"So, Arjun, tell me the real reason you are here. Did Raina send you here?" asked Vineeta, the founder of Sparsh NGO and a close friend of Raina Dhoopar, mother of Arjun Malhotra.

Arjun let out a chuckle and set his coffee cup back on the table. "No, but I'm sure Mom would be delighted to know I met with you. She's probably hoping I'll join your NGO as a legal consultant."

Vineeta's eyebrows quirked in surprise, and she angled her head to the right, scrutinizing the young man with disbelief floating in her eyes. "I wonder what caused the shift in your thinking, Arjun. I thought you believed playing the defense was more challenging and thrilling."

"I did, auntie. But not anymore," he said, with a weak smile on his lips as he leaned back and rested his back against the backrest of the wooden and merely functional chair.

Vineeta's silence prodded Arjun to elaborate on his reasons. "I had taken on a Pro Bono case on the insistence of Di. Let's just say the experience was illuminating," he said, with his eyebrows drawn together.

"Did a single case really change your perspective? Is it a high-profile case?" Vineeta leaned forward, her eyes reflecting her genuine interest.

Arjun shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "No, quite the opposite. It was far from high-profile. It was the plight of the plaintiff and the realization that anyone around us could find themselves in a similar situation. I also got a firsthand taste of how challenging it is to be on the other side."

The distant look etched over his features revealed to the veteran social worker that the situation was from being challenging alone; the case troubled and rattled the young lawyer.

"Raina and I would often hope during the days of your education that you would join hands with us some day. I'm glad the day has come," said Vineeta, not wishing to prod him further and make the situation more uncomfortable for him.

"I'll ask my secretary to send the contract to you. While I hope we would not have to contact you soon, we both know criminals know no rest and they won't let us rest either." Arjun nodded, letting out a vexed sigh. "Take care, Arjun."

Arjun reciprocated the greetings and felt lighter after the conversation. The urge to pivot was irresistible and had snatched his ability to wait. His conscience took a breath of fresh air and after weeks, breathing did not appear to be a herculean task.

****

Madhuri adjusted the free end of her black net saree with a maroon plain border. Ever since she had seen Anupriya buy a similar saree with her first salary from her job as a nursing assistant, Madhuri had longed to buy a similar one and twin with her friend.

She had set her eyes on the saree, but her mother had ensured the piece of clothing remained out of her reach.

"Why? Do you want to look shameless like her?" demanded Sangeeta, with her nostrils flared. "That wretched girl thinks education and earning some money gives her license to do any nonsense she wants."

Sangeeta shook her head and continued to fold the laundry. "This is why girls should not receive higher education. They turn insolent and disobedient. How dare she tell me she would not change that disgusting dress because she likes it? Shameless girl!"

Yesteryear Madhuri, who had just stepped into her twenties, could not dare to fight for the dream she had envisioned for herself. Her wishes had remained buried beneath layers of taunts and consolidated by fear for more jibes.

But she had had enough of fear, enough of being a puppet to others' desires. What she had once considered an investment had turned into a trap. After the disillusioning revelations from Jaya and Arjun, and the pearls of wisdom from Vartika, Madhuri knew she couldn't rely on anyone else to fulfill her dreams or invest in them—except herself. And that's exactly what she was going to do.

She picked her purse from the table and walked out into the living room when she found herself face-to-face with her yesteryear love - Rakesh. He rose from his seat with his eyes gleaming with admiration and a smile tugging at the edges of his lips.

"You look ethereal, Madhuri. You always did," he said. The heart of yesteryear Madhuri would flutter and skip a beat whilst her cheeks would turn into a beautiful shade of crimson at the words of praise from her beloved, but an inertia plagued the older and scarred heart of Madhuri.

A faint smile curved her lips, failing to reach her eyes. She held onto the pleats of her saree with one hand while searching for her shoes amidst Anupriya's collection of flats and wedges.

"Madhuri, I know we had an abrupt end to our relationship," started Rakesh, compelling Madhuri to abandon her search and turn towards him. "You had married someone else, and not even that could stop you from occupying my thoughts. You are free from that relationship now, and I was wondering if..."

"No, Rakesh. You might be the same, your feelings might be the same, but I am not. I cannot be that Madhuri, and I don't want to be. There are too many complaints in our hearts for each other, and to be honest, I... I can't see myself in a relationship right now," she explained, braving, and bracing herself despite the blatant heartbreak in his eyes.

"That Madhuri did not have an option to dream beyond a secured family life with her husband and children. She had shut the doors on innumerable dreams of hers, and I want to live them, Rakesh."

Rakesh took a tentative step towards her with hints of tears blurring his vision. "We can live them together, Madhuri. Please..."

Months ago, the need to please and placate someone would force her heart to concede defeat, but she could not wrong her heart anymore in the hope of someone doing right by her. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I am sorry, Rakesh. Maybe someday, but not today. I am so sorry!"

She turned around on her heel and slipped her feet into the brown flats. She spared one last look with a tender smile before she grabbed her gift for Jiya - the model of a fighter jet - for topping her class in Hindi.

Despite the guilt clawing at her heart, the feeling of suffocation - of her desires and decisions - had ebbed away, and that was the sign she needed to know she was finally doing what she needed.

Last two parts + epilogue to go!