Kriya looked at the papers on the table in front of her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

She looked up at the voice. Rey.

"I've destroyed his life enough." She answered, and proceeded to sign the papers. The divorce papers.

Rey's fingers wrapped around her wrist, stopping her before she would sign them. "Kriya, from everything you've told me... he loves you. You. Not Sharon."

"It's why I need to do this."

He couldn't find anything else to say to stop her. She signed the papers. He couldn't understand why Kriya was doing this. He knew she had feelings for Swayam too. It wasn't as if she had feelings for Rey. She had already told him multiple times that they would only ever be friends. Now, after everything with Sharon, even he had somewhere accepted it.

"What next?" He asked.

She slipped the papers in a brown envelope. "After we return from Maldives, I'll get him to sign them too."

He shook his head, for he didn't think Swayam was going to sign them and grant her a divorce just like that.

Kriya... she could just laugh at herself if she had it in her in the moment. A few months ago, before everything, Swayam had brought up the topic himself. She had been the one to insist and deny, being stubborn that there was nothing he could say that would make her given him a divorce. And now? The tables were flipped.

Alas, she had to do this. She had no choice. She couldn't see harm come to anyone else in her life that she could really care about.

Swayam took out his iPad and Kriya knew what he would do next. She snatched it away from him. "You promised. No work at any time during this trip."

"Come on Kriya! Just for some time before we take off. Technically, I promised no work when we were in Maldives. We aren't there yet."

"Don't twist the words around."

She then went on to unlock the iPad. "What's the password?" She asked when he showed fake-anger and muttered colorful things looking out the window.

She typed it in and it worked, "How'd you know?"

"Mr. Hubby, it wasn't hard to guess. You might want to choose a tough password next time." She grinned at his disapproval and went on to play games. Though the back of her mind scolded her that she needed to start making a practice of keeping away from him. He wasn't going to be her husband for much longer.

"Seriously? You're going to play games but not let me do work? Something that actually matters?" He chastised, not believing it.

She turned protective of her games. "Hello, this does matter, alright? Now don't disturb me."

Just then, the announcement came on, asking them to turn off all devices. Swayam mocked Kriya's face and laughed. "Serves you right." She fumed at him and harshly slammed it on his hand.

Even after take-off, she wasn't talking to him. She wasn't angry. She was just having fun seeing him trying to please her and make her talk to him. She found his restlessness cute and wanted to see more of it.

It's probably the last time I'll get to feel this anyway. She thought to herself as she continued pretending the whole journey there, pretending to sleep or listen to music. He would poke her or nudge her or call her every now and then and she'd pretend to not hear it or be unaffected by his nudges. She was surely going to miss having him cajole her. Anyone else would have just let it be and not put up with her childishness. But Swayam wouldn't. He never had given up since they've known each other. He could never bear the thought that she was mad at him, or that he had or would do something to upset her.

"Babe, I said sorry. What more can I do?"

Kriya barely touched her food.

"Okay, at least eat something?"

She shook her head and got up to use the lavatory. She came back minutes later and cuddled up in her seat, pulling her feet up. She looked sideways at him and smiled. "I'm not mad at you." She admitted. "I just want to sleep right now..." She mumbled and closed her eyes.

Sleep wouldn't come to her though. She kept on twisting.

"What's wrong?"

"My stomach hurts." He called an air hostess and requested her to get some ginger ale. She was back with it seconds later and Swayam had Kriya drink some. "It'll be tasteless but will help."

She didn't refuse and simply listened to him. It helped a little - allowing her to fall asleep before the cramps would return.

Kriya woke up disturbed by the announcement of landing. She stayed still, fearing it would pain if she moved but when she felt normal, she uncoiled herself and removed the blanket that was around her, assuming Swayam must have wrapped her in it. "Better?" He questioned and she nodded in response.

Once the plane landed and they were out of the airport an hour later, they boarded the tour bus that would take them to the resort. Due to time difference, it was the day after but in the States, it'd still be night of the same day.

"I think everyone's tired so rest up a few hours and in evening, we'll group up again, understood?" Mrs. John announced once the bus was on the road.

They all mumbled in agreement.

××××××××××××

"We have an odd number of girls and we can only keep two girls per room." Mrs. John talked to the other male chaperon.

"Do we have extra to get another room?" He questioned back.

Kriya spoke up, "Mrs. John, if it's alright with you, I can move into Swayam's room and Lisa can have my place."

"Excuse me?!" Mrs. John freaked out, forgetting they were married. "Did I not mention no girls and boys living in same room?"

Kriya wanted to laugh but controlled herself. Everyone knew Mrs. John could be a lot forgetful. "Uh... ma'am, we're married..."

The expression on Mrs. John changed as realization dawned upon her. "Oh! Yes, of course you are. I don't see a problem with it then. Thank you dear."

Everyone started dispersing towards their room. "This room is bigger than other ones." Kriya pointed out entering theirs.

"Well duh! Technically, I'm not a part of your college group so I can pay for whichever room I want to."

She rolled her eyes at his quirky answer. "Anyway, I'm gonna go take a shower first. I smell like crap."

"You smell like you." He smirked and she ignored him and his comments. Half of the time, they made no sense to her.

××××××××××××

Kriya walked out wrapped in a towel and saw Swayam still trying to open the lock of the bags. "How can you not guess a number lock I would keep?" She commented walking up. He looked up to see her and froze. She was waiting for him to move so she could open the lock and he was gazing at her. The water droplets from her wet hair tapped and rolled down her neck.

She cleared her throat to get his attention after feeling conscious under his constant, unblinking eyes. He looked away and got up. When there was a knock at the door, he found his voice again. "Who's there?"

"Taani here." The voice said.

"You can open." Kriya told him when he looked at her.

"But..." He tried to point out she was in a towel.

"It's okay. It's just Taani. She's a girl. I have nothing to be shy of."

She went back to unlocking and by the time Swayam opened the door, Kriya had unlocked Swayam's bag and was moving to her own.

Taani saw her wrapped in towel. "Oh. I'll come back later." She started to leave from the door itself without entering when Kriya stopped her.

"When you've came till here, why not tell why you came?"

"I just wanted to tell you that some of us aren't tired so we've decided to just go out till we have to group up again... If you both wanna join?"

"I'm going to sleep. Kriya can though if she wants to." Swayam replied and both turned to look at Kriya for her decision.

"Uh...sure. Give me a minute? I just need to change."

Taani nodded and turned to leave when she bumped into Rey. "You take forever to do one job." He started to pass a comment when he lifted his eyes behind Taani to see Kriya. Swayam immediately stood in front of Kriya and even Taani moved back. Kriya stood behind Taani and Swayam, who acted as her shield. Taani turned Rey around.

"I'm sorry..." Rey took a quick exit. Taani felt awkward in the situation and left quickly behind Rey as well. Swayam closed the door and turned around, sternness in his eyes. Kriya felt a lecture coming.

"Please, I don't want to hear it." She said holding her index finger up and turning out to grab her clothes.

He was going to snap 'what were you thinking?' when he thought better of it and shut his mouth, disliking the scenario as it was. "They must be waiting for you. Hurry up now."

"Err.... I think I'll stay in."

He sighed knowing just why she was having second thoughts and walked up to her. "Kriya, one situation doesn't mean you hide yourself. You'll have to face him later on in evening if not right now. You should learn to face the situations rather than hiding from them due to inner fears. Those fears will only pull you back in life. You should start to destroy their roots itself. Do you understand or should I go on with the lesson?"

She chuckled. "No need. I got you." She thanked him and left to change.

When she left with Taani and group, Swayam decided to catch up on sleep. The whole journey, he hadn't slept at all and he felt jet-legged. He wasn't sure why though since he had always traveled around due to business and that never really bothered him.

××××××××××××

"Rey! Come on, open up. You can't hide in there forever." Taani yelled at his door, trying to keep her voice low so as to not disturb other guests. He finally opened the door upon realized Taani wasn't going to leave till they had a talk.

"Can't you ever let me be?" He let out his anger at her.

"Nope." She grinned, and pushed past him to get inside the room. "I love troubling you for everything. It's just more fun because you get irritated easily, you see?" She made herself comfortable on the bed. "Where's your room-mate?"

"Out having dinner - which is what you should be doing too."

"That is what I'm doing. Surely, you don't think I'll go eat when my best friend is sulking here, do you? Come on, get ready. There are horses running in my stomach and I'm not in the mood for any cliché excuses of yours. I know you're not sick and you're giving me a treat tonight."

"For what?" He asked, royally ignoring the rest of her blabber.

"For thanking me as I'm the bestest friend you'll ever have who always looks after you."

"Whether I want it or not." He added, and pretended to feel sorry for himself.

She mocked. "Ha-ha. Now will you come willingly or do I have to drag you out by the feet? You know I will." She added knowing he would say something like 'you-can't.'

"Fine." He grumbled and got up to get his wallet. He held the door open for her, plastering a smile on his face. She pulled his cheek. "Good boy!" And walked out. He rolled his eyes - pretending to be irritated but from inside, happy to have her as he knew it was better than being lonely and feeling sad. He couldn't stay sad for ever and he had to enjoy life as it came, even if he did not always get what he wanted.

××××××××××××

The evening breeze blew and with winter, it was more chilled then simply cool. On top, they were sailing the waters, which added to it. Kriya had a shawl around her and Rey came to stand next to her. She was afraid of the waters but did not let it show on her face. The fear of drowning was very common. Especially when at a young age, she had went through it and barely survived.

After that, she did try to learn swimming to overcome her fear and even succeeded at it. Still, the fear always remained. As one says, no matter how rich one gets, they always fear crashing down. The same way, no matter how greatly she mastered swimming, the fear of drowning would not leave her alone.

Kriya turned her head just slightly to see who it was, and upon seeing it was him, went back to gazing at the view. Rey spoke, "After what happened in the room, I didn't think you'd show." He didn't let it be known that he had tried to do just that, until Taani dragged him out.

She smiled, "Rey, I'm not the same girl you knew at the start of the semester who is going to shy away from things, especially given you know my life history."

"Right. You're definitely a lot more confident."

She smiled, but it was a sad one. Her tone indicated that, "Yeah, finally realizing the person your own sister is can do that to you."

He didn't answer to that, because he couldn't fathom to understand what she must feel. After a silence of few seconds, she turned to see he was simply wearing a full sleeved normal shirt and no thermal or a jacket. "Don't tell me it's just me who's cold." She made an attempt to change the topic of conversation.

He chuckled. "Didn't think it would be cold. But really, it's just a little chilly, nothing I can't handle."

"Right... men and all being tough. I get it." She looked away at the horizon where the sun was setting. "Sunsets are always so beautiful."

"Hmm" He agreed turning around to face the same way. "Mysterious and soothing." She was going to ask how sunset can be mysterious but let it be and simply enjoyed the moment.

"Now if you're done enjoying the view, shall we go inside? Your nose is this close to giving a competition to Rudolph." Rey referred to Rudolph, the red nose reindeer, making Kriya laugh and slapping his shoulder.

"Oh, shut up! As if your face isn't all red." Both headed in and grabbed the only open slot they saw. 

For the smallest of a second, Kriya wondered why she never noticed the normalcy behind Rey's character. He was easy to talk to, but the impression he had given her at first glance had made her create a stereotypical image in her head and she had stuck with it, not realizing it was unfair of her to do that. If Sharon hadn't involved him in their lives by trying to make him a pawn in her game, Kriya realized she may have never gotten a chance to know Rey. She might have never gone out of her way to be friends with him.

x x x x 

author's note:

Hey guys! Please add this book to your reading lists and your personal library if you haven't already! It's the easiest way to get notifications whenever I update. I may not always get a chance to send an email notification if I am in a rush.

I've added a description for the book. Tons of hints there as to what you can expect to happen in the book. Check it out!

Coming to the chapter, how was it? Tons of new things, right? For the next few seconds, things may proceed on a fast pace. 

Updates for this will be every Monday. 

(If I can't update on certain Mondays due to exam weeks, I'll let you guys know).