop rambling. We're just friends. But friends can kiss each other on the cheek right? Alia and Varun are doing it as well!"

"Sid, we both know that they're not friends. They're meant to be."

"It's just and example Shraddha. But friends do that."

"Okay good."

A few minutes passed before she spoke again.

"Sid..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you remember when I was almost raped? How you took care of me that night? I want to take care of you just like that. I want to help you."

"Shraddha......"

"Yes..."

"That's really kind..."

"I know."

"Thank you."

"Sid...."

"Yes?"

"What happened today?"

Almost immediately flashbacks shot across my mind

"You're not worthy of having our last name!"

"You're an asshole if you break this tradition!"

"It's all just business!"

"I can't tell you yet Shraddha. Alia and I need time to process it. I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. I understand"

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

"Just know, that I'm here to talk to you when things go sideways."

"Yeah..."

Shraddha turned around. She grabbed her phone and started scrolling through Instagram until she saw a post.

sidshraforever: This is goals! I hope they'll be getting married one day!

She put her phone away and she sighed. She had to sleep otherwise she couldn't wake up tomorrow

Sidharth's P.O.V
I was laying on my own side facing Shraddha's back. Her hair was curled and it seemed soft. I had no sleep yet, I was still thinking about what was going on today.

It was 1 AM so I decided to go to the kitchen. Maybe drink some milk in order to relax.

I went downstairs and I saw that I wasn't the only person downstairs.

I saw a shadow. When I looked better I saw that it was a shadow. It moved.

I was scared. I wanted to go back. Back to my bed. But then the shadow approached me. Shit! I thought. I tried to run but it got a caught if my hand.

"You! What are you doing here?", Alia asked me.

"I couldn't sleep. What about you?", I responded casually. She walked to the kitchen and I followed her. Whilst preparing a milk with lots of sugar we held our conversation.

"I just kept thinking about what happened. I mean, they're my own parents! How could they do that to me? And to you! They've known you for a few years. Since student ! And still!", I said angrily while the tears had already been streamed down my face. 

"All of my happiness. Gone in a second! I mean, it's not that I don't like you but..."

"I understand. As much as I love you I'd rather have someone of my own type..."

"I get that..."

"Yep.... sorry...."

"No, it's okay..."

"You still love me right!", she joked.

"Of course! And I'll always love you!", I joked back.

She hugged me and I pressed a kiss on her forehead.

"Gosh, I don't know whether it's me or the milk, but I really feel relaxed now."

"It's a placebo. Sugar makes you hyper, but if you believe that sugar makes you relax, you'll automatically feel more relaxed."

"Yes doctor Malhotra"

She pulled away. "Come we need to get back to our rooms before the others realise what is going on.
She wanted to walk away but I grabbed her hand. She watched their hands being tangled with a curious look. He lifted her chin to let her face him.

"Alia, when are we going to tell them? I'm really feeling uncomfortable with this secret."

"Yes, me too. Uhm... tomorrow?"

"Okay."

"Good night Sidharth"

"Good night Alia"

They walked away from each other, not knowing that someone was watching them.

Third person's P.O.V
Alia went back to bed. She now was a lot more relaxed than she was a few minutes ago. But there was still one thing missing. Her perfect pillow. She turned over to Varun who was sleeping like a rose. She carefully unbuttoned his shirt. He woke up.

"Alia what are you doing? It's past 1 AM and-"

"Sshh", she gestured. She unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and he properly removed it.  He looked her in the eyes and she looked back. He understood what she wanted and he went back to lay down on the bed. She placed her head on his chest. She felt safe while hearing his heartbeat. It was a sound that reminded her that Varun would always be there with her. To help her.

Varun hummed uneasily. She shifted into another position. This time Varun wrapped his arm around Alia's body and he gave her a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and she opened her eyes. He saw that she was looking at him like a panda bear with cute eyes. She said something through her eyes and he responded. Just like they always did. Varun wrapped the blanket around them in an more comfortable position.

He pulled Alia closer to him, making sure she received his body warmth and wasn't freezing to dead. Alia smiled and was happy. But now she had a clear opinion. What she had doubted about earlier had now gotten her convinced. She needed to tell the secret to Varun. If it wasn't for him, then it would be for Shraddha, Sidharth or for herself. But she needed to tell him.
That was the last thing she remembered before Varun gave her another kiss on her check and wished her goodnight and Alia slept.

A/N—> Hope you liked that, if you did please give it a vote and leave a comment about your views in this.

Next chapter-Thursday/Friday