By the time Shreya reached home, it was just before dawn.

She tiptoed into her room. But just the sight of Charan and Akira sleeping, she never even got to move past the doors. She just stood there staring at them. She did not even want to blink..

She just loved the tranquility of the atmosphere..

She liked her home like this with them.. it was pure and serene, a stark contrast to the kind of ugliness she had to deal with outside.. or at her work.

She took silent steps inside and sat on the bed beside Charan. Her bed was actually pretty big.. the space they had occupied was just a small portion because of cuddling. Shreya sat with her legs crossed in front of her and just stared.. quite creepily so. But she did not have the heart to close her eyes.

"I really love you guys.." She whispered in the quiet room.

She extended her hands and c.a.r.e.s.sed Charan's head softly. Akira was completely enveloped by Charan, so she couldn't reach for her. This went on for a while until it stopped suddenly and her eyes drooped without her knowing. Her head fell to her knees as sleep took over.

For someone who was sleeping, Shreya actually did not fall at all for some reason. So, that exact posture of her sleeping while sitting, with her head resting over her bunched knees, was how Charan found her the first thing when he woke up the next morning.

And Akira was not beside him either.

"Idiot!!" He couldn't help scold but he did not disturb her. But instead, he carefully untangled her and laid her properly on the bed. Thankfully, she did not wake up.

When he went out, he found Akira all dressed up for school while Zack was making food in the kitchen..

"What are you doing here so early?" Charan asked Zack as he reached for the coffee.

"Well, today, it is my duty to take the little princess to school!!" Zack said just as he finished packing Akira's lunch. He went out leaving Charan in the kitchen.

"Come on, baby. Let's go.. we are getting late!!" Zack said taking Akira's hands in his. Akira jumped down from the barstool and gave Charan a flying kiss.

"Have a good day, baby.." Charan said returning her kiss. And the apartment went back to being silent.

And it remained the same until Shreya woke up a couple of hours later.

"Where is Akira?" Shreya asked coming to the study where Charan was working.

"You woke up. Akira went to school with Zack.." Charan answered putting down his files.

Shreya just nodded coming in. She very naturally went ahead and sat on his l.a.p.s not really bothered whether she was interrupting his work or not. She very comfortably snuggled into his c.h.e.s.t and fiddled with his sleeves.

"You do realize I am working right?" Charan asked smirking. But he still c.a.r.e.s.sed over her heads.

"I won't talk.. I won't disturb you!!" Shreya said keeping a figure over her lips.

Charan just chuckled.

But he did not really move from his place.. he was afraid he would disturb her injured hand.

"I so could use a shower!!" Shreya exclaimed but then she looked at her cast dejected. She can do many things because her dominant hand was not injured, but the shower is still a problem since she cannot move her shoulders. And since everyone in her family knew how juvenile Shreya can be, they asked the doctors to put the cast in such a way that she wouldn't be able to move her hand even if she tried to. She had two belts.. one held her shoulder in place while the other held her arm in place. And of course, the cast cannot get wet. At the hospital, nurses helped. So, it was fine.. but now, after almost 24 hours of going around, she needed to clean.

But given how she had been jumping around after just one day of being discharged, Charan was glad her cast was indestructible.

"Where did you go yesterday night? It went well?" Charan asked.

Shreya simply shrugged. She did not really want to talk about it..

But before Charan could ask anything else, Shreya's stomach grumbled loudly.

It was almost noon and she was up and running almost the whole night, so of course, she was hungry. But Shreya did not really budge.

"Come on. Let get you cleaned up and get you something to eat.." Charan urged. But Shreya did not move.

"I don't want to move!!" She grumbled pouting.

"Shreya.. you get up. I will help you freshen up and eat something. After that, you can rest all you want." Charan convinced her kissing her temples.

Shreya reluctantly got up. After freshening up and eating something, Shreya slouched on the couch.

Charan came to her with a bunch of tablets she had to take..

Shreya rolled over burying her face on the far side of the couch and mumbled, "Shreya is sleeping.. cannot wake up!!"

Charan rolled his eyes..

"If you don't like medicines, then you shouldn't get hurt!!" Charan said sternly.

But Shreya did not budge.. she just answered back without turning, "I am fine.. I do not need medicines.."

Charan let out a sigh.

"Shreya, if you are not going to be obedient.. I am going tell about it to Akira when she comes back from school.. then don't come to me saying you are bullied!" Charan resorted to blackmail.

IN all the time they had been in the hospital, Akira was the one who gave her the tablets. And even when Shreya would look torn, given how serious Akira had looked, she would just silently take it. Charan figured this trick should work just fine now.. and it did.

Shreya got up from her place and looked at Charan furiously as she took the tablets.

Charan just smiled back and let her be.. he went to the study to continue work while Shreya just took her tablet to look for updates on everything going on around.