A/N

Hey guys.

Well, don't kill me this time. I am really really sorry for the delay. I just realised that it's been more than a month since I updated last. I was way very much busy to make some time to write.

Rest of the things on hold for now, here's the next chapter. Well I decided to give double updates to make up the delay but I didn't see any point in it and merged both of them and this one is a long chapter!

Please do tell me how's it. Feel free to drop inline comments too!

Enjoy reading!

(Edited - 23-09-2020)

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Pia's POV

I squeezed my eyes tightly to the piercing light from somewhere. I rubbed my eyes and opened them and felt like I am lifting some heavy mountain kind of thing instead of my eyelids. I feel my brain throbbing zillion times a second. It felt like it would pop out anytime. I held my head in my hands and tried to sit but the pain overpowered again. I felt the piercing light dimming a bit and I tried hard to open my eyes, blinking my eyes several times to get a clearer view and saw a lady closing the curtains. I rubbed my eyes again and the headache doing no good to it.

I opened my eyes and saw a woman sitting on the bed, beside me. Then the realisation dawned upon me that she is Swayam's mother and she passed a weak smile at me. I tried to smile but I am sure it didn't come out good due to the throbbing headache.

"How are you feeling beta? I know, your head might be stinging right?" She asked holding my right palm in her's and I am taken aback by what she said. How does she know about what I am feeling? I slightly nodded and massaged my forehead with my fingers. I looked around and found out that it not the usual place I get up to and then realised what is aunty doing in here in the early morning? I frowned thinking where am I and recalling how did I land here.

"Relax, you are in our guest room. Yesterday you got drunk somehow and you slept here itself." She explained and my eyes widened in shock. I was drunk? I got drunk? I can't believe it! I am not a alcohol liking person and I hadn't been drunk till date.

"And don't worry, I have informed Mrs. Mehra of your drunken state yesterday and you staying over here and she is cool about it. She also said she would pick you up today." I was pulled out from my trance by aunty and I smiled gratefully at her. She then lowered her gaze and started to look here and there and I could clearly see the restlessness in her body language suddenly. I held her hand and she looked up at me.

"Is there something you want to ask or something that's bothering you?" I asked and she again averted her gaze.

"Actually I wanted to ask one thing" She said and I nodded for her to go ahead.

"Beta... Um... Do..." She started but she sounded like she was hesitating to ask and she was afraid of something. But what?

"Aunty, just ask what you want to! Don't worry thinking to ask it or not. Feel free to ask anything aunty. After all I am like your daughter." I blurted out squeezing her hand a bit and I am shocked at myself! I am not that kind of person who gets attached to people quickly in one or two meets but here, I don't know why I feel some belongingness whenever I see her. I feel... Secure! I don't know why, but her restlessness is bothering me.

"Did you... Do... Do you remember anything from last night?" She asked narrowing her eyes at me and waiting for my reply. I felt the thumping headache return again and I massaged my forehead as I tried to recall something. I don't remember anything. Actually, the last thing I remember doing is drinking Swayam's untouched drink and then I felt little dizzy and... And... I was roaming around in the house. What after that?

Arghhh! How come I don't remember anything? What happened yesterday? I tried hard to recall but it only resulted in the headache being increased. I felt to scream out of pain but I didn't as I don't want to bother aunty anymore.

"I don't remember anything. Did something serious happen?" I asked confused. She again looked restless and avoided meeting my gaze. I wondered what did I do yesterday. Did I do something which shouldn't be done? Is it something serious? She is scaring me with her silence.

"Actually Pia, you were drunk and-" She was cut in middle by a cute little girl's giggling and laughing, who came running into the room.

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Swayam's POV

Next morning I woke up and felt some freshness in the air of my room. Something is different today. I feel as if my chest is lifted off a huge burden. I feel relieved. Maybe because I opened upto everyone yesterday.

As I sat up and rested my back on the headboard, my gaze fell on the huge photo of my Sharon that hung on the wall opposite to my bed. I smiled involuntarily and I quickly pulled the duvet off me, stepping down the bed.  I went and stood in front of her.

"This is all done by you right?" I asked and it sounded silly to my own self. Ofcourse, I am so stupid to ask my question to a photo frame but something about it made me believe it was her wish that I open upto my friends and feel a bit relaxed with my sudden outburst.

"I love you!" I whispered, leaned in and kissed her picture. The cold photo pressed against my lips and then I realised what was I doing. I smacked my forehead and started doing my daily chores. As I climbed down the stairs after getting ready, I noticed Taani arranging the dinning area for the breakfast. I strode towards her and passed a smile.

"Good morning Taani!" I greeted as I sat on the table. I noticed mom is missing at this time, the time of breakfast which is quite unusual.

"Good morning bhai! Looks like someone is in great mood?" Taani asked skeptically eying me and I chuckled to her statement.

"Where is mom and dad?" I asked turning my plate upside down to serve the food.

"Mom is in guest room with Pia." She said and I stopped mid way serving the food to my plate with the spoon hanging in air. Shit! I totally forgot about her! How can I?  She is in my home. Is she up by now? How would she be feeling now? I hope the headache isn't much severe. Did she had her breakfast? And most importantly, does she remember anything from last night?

I felt a hand wrap around my hand which held the spoon and looked up to see Taani serving me the food with a sweet smile on her lips. I was brought out my thoughts by her voice, saying me to eat the food and I realised what was I thinking all this while.

Freak! Why was I even thinking about her? Okay, I agree that I can't avoid or ignore her in my life, especially after what all happened yesterday but I will not think about her anymore. I will not let her affect me. Yes! I will not let anyone pity me.

"Swayu uncle!" A small joyful squeal brought me back to the present. Alia ran and stood beside my chair with one of the widest smiles ever seen. I smiled at her and said,

"Good morning Princess." and pecked her forehead to which she just giggled.

"Gooooooooood moooorning to you and to Mumma too." she sang and turned towards Taani.

"Good morning Alia. Come now, have your breakfast. " Taani said serving some extra food on her plate to feed her but immediately Alia started making faces, clearly showing she doesn't want to eat the thing on plate.

"Not today! This has become your daily tantrum." Taani said a little sternly, holding a morsel of food in front of her. She eyed it and ran to the other side of my chair, far from Taani. I gestured Taani to calm down and turned to her.

"Why isn't my Princess having her breakfast?" I asked pinching her cheeks. She put on a pouty face and looked away from me.

"What did I say you yesterday?" I asked her to which she looked at me for a moment and then looked back to where she was looking earlier.

"I don't feel to eat that." she said making face for the food for breakfast as if it's some medicine.

"Eat it Alia, I noticed you have been eating a lot of junk and outside food nowadays. Pizza, Burger, Chinese and all, that's what you want 24*7. I am not gonna give in everytime. Eat now!" Taani said again sternly and this time Alia looked like she is about to cry, so I jumped in.

"Shush, no one will force my princess!" I said picking her up and placing her on my lap. Taani now started glaring me.

"You are the one who is spoiling her!" Taani said but I blinked my eyes, assuring her I will get her to eat the food.

Alia was quite for a bit now and I took the advantage and served her food in my plate and started making tiny little parts of it, as big as her morsels. Then I turned my attention back to her. She was playing with my tie when I pulled her attention back to me.

"Okay, so my princess doesn't want to eat?" I asked in a baby voice and she nodded innocently. God! She looks so cute. I quickly pecked her nose tip to which she did the same with me but I was back to what I planned on.

"But if you don't eat this, then your all favourite cartoons will get angry on you! " I said animatedly to which she frowned.

"Why Swayu?" She asked pulling up a sad look on her face.

"Because each one of these bite is of their name and if you don't eat it, then they will feel bad that you don't like them." I said pointing at my plate and she looked at them confused.

"Will you eat food now? See, they are only 10-15 of them. You can finish them, I know. " I encouraged her and she beamed with a smile.

"If I eat this, then they will not be angry with me?" She asked.

"No, they will not. So now be a good girl and finish this fast!" I said and she turned to eat it but turned back again to me.

"How will I know which cartoon sent which bite? You feed me!" she said cutely and I can't deny that, can I? Well, I can't and I don't even want to. So I took the first morsel and brought near her mouth.

"This one is Doraemon." I said and she ate it. Kids are so easy to be fooled around, I didn't knew that this trick of my mother with me, worked with her too. Next went Chota Bheem, Shinchan, Noddy and many more and she ate them all. Now that's like my girl! I smiled at her and turned to Taani with a smirk.

"Hmm... Good job I must say but most of the cartoons were of your time. Thank God that she knew them." She said trying to find atleast one fault in my method and I grinned at my Victory. Then she passes me a glass of milk all of a sudden, I look at her.

"This one too. " she said and got back to eating, leaving me helpless. I looked down at Alia in my lap and thought of ways to do it. Didn't I know the short tales of what all this little life did when she is asked to drink milk? She hates it!

"Now Princess, finish off this milk too, like a good girl." I said bringing glass to her mouth, hoping that she won't throw any tantrum again but who was I kidding to? She will surely do it and she did! She pulled her head a bit away from glass and slid down my lap easily. She then ran back to living room while saying,

"I won't Swayu uncle!"

I looked at Taani and sighed in defeat. I had to do this and even I am getting late for work. That's another point that I am the boss and I had already cancelled all the meetings for today but still, work is work. I didn't think of anything this time and ran behind Alia. She is so naughty sometimes!

"Alia drink it beta." I pleaded trying to woo her but nothing happened and she was running all among sofas, tea table, vases, wherever possible. I was carefully chasing her not to spill the milk. Just as I was about to catch her, she changed the route and ran towards the rooms. This girl I must say! How does Taani even handle her all day?

In the trance, I didn't even see that she entered in some room, so I rushed over to her and soon realised what I did. I just stepped in my guest room i.e. Pia's room and noticed my mom sitting on bed beside her and Alia now jumping on the single sofa there. I also noticed one thing as soon as I entered, both the ladies were dead silent and I could say that they were talking something before I came in. What did I do? Is there something concerning me going on between them? I don't know.

There sat Pia against the back rest of the bed, looking at me as if she saw some alien. Am I looking ugly or bad today? I glanced myself from my shoes to my tie once more and then looked at her. Then that happened that usually happens, I was lost in her beauty. She was disheveled completely, hair were messy, her yesterday's party wear in which she slept was not in a 'oh so good' condition either. Her face totally tired because of the hangover of yesterday's drink for sure and then our eyes met and those beautiful brown orbs held me captive. Even in this state, she looked so innocent and so beautiful... Wait! Did I just admire her? Arghhh! Get a grip Swayam! You can't be doing this all the time.

I was pulled back by someone coughing and my eyes shifted to mom who did the needful. I smiled at her and then looked back at Alia!
This girl will kill me someday for sure!

"Alia please Baba... Drink it off." I said in a pleading tone again forwarding the glass to her. She stopped jumping and playing on the sofa, instead she ran to the bed between Ma and Pia, sitting on Pia's legs and started to stick her tongue out at me. I glared at her.

"Are you drinking this of no?" I asked sternly because I want to be out of this room as soon as possible and she is doing no good by going and sitting in front of Pia!

"No!" She replied curtly and ran out again. I seriously don't understand what to do with her! Mom stood up giving Pia a loving pat on her head as if giving some blessings and murmured something. She then came to me and took the glass from me saying,

"I will look after Alia, you be here." and she left before I could reply anything. What the heck? How can she leave me with me here alone with her. My mouth opened to say something but nothing came out. I looked back at Pia and passed a forced smile at her.

What should I do here? Ummm... Why is the light so dim here? I looked at the curtains pulled together and I walked to them. I dragged them open letting the sunrays in and turned seeing Pia squeezing her eyes to the light. I soon realised and pulled them back closed quickly. How can you forget that she has headache from hangover Swayam? She must be already feeling so grave and you had to do something which added to it. I hope it didn't increase because of my act. I looked back at her again and saw her relax a little.

"Aa... Umm... So... Sorry!" I said and why the hell did I stuttered? Damn it! What's up with me today? But as soon as she registered what I said, she started to stare at me with wide shocked eyes.

Oh shit! What am I doing? Why was I even caring for her and why did I even apologize? Oh god! This is not the Swayam they see everyday. Swayam Shekhawat is the one who is cold to any emotions, don't care for anything and doesn't even think to apologise for these silly things and that too to a girl. This is so not me! Something is wrong with me today for sure. I am going back to my old self which is not a good sign, especially in front of her. I want to be out of here but how? Atleast I want to be distracted by something else.

As if on cue, my phone rang and I fished it out of my pocket to see my PA calling me. I sigh in relief and answer it.

I am now pacing in the room still trying to pretend that I am talking on my phone, truth being she kept it already 5 mins back. Her talk mostly lasted for 2-3 minutes maximum and since I didn't knew what to do after hanging up, I just started acting as if I am still on the call. I can feel the gaze on me continuously besides the movement I am making. I then turn my back to her and again pretend to talk something. After good 4-5 minutes, I turn back and see that she is trying to get down the bed. I take steps towards the bed contemplating in my head to help her or not. Will she be okay with it? Why should I help her? I am not going to do anything.

I just stood there at the end of the bed. She was still sitting, one hand cupping her one side of head, due to the headache and the other balancing herself. She stood finally and sighed but when she took a step forward, her balance lost and she was about to fall but I find my hands and feets work on their accord and I already held her safe from falling. Maybe she got a sprain on her ankle after yesterday's fall on the sofa that's in this room itself. Does she remember anything? I hope not though. I swallowed a large lump of fear that crept up thinking what if she recalls everything and what all happened. What will I do then?

She was so close to me again. My hands on her waist and chest pressed up against her's sending shivers down my spine. She held my shoulders as a reflex action and there we stood lost again in each other's eyes. She held so much in her's. There were so many questions, so many confusions, so much pain. She was searching in my eyes, her answers, the answers for her unasked questions. Her gaze then moved from my eyes to my lips and my mind followed the same.

Her full, fluffy pink lips looked too much kissable at this moment but I couldn't, I just can't kiss her. It's been ages since I felt those lips on mine, but she's Pia! Not Sharon! She's not my Sharon but for a second, I felt to let it be. I felt to give in this one time and just go in the flow. She started leaning towards me in anticipation and closed her eyes, I eyed back to her lips.

Just when I was about to make a move, a knock on the door pulled both of us to the reality. I jerked away from her immediately and so did she. What the heck was this? What was I doing? I need to get control on myself!

"Sir, lemonade, madam had said me to serve it here." Robin said coming to us and forwarding the tray. I took it and sent him back. I looked at Pia who looked lost, still dazed with what happened few seconds ago. A light shade of pink spreading across her cheeks. Gosh! She looks so beautiful while she blushes. I shook her lightly by her shoulders and she looked up at me startled.

"Drink this, you will feel better. It's good for hangovers." I said handing her the glass of lemonade. She sat back on the bed and I made my way to sit on the sofa but she stopped me in my track, in front of the bed, facing her, by asking the one question I didn't want to answer her at all

"Did... Did something happen yesterday? Did I do something serious?" She asked and I find no words coming out of my mouth to answer that.

"How are you now?" I asked trying to bring up something else in discussion but she won't let it.

"I am fine. Nothing happened to me, just a severe headache from the hangover. Now will you tell me what I asked for?" She said and I gulped audibly... What to answer her now? Why did you leave me here mom? I hate you!

I must think of something, I cannot say her directly what she did. Just think about it. I am saying her that she saw my room full of her photos, kissed me on my cheeks, said me that she likes me, said me many things, whined like a child, we played the game of kidnapping, and what not. It all sounds like a fun sequence of some daily soap but Alas! This is my life and that all happened in real. Moreover, how can I say that Nil and Vicky had planned this on me and she ended up in my place? I can't even answer the following questions as to why they did and all that. Think of something Swayam... Think! I was brought out of my trance by clapping of hands and saw Pia eyeing me and Clapping her hands.

"Hello, Mr. Shekhawat! Where are you lost? I am waiting for an answer!" She said and I took a deep breath to relax myself. She just said that the way my Sharon would have said and addressed to me when she was demanding but she's not my Sharon, she's Pia! Life is playing nice games I must say.

"Nothing happened. You were just drunk and you were acting comically. Not... Nothing serious..." I said not wanting to disclose the truth. No way in hell I am saying all those things to her. She eyed me skeptically as if not buying my words.

"I don't buy them but I don't expect anything from you." She said I had my jaw dropped. How can she say that to me? I opened my mouth to say but she cut me off.

"By the way, how did I end up drunk?" And there goes the next bomb. I was thinking of something that I can make up but I saw someone coming again and turned to the door and there comes Sid! Finally! Couldn't he come earlier? Though there was one part in me who wished he never came, I just shut it up for my own good. I smiled at him, but he looked at Pia drinking lemonade and sighed.

"Pia!" He called out relived and strode towards her and hugged her. She held the juice away so that it doesn't spill and hugged him back by another free hand. She made him pull apart and drank the juice again.

"How are you?" He asked concerned and Pia smiled at him assuringly and said,

"Don't worry, I am fine." to which he smiled back. I wanted to tear my eyes from them not wanting to see their sweet moment of reunion only after one party night! They were acting as if it were days or weeks. I was going to go out when Pia again tried to stand up, she stood last time too but couldn't walk. Anticipating the fall, I took steps towards her when she stepped forward but stopped in my way seeing Sid helping her out.

The Pia I was holding few moments back was now in Sid's hands. His hands on her waist just as mine, supporting her and she, smiling at him. He just held her shoulder with other hand and helped her walk to the washroom. I stood there witnessing their romantic walk, being filled with anger. I don't know why but I felt my palms fisting tightly. I couldn't see them together like that and stormed out of the room before I could do something I didn't want to.

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A/N

So, how was the chapter? Did you guys enjoy it?

This was kind of a filler, but was an important one too.

Please do share with me what you feel. You are free to give any requests or suggestions too and let me know your views.

And one more thing, this time it was such a long gap, I am already guilty for it and I got an idea. Why not make a rule of weekend updates? I will be updating each weekend, either saturday or sunday. What do you guys say? Yes/No? And if some weekend is missed, you will get update on next weekend. I liked this idea, I got it from one of the writers here, on Wattpad. Let me know what you say.

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