"Aashi, where's Swayam?" Kriya asked walking into her cabin when she found Swayam was not in his cabin. She very well knew that despite her telling him to stay home, he would have went to work.

"Err, he didn't come in today. He's home, isn't he?" There was nervousness in her tone that Kriya spotted right away. She was lying.

So Swayam had planned it. Very conveniently, he was escaping. If you're my husband, then I too am your wife. You can't hide from me. "Which conference room?" She asked.

"Kriya, uh, he's not here." Aashi tried to stall and Kriya caught on to it. She knew about Swayam hiding.

"Aashi, I may be your friend outside but here, I'm still your boss. So, tell me. Where. Is. Swayam? I know damn well he won't be home if I call his mom right now to ask. He's not in his cabin and that only leaves with the option that he's in the meeting. Now, tell me where the meeting is, or so God help me."

Aashi responded as if a recorded tape, out of fear. "Conference room. Fourth floor."

Kriya gave her a small smile and a "Thank you" before leaving the room and took the elevator down to fourth floor. Entering the conference room, she looked at the associates. Swayam looked away, silently noting to scold Aashi for telling Kriya where he was.

Ofcourse, he knew Kriya would have found out once home, but he'd figured he'd think of a way out when it was time for him to go home. Only, he hadn't thought of the part where she knew him too well and would have known to come to the office straightaway instead of going home from college.

Kriya ignored the curious looks from everyone in the room and walked up to Swayam. Her face bore the look of trouble purely for him. Ignoring him for the second, she turned to face others. "Gentlemen..." She added, "And ladies," seeing two in the room other than herself, "I'm sorry but the meeting is put on hold as of now. Could you please wait in the waiting room for the next half hour? Take a break."

"Mr. Shekhawat, what is this behavior?" One of them objected. Swayam tried to speak up but too late. Kriya had already beat him to it, that too by saying something he hadn't expected her to.

"I need to discuss something with my husband. I hope that's not a problem?" She was trying to be polite, but the frustration was at it's dangerous edge.

They all understood who she was at the statement and silently got up to leave the room. Once gone, Kriya sat down in the boss's chair, one where Swayam was sitting first. Now, he stood there with his hands folded in front and head bowed down. It looked as if he wasn't the boss of this company but instead, merely a worker.

"You should know better than to avoid me." She stated, blank expression on her face, no sign for a hope of forgiveness.

He brightened his face. "Kriya, darling, I wasn't. Didn't you see? I had a very important meeting. The deal is very important to us. I know you asked me to stay home, but..."

She stood up in a split second. "Shut up and sit!" Fearing for his life, he abided at once. She opened her bag and pulled out the tiny bottle of balm, a better solution than the temporary one used in the morning. "No meeting is more important than your health. If we don't get one deal, it is NOT going to bankrupt us, Swayam. How could you even think that...?"

She trailed off, not saying it. Again, he knew what she would have said, had she not held herself back. Like always, he liked it when she would proclaim right on him. She rarely did it, so when she did, he'd cherish every second of the moment.

He looked down as a cute child, no response to her. She went around to cover the windows by pulling the blinds down. "Coat." He removed it and put it behind him. She applied the cream pulling his collar down while standing behind him.

"You're such a hypocrite, you know?" She continued her rant, "You scold me for not taking care of myself. And what are you doing, huh? Why couldn't you just wake me up when I fell asleep?"

"You looked so sweet sleeping..." He mumbled. For a second, she stopped rubbing his neck. The truth took her by surprise. Then she forced herself to blink and continue the massage.

"So? That doesn't give you the right to invite neck cramp."

He got up, her hand dropped to her side and he turned. He made her sit in his place and himself sat down on one knee to meet her level. His words were spoken softly. "Kriya, it's just a slight sore muscle. I'll be fine by tomorrow, if not tonight. There's no need to stress. My ignorance to my health but not yours are two different things. Even I would know to not be careless and play soccer when my back is sliced up. Whereas you..." He let the sentence be, knowing she got the point. "And I promise, next time you fall asleep on my lap, I'll carry you to bed no matter how cute you look and I'll go to sleep besides you too, even if you've held on to me so tightly."

She didn't mean to, but she blushed and looked down at her fidgeting hands. The way he reminded her of last night simply brought that on her. She couldn't control it. She pushed the chair back as she got up and walked a couple steps up so that her back faced Swayam.

"Next time? There won't be a next time." She seemed to be convincing herself of it more than telling him.

He stifled his smile down, happy to see her blushing at his statement and upon remembering. He got up and walked, standing right behind her. He whispered in her ear, "Sure? There won't be?"

She turned gaining her composure but stumbled back. She hadn't expected him to be so close. His hand went around her waist to prevent her from losing her balance. He pulled her to him for a brief moment before letting her go. Again, she stammered for words. "Yes... I'm - I'm sure."

"That's too bad." He faked disappointed, though his face clearly betrayed him as he gave a cheeky grin.

She faked a scoff and walked around him, "I have to study. Didn't you have a life-time important meeting to attend?"

She covered up with giving him a cold reply and left the room. She had left her bag. He chuckled, knowing she'd be back. And just then, she walked in, grabbed her bag and left giving him a look full of attitude. She never failed to amuse him!

Ahh! I've fallen in love with you Kriya!

××××××××××××

The next two weeks were nothing but rushed. Early morning, they would wake up for college and office respectively. After college, Swayam would pick her up and both would come home. She would study the notes he'd already made as he finished the rest. Once all notes were properly written, he would test her on what she had learnt and give her tips when she couldn't remember one thing or another.

Day and night, that is all they would be doing. Their life was on hold. Swayam's only goal was to teach Kriya everything he could in the two weeks. Meena scolded Kriya on giving up her wish to cook lunch and dinner and Kriya couldn't refuse. She would feel bad occasionally seeing her mother-in-law working when she felt she should be the one taking care of her. But one glare or a loving look from Meena would convince Kriya to go back to her studies.

It seems as it's not Kriya's exams but Swayam's also!

Meena would think each time. There were times too when Kriya would get lost in admiring Swayam and how much he was doing for her sake, simply so she could get the best marks possible. In return, she did her best in learning everything she could from him so soon, she could help him in business and take half of his load away, not wanting his efforts on her to go down the drain.

They would fall asleep where they were and would wake up even before the alarm went off. Not once, but twice did Kriya fall asleep snuggling up to him in his lap. So much for it never happening again, right? Only, Swayam didn't tease her or remind her of it as well as he deemed it to not be the right time. He wanted her to focus only on her exams, not distractions.

Kriya's eyes would hurt at times due to lack of sleep and Swayam would have the terrible back pain. But neither showed it to the other. They pretended for the others' sake that they were fine. Before they knew it, the set of exams had passed by with only one remaining.

The last one.

"Kriya, come on. Wake up now."

"Can I just murder this one person who invented exams?" She let out her frustration as she sat up, whining. She wanted to sleep!

"Yes, in your dream, you can murder anyone you want. Just not in real life. Cause if you do, even the world's best lawyer I appoint would not save you for murder with proof against you. Now go get ready. Just one more day and then you can sleep all you want."

She chuckled. He was giving her permission to kill. But that too, in dream only so he could protect her. "You're the best." She passed a comment, kissed his cheek and slid down towards to edge of the bed, getting out wearing one of Swayam's shirt. It was obviously too big on her whereby the size of it was almost as one of the shortest dress.

He had to demand his eyes to not stare. Now was not the time. One more day, and he convinced himself that he could control his thoughts for another day. Then, he could go back to teasing her.

××××××××××××

"So?" Swayam asked as Kriya walked out of college and stood in front of him. Her silence was killing him. This was the class she was weakest in and he was very scared. He had been praying the whole day that she gave her exam well and couldn't focus on any work in office.

She shook her head. He assumed the worst. "I think I am going to have a lot of names to add to the list of people who hate me."

"What? Only one person 'hates' you. Never mind that, what are you talking about?"

She chuckled, not truly paying attention to his reference. "I knew all the answers!!" She stood on her toe and gave him a tight hug. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you so much!!! Like a gazillion times. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known anything on that exam."

It took him a second to grasp on to what she was saying. Then, he too excited, wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her closer as she hugged him and thanked him. Her slim body fit perfectly into his.

"All the answers?" He chuckled in her ear.

"Well, most of them." She answers, not really pulling back from the hug just yet. "I don't guarantee a perfect score, ofcourse."

"Ahem-ahem." Taani cleared her throat to get their attention.

They sprang apart from the hug and Kriya moved besides Swayam as she turned to see Taani. "Taani! Hi!"

Swayam's hand reluctantly left her when Taani proceeded to give her a hug. "You know, I'm going to miss you, even though we weren't 'best' friends."

"Me too." Kriya hugged her back, a bit taken aback. During exam time, they did talk a lot, but it was mostly covering exam material. Never friendly talks or just random ones. "And hey, we'll see each other after break!"

Taani parted. "We would have if you were still going on that trip."

All Kriya could do was give her a sad smile in response. "Well, you have fun there, okay? I'm sure it'll be one amazing trip."

"We should get going. Mom is waiting for us." Swayam spoke up and Kriya nodded. They bid bye to Taani and they drove away.

Taani walked towards Roy who stood at a distance. "So, they seem happy." Taani said, knowing he had seen their hug.

"Yea, well, at least someone is happy. She deserves it."

"Sigh! Now, it's just you and me and our lonely self." Taani replied dramatically, making him laugh, pulling him away in the opposite direction.

××××××××××××

That night, Kriya, Swayam and Meena went out for dinner to celebrate Kriya's happiness of no more having to study. They had the corner table. Swayam did not have to look at the menu to order. They had came there tons of times in the past when Kriya wouldn't feel like cooking. Thus, he ordered for them all, giving them strict instructions on keeping the food mild.

"Dear, eat as much as you want today. Tomorrow, you won't be able to eat at all."

"Why?" Kriya asked, confused by what Meena meant.

"I think in studies you forgot. It's Karwa Chauth tomorrow."

Kriya made an 'O' face. She really hadn't paid attention to days. It did come roughly in October-November and it was late-November then. They had been married for two years now but she had never kept the fast as they didn't shared the relationship of husband and wife. They were at most best friends. Neither of them bothered with it.

The rest of the night, the thought wouldn't leave Kriya at peace. Noticing her distant expressions, Swayam got a bit worried too. He didn't want her to stress over it if she didn't want to keep the fast. As soon as they were in their room alone, he talked to her.

"You don't have to do this just to keep my mom happy. I can make up an excuse."

Kriya genuinely smiled for his concern. "Swayam, it's alright. You don't have to lie to her."

"It won't be a lie. I mean, you can't stay without food or water the whole day. We both know..."

She cut him off, "If not today, then tomorrow, we are going to have to face the truth of our relationship. Don't worry about me. I haven't fasted in years, but I'm sure I can do this. Can't be that hard. Besides, there have been days I haven't eaten the whole day because I just didn't get the time. Just like that, I'll distract myself. Keep busy."

Saying so, she went to sleep, really tired from the last two weeks. When he didn't come, she pulled her head up to look at him, still standing. "Aren't you going to sleep? I know you're just as tired as I am."

He nodded and went to change. "Kriya, you should go change first." He tried to get her to get up as soon as he walked out of the washroom. She shrugged him away by simply 'hmm-ing'. She had taken off her scarf, sweater and jacket when they had gotten in the house, leaving her with wearing just a shirt and jeans. Jeans were not really the comfortable thing to wear to sleep.

When he put an extra pair of blanket over her, she pulled it closer to her. "Can you just put the alarm for 4?" She mumbled to him. He did before turning the lights off and left her phone by her side of the bed.

The alarm went off sooner than Kriya had expected. Even though she just wanted to sleep, she pushed herself up and took a quick shower and changed into the closest Indian outfit she found in her closet. She wanted to wear it. When she come out of the washroom, she saw Swayam was up. She thought she must have woken him up with all the noise.

"Go back to sleep."

He shook his head and walked up to her. "You still have time to back out."

"I want to do this Swayam." She made her decision clear to him.

"You're already tired from all the exam stress." He continued to reason but seeing her determined face, he gave in.

"Go sleep." She repeated gently. "You need it. You've been working too hard."

Cupping her face, he took a step closer to her. "If you can do this for my parents, can't I do it for you?" He didn't give her a chance to object, kissed her forehead, and locked the washroom door behind him. She wished she couldn't gather the courage to tell him she wasn't simply doing it for his mother.

××××××××××××

author's note:

Thoughts on the Kriya-Swayam scene in the beginning? I had fun writing it xD

And yes, wait for it. More and more will be seen of Taani, Rey and Sharon very soon. I haven't forgotten them.

Vote, Comment, Share, Follow, add the reading list, all that jazz. Thanks to those who already have! Seeing those notifications make me super happy (;  Next update shall be on the 9th. 

-Much love.