Chapter 148 - 147 Distraction

Shreya walked through the familiar worn down corridor of Zack's apartment. No matter how much she told him, he wouldn't agree to get out of this place. She even bought him a place in secret. All he did was give it away to one of his army buddies. And she stopped after that.

If she really wanted to force his hand, no one can really stop her. But then she did not really want to force him in this since it was his choice. And of course, she also kinda understood the sentimental values of the place. So she let it go.

She knocked on the doors and waited.

She was seriously running out of excuses with Charan. And she was getting bored and of course, if she was by herself, she ends up thinking of all sorts of shits. So she came here for distraction.

She would have usually gone to Akash or Adam since she was actually closer to them both. But they both were too busy dating which only reminded her of her sorry state. So her next best option was Zack. Even though there is this small disadvantage of her whole plan flopping because of this… she still decided to come before she drives herself insane.

After all, if those duffers actually picked this time to take her, they won't be able to get even a piece of her hair with Zack around. And if it really happened, then all she can say is she and them both won a medal for bad luck.

"Click…" the doors opened but then instead of Zack, she was actually met with not so pleased Meera, her cousin.

"Uh???" Shreya stood there confused for a second.

And Meera was ready to actually close the doors to her face when Zack came and stood behind her. Zack simply opened the doors wider for her and walked in without really bothering to explain anything.

Shreya walked into the apartment after a little struggle with Meera. She sat on the couch looking around peculiarly while Meera kept drilling holes into Shreya. It was so awkward that Shreya thought of going back.

Shreya had run-ins with her other two cousins but Meera… she barely knew her. But thankfully Zack came back and recused her.

He handed her a beer and asked, "What are you doing here??"

"Killing time actually!! But I didn't realize you had a guest…" Shreya said looking at Meera.

"Sorry… we weren't expecting a GUEST either!!" Meera said icily before Zack could even get a word out. It was clear that she did not like being called a guest. But more than that, she did not like Shreya not being called a guest in Zack's house. As if Shreya was a family rather than an outsider.

"Whoa there tiger… stop blaring your teeth!!" Zack held back Meera while lighting a cigarette for himself.

But then before he could actually light it, Shreya reached out and took it out and gave him a look.

Zack sighed and kept the lighter and his cigarette pack down on the table and took a swing on the beer instead. He knew she hated the smell of cigarettes. So he tried his best to not smoke in front of her.

But throughout the exchange neither of them actually said anything. They just sat back and sipped on their beers silently.

This only pissed Meera off more. She did not like the tranquility between them as if they had done it countless time and they did not really need words.

Which was partially true since Shreya does come here often enough. At least till Charan came into her life.

Meera came and sat beside Zack forcefully pushing Shreya aside childishly.

Zack just shook his head amused while Shreya's lips twitched. She did not really complain. She just got up from her place and sat down on the floor with her legs stretched out in the front and back leaned beside Zack's legs. Given it was a three-seater couch but Meera being stubborn actually deliberately occupied more space than necessary.

"Hey, baby girl. What happened to Charan??" Zack asked ruffling Shreya's hairs.

"Abstaining. But god! it's hard!!" Shreya let out frustrated.

"Why are you abstaining exactly??�� Zack asked. And from what he knew of both of them, Charan wouldn't avoid her for any reason. And of course, who could stop Shreya if she decides to be with him anyway.

"I will let you know when the time comes," Shreya said vaguely keeping the empty beer bottle aside and resting her head on her couch. Of course, a few minutes later, Shreya's stomach growled. She did not bother with it but Zack swatted on her head lightly and went to the kitchen and brought her some pizza he had ordered without a word. And Shreya munched it away with a happy grin.

Meera got really pissed by then. She did not like being ignored so blatantly and so arrogantly. She did not like the biased treatment of Zack towards her just because Shreya was here. But if she thought about it carefully, she would have realized that Zack was not really treating her any differently. He had always been like that around her. But because he talked to Shreya today, she felt as if he was being prejudiced with her. She stormed off the house closing the door behind her with the loudest bang possible.

Shreya jumped in surprise. But once she calmed down, she asked with a frown, "What's her deal anyway??"

"I don't know actually. After that day she just keeps popping up here every few days. I feed her and let her crash on the couch." Zack said shrugging his shoulders.

Shreya did not really poke for more information. After, everyone needs privacy. If there was something to say to the other, they would say it straight. If there isn't, they will simply leave each other alone. But the fact that Shreya was not looking at him suspiciously or asking him whether he was interested in Meera that way… it kinda defined a lot of things. And more than anything, it depicted the understanding she had of Zack.

Zack was extremely fond of Shreya and even more protective. And Shreya was the same.

Shreya burped after stuffing her stomach.

"I am going to go to sleep now. See you tomorrow." She said unbothered and just took a pillow and laid down in his room on the floor. She did not really want to go to her empty house or her empty office.

A few minutes later, Zack came in and covered her with a blanket before lying down on the floor himself on the other corner of the room.