SwaRon SS: It's What We Do/Breathe In The Air |COMPLETED| - Page 18

"That's why he left me."

"What?"

"He is not the father."

"..."

"You're the father."

--

He could feel his mind still reeling in shock, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly, he could feel his nails pierce through the leather skin. He was the father, she said. He was the father to Nisha's baby.

"How-how is it possible?"

"It's September now and I'm five months pregnant. Do the math Swayam." Nisha said with remorse.

"How do you know that it isn't someone else's child? That you weren't sleeping around with someone else?" Swayam snapped with venom in his voice and she flinched in response.

"I - i am sorry Swayam. I don't deny having an affair with Saurav but that's it. There was no one else. I-I love him." she said in a strangled voice.

And I was just a burden wasn't I?

Swayam stood up from his chair frustrated and paced around the room, his fists clenched. He had just begun to bury his past, he didn't need this. He didn't want this.

"I don't deserve this." he said in a low tone "I don't deserve to be discarded like trash and then be dragged up to clean the mess I didn't help create!" he snarled.

Nisha flinched at his aggressive stance. She knew he wouldn't take this easy and she knew he didn't have to. He deserved to be furious but she was left with no other choice but to approach him. A single pregnant lady? Society would chew her alive and term her child as a bas***d. Her child didn't deserve it. She watched Swayam pace around agitated and was shocked when he dropped on his knees, tugging on his hair.

"I deserve to live my own life, Nisha."

She didn't know whom to feel sorry for; herself or him.

--

NOVEMBER (PRESENT)

"Do you still love her Swayam?" Sharon asked him hesitatingly as they both sat in Swayam's balcony, their backs pressed to the wall. The soft breeze flew past their faces, the calmness of the surroundings contradicting the inner state of the two humans. Sharon didn't really want to hear his answer, she was afraid he would say yes; afraid that her decision to take a risk would backfire. But the deed had been done, the question had been asked.

"No." he sighed. No, how could he love her? After all she had done, after everything.

"Then why-"

"I know you know why Sharon. You know why I'm marrying her, you know that the baby's mine."

"Yes." Sharon breathed, her posture crumbling "Yes, I do."

--

OCTOBER (ONE MONTH AGO) France.

"Swayam?"

"Hi sweetplum. Are you free right now?"

"Of course. What's the matter?"

"..."

"Are you all right?"

"Am I?"

"For god's sake Swayam. Stop with the riddles and answer me. Please."

"I'm a father, Sharon."

"What?"

"And I'm getting married."

Sharon collapsed on her bed, the conversation with Swayam playing in her brain like a stuck tape recorder. Swayam, a father. Swayam had a baby with his ex-girlfriend. Swayam was getting married. She was in love with a man who was engaged to another woman, she was in love with a man who was going to be a father. So much was her shock that she didn't realise how she had gone from really liking Swayam to loving him.

But it didn't matter anymore, did it?

--

NOVEMBER (PRESENT)

"I don't know if I should be pissed at you or look at you with more respect, Swayam. You've come such a long way from that back-bencher pest." Sharon said, her voice muffled as she rested her head against Swayam's shoulder. It felt so right to feel him against her, to soak in his warmth. It felt so dreamy to sit here like this, resting on his shoulder, gazing at the cloudy night sky, the moon peeping occasionally.

"I thought you'd be proud of me." he whispered, a tinge of sadness leaking in his voice.

Sharon felt her heart beat painfully. Forget the fact she loved him (don't), she did not want her friend, her annoying ex-classmate (her partner, her saviour, her lover) to go through something he didn't want to do in the first place. She understood why he did it, but that didn't help. That didn't soften the blow.

"I am proud of you Swayam, very proud." she looked up at him, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek as he turned sideways to look down at her. She could see how torn apart he was, could understand his problems. He looked into her eyes, searching her, trying to read her thoughts. She pushed herself up, moving close to him and he leaned in return, understanding her action.

He's engaged. He doesn't think so. That doesn't change the facts. It changes my perception.

Sharon paused as her brain argued against her instincts. They were very close, she could feel his breath on her mouth.

"Swayam?"

"Yeah?" he breathed.

I love you.

She just wished she could say it out loud.