

Silence followed after Rey left. Few seconds later, Swayam kept one hand on Sharon's shoulder, silently motioning to her that he's leaving. She nodded and looked at Kriya. Kriya looked back and said, "It's not your fault." She then left the room.
Kriya felt like she just had to say it. If she knew Sharon the way she thought she did, then she also knew that Sharon would blame herself for everything that happened, which isn't right.
***
Sharon walked to a distance from the lake in the back of the house. She knew she'd find Kriya there and sure enough, she was there. She saw her figure in the distance as she walked up to her and sat down next to her.
"Kriya, you sure you're fine?" she asked with concern.
Kriya turned to look at her and put on a convincing face. "Never better, I'm fine Sharon. Don't worry about me. The past is past. It's always been there and nothing that happens now can change it. You have nothing to feel guilty about."
"But I do!" Sharon said, exploding his limits. She then sighed to calm down and after few seconds, continued, "It's not about me or Swayam or us anymore. It's about you. It's about what you went through."
"Like I said, I'm fine and no change. See." She put on a bright smile, in spite of the suffering she had.
"You will be the same as before?" Sharon asked, not able to grasp the thought. How can anyone respond so cool-ly after anything like this!? Was the question she asked herself, looking at Kriya for a hint of pain. None. She only found a smiling Kriya gazing back at her.
Kriya stayed silent for a second. Then with a deep emotion arising on her face, she picked up a stone close by. Playing with it, she asked, "See how calm the lake is?"
Sharon was confused but nodded a yes to the question. Kriya continued, "I was like that once. Calm…minding my own business, stretching out of my limit to reach my dreams. I wanted to do something. I wanted to show my passion to the world." She threw the stone in the lake. "And what happens when I throw this is?" the stone bounced a couple times before settling at the bottom. As an effect, the water rippled in circles.
Sharon listened quietly till then and asked the second Kriya paused, "If you wait long enough, the water will calm down."
Kriya smiled and replied, "The water will calm. But the stone is still in there. It doesn't belong there. Still. It's there. It wasn't needed. But it did come. From the surface, things calm down. The stone is still there though. Neither me nor you or anybody can do anything to change that now. The lake's course has forever been changed. It's the same with me. I will never be the same again. The pain will never go away, just like the stone. It will move away, go to the bottom, but I can't stop it if it ever does come up again." She got up saying, "Now I'll see you at night."
She patted Sharon's shoulder before turning to leave.
Sharon sat there thinking of the mystery Kriya just revealed to her. The whole past was in front of her. Her feelings, her pain, her suffering, everything. Her silence had spoken it all to her. Kriya revealed it all to her and only thing she could do was listen to it all. She wished she would have done something.
If not for her, that stone would have never gone inside of Kriya. The stone… the whole problem… which in this case was Shivam. If only she had told Swayam about her feeling, Kriya wouldn't have felt the need to make her realize. None of this would have happened then. As much as Kriya told her that it wasn't her fault, her heart wouldn't allow her to accept that. She did feel guilty.
She considered herself the worst friend. The worst sister one could have been. The worst one could ever have. She laid her head back in frustration. Anger towards herself. It all began with her. She realized another thing. The reason why Kriya didn't tell her. She then started scolding herself, "See! This is exactly why she didn't tell you! She knew you would feel guilty if you found out."
"Oh Kriya! You've suffered a lot. All because of me. Stupid me! Like you said, I can't do anything to change the past, but I can and will change your future." She continued with a glitter of happiness in her eyes. A desire to do something for someone else took possession of her.
"I will give you back all that you have lost. All the four years… that will be hard to give back. But I can give back what is in my power. The power is in my hands and I will use the stone to throw it again. But in a positive way now. This stone will now make your life instead of ruining it."
She picked up a small pebble and grinned to herself. Kriya, my darling sister, you told me a story. Now let me do the honors. Haven't you heard of the crow and the pebble? The thirsty crow was so intelligent that he threw as many pebbles as he could to bring the water to the top. I will do the same. Throw so many pebbles your way that you and Rey will have to meet again and again. Despite your wish, you will have to.
"I will fix everything. This is a promise from one sister to another." She finished with a determined look on.
***
Kriya gathered up all her courage and opened the door that opened to the rehearsal hall. She was supposed to be there half an hour ago. She just hoped she won't be getting in any sort of trouble for that.
Everyone, including Rey, turned to look towards the door as she entered. Seeing her, rest got back to what they were doing. All except Rey and Vaibhavi. Rey held Kriya's gaze till she walked up to them.
As much as Vaibhavi hated the idea, she knew she'd have to be strict if the others were to follow the rules. "You're late."
"I know. I had some personal problem. Won't happen again. I'm sorry." Kriya apologized with an open heart.
Vaibhavi nodded and said, "That's fine. Now go get dressed fast and meet us back here."
She nodded and turned to leave. When Vaibhavi looked away, Kriya mouthed, "I'm fine." to Rey, who then took a sigh of relief. He felt better seeing that from her.
***
Neha asked, "Sharon! What are you looking for? If you tell me, I can at least help instead of just standing here you know!"
They were in Kriya's room for the last 10 minutes. The whole time, Sharon was going through whatever she could find in sight. Sharon stopped to turn to her. "I'm looking for…" she trailed off making a realization. "Of course! Her laptop! So silly of me." Sharon now knew what she was looking for.
So did Neha. But she had no idea why Sharon was looking for Kriya's laptop. "What are you doing?" she asked feeling irritated at being ignored.
"Oh Neha. Quiet for now. I'll tell you later." She replied not understanding her anger. Opening the laptop, she did some searching and ten minutes later, shut it close with a satisfying smile on her face.
Neha was sitting cross legged on the table, fuming and pouting, when Sharon looked up. She moved her head back seeing her in that state. And then, she realized why Neha was like that.
She went to her and spoke in a teasing voice, "Remember how we always suspected Rey and Kriya to be a couple?"
Neha beamed and nodded as she continued, "Well, we were right. They do love each other. But something went wrong." Sharon got quiet.
Neha put a hand on hers, asking her to continue. "That's why Kriya had left without telling anyone. I'm going to bring the love back in her life and you're going to help me right?"
Neha immediately jumped down the table. "You have to ask? I sure will help!" she said as a matter of fact. "She's my best friend. But that doesn't explain what you were doing with her laptop…"
"I sued that to send an email to Sonia asking her to call me and told her who I am. Over the last four years, Kriya has changed a lot whether we like it or not and Sonia will be the only one to help us right now."
Neha realized Sharon was correct.
Both grinned from ear to ear satisfied with the thought brewing up in their heads.
***
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