27 Chapter 26

If you see from the outsider's point of view, the scene was pretty comical but then to Pritham, it was a whole lot of awkward and embarrassing situation. He entered Shreya's apartment in high energy to meet the little princess that Shreya kept gushing about nonstop. But he was stopped in the entrance by a little blob of flesh and unlimited cuteness with a stern face. She did not even reach his hip but she stood there glaring at him with both her hands on her hips. Pritham squirmed as if he has been called to Principal's office.

"Who are you??" Akira asked with a very adult-like expression on her small chubby face. She made sure her voice was not too loud so as not to disturb the sleeping Shreya.

Pritham awkwardly cleared his throat and said, "Uhm… ah… I am Shreya's friend."

"How can I believe you??" Akira asked narrowing her eyes.

"You can call Shreya and ask," Pritham replied slightly smiling.

"She is sleeping," Akira replied. She even moved slightly towards the dining hall entrance where Shreya was currently sleeping. She looked protective. Her eyes were clearly warning him not to even think about waking her up or else he will be receiving hell.

"Uh… ah… this…" Pritham awkwardly stood there. He did not have Charan's number. Only Zack had his number and Zack was currently in a meeting. So he thought about how to resolve this without having his head on the line.

After pondering for a while, at last, he thought of something. He quickly took out his phone and swiped through his gallery.

Then he showed Akira a photo of himself and Shreya with a proud grin.

"See… I told you I am Shreya's friend." He said gloating.

Akira carefully scrutinized the pictures and shrugged her shoulders and said, "Okay fine. I will believe you. What do you want now?? You cannot disturb Shreya." Her voice told that the final statement was not debatable.

"I am here to look after you until Shreya wakes up. Your dad called saying you are alone here. So." Pritham said beaming at her.

"I do not need a nanny, but it is okay. I will not chase you out since you are Shreya's friend. I am Akira." Akira said bossily and extended her hands and gave him a gentleman's shake.

Pritham literally felt as if he was the kid and she was the adult between the two of them even though the reality was actually far from it but then again he also, at last, understood why Shreya kept gushing over Akira. She is actually a little Shreya as far as personality goes. Both of them were Bossy, Arrogant and of course extremely mature and smart making you squirm in front of them.

"I am Pritham." He said shaking her small tiny hands kneeling in front of her.

Once Akira made sure of his identity, she gave him a once over. She looked over him thoroughly head to toe. He actually was pleasing to eyes. Lean, tall and handsome. But what caught her eyes was the Super Mario t-shirt he was wearing. Between her dad and the daycare, she actually spent quite a lot of time alone and playing games was one of her pastimes right after reading books. So seeing his tee's she decided to give him a chance.

A half-an-hour in, Akira and Pritham were playing Super Mario in Shreya's PS3. Pritham was, of course, a professional but even then Akira was very tough for her age. And of course, she was also hyper on a sugar rush. Pritham made the mistake of giving her chocolates. Who knew she will end up eating all of it in one go.

"Hey, guys…" Shreya called out stumbling towards them in her half-awake state.

Akira of course immediately discarded her joystick and sprinted towards Shreya. She dashed in such speed that Shreya almost toppled backward because of her dazed state.

"Hey, baby. Sorry I slept." Shreya said and lifted Akira over her hip and held her in her arms.

"It's okay. You were tired." Akira said cutely in a very understanding voice that made Shreya's eyes full of hearts. She also lifted her tiny hands and tucked Shreya's bed hairs behind her ears.

Right then Pritham coughed from behind them and made himself known. He had a feeling that if he didn't he would be left behind like thin air.

"What are you doing here??" Shreya asked, at last, taking her eyes away from Akira.

"What do you think?? Charan asked to babysit since certain someone slept off conveniently leaving a little girl all alone in the house to fend for herself." Pritham said very sarcastically.

Shreya could not defend herself, after all, she did say she would look after Akira but ended up sleeping but Akira, of course, gave Pritham a death glare.

"You shouldn't be saying that. Certain someone did not even know how to switch on the stove to warm me some milk." Akira stabbed him mercilessly. That again was one of the most embarrassing moment of his life where he was taught by a 9-year-old to the warm milk.

Of course, Shreya's expression also became awkward when she heard Akira. After all, even she did not know how to use a stove let alone warm milk. The only thing she actually knows in a kitchen was how to pop the bread into a toaster. She made a mental note to learn it from Charan before she was caught by Akira in a similarly embarrassing situation.

"Akira… I thought we were friends??" Pritham said shamelessly trying to curry favor her.

But of course, Akira saw right through him.

"You are my friend but Shreya is my BFF. So you don't even stand a chance." Akira said in a matter of fact tone shutting up Pritham mercilessly.

Akira then got down from Shreya and went to use the loo.

Shreya's lips spread into a gloating smile.

Pritham saw it and got irritated.

"Don't gloat. Even you don't know the k- of the kitchen." He said sarcastically.

"But I did not get caught by a 9-year-old," Shreya said nonchalantly.

Of course, she wouldn't, after all, she actually grew up like a princess. She was the most favorite among everyone in the family. She had been treated like a queen no matter which relatives' house she crashed at. So it did make more sense that she would not know how to cook.