"Are you taking your medicines timely?" Abhiraj inquired in a flat tone.

But Ritu could sense the underlying vexation in her father's voice. He was trying not to raise his voice at her. The temperature inside her father's room seemed dangerously low, chilling to the point it raised goosebumps on her skin. Ritu gulped and tried to remain composed.

"Yes, papa," she responded quietly and waited.

Abhiraj wasn't seated. He was standing beside the bookcase, studying the racks which were filled with more files than books.

"When is the next sitting for your counselling?"

"Next week, on Thursday."

Abhiraj pulled out a file and returned to his seat, behind the table. Ritu observed him cautiously as he sat down and opened the file in front of him. His eyes were still trained on the file while he began evenly, "When your Dada was five years old, someone kidnapped him. He got his eyebrow scar as a repercussion."

Ritu didn't understand why he was relating about Abhimanyu's past to her. But it couldn't be anything out of context.

Abhiraj continued, "Not only that. After that atrocious episode, he went through several other life-threatening circumstances, and thus bearing the evidences of those vindictiveness on his body." After saying so, he raised his eyes finally and focused his unwavering gaze on her. "However, he is a man. He can have thousand scars on his body, and still will not lose his status as a strong and capable leader in the eyes of society." He paused briefly letting the words sink in before adding, "But you are my precious little girl. The mere thought of a single scar marring your skin is agonizing to me."

Ritu lowered her gaze. She didn't have anything to say.

Abhiraj went on. "I'll assume you're understanding my words." He put his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together before leaning forward. "I have never stopped you from having what you desire. But now that you're of age now, I want you to be responsible. You need to think before taking any decision, Ritu. You cannot afford to be reckless being my daughter. Are you getting my point?"

Ritu nodded slowly without meeting her father's eyes.

"Very good. I am not trying to be a daunting parent. But you need to understand that whatever step you take, it affects out family's reputation. Your mother and I have faced more hardships than one can imagine, and we don't want that kind of life for our children. Even though Manyu has also experienced some damaging challenges, we hope to spare you and Gyan from such traumas. I want you to understand this. Life is all about good choices and bad choices. Once you've chosen a certain path and rolled your dice on it, you cannot go back down the same path. Nothing returns to the original, once it is ruined."

Suddenly, Ritu couldn't see clearly. Her vision had turned hazy due to welled up tears in her eyes. Two drops of tears rolled down her cheeks when Abhiraj pacified her. "I did not call you here to punish you. But... to give you a warning. This is not how you should behave Ritu. You're my daughter, so start behaving responsibly. I know you can take care of that. Can't you?"

She nodded several times wiping her tears. "Yes papa. I'm sorry. I won't disappoint you again. I promise."

Abhiraj stood up from his chair and came round. Then he hugged Ritu softly and patted on her head. "That's like my good girl. I'll call Ram to take you back to your room. No need to meet others right now. I'll inform them. You go and take rest. Okay?"

Ritu had her arms wrapped around her father's waist. Once he instructed her, she nodded and released him. Her eyes were still moist. So, she wiped them again before raising her eyes on her father's face. Abhiraj patted on her head again, smiling softly. Once her tears were dried out, he nodded once approvingly then raised his voice and called Ram.

~~~

She was such a stupid girl! Why couldn't she stop herself in time? Her impulsiveness ruined everything!

Ritu turned over and groaned into her pillow. Then laid on her stomach looking out the window, in the dark. It was so foolish of her to escape like that and she couldn't even spend time with Pihu. She didn't even know where did she go!

That dimwit ruined everything!

Her mind darted toward Jai and the way he held her when she was putting on the hoodie. Oh wait! She was still wearing his hoodie! What the-

She sat up hastily and pulled off the hoodie. As she held the black worn-out hoodie in her hands, her cheeks and ears colored, turning hot. What a mess! And her walking stick was missing too. She must have inadvertently left it in the pantry of that damned cake shop!

As she was about to throw the hoodie to the far end of the room, her phone buzzed. She lowered her hand and picked the phone instead. The caller id flashed Pihu's name.

Ritu answered the call promptly, "Hello, Pihu. Are you okay?"

Pihu's voice flew in, slightly disoriented. "Ritz, have you seen the news?"

Ritu's eyebrows curled in confusion. "What news?"

"The clip of you and that man is all over the media."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, I think you should watch it."

Ritu's heart started palpitating. Her hands curled around the garment still lying unostentatiously on her lap. The soft fabric seemed to burn holes into her skin.

"But wait, Pihu. Where did you go back then? I couldn't see you."

Pihu's response was quick. "We'll discuss about that later. First, take care of this mess." Pihu sounded offended, then she disconnected the call.

Ritu stared down at the screen for a few seconds until a text message popped up. She tapped on it. It was from Pihu. She had sent a link. For a moment her chest wavered for an unknown fear but she pressed on it anyway.

A video clip popped up, which had vividly captured her entire emotional outburst within the confines of the cake shop. As she watched, her hands trembled. The screen reflecting the hysterical eruption of emotions that had consumed her during that detestable moment. Nervousness coursed through her making her worried of the outcome soon to be unfolded in near future.

Then the obvious thought plagued her mind. Whoever had watched this, now knew how she acted. Could she be any more of the reason of her family's embarrassment? One of the customers might have recorded and uploaded the clip online. Considering her background, it didn't take long for the clip to go viral. She wished she could go back in time and right the wrong. But it was impossible now.

Her father's voice rang in her ears. Nothing returns to the original, once it is ruined.

Ritu's breath quickened, her chest tightening in a relentless grip. The air around her seemed to grow thin. The weight of shame she had inadvertently brought upon her family felt suffocating. She tightly clutched on the fabric in her hand as fear gripped her inside out. She had brought yet another disappointment to her family. Sitting on her bed like a statute, her fists clenched tightly overwhelmed with self-contempt. Her eyes burned from the unshed tears. It wasn't just from regret, but from the fury she felt towards her own failure.

She was unaware of the tears that had started flowing until Vijay's voice echoed from the hall, calling out to her. With the back of her hand, she wiped off the frustrated tears and called back, "Coming!"

She grabbed the spare walking cane kept on the last rack of the bedside cabinet, then put her legs down on the floor and arose from the bed with difficulty. There were no senses in them, they felt strange beneath her. She struggled and took her first step, gasping, and her legs wobbled. She couldn't find balance in them. Frustrated as much as she was, her physical decrepitude made the situation worse. Blinking several times to keep the tears from streaming down, Ritu clenched her jaws and willed herself forward. Step by step, slowly and unsteadily. For once, she felt like throwing the damn cane out the window and collapse on the floor, crying her heart out. But it wasn't an option to her. She wasn't made for breaking. Her father wouldn't approve of that.

She needed to be strong.

Once she reached the balcony which overlooked the hall, she looked down from where she stood. The men were sitting around the living room table. All of them wore brooding expressions. Her eyes darted toward Abhimanyu. He wasn't any different that his usual self. Stoic and unmoving. Her gaze shifted toward her father who was in a conversation with Jeet and Vijay.

"Vijay uncle," she called out quietly making all four pairs of eyes zoom in on her.

"Ritu, what is this?" Vijay questioned, visibly disgruntled.

She gulped and glanced toward her father seeking help, which never came.

"I asked you something." Vijay chided impatiently. "Why were you at his shop?"

"I...went to meet... a friend," she obediently answered. She felt her throat closing in.

"Okay, and who is this friend of yours may I ask?"

"I went to meet Pihu. Pihu Ghosal. You've seen her once."

"Pihu Ghoshal?" Vijay furrowed his brows. "You mean the founder of that clothing line...what is it, I forgot the name..."

"Trippy, yes." Ritu nodded.

"Why did she invite you to his shop for meeting? If it was so necessary for you to meet, why couldn't she come at Ishani? Doesn't she know about your health?" Vijay angrily demanded.

Ritu dropped her gaze, biting the inside of her cheek. She couldn't tell them why they couldn't meet inside the walls of Ishani.

Jeet intervened, "It's okay, Vijay. She's home, safe. That's the main point."

"And what about this mess?" Vijay countered. "She didn't need to fight with Late Mr. Basu's grandson! I can't believe this has gone viral in just three hours!" Vijay's perturbation was obvious, his face contorted with anguish. The rapid spread of the video had threatened the reputation of her, her immediate relatives and indirectly of Permabell's. Vijay was a significant member of the board of directors in Permabell Industries Pvt. Ltd. So, if the company's reputation was at stake, obviously it wouldn't please him. As the time ticked by, the weight of the internet's glare pressed upon them, threatening to amplify the simple dispute into a full-blown scandal.

"I've relayed the information to headquarters (CBI). They'll act on it as soon as possible, don't worry. MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) might already be handling it. Expect it gone within 24 hours," Jeet assured calmly.

"24 hours?" Vijay shrieked. "Do you realize how many will have watched it by then?"

"I do realize that. But we can't do anything more than this. We'll have to wait."

Abhiraj finally spoke at this point. His question was directed to her. "Do you have anything else for me to know, Ritu?"

Ritu shook her head quickly, meeting her father's gaze. She really didn't have anything to say. She had yielded enough damage for one day.

"Then you may go back to your room."

"But Roy..." Vijay started but Abhiraj cut him short by raising a hand. "I have nothing to say to her. I have talked to her, and told her everything she should know. Now, it's her turn to show what she understood."

Ritu blinked and gazed down. Her chest suddenly felt heavy. The weight of her father's disappointment pressed upon her chest like a leaden cloak. Her father was truly disappointed in her. His stern words had cut deep, but amidst the disappointment, he still decided to give her a chance.

Her resolve surged as she tightened her fist around the railing top of the balcony. She couldn't afford to let her father down any further.

She made a promise to herself. She wouldn't disappoint him again.