Rich Brat: Sweet Revenge Of A Lazy Princess

"How generous are we talking??" Charan asked curiously.

"Well, if I was careful with my spending, I wouldn't have to starve. But then I still had to work for my other amenities. But finding a job was particularly difficult since I was told to not use my full name or the degree. I guess he wanted me to improve my capabilities as just Shreya and not as the heiress of Sri group. The first few months had been really really shitty. Especially since we had a deal that if I ever asked help from any of the family or friends, I would no longer be receiving my pocket money."

"Wow, your dad knew what he was doing!!" Charan commented.

"He actually did. For the first time in my life, I knew what I was without my family name. For the first time, I came to know the struggles of other people and started to respect them. The experience curbed my arrogance considerably. I knew what it was to be an employee and be bossed around by someone absolutely unreasonable. So I learned how not to be as a boss. I guess more than anything, I learned empathy." Shreya said but then you could also see the pride in her voice.

"Your father should have been very proud I assume, both of you and himself," Charam said smiling at her.

"I never got to know actually… he never got to know me like this actually. They died just shy was my two years ballpark. I wasn't even in the city when they passed away. This house, I bought it with whatever I earned in those two years. I was so excited to show it to them you know…" She said with a sad smile.

"They would have been impossibly proud. Trust me…" Charan comforted her to the best of his abilities but her expression did not ease up even a bit.

"I never got to see that happiness in their eyes when they saw me… I was this close to coming back before it was time but then I stubbornly stuck to the stupid promise and stayed away."

"You couldn't have known Shreya. You beating yourself over something that couldn't have been helped is not helping anyone…" Charan said. He shifted her and sat her on his l.a.p.s facing him now.

Shreya just hung her head low without replying.

"DO you really think you being miserable is something they would have wanted??" Charan asked softly.

Shreya shook her head.

"Do you think they will be okay seeing you shutting yourself like this and wallowing??" Charan asked once again.

Shreya shook her head all over again.

"Then you should work on letting go of the guilt," Charan said making his voice as gentle as he possibly could.

Shreya slowly leaned and rested her head against his neck and whispered, "I will try…"

"It was not your fault Shreya… Just remember that," Charan said circling his arms around her.

Shreya did not reply. She just breathed steadily against his neck resting. After talking, she might not have eradicated all of her guilt but she somehow felt light. At least, she was not suffocating on her guilt anymore. With that thought, her eyes shut themselves.

She kissed Charan on the neck and mumbled, "Thank you…"

"For what??" Charan asked.

"For being here… for bringing Akira… For listening… everything…"

"You don't have to mention it."

After that none of them spoke. Shreya's breathing steadied as she fell asleep. Charan carried her to her room but and did not leave her there as he usually did. Instead, he laid there beside her and stayed awake watching over her.

Somehow he did not feel at ease to actually sleep. He wanted to be there if she woke up in the middle.

When Shreya woke up the next day, she was held in place by four hands. A pair of bigger ones on her left and a pair of really small ones from her right. Both of them were clinging on to her as if their life depended on it.

She was practically sandwiched between Charan and Akira and her lips spread into a big grin.

"Well, someone is in a better mood today!" She suddenly heard Charan talk startling her. She looked up and was met with red tired eyes and a grinning lips.

"Well, what more could you ask for waking up??" Shreya said pointing at Akira on her side.

"Ouch! That just pierced my small heart Shreya!" Charan said overdramatically clutching his c.h.e.s.ts.

"I don't see any holes there Charan!" Shreya said rolling her eyes.

"It's bleeding on the inside! I can feel it…" Charan said self-righteously.

"Well, your heart ought to bleed and pump. That's why you are alive in the first place!" Shreya said smirking.

"Fine, you just sleep with Akira. I am going out now!" Charan said sulking getting out of the bed.

Shreya smiled and secretly untangled herself from Akira and when Charan had his back to her, she quickly hopped on his back and wrapped her arms and legs around him.

Charan startled and staggered lightly but then steadied himself and walked out of the bedroom without making a noise. After all, it was weekend and Akira's had a few more hours of sleep to her name. He walked straight to the bathroom in Akira's room.

"What are we doing here??" Shreya asked frowning.

"I am going to brush my teeth and you are hanging behind me like a monkey!" Charan said sarcastically.

Shreya sulked and bit on his ears!

"Shreya…" Charan shrilled and sat her on the counter rubbing on the place she just a bit.

Shreya had an extremely silly face while giggling.

Charan's face softened, at last, seeing her being her normal self. The whole day yesterday, when she was down, that is when he understood how much light she actually brought into his life. Yesterday he understood how much her smile and silly antics made him so extremely happy. He took her face into his hands and gave her cheeks a chaste kiss.

"If you guys are done, I need to use the bathroom!" Akira's voice came from behind them bringing them out of their bubble.