Chapter 161 - 160 Did you guys fight?

Charan came back to his parents' place in the weekend as usual. The work had been torturous. With the expansion and new projects pilling up, he barely had time to breathe. He was partially grateful for them because otherwise passing the days would have gotten so much tougher.

It's been two weeks since he last saw Shreya. And it had been hell.

Shreya met with Akira on the last day of her exams.

"Shreya…" Akira called out excitedly as she hugged her.

"Hey, baby… How did you do your exams??" Shreya asked hugging her back. Andrew dropped Akira off at her office and waited outside.

Akira started talking about her social science exams animatedly while Shreya listened to her with a complicated feeling.

"Shreya, are you okay??" Akira asked looking up at her.

"Yes, baby. DO you want to get some ice cream?? My treat for completing your exams??" Shreya asked smiling at her.

Akira nodded excitedly.

Shreya took her to the staff canteen in the office and got them both ice cream. Their staff canteen was actually top-notch. You can get almost anything there thanks to Anand and Akash. It was their proposal to revamp the canteen saying staff should be able to eat properly to work properly.

Shreya bought Akira a bowl of mango ice cream and got herself a strawberry. Akira immediately dug in with a wide grin. When she saw that Shreya was not eating anything but was just staring at her, she extended her ice cream to her thinking maybe Shreya wanted that flavor. When Shreya saw this, she accepted it without protest.

Once both of them finished off the ice creams, Shreya looked at her started talking, "Akira, baby… I won't be coming to your house or meeting with you and dada for a while… I don't know how long though…"

"Why?? Did you guys fight again??" Akira asked scrunching her brows.

"No baby. It's just I have something to do. And I will be really really busy okay. But it is only for some time. I promise. I won't disappear on you forever okay!!" Shreya talked softly.

Akira made a displeased face but still nodded her head reluctantly. Akira had always been especially docile towards Shreya. So she did not ask or protest and quietly listened.

"In the time when I am not around, I want you to be a good girl to dada and look after him for me… Can you do it for me??" Shreya asked picking her up and sitting her on her own laps.

Akira nodded her head once again.

"I am sorry baby. But I will come back and play with you okay?? I promise. But till then you don't have to ask about me to dada okay??" Shreya asked.

Shreya talked some more before hugging her and kissing her all over her face.

"I am going to miss you terribly baby…" Shreya said holding on to her tightly and then gave her one last kiss on her temple and at last, let her go. She instructed Andrew to drop her off at Charan's parents' place.

After that day, Akira did not ask about Shreya even once. Charan did not know whether to feel happy or sad about it. He just went on with their routine as usual and Akira once again turned into her obedient self. She did not throw tantrum to sleep some more or make a fuzz to take her to have ice creams.

Charan came and sat at the dinner table. It was as lively as ever with Akil, Akira, and Preethi goofing around. Charan joined in the fun. But Bharath… he was the one most affected by this whole thing actually. Shreya did talk to him but he kept his brooding face on till now. He was that one person who did not even put in the effort to look normal.

Charan explained to his parents and Preethi as much as he could and told them about what had happened. But what he could say without scaring them off wasn't much actually. He knew his dad will see right through his lie but he had no choice. They did not need to know everything at this age anyway. So as per them, Shreya and he had separated for a while and it was a mutual decision.

Charan pulled him to the living room and made him sit beside him and said, "She wouldn't have done this if she had any other choice Bharath."

"I know, brother. Shreya told me. She did not go into details but she told me how you and she were kidnapped and she hadn't found the person responsible. But that doesn't make it suck any less!!" Bharath grumbled.

"It sure doesn't!!" Charan agreed readily. Even after knowing every last detail, he couldn't accept it. He knew the risks and her feeling better than anyone. So he was not surprised Bharath was not taking it the right way.

"But don't be grumpy all day okay?? Mum is getting worried!!" Charan said and left him alone in the living room.

"It will be over in no time Charan. She is going to catch them soon and it will be as if nothing ever happened okay??" Bharath called out behind Charan. He knew Charan was probably the one who is most affected by this separation. So he wants to give him what little comfort he would provide.

"Good night kid," CHaran called out and closed the doors behind his back.

Charan let out a long sigh before going to his closet to get his night clothes. Just as he was sorting through them, his eyes fell on a pink sweatshirt that had been washed and cleaned. His hands ran through them unconsciously as he kept staring at it for a while until Akira knocked on the door. He quickly changed and let Akira in.

She stumbled over and laid on the bed. Usually, she slept with Akil in his room whenever she stayed over. But this time around she insisted on sleeping with him. Charan knew it was her way of looking out for him and he was really grateful too.

Charan locked to doors behind her and read her bedtime story until she fell asleep. He then switched off the light and laid down in bed beside her even though he knew sleep was far from him.