Chapter 113 - 112

Charan gapped at her perplexed. She was telling it as if she was promising a kid to buy them candy.

If Charan was scared before, he did not even know what he was feeling right now when he heard Shreya. Thanked be the gods that Shreya was the one having the power. In the wrong hands, this power could have doomed the whole country. He doubted whether even the Prime Minister of the country had such a power.

But Shreya did not really give him time to digest her revelations. She continued to talk without a pause.

"But I never imposed or flaunted it in front of you. I never gave you a reason to be scared of it nor did my family. I know I never gave you a reason to feel insure… especially when it regards money… And I never will."

"I am not money hungry nor power-hungry. I am doing this because I have no choice. Because I can't let my parents' death be in vain. And also, because this is the only way I can think of to keep the people around me safe. I don't have the strength to watch someone else around me die. I know that I am paranoid… insanely so even. But that's the person I have become. I am someone very different from the person you see there in those photos." She paused at last. Charan was clueless as to how to react or what was the context here. So, he stayed quiet and tried his best to comprehend everything she was telling.

"And you are not the only one who is out of your elements you know. You should have seen me when I first saw you cook or do the chores. I mean my dad used to cook but most times than never… they were always barely edible. And you know me… I can't cook to save my life."

"We both have things we are good at and bad at. That doesn't mean you should get scared of the person being good at something you are not… you are getting scared of me because of a thing I have no control over… things I was born into… it's not fair. And… Do you really think I will let anything come to Akira because of me??" Shreya asked at last and stopped. She looked at him expectantly for an answer.

But Charan had no answers. Charan could not say that he understood everything she said… but that last two lines struck home. She was right as always… him being scared of her wealth was not fair for her. It was like saying 'I love you but I am scared because you are too tall.' And from what he knew of Shreya, she would probably jump in front of a train before letting anything touch Akira.

When the brain made sense of this, he felt like a fool suddenly. She was also very right about one other thing… neither Shreya nor anyone around her ever raised an issue with regard to his financial status. It never ever came into consideration. All anyone ever considered was whether or not he was good to her.

Charan got up from the chair and went near her. He knew he messed up but he also knew if he had bottled up his insecurities- superficial or real- would have eaten him up to point where he would have caused a whole lot of mess than it was now. So, he was also thankful for Shreya that she insisted on talking it out.

Shreya on the other hand also thought of what she had just said more carefully when she saw that Charan was not responding. And she started second-guessing. And as always, she did not hold this back either.

Thus, as Charan stood there hesitating on what to say, Shreya started whispered looking down, "I shouldn't have put it that way. Sorry… it's not fair to ask you not to be scared… I understand you cannot help it. And I do have a lot of baggage. But I promise you one thing. I would never ever mistreat you or Akira or anyone around you for that matter because of our difference… and I won't let anyone else do it either." She finished looking at him at last with a sincere eye.

Charan's lips spread when he looked at her. "I should have saved the universe in my previous life…" He whispered leaning over and kissed her cheeks.

And that was all it took. Shreya smiled brightly like a kid who was given candy. But then she frowned and disagreed with him, "You should have saved at least two universes in your previous life. One for Akira and one for me!!" She then gave him a very proud smile.

Charan chuckled at her childishness but still agreed without protest, "You are right again." Then he stayed silent for a while looking at her. He then leaned closer and rested his forehead on hers and whispered, "I am sorry. I was wrong. I know I cannot help it when I get scared but it is not your fault either. I shouldn't have put it as if it was… sorry… Really sorry. Okay??"

People say there shouldn't be 'thank you's and 'sorry's between couples but Charan did not believe in it. For him, it was essential to say thank you when it's deserving and people should compulsorily say sorry when they mess up no matter how close a relationship you have.

"Okay…" Shreya receded immediately. She was not the one to hold a grudge… she found them tiresome.

Charan then took her face between his hands and said with at most sincerity, "I want to let you know one thing… I and Akira are the luckiest bastards on the planet to have you in our lives… don't ever forget that okay??"

Shreya nodded her head enthusiastically with a wide grin. Charan wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly.

They stayed like that for a long time until Charan asked a question jovially, "So does that mean you will save me from your uncle and Akash using me as target practice when I screw up??"

"Obviously not. I am scared of Anand uncle." Shreya teased back.

"So you will let me die??" Charan asked pulling back.

"Of course not. I will give you a helmet and bulletproof vests. Top of the class… Don't worry." Shreya declared very proudly.

Charan couldn't help but pull on her cheeks and say, "You are going to be the death of me you know…"

Charan then went to take a shower. At first, he protested saying he did not have anything to wear. But Shreya insisted saying he stunk and that she will get him clothes.

So when Charan walked out after his bath in just a towel and wet hairs, Shreya was nowhere in the room. He was about to go back to wear his own clothes when Shreya barged back into the room with a pair of jeans and a shirt and a clean set of boxers that looked about his size.

"Who's is this??" Charan asked taking the cloths.

"Dad's… you don't mind right??" Shreya asked hesitantly.

Charan leaned over and pecked on her temple and went to change his clothes.