Chapter 177 - 176. He is not my buddy...

Shreya woke up with a start all over again and wiped away the cold sweat dripping over her forehead. It had been happening for a while now. She could barely sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time unless of course she was dead tired. The nightmare was similar to that of last time with her parents… the only difference was that this time around, Charan and Akira were part of the dream. And of course, there was also the problem where this time around there was no Charan to lull her back to sleep which he did diligently for a whole week mind you before she could sleep normally.

Since there as no such luck this time around, she got out of bed and went straight to the bar. She poured herself a really strong bourbon and went and settled herself on the couch and switched on the T.V. She just switched to some random channel and let her mind go blank while sipping on her whiskey.

The aim was to get your mind so drowsy and numbed that you wouldn't have the energy to even think about anything and let yourself sleep. It was almost similar to counting numbers to let yourself sleep. This method was just stronger and more unhealthy.

That was how Zee found her when she came to get herself a glass of water. But seeing Shreya, she did not bother asking… she just took a big sip from her glass.

"Hey, you want to drink… you go make it for yourself…" Shreya protested yanking back her glass.

"Gosh, Shreya… that shit is strong!" Zee exclaimed when a shudder racked through her body as the alcohol slide through her throat burning all the way to her stomach leaving a sour taste on her tongue.

"Serves you right!" Shreya said with a smirk.

"Are you trying to get knocked out??" Zee asked sitting beside her after getting herself a beer. She was too much of a control freak to actually get drunk regardless of the situation. So, she never really preferred strong alcohol. For her, alcohol is just a way in for a conversation in a club or a polite snack for the company.

"Something like that!" Shreya answered without care. She lounged back on the couch staring mindlessly at the television.

"It's already pathetic enough that I am sharing a drink with YOU in the middle of the night… why do you have to torture me with this shit on top of it??" Zee asked after a while pointing out at the television which was playing National Geography in which a guy was actually explaining the physics behind a dolphins dive.

"If you feel aggrieved to waste a night at my company… you can always knock on Srinivas's doors… I am sure he will be very happy to give you company!" Shreya smirked. After all, nobody can come up with better comebacks than Shreya.

Zee scowled at Shreya but did not say anything.

"Your buddy, Dharsh might get in trouble because of today's news…" Zee said after a long while. After all, her visit to Naren's house hadn't been a total bust. She had bugs installed all over the place. Even though she did not get any useful intel from them for so long, she still knows the general things around Naren.

"He is not my buddy…" Shreya said shrugging her shoulders.

"Yea… for someone who is not your buddy, you actually went out of your way to get admission to his estranged sister to get into one of the best music schools," Zee said sarcastically.

"I liked the kid… it had nothing to do with Dharsh…" Shreya said rolling her eyes. But then again it was a lie… part of the reason was Dharsh after all. If she can find a sister and blackmail him… Naren can too. That is why she had moved them abroad away from all the chaos and even covered their tracks. She did not like surprises and Dharsh was an important chess piece. He might not have agreed to be her spy explicitly but from his message today, she knows for sure that his integrity with Naren had been broken and that he was rooting for her in his own way. So if and when he knows about what she did for his sister, Shreya is hoping to get some favor in return.

But more than any of it, Shreya would have done this anyways since the kid was innocent… and she would never have the heart to hurt an innocent bystander anyways.

"Anyways… I am not going to understand your way of working ever. But tell me if you are going to help him. He had built your image as an ignorant arrogant brat with Naren… and when Naren finds out you aren't that… Dharsh is going to be dead. Anyways we failed on infiltration from our end… why don't you help him this time and let him be our eyes and ears in the inside… It will save us a lot of effort." Zee suggested.

Shreya frowned and thought about it for a while and said, "Okay. I will arrange for it." Using Dharsh, she had already thought of it… but the part of her actually acting up to Naren as described by Dharsh… she did not like that… but if it can gain her something in return… she would do it.

And with his sister being where she is now… Shreya knew it was not going to take much to convince Dharsh anyway.

Silence ensued after that while Shreya poured herself another drink and gulped down.

"Why don't you go out with Srinivas?? He is exactly your type. I am amazed you haven't pounced on him yet." Shreya asked suddenly breaking the silence between the two.

"He is eye candy, I agree but he is too serious for my taste!" Zee shrugged.

"You cannot run away from emotional commitment forever you know. Its high time you get serious with your relationship. You can't keep changing boyfriends every 2 months." Shreya said in an exasperated tone.

"Why can't I?" Zee asked back frowning.

"How long are you planning to be like this then?" Shreya asked back.

"Forever! I have you right? It's enough for this life!" Zee answered with a proud smile slinging her hands over Shreya's shoulders and clinked her beer against her glass.

Shreya just rolled her eyes and gave a look as if Zee was the biggest idiot she had ever encountered. She just took her glass and went and sat on the far end of the couch.

"That hurt babe. That's such a cruel rejection…" Zee whined dramatically clutching her chest as if it was paining.

Between playing and bantering they fell asleep right there on the couch.

Zack strolled towards them the next morning armed with lemon juice on both hands and knocked on their head.

Shreya groaned away while Zee put the couch pillow over her head and snuggled back into sleep.

"Ouch!" Shreya exclaimed holding her head.

"Well, that's what happens when you drink half a bottle of bourbon straight…" Zack said handing her the glass.

Shreya did not really hear anything but when she saw the glass, she accepted it gratefully and gulped it down to relieve her parched throat.

"What the hell? You guys had a drinking party and did not bother to invite me!! Backstabbing traitors!" Pritham exclaimed aggrieved coming from behind Zack.

Shreya's brows frowning from the noise but she was too out of it to mind it. But Zee, on the other hand, seethed in irritation, "I promise you Pritham. You open your mouth one more time, I am going to stitch them when I wake up." And the next second a beer bottle cap flew his way aimed straight at his forehead.

Thankfully Pritham's instincts worked in time and he dodged it in time.

Pritham got annoyed. He stealthily walked towards Zee and shouted particularly loudly against her ears, "Ahhhhhh." And made a beeline to his room.

Zee's eyes flew open and she, of course, chased on Pritham completely pissed. But just as she was about to break his doors open, Srinivas walked her way and asked, "What are you doing? But more than that, what did you do yesterday?" He asked giving her a once over.

"Good timing. Now come on… break into these doors for me… Pritham needs a beating…" Zee said pulling him towards the doors ignoring all his questions.

Srinivas let out a puff of air and pulled her towards her own room instead while scolding her as if she was kid throwing tantrum.

"Don't make trouble now… come on. Get freshened up first."

Back in the living room, Shreya leaning on Zack's shoulders tiredly and closed her eyes.

"Can't sleep?" Zack asked softly rubbing behind her head.

Shreya just nodded her head against his shoulders. Zack stayed quiet without asking or saying anything more.

Thus went another morning blissfully with some petty fights and laughter and noises and comfort.