Kriya

"Aashi!" I squealed out as soon as I entered Aashi's office and pulled her out of her chair.

"Whoa! Easy there." She exclaimed and I stopped twirling her around. "Are you planning on getting rid of me already?"

I laughed at her comment. "I can't be happy to see you?" Swayam left us both and continued on to his cabin. "Listen, are you free tonight?"

"Yes…?” Her reply was more like a question. “Why?"

"Great! Then you're coming over for dinner." I told her, not bothering to ask.

"But… Don't get me wrong, but you know, you're Swayam's wife and he's my boss."

I understood the situation. Then after some thought, she replied, "Come with me." I pulled her to Swayam's cabin. "Swayam?"

"Yes?" He looked up at us.

"Tonight, you're kicked out of the house."

"WHAT?!" He exclaimed instantly on his feet, chair kicked back.

"What?" Aashi's voice echoed.

"Yes, girl’s night out and no 'boss' allowed."

"But you can't kick him out!" Aashi reasoned.

Swayam supported her. "Exactly, I'm your husband!"

"Fine, I want a divorce."

Swayam gaped at me more, if it was even possible. "Because of one dinner you want with a friend?! Kriya, I know you don't drink, but did you sneak up a drink or what?!"

"Alright fine! I'll come over for dinner. Geez, stop with all this already!" Aashi put an end to our about to start fight.

"Good." I said to her. Then I turned to Swayam. "Forget the last five minutes ever happened in your life. Just wanted to make a point to my silly friend over here." I then flashed him a playful grin.

Swayam

This girl was crazy! To make a point, she almost gave me a heart attack.

"Aashi, could you go resume your work? I need to yell at my wife." I said it with the most cheerful smile I could put on. Aashi chuckled and left immediately. The smile was wiped off of my face and I glared her down, eventually resulting with her being uncomfortable.

"What? It wasn't like I was serious! She was just putting on a drama of how she can't come over to her boss's house for dinner. Tell me, is it a crime to be your wife?"

"Kriya, do you have any idea-" I talked sweetly and then raced through the rest of the sentence, "-of what the heck you are talking about?" I had to hold myself back from cursing. She may as well be an adult, but then again, was she? With the antics she pulled, I highly doubt it!

"Yes…" I glared. "No?" She changed her answer not sure what I wanted her to reply back with. I caressed my forehead. She would end up giving me a head ache one day for sure, if not a heart attack at such young age.

"Come here." I ordered her along with hand motion. Very carefully, she took a tiny step towards me, fearing for her life. She had committed some horrible sin that had awakened my wrath and she was still unaware of what she had done. What was I to do with her?

"Closer." She took another tiny step. "Kriya." She was just being childish now. My voice was stern and not wanting to give fire to my anger, she stood right in front of me.

I gritted my teeth tight to grasp in my anger and very gently, put my hands on her shoulders. "Next time you want to prove a 'point' to any of your friend, DO NOT threaten to kick me out of the house or even divorce. In fact, DO. NOT. EVEN. THINK about it. Never let that thought cross your mind. Is that clear?"

My face was so close to hers and so filled with anger that all she did was bobble her head up and down twice, fearing her own movement. "Good, now that we have that clear, I have but one question. Do you not love me?! What were you thinking going about and giving me a heart attack?!"

I blasted at her. She shut her eyes out of fear. "Sorry." She sweetly apologized. "I didn't think."

I let go of her. It was impossible for me to remain mad at her when she went and apologized like this after. "I don't even want to know what would happen if you do think." I passed a sarcastic comment, which offended her.

"Hey!" She whined.

"It's the least you deserve after what you just did!"

She turned offensive too. "Like I said, I wasn't thinking and I'm sorry. Geez, someone's getting hyper! And since I can't think, can't you either? You should know better than to listen to my words. You know me better to know I would never kick you out or ask for a divorce! Now shut up and go handle this business before I actually kick you out."

I blinked a couple of times to grasp in what she had said. "Great, now I can't even whine but you can." I muttered, knowing it'd be useless to extend this fight. If I could yell at her for doing something stupid, she could yell at me for yelling at her for doing something stupid. That's how twisted her logic went and it was not within me to go against this logic of hers.

I would go crazy if I merely even thought about attempting to do so.

She turned on her heel and left the office to go release her frustration towards Swayam by cribbing about it to Aashi, who half-listened to her as she struggled to keep up with Kriya's blabber and my orders.

Apparently, neither of us were in a good mood as a result of each other's actions. Lord, save our sanity!

××××××××××××

Rey

I answered my phone as it rang. “Hello?”

“Have you made the decision?”

“Who is this?” I asked back, though I had a pretty good guess who was calling me.

She let out a mocked laughter, then replied with irritation. “Boy, you know who I am. Quit wasting my time and tell me. Do we have a deal or no?”

“If I work with you, then what are the chances that I’ll get Kriya at the end?”

My question seemed to have offended her. “Because Sharon Rai Prakash always gets what she wants, Rey. No matter what. Whether you help her or not. If you do help, however, let’s just say both of us benefit.”

“Alright. What role do I play in your plan?”

If she were in front of me, I would be sure she’d be grinning right now. “Now we’re talking.”

I turned to look at Taani, who was half-sitting on my bed, her book resting on her chest as she listened to the conversation herself – well, atleast one side of it. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but she gave me an encouraging smile, somehow reminding me of why I was doing this. I smiled back, and hoped our plan would work.

I may not be able to hold that special place in Kriya’s life, but nothing was going to stop me from helping me, making sure she’d be safe, look after her. I could do that without her knowing, and I will do that. I’m so ever glad for Taani standing by my side. If not for her, I doubt I would have had the courage to go on with this. Sure, I did reckless things all the time, but this time, the results truly would matter. It was Kriya’s life at risk. I was sure Swayam wasn’t, as it seemed Sharon wanted him. She wouldn’t hurt him. But I had no guarantee of her not hurting Kriya to get what she wants. I had to intervene and manipulate her into making sure she’d remain safe from her.

The only thing that surprised me right now is what she said her full name to be. She couldn’t possibly be Kriya’s sister, could she? Kriya went by Kriya Rai, and Sharon had used that as her middle name. I just hope she isn’t… because if she is, I cannot imagine how one sister can be so cruel to another. It’s just sad, and I would hate to be in Kriya’s position right now. I cannot even begin to think of how she must be feeling.

Swayam

We were seated at a square dining table. Kriya fixed Aashi's plate and then her own while Hannah and Caroline helped themselves. Shane couldn’t come as he had to babysit his sister. I waited for her to pass me a plate but she never did. I cleared my throat to get her attention. She tore her bread and ate it with lasagna, pretending to be oblivious. I see… still mad at me. Seriously, shouldn’t I be the one mad?

Then she turned to Aashi, "Aashi, do you need anything else?"

Aashi looked back and forth from me to Kriya and back at me. "No… I'm fine." She replied as she asked me the problem with her eyes.

I shrugged. "Kriya, can you pass me the hotbox?" It was to her right. Aashi was to her left and me in front of her.

"Aashi, can you pass the hotbox?" Kriya repeated.

Aashi sighed, got up, reached for the hot box and handed it to Swayam with a warning, "If you need anything else, get it yourself. It's your house!"

Swayam reciprocated, "And I'm your boss!"

"In office. Here, I'm your guest so treat me well."

I could see Hannah smiling while Caroline chuckled. Kriya hid the smirk forming on her face. Seeing it, Aashi too smiled and then winked at me. She was scolding me to make it seem she was on Kriya's side but at the same time, she was helping me woe Kriya. Wasn’t she the best?

After dinner, Kriya took her up to her room while I stayed down to finish the last bit of work he had left. Then I could finally relax, and probably think of a way to get Kriya to not be mad at me anymore. I know it shouldn’t matter much, but it did. It was killing me that she was giving me a cold shoulder, and all this over a silly situation.

God, why did I have to get all hyper again and scold her? If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened. Then again… she did start it all. I guess I’ll be the one to be ending it then.

Kriya

"Why are you mad at him?" Caroline asked.

"Because he yelled at me." I stated nonchalantly and moved on to straightening out things scattered on my desk.

"And can't you see why he yelled at you?" Aashi questioned.

I paused to think. "He just got hyper for no reason!" I stood by my initial reason. But realization was starting to creep up on me. Aashi noticed that.

She got up and made Kriya sit down with her. "Kriya, I know you both don't share the relationship of a husband and wife but whether you accept it or not, you both do behave as husband and wife. It was normal for him to be shocked and hyper when you just out of the blue ask him for a divorce when it doesn't even make sense.”

“She did what?” Hannah exclaimed.

“You did what?” Carolina echoed.

Aashi nodded, while I just ignored looking directly at their faces. I just knew the kind of disapproving look they must be giving me right now. “Yeah, and for what? Just to convince me to come here? He is your husband and he is not going to like it when you take such things lightly. He yelled at you so you could understand the seriousness and how seriously shocked he was when you announced that. Even if you had other thoughts at that time and weren’t being serious."

"Now that you put it that way, it makes me look bad." I put on a sad face. With Aashi explaining it, I did understand that I might have gone overboard this time.

Aashi smiled to comfort me. "It's okay to accept your mistakes you know? We all make mistakes. But as long as you learn from them, everything's good. Understand?"

I nodded and gave her a hug. "Thank you!" After parting, I was remembered of her. Sharon. "I can't remember the last time I had a friend who was like a sister to me. It seems so long ago. After that, it was just me and Swayam." I took Aashi's hand in her. "It's good to have a friend like you."

“Hey!” Hannah and Caroline complained, though they knew what I meant. I chuckled, and hugged them too.

Aashi returned the favor. "Oh trust me, I'm just as glad. Else that stubborn boss of mine never gives me a break! Work, work and more work! Really, he needs to get a life."

I slapped her arm. "Hey, watch it. You're talking about my husband there."

Aashi opened her mouth wide. "Itni jaldi side change?" I giggled at her accusation.

“You know, Kriya, Aashi may not comment on your relationship, but I have to tell you because if someone doesn’t open your eyes, you’re never going to see it.” Caroline started.

“See what?” I questioned.

“That that boy downstairs is head over heels in love with you.”

I just stared at her. She had to be dreaming, right? How could she even jump to that conclusion? I chuckled, “No Care, he isn't.”

“How can you be so sure?” Hannah asked, while Aashi remained silent.

I groaned, “Don’t tell me you agree with her too?! Guys, really. It’s nothing like that. We’re the best of friends. We’re just always there for each other, and this marriage is just something that happened because it had to.”

“And he can’t help if he falls in love with you after that, you know?”

I glared at Caroline, “Please, can you just stop it? You guys said he never loved my sister, but I know he did. He’s never been good at lying to me, and I know what I used to see in his eyes when he used to look at her.”

“Then why can’t you see the same thing in his eyes now, for you?” Hannah questioned.

I was silent for a second. Could there be any truth in what they were saying? No, as soon as I asked myself that, I knew the answer. It was all wrong. “You guys are just being hopeless romantics, nothing else.” I told them.

“Fine, if what you say is right, then explain this. Why did he get so worked up when you mentioned divorce, even when you didn’t really mean it? Can’t you see Kriya? He obviously cares! You say he knows you the best, and it may as well be the truth. So, why did he not see it right away that you didn’t mean it?” When I remained silent, Caroline continued, “It was because he was so taken aback to actually see the logic. You may not want to believe us right now, but think about it. It can’t be just ‘nothing’ if all of us see it, but you. You just don’t see it because you refuse to. You are still living the life you did when you guys were back in high school. But time has moved forward, and so has your relationship. You have to realize that.”

I let her words sink in. Had things really changed? Is that why I felt my stomach leap the other day when he whispered too close to my ear? Is that really why he had gotten this shocked this afternoon? Had this care, worry and feelings gone over the line of just friends?

Is that why it bothered me so much when Rey had said, “But you don’t love him?”

Above all, another thought scared me.

Had mines?

Swayam

Walking into the living room, Aashi cleared her throat to get my attention. When I looked, she informed. "We’re gonna leave now."

I nodded. "Thanks for coming. She really does enjoy your guys’ company.” They smiled in response.

Aashi left and Caroline seemed to hesitate before leaving. I asked, “Is everything alright?”

She seemed to be thinking whether or not to actually say it. Then, she let out a sigh and did. "I think you both need to talk, and maybe… it’s time for her to know you love her."

“Wha-what? That’s not true.” I fumbled as I denied.

She chuckled, “Save your breath, lover boy. Love-struck is written all over your face, and your reaction just now confirms what we already know. You might be wanting to hide if from her because you might be afraid of losing her as a friend, but you don’t have to hide it from us. We care for her too. Sure, your relationship with her goes way before ours. But that doesn’t make a difference.”

“I think we both agree that she has been through enough in her life. Either, right now, you man up, tell her how you really feel, make her realize she loves you too, or let her go free from this marriage. One way or another, it’s up to you whether she gets her ‘ever after’ and happiness returning in her life. It’s for you to decide whether it’ll be with you, or if you can bear to see her with someone else, and always wonder what could be had you confessed.”

She just said too much, and left abruptly, probably having said all she wanted to. I just stood there, too shocked. Since when had people become so quick to read me? Maybe, I had let my guard fall when I started to fall in love with her. And off late, it hasn’t been easy to keep it hidden. I can’t not say, it is different to have others know the reality of our relationship, and not just have Vicky know about it. At the same time, it makes it real, and I don’t know how that’s affecting Kriya.

As silence surrounded me, I heard what she’d said over and over again. It was different having someone tell me all of this, as if giving me an ultimatum. But, I cannot say it did not hurt. It did, as it made me realize how very true what she had said was. I cannot be selfish and keep her from being happy. She surely cannot live her whole life in this empty relationship if I wasn’t going to confess my feelings.

I had a decision to make, one which would be very hard and almost impossible to make, but for her sake, I needed to. I wanted to let her choose what she wanted in her life, but even for that to happen, I had to make up my mind to let her free or confess. Ultimately, both of us had a choice to make. And I was afraid of what consequences it would bring. I’m not ready to lose her. Not as my wife, and certainly not as my friend. If I confess, it would change everything. If I do not, I will always hold that guilt and she isn’t even twenty-one. She had a full right to her life. It had barely started yet. I cannot allow her to live her life like this, already the path chosen because her sister loved playing games.

I got up minutes later to double-lock the front door and wrapped up my files for the day. I would make this life-altering decision some other day. Maybe in the morning, I will have the courage to decide. For now, I needed to take a tiny step and pacify her for she was still mad at me from afternoon.

I entered her room. She was sitting on her bed reading a novel with the blanket pulled up to her waist. She put it aside when she saw me walk in. She made room for me and I sat down beside her alongside the edge, facing her.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you." I got straight to the issue. No point in cutting around the bush. Before she began, she patted the empty spot on her other side as if asking me to move there. I did, resting my head on the bed's board and pulling the other side of the blanket over my legs as well. She rested her head on my shoulder and circled her hand through my arm.

I was stiff for a brief second. Well then, what am I to do when she goes ahead and does things like this? It is simply going to make it that much harder for me to decide what I should do!

"I'm sorry for not understanding you-know-what. You have to know, I didn't really mean any of it. I promise, I'll think twice before saying anything of that sort again."

I patted her hand. And just like that, by being honest, we put the fight behind us. Only, I had my deep thoughts to give me company, along with what Caroline said. It also reminded me of what Smriti had said.

“For Kriya, you will always come back.”

Just how could she have known? Did that mean, even if I wanted to and knew was the right thing to do, I wouldn’t be able to leave her?

"Did I really give you a heart attack?" She lifted her head side-ways to glance at me.

I let out a chuckle. "Almost." I replied, being utterly honest.

"And how dare you call me dumb?!" She let go of my hand then, slapping my arm.

I winced. "What? When? I never did!"

"’Can't think’ and ‘dumb’. Same thing, different words."

"You said it back to me. So we're equal."

I pulled her back in a hug before she pulled out some other past comments we might have said to each other while fighting. But now, it was my turn to grill her down. I smirked.

"You really think I'm no fun, huh?"

Kriya seemed to have remembered when she had made that comment. It was the day Roy had come over and I had refused to let her go to the trip that was now after two weeks. She squinted one of her eyes and held her fingers up to motion, "Maybe a little."

I nodded, taking in the challenge. I stayed silent for few seconds and then, I took her by surprise and tickled her. She sprang up as a reflex. "Stop it!"

"I can't live up to the expectation, you know?" I continued to tickle her as she moved here and there trying to escape but I wouldn't let her move out of the bed. Within no time, she was pinned on the bed and I above her.

"Swayam please!" She pleaded, trying to catch her breath amidst fits of giggles and laughter.

I gazed upon her and admired her laughing face. How it brightened up with charm and glimmered! She is definitely the most beautiful girl I have seen in my life. Her face reflects exactly what is within her - her purity.

I was atop her, my elbows balanced on the bed. The only thing preventing her from being crushed under me. She hadn't realized when I had stopped. Finally catching her breath, she relaxed and then opened her eyes to investigate what had stopped me and how come I decided to be generous all of a sudden.

As she opened her eyes, she saw my face inches away from hers. If it was within her, she would have tried to move back. But as she looked at her sides, my arm was there and she was underneath me. After looking to her right and left seeing no way to move about, she looked back at me. The laugh, the smile had vanished. Replaced by a conscious look on her face. Under my sharp gaze, she wanted to shift away.

I was simply noticing her reactions and not wanting to move away. If I let my thoughts loose…! God, what came over me that I decided to do this?

"Swa-Swayam?" Her voice cracked as she finally found it back. Her hands rested on my shoulder, as if fearing my hands would lose their balance and I’d fall on her. Seeing how it was making her uncomfortable, I laid down beside her. She was about to sit up when I pulled her down.

"Turn the lights off?"

She reached over and flipped the switch. She was fixing her pillow from upright to down so she could use it when I put my hand in its place. She looked back at my face, trying to look for a reason but simply gave in. She rested her head on it and faced her back to me. I scooted in closer and slept on my side with my free hand around her waist, resting on her belly.

I knew I was taking a risk here by moving in closer to her side but in that moment, I didn't want to think. I let my emotions take over my actions.

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Author's Note:

I'm SO sorry for not updating in over a month now! I don't even have a reason to give you, except that I was low on confidence? Anyway... I know I have to suck it up, so here I am again. New year should bring positive thinking... right? I should be back to updating according to regular schedule from Monday onwards. (Again, as a reminder, you can find it on my profile.) 

Won't take up much of your time... thank you, all of you, for all the votes, reads, follows, and comments! They mean a lot to me! I can't believe we're 1500+ reads! It's a huge accomplishment for me. Looking forwards to your views on this one!

Vote, fan, comment!

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you all had a fabulous holidays, and 2014, and may you have a wonderful 2015 ahead <3

Love,

-Araina