𝙁𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚

Chapter 35 - Comfort and sparks

❝Tanhai mein dhoondhe tujhe dil
Har pal tujhko soche❞

Tiara's Pov

A sound pierced through the haze of my sleep. Then a muffled voice. I slowly woke up, feeling a sharp pain in my neck. As my eyes opened, I saw Shruti's shocked face staring back at me. It took a moment to remember where I was: in Akshit's room, on his balcony, seated on the floor, my head resting on his shoulder. Shruti stood there, a mix of shock and amusement on her face.

Akshit stirred and woke up too. While my face displayed horror, his showed irritation. He spoke first, "What do you need?"
Shruti placed her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes at him, and said, "I should be the one questioning here, mister!"

He rolled his eyes at her and then looked at me. "Are you okay?" he asked.
For a moment, I was too shocked by his behavior to respond. Then I nodded and stood up. He did the same while Shruti continued to stare at us. I finally found my voice, "Shri, I can explain."
She looked at me and said, "We have a lot to talk about."

Before we could move, Akshit interjected, "You both don't have anything to discuss, and you don't owe her any explanation," he said, looking at me. I gritted my teeth and widened my eyes, signaling him to shut up. Shruti deserved an explanation; she was my best friend and his sister. Ignoring his glare, I moved towards her and gently pulled her towards her room.

Both of us sit on the bed, and I take my time while Shruti gives me a tight expression, pushing both of her lips inside her mouth. It seems like she is trying not to laugh, but why would she? I speak first, "Okay, so it might come as a shock, but maybe your brother and I are dating. We haven't been on an actual date, though, but..." I trail off as I realize we've never been on a proper date. Giving up all pretense, I sigh and admit, "I like your brother," a lot, "and he likes me too, or so he says. And now I feel like a teenager. Anyway, I didn't want to hide this from you, I swear, but honestly, I never thought this through and never found the right time. Please don't kill me. I know you might be feeling disgusted, but... I don't know. You can kick me out if-"

Before I can finish, she interrupts, "Whoa, whoa, whoa," and breaks into a fit of laughter. I stare at her, dumbfounded. Has she lost it in anger? What have you done, Tiara? Where is Akshit? I cry internally with these thoughts. I speak with concern, "I understand if you don't want your brother with me, Shri, but I don't want to lose you." And maybe your brother too, but I can't deny her. She holds both of my shoulders and speaks, amusement sparking in her eyes, "You are funny, you know that? That monkey may not deserve you, but you deserve the world, babe. And I love you a lot to not let you go."

I smile as my eyes well up with tears, but soon my expression morphs into confusion, and I ask, "Then why were you laughing?" She smiles big at me and says, "Do you think I am blind? By now, I think everyone knows by the way you look at each other at the breakfast table, the way he sometimes pries on you without any reason, and the way you two itch to hold hands. And the way you don't fight his comments but instead blush and whatnot. You two look like you're in love, like a newly married couple. The PDA is obvious, Tiara."

My cheeks heat up, and I look away for a minute before looking back at her and saying, "Remind me to hide or bury me alive, and also remind me to fight his comments." She laughs and holds my hand, "I would never disapprove of your relationship with my brother. He can be an asshole, and he is, but I think we all notice the way he looks at you, as if he's found something he's always longed for, like you are his peace, and he never wants to look anywhere else, ever. So yes, I am sure you two will be perfect for each other, especially when you're both crazy. And he will never hurt you, but if he does, you'll always have me. I'm not sure if I'm capable of killing, though."