Swarya FF - 'Different this time around' [Part 2 updated, Pa

Part 1: Tere sang chain bhi mukhjo, tere sang bekarari hai

He couldn't go to sleep...not right away at least. Why was he here? Why was he helping Swaragini? Why was he giving this plan his all? Shekhar and Sharmishtha weren't his parents, nor was he going to gain much if their alliance worked out. Of course he had made everyone believe he regretted his father's doings and wanted to correct them. Part of it was true. But he wondered if there was more he had subconsciously blocked out of his own psyche.

He flipped and he flopped, almost awakening Shekhar in the process. I better continue my thoughts on the terrace before Sir interrogates me, he told himself. Tiptoeing towards the veranda, he ensured he even held his breathe, lest he wake up Dadi in the process...Or Ragini for that matter. He immediately wondered why that thought even crossed his mind.

He let the cool breeze brush past his cheeks. It felt good. It felt relieving. For years, he had felt choked but being here only for two days had liberated him. For the first time in life, he breathed for himself, on his own terms. There was no Durgaprasad Maheshwari to implement his conservative thoughts. His train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.

"What are you doing here?" grilled Swara, no pleasantries prior to or following that.

"No hello? No hi? Come on, I was just started to thinking nobody was ruling my life and then you show up" Lakshya replied nonchalantly. He sure loved riling her up. There was something entertaining in Swara being irritated. He just enjoyed pushing her buttons. It brings out the best in her, he told himself, a smirk leaving his lips unknowingly.

"It's two in the morning. What are you doing up?" Swara getting more and more irritated as her inquires weren't being addressed. Why is he like this? Why can't he just make everyone's life easier by answering in simple words? Ughh!

"Couldn't sleep. New place, new bed, you know..." he attempted to brush it off. "The better question is, why are YOU here? Like you so graciously pointed out, it is two in the morning after all" he continued, not allowing her to put him on the spot.

"I like to come up here sometimes when the rest of the world is sleeping" she calmly answered, gazing off towards the sky.

"The rest of the world isn't sleeping, Shona. You know, it's probably midday in North America, dawn in Australia, and evening in UK... just saying, FYI" he smirked, knowing his comment definitely irked her.

"You think you're oh-so-smart, don't you? It was a figure of speech. But how would you know that?" Swara mumbled, adding "loser" under her breath. "And STOP CALLING ME SHONA!" she added in a loud voice.

"Shhh! You're going to wake everyone up" Lakshya automatically proceeded to shush his Shona physically with his hand. It was a jerk reaction, nothing unnatural about it.

To be continued...