Swara's eyes furrowed when she saw Naman's conflicted face. It seemed like he was fighting with himself about something. She didn't have to wonder for long as it seem that he had reached the conclusion.

"Sooo," he trailed off, looking at her expectantly.

"Yeah?" Swara looked at hesitantly, somehow having a feeling that this wasn't going to be one of those nonsense talks.

"Is Vriha doing okay?" He asked out of blue.

"Umm...yeah," Swara answered, a bit baffled. Out of all the things she was expecting him to ask, this wasn't anywhere near it.

"No troubles in your other job as well?"

"No?" To say Swara was confused was an understatement. Just where the hell was this conversation moving.

"The library is striving again as well," he said, looking around at the shining golden walls of the Library.

"Can't you just get to the point? Stop beating around the bush." It was meant to be a request but it came out as an annoyance instead.

"Just trying to make sure that there is no other problem you are dealing with," Naman said.

A pit formed in her stomach hearing his words. What did he mean? Was there a huge problem coming? He wouldn't have contemplated too much otherwise.

"Calm your horses." Naman's voice broke through her thoughts.

"You know, asking me upfront what I was about to say is way easier than overthinking and making up a hundred scenarios in your head," Naman tsked, shaking his head at her.

Her thoughts were clear on her face. He wondered how she managed to keep such a huge secret with that expressive face of hers.

"I was thinking that if you didn't have any other major problem to focus on, then maybe we can tell Selena the truth," Naman said.

"You remember?" Swara asked sheepishly.

"Of course, I do." Naman scoffed. "I was actually waiting for you that day to come back from making pamphlets, so we could tell her together.  But my health acted up in between."

"I know that. I knew you were going to tell her that day. But after everything happened, I thought it slipped from your mind," Swara admitted sheepishly.

Naman stared at her blankly. She was taking advantage of minutely minor flaw. Huff!

"I was waiting for you to initiate," he deadpanned.

He didn't like keeping this huge fact from Selena. But he didn't want to put Swara under the bus unprepared either. So he had been waiting for Swara to come around and tell him that she was ready to tell the truth.

"I would probably be waiting for another thousand years," he grumbled under his breath.

Swara gulped. The day she had been fearing all along had come.

"After the other readers leave?" She requested in a small voice.

"Your shift would be over by then. You have another job to get to as well. Your leaves are already expired," Naman reminded her.

He didn't want to pressurize her, but her life didn't provide her with any extra time.

"After Amaya leaves?" Swara tried again, hoping to gain some time.

Although it wasn't of any use. No matter how much time she got, her fear wasn't going to lessen.

"Amaya's family situation is also a blessing from yours truly. She deserves to know the truth as well," Naman said, before asking, "Or do you think that the feelings of side characters aren't important enough?"

Swara's mouth opened and closed in disbelief. "Excuse me! How can you make such a baseless accusation?" She almost yelled, but controlled herself to not gather attention. "I love each and every character of mine, alright?"

"Love?" Naman raised his eyebrows, a smirk forming on his face.

"Except the extras," she spoke through gritted teeth, her ears turning red, from anger or embarrassment, she herself wasn't aware.

"If you say so," Naman teased in a sing-song voice, before standing up and dusting his jeans.

"Shall we?" He asked, forwarding his hand.

"One more day please?" Swara held up her one finger, trying her luck for one last time.

"Pretty please with cherry on the top," she requested, trying to make puppy eyes.

Naman choked out a laugh, shaking his head. "Leave those antics to Vriha, it's not working...at all."

Although he said that, he really enjoyed looking at her cute side. It was a rare sight, which he hoped to catch a glimpse of, sometime again in his lifetime.

Swara cleared her throat, instantly switching back to her normal face and voice. But that didn't stop her from pleading. "Come on, just one more day. I will—"

"You will do nothing but panic and overthink," Naman finished, making her shoulders slump.

Naman shook his already forwarded hand, urging her to get up. Exhaling loudly, Swara placed her hands on the table and hoisted herself up, ignoring his stretched hand.

"Don't get mad at the only person who is on your side," Naman said, as she strode past him.

Swara halted immediately, before backtracking and moving behind him.

Naman turned with raised eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

"You said you will save me if she tries to kill me," Swara said, still trying to hide behind me.

"I did," Naman nodded slowly.

"So cover me. You need to be in front so that she cannot attack me."

"Great logic. But for any of that to happen, you need to tell her what's going on first," he said, before holding her arm, and bring her to his side.

"But—" Her protests died down, when he held her shoulders firmly and looked into her eyes.

"You aren't alone. I am by your side. Don't worry."

Swara hummed, but tension didn't leave her body.

Their roles seemed to have reversed today. Most of the time, it was Naman who was childlike while Swara acted the part of mature adult. Naman found it refreshing to be honest. However, he knew he couldn't keep up being the sensible one for long.

"You will protect me if both the girls try to attack me?" Swara asked, sounding like a small, scared kid.

"I will cover you as soon as the cat is out of the bag," Naman said, humouring her.

"Alright." Swara breathed out.

"Let's get this over with."