Kriya woke up to the sound of opening and closing of drawers. She saw Swayam looking for something. "What do you need?" She asked getting out of bed.

"I - I can't find my blue tie."

"That's because it's in the dryer." She told him and walked over to the laundry room to get it for him. Walking back to him, she stood in front of him to tie the tie for him. "There you go." She fixed his collar when he was done.

Then she looked at the time. "Are you getting late?"

"No, why?"

"Can you wait? I want to come too. Just give me ten minutes?"

He nodded and left for the study to get the files he needed. She quickly changed and met him downstairs.

"Why did you want to come?" He asked in the car.

She gave him a sheepish smile. "Like I said tomorrow. Keep busy." He chuckled at her logic. Now who was to explain to her that hunger just comes to you? Keeping busy isn't going to make one not think of food if one is hungry.

××××××××××××

Rey entered his mother's house after almost three months. Closing the door behind him, he called out to her. "Mom? Are you home?" He knew she would be. She didn't go to work, but he still asked thinking she might have gone out to have lunch with her friends given it was the weekend. 

"In here!"

He followed the voice to her room, and raised his eyes at her after seeing what she was wearing. 

"How do I look?" His mother asked. 

He felt the need to scoff, "Mom, what's wrong with you? Why are you wearing that thing?"

"Rey, it's called sari, not 'that thing'." She scolded him. "And because today is karwa chaut!"

He gaped at her for using words he didn't understand. "What now?"

His mother, disappointed in him, sighed. She never could get him to connect to his father's side of culture. He ran from all things Indian, and yet, he had fell two two girls - and both of them were Indian. "Oh, never mind. What brings you here?"

"I was thinking we could have lunch? I haven't seen you in months."

She chastised him, "And who's fault is that, mister?"

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I was busy with college and life... So? What do you say?"

She didn't like saying it, but she had to. "I'm sorry Rey. Today's not a good day. I'm fasting."

It dawned on him, the word she had used earlier. "Oh. Today's that day." His tone was filled of vile and venom towards his father. He couldn't  understand how she could still keep that fast for him when he moved on in his life and remarried without once thinking about her. "I don't get why you even bother. You're not even Indian."

"Quit that, Rey." She scolded him. Yeah, she was hurt, but she didn't want her son hating on his own father. However he was, he was still his father. Rey simply shrugged his shoulders, not worrying about what his mother said. He was beyond caring for his father. "But hey, what are you doing tonight? If you're free, you can come with me."

Rey asked warily, "Where?"

"Well, I don't really know her but my friends do. This nice Indian lady is keeping a gathering because of the festival and we're all going over to her house."

Rey laughed, "Please mom, keep me away from old Indian aunties. You know they irritate me with their so called ideologies."

She tried to convince him with what she knew would work, "There'll be tons of beautiful girls your age."

For a second, she did get to him. Then, he brushed it away. "I've got Taani." 

His mother let out a sigh and walked over to him. Sitting next to him on the bed, she asked, "Are you still leading her on?"

He was offended by that, "What? Mom, ofcourse not! She knows we are friends now and that's it."

"But she still has feelings for you?"

Rey answered, even though it did nag him from time to time when he would be hanging out with her, "I can't force her not to. Neither can I pluck her out of my life because we're no longer together."

She put her hand over his, "Rey, you are thinking about yourself now, so you're saying this. But can you think about her for a second and say what you're doing to her is fair? You're basically keeping her around for your selfish reasons."

"Selfish?!" He slightly raised his voice, not believing his own mother would think that of him. 

"Yes, Rey. Selfish. You're comfortable with what you have with her, and that's selfish of you. Do you realize how she must feel each time she sees you and has to tell herself repeatedly?" She stood up, starting to give up in knocking some sense into her son, "Look, Rey, I can't tell you how to live your life, but you're doing the same thing to Taani what your father did to me. He loved someone else, and yet he kept me in his life and didn't divorce me because I was his comfort - someone to fall back on whenever things didn't go his way. I was strong enough to eventually leave him, but that doesn't mean  a part of me doesn't still love him. Taani is a strong and beautiful girl, and even if she wants to leave, her heart won't let her. So appreciate her friendship and treat her right. The girl you claim you like is  married already. Yet, you want to try and sabotage that. What kind of a man does that make you?"

"Mom. You don't know anything." Rey finally spoke up when she questioned him. He silently listened to her advice until then, because he was starting to see sense.

"Rey, you don't have to tell me everything for me to know them. I know enough. And stay away from Sharon."

His head snapped towards her. "How - how do you know her?"

"I've known her and her family for years now. At one time, you did too." 

"That's not true." He immediately said. Then, he understood. He must have known them in the time he lost before his accident. Some parts before the accident were still hazy to him. "Oh." He let out, figuring it out. "Was I... friends? With Sharon?" He asked. Somewhere, he had gotten that feeling of familiarity when he had met her recently. 

She shook her head, "No, not in a true sense. You wanted to be friends with her because she was popular, but she wasn't a nice person. Being friends with Sharon always came with a price, and you, my son, have already paid that price. Don't make the mistake of being her friend again." 

With the warning, she stood up and walked out to the living room. She knew he would want space to think over everything. Hence, she simply turned on the TV and let him be. 

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It wasn't even noon yet and Kriya was already walking back and forth, unable to sit still. She had completed all the work Swayam gave her - work that should have kept her busy the whole day - but she was already done since half hour ago. She couldn't go talk to him as he was out of office for a meeting and wouldn't be back for another hour.

"Why is fasting so hard now? I used to be able to do it before!" She exclaimed out loud, knowing Aashi was royally ignoring her chatter.

Still, Aashi replied. "Because it's Karwa Chauth."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. You won't get it." Aashi regretted even speaking it out loud and went back to her work. She wanted to pester it out of Aashi but Kriya held back, knowing she shouldn't disturb her, for unlike herself, Aashi was actually doing real work which she was paid to do.

When Swayam came back, her face brightened. He walked into his cabin and she followed. "Swayam!" She spoke louder than needed.

"I want the changes made within the next hour." He ordered the team which was around him. Once they left he turned his attention to Kriya.

"What happened?"

"Are you not hungry?!" She was getting chided.

He grinned, seeing she had learnt her lesson of work not able to keep you from thinking of food. "Giving up already?" He challenged her. He knew only a challenge would keep Kriya's determination from falling.

"No! I'm just asking. Can't I ask?" She was starting to blabber again.

He got up from his chair and made her sit on the couch. He was about to speak up when his phone rang. He would have ignored but seeing it was from Meena, he attended it. "Yes mom?"

"Swayam, why don't you and Kriya come back now? She'll need the time to get ready. She also has to put on mehndi. And yes, stop by the temple on your way home, okay?"

"Uh...okay..." He wasn't sure what she meant by getting ready. The confusion was clear on his face.

"What?" She asked.

"Mom wants us to go home. Something about getting ready?"

"Oh no."

"Oh no what?"

"I think she might have invited half of the Indians in town to our house. I really hope not."

Swayam bore a blank face. "Note the lack of surprise."

"Please, don't get mad. I guess she's just excited. And it's her last week here. Let her enjoy it." He listened to Kriya's advice and both took off for home, taking a detour to the temple as instructed by Meena.

As suspected, there were tons of workers at home decorating the place. Swayam held his words in. He wasn't a big fan of his house being bombarded by people he hadn't seen in ages. Meena took Kriya away to her room. "You know the sari I brought for you? Wear that please?"

Kriya nodded. "Sure mom. There's still time. Do you need help with anything else?"

"Oh no! I'm fine. I've called some girls to help you get ready. You just wait in here. They'll be here any minute." Then she left. Swayam peeped in once it was a safe enter zone.

Seeing her off expression he inquired about it. "She has called some beauticians to help me get ready."

"I'm jealous."

"What?" Kriya didn't understand it right away.

"I'm jealous of the girls. They're taking my place away." He put on a sad face on purpose.

"Swayam, what are you talking about?" She wasn't able to understand him at all.

"I'm the one who gets you ready for occasions." He said it in clear words. "They're taking my place away."

Kriya couldn't help but laugh at his complaint. "Oh Swayam. You're so cute!" She gushed while pinching his cheeks. He frowned at being made fun of and swatted her hands away. "You have nothing to be jealous of. I assure you, no one can wrap a sari on me better than you."

"Sachi?" He asked, as if he needed approval to boost his self-esteem.

She nodded, meaning it. She doubted anyone could put on a sari on her the way she wanted to. And her likes, only Swayam knew. Just then, Meena brought the girls in who held cosmetic box each in their hands.

"Swayam, now you can't enter the room till I say you can. Go chat with your brother." She pushed him out and Swayam pouted. Kriya giggled at his expressions. Suddenly, she was liking the day. As it turned out, there was one person who could boss Swayam around when even she couldn't and obviously, Kriya loved the fact.

The girls worked on her nail paint, fixing her hair and applying make up on her. Kriya didn't realize they had spent the whole two hours simply on that. When they began to put the sari on her, she stopped them. "Err, that's fine. Thank you. I'll manage. You can go now." They listened to her and left.

Then she sent Swayam a message and minutes later, he walked in to the room. The room was dark, except for the night light lamp on. She had simply sent the message, asking him to come urgently. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, stepping in the light. "Help me?" She cutely said as she stood in front of him with simply the sari around her as a blanket.

He let out a chuckle. What would he do with her? She was full of mixed emotions. He locked the door - for if Meena caught him there, he'd be in huge trouble for not following her orders.

"You know I risked my life getting here hiding from mom?" He informed her as he walked towards her.

"Liar, as if you didn't want to help me." She was right. He couldn't deny that. It was him who had whined to her just hours ago. She was simply giving him the right that was his since the beginning.

He unwrapped the sari from around her. She looked down, shying for the first time when he helped her get ready. Never before had she paid so much attention to the situation. It had just been normal for her that she hadn't realized how special these moments were. This was the first time he was seeing her shy from him. He lifted her chin and squinted his brows in to question her. She smiled a blush and shook her head to say nothing.

He brought the piece down to her waist holding the end and tucking it in. Kriya held her breath in. At his touch, her heart raced. He felt her soft skin and had to control his impulse. Swayam rolled it around her several times before he started with plaiting the bottom and went down on his knees to straighten them out. Kriya held the cloth over her shoulder and kept it from falling down now and again. When he was done he looked at her. She pulled her stomach in and held her breath in as his fingers brushed past her bare belly, tucking the plaits in. He pinned them as fast as he could without touching her when he heard her erratic breathing.

He stood up and was hesitant on properly plaiting her top. He decided to simply pin her shoulder and leave the rest flowing instead of plaiting it crisp. He went behind her to pin it. Her hair was draped over her other shoulder, leaving this one bare. He wanted to caress her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to do much more.

He gulped down hard and proceeded to make a quick exit. If he stayed in one more second, he wouldn't know what he'd end up doing. Possibly spoiling everything and breaking the promise he had made to himself. She paused him by slipping her hand in his. "You forgot something."

He wondered what and she turned her back to him reveal the undone strings. He walked the step he had taken away to tie them. His fingers would touch her. She was looking in the mirror as he tied them.

"Swayam?"

"Hmm?" He looked at her in the mirror.

She changed her mind. "Kuch nai."

He waited a second to see if she would change her mind again but she didn't. He resumed tying the knot. She chose to not say whatever she was going to. He put his hands on hers from around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"You look beautiful." He complimented.

She shied. "Thank you."

He blinked in acknowledgement. Then she picked up the bangles and divided them in two equally. When she was about to wear them, he took them from her hands and bunch after another, gently slipped them on her waist, careful to not hurt her as they were glass bangles. The longer he held her, the more he was losing his controlling. He doubted she knew but right there, standing in front of him, she was arousing him.

"When did you get this sari?" Not that he really was curious. He simply had to strike a conversation. The silence would kill him.

"Mom bought it for me along with your watch. Remember, I told you?"

He nodded remembering. She picked up the necklace set that went along and tried putting it. But the hook was too tiny for her and she would keep losing it before it got in. He took it from her and tried putting it on. When he couldn't either, he decided the hook needed to be pulled apart a bit.

"Hold it." She did from the front and he leaned his face in closer to pull it apart with his teeth. It got easier for him to slide it in then. He leaned in once more to lock it together again. In the process, his lips accidentally brushed her neck. He remained close for a second longer than needed. She had her eyes closed. Her body stiffened. His lips were against her cold skin. He felt her stiffen and moved back.

"I should leave." He barely managed to whisper.

He took a step back and looked at her one last time. She held on to the dresser. She wasn't sure if his gaze was making her knees weak or if it was from the fact that she hadn't eaten in the entire day. The next moment, she knew as everything started to go dizzy. She could not keep her eyes open. Even in the dark, the world seemed too bright. She would have fallen if not for Swayam's quick reflexes.

He had his arm around her in a blink. He held her up for a second, scared and then calming down, made her sit on the chair. "Kriya?" He patted her cheek. She took a deep breath in and let it out. She hadn't fainted. If she calmed her heart beat, everything would go fine. It was becoming harder for her to do with her arm around her and his hand resting on her bare waist.

"I'm fine..." She managed to say after she commanded herself to. "I just need to sit for a while. You should go. Mom..."

He shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere. Please Kriya, don't be a stubborn child. You need to eat. It's not good for your health."

She closed her eyes and refused to listen to him. For the shortest of seconds, she had to admit that it hurt a bit when he called her 'child'. Her heart was aware that he didn't think she was still a child, but when they had first met, he did treat her like a little child. A fear crept it... what if he still thought she was one? After all, she was years younger than him.

Then, she noticed how he would be affected as well whenever they were in close proximity. She dismissed the futile thought.

She repeated the breathing exercise back and forth till she felt better. She needed to be in open air. She stood up with his help and asked him to take her out to the balcony. When the cold, nature's breeze touched her, she felt better. Yes, it chilled her skin. That was probably why it worked at the end. Swayam's touches had left her skin burning and her light head wasn't helping.

Feeling herself again, she turned to face him. Worry was written all over his face. She smiled to let him know she was perfectly fine. "Now, you can go." He nodded and looked back at her from the door, to make sure she wasn't going to loose her balance again. After he walked out, she forced herself to breath normally again. Walking in, she turned the balcony slide door and put on her earrings. She was all ready then.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kriya walked down the stairs to see her house wasn't what she was used to seeing as. There were tons of people walking in and out. Some of the adults were familiar while many were strangers. She recognized some of the couples closer to her age and young. She greeted them with a cheerful smile as she walked through the crowd and outside where she was sure she'd find who she was looking for.

Instead, she ran into Rey as she turned the corner. "Sorry." She quickly apologized, before realizing it was Rey.

"Hi," he said at the same time. "You look... different." He wasn't sure if he could say the real compliment he wanted to. She returned his smile and thanked him. 

"Thanks... I didn't think you'd be here?" She slightly teased him, knowing very well of his opinions about Indian culture. 

"Don't mind me... I'm just here to see my mom before I head off for the night. She forced me to come here." In a way, it was a lie. He wasn't forced, but he was invited and he didn't want to admit to his mother he wanted to come, so he let her believe they she had managed to compel him.

"Oh, please stay. Don't feel like you can't come because..." She couldn't bring herself to say it but he knew what she meant.

"I know. So you've kept the fast too?" She briefly nodded, "I don't understand the reason of keeping fast for husbands. I mean, what's the guy going to do living a long life if his wife isn't with him, you know?"

She smiled at his question, "It's the feelings behind it Roy, not the logic. I admit I am starving right now, but what's the harm if it makes someone happy?"

"Sure, we'll go with that." He answered, knowing very well when to stop arguing with a female. "And hey, since we ran into each other, I need to talk to you. It's important."

She had been planning on excusing herself since it was starting to feel awkward to her, but she waited and asked. "Okay, what about?"

"About Sharon."

She felt her inside freeze upon hearing the name. After the longest passing of a second, she managed to question him. "How do you know her?"

"The better question I have been asking myself for a while is, how do you know her?" Rey asked, finally having decided that he wanted some answers, and if Sharon was going to keep being mysterious about her motives, he would get his answers from the only other person who he was certain knew them. 

"Roy... just stay away from her, okay?" She asked, hoping he will listen to her. She tried to leave, but his fingers went around her elbow to stop her. 

"No, Kriya. People need to stop warning me away. I need to decide for myself. Who is she and why is she so interested in our lives?"

"What did she tell you?" She asked warily, trying to decide how much she should even tell him, if that. 

He scoffed, leaving her elbow, "You think I will be here asking you if she had told me anything at all?"

Kriya understood he was completely in the dark. "What did she want from you?"

He shook his head, "No, that's not how this is going to work. You're first going to tell me what I want to know, and then I'll answer your questions."

Kriya debated for some seconds. She concluded she needed to know what she offered Rey. With Sharon, she knew she wouldn't approach anyone without wanting something from them. She also knew Sharon had a way of getting what she wanted. Always. If this time, she was to stop her, she needed to stay a step ahead in this game. 

So, she shared the news and answered his question.

"Sharon is my sister."

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author's note. 

AH! So much of Rey in this chapter, but I think it was a nice balance of S-K and Rey, right? Now he knows! What's going to be Rey's reaction. Any guesses? Things are about to get heated people! Let me know what you think.

Question: Would you like me to add more of Kriya's friends: Caroline, Hannah and Shane? (Yup, I haven't forgotten them) Or are you okay with how things are? Since there's already too much going on with Kriya, Swayam, Sharon, Rey, Taani and Aashi?

It feels so wonderful seeing so many of you adding this book to your reading lists. Thank for you the love!!

Next update: 9/17 

(I know it's a huge gap, but I've got exam on the 16th, and then 3 more the following week. So starting tonight, it is all going to be about me & actual educational books.)