Author's note: Thank you for the love on the last chapter. Can we please get this chapter to 90 votes?

I quietly listened to the conversation between my father and Inder. They compared their children's tantrums and how they never listened to their parents like I wasn't there.

"Aahana," Inder called out my name.

I startled at the sound and immediately sat up in my chair. My heart thundered against my ribs as his attention fixed on me, pinning me in place. "Yes?" I managed to say, the words barely scraped past my parched throat.

"Why don't you listen to your father? He wants you to succeed in life, is it that bad?" he asked, in a gentle voice.

I wrung my hands in my lap, fingers twisting around each other. I jerkily shook my head.

"Do you know how many people would die to live your life? And you're just wasting it like this, is that right?"

I cleared my throat and shook my head again.

"See, that wasn't so hard now, was it?" Inder leaned forward in his chair, his voice dropping to the syrupy tone adults use with children. "Now tell uncle, do you want to make your papa sad?"

On cue, I shook my head.

"And you want to be successful, don't you, beta?" He tilted his head, eyes wide with exaggerated concern.

I nodded mechanically.

"Then why do you behave like this? Hmm?" He tapped his finger against the desk. "Good girls don't throw tantrums and good girls listen to their parents and elders. And, sweetie, aren't you a good girl?"

You are my good girl, aren't you?

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded. "I'm a good girl."

"Good," Inder smiled and an involuntary shudder ran through me. Hurriedly, I looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with him. He slapped my father's back, jovially. "See, how easy that was? You need to understand the kids and speak to them in a language they understand.

Dad laughed. "I have never seen her being so agreeable," he agreed. "The next time she is being difficult, I'll have to call you."

"It'll be my pleasure," the other man said.

"Now go change into something that's more appropriate as the face of the company before restarting your day. This time do it properly," my father ordered.

"Yes, dad," I murmured.

"Bye, sweetheart," Inder said right before the call ended.

The moment the screen turned black, I fell back in the chair. Tears blurred the edges of my vision and they began free falling down my cheeks. I wasn't sure how long I sat there. Finally, I blew out a long puff of air, the sound echoed in Adarsh's empty office.

My movements were mechanical as I reached into my purse, fingers closing around my phone and a pack of tissues. The mirror on my phone reflected my mascara-stained cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. I dabbed underneath them, erasing all evidence of weakness.

After fixing my hair and reapplying my lipstick – I rose from the chair and exited Adarsh's office.

Vaani, Adarsh, and a few employees I didn't know stood in the lounge area, their discussion dying the moment they realized my presence. Their eyes landed on me. My skin prickled under their collective gaze. Did they see? Could they tell? Shame and embarrassment filled me as I brushed the front of my dress for any invisible creases and stains.

"Vaani, follow me." My voice cut through their silence. I turned sharply, not waiting to see if she compiled. The hurried click-clack of her shoes echoed behind me, struggling to match my stride. As we stood in the elevator, I turned to her. "Call the driver."

"Are we going somewhere, ma'am?"

"Yes, shopping."

"Shoppppp..." The word died in her throat as she caught sight of my expression. "Right away, ma'am."

Soon we were at the mall, shopping at one of the most expensive stores because why not. I moved through the racks like a woman possessed, grabbing pieces at random – pencil skirts, blazers, blouses – anything that seemed 'work appropriate'. An enthusiastic store employee trailed behind, her arms laden with my choices.

At the checkout counter, I stared at the mountain of clothes.

"Would you like to look over your choices once again?" the employee offered. "I can sort them out by style and color if you prefer so it can make your purchasing decision easier."

"There's no need for that. I'm taking all of them. You can start billing."

"All of them?"

Both Vaani and the employee stared at me wide eyed. I grabbed a random shirt and skirt from the pile and retreated to the changing room.

Inside, under harsh fluorescent lights, my fingers trembled as I changed. "You're a good girl, Aahana," I whispered to my reflection, wiping away the bright lipstick.

"Good girls do as they are told," I recited, pulling my hair into a severe ponytail that made me look more professional.

When I returned to the checkout counter, the employee had almost finished scanning the pile of clothes I had picked out.

I noticed Vaani's eyes lingering on a pair of delicate silver studs in the jewelry display.

"Do you like them?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, I was just looking at it."

"Pack those as well," I said, stuffing my dress in one of the bags.

"No, no, Ma'am—"

"Relax," I cut her off. It wasn't like I was paying. I doubt my father was going bankrupt because I purchased an additional pair of earrings. "Consider it a gift from my father because you have gotten the worst job possible–Being my assistant."

Vaani's mouth opened, probably to deliver some rehearsed speech about opportunity and gratitude, but I silenced her with a shake of my head.

"Thank you, Ma'am," she said, grinning widely as I handed her the package of earrings. "You're really the best."

I scoffed and shook my head. "Don't thank me."

I paid for the purchases and we headed back to the office. When we were seated in the car, Vaani turned to me. "Ma'am, is it okay if I..."

"They are yours," I reminded her, my voice flat. "You don't need my permission to wear your possessions."

"Oh." Her sheepish smile accompanied the childlike excitement with which she put on the earrings. I watched her admire them in her phone's camera. I couldn't remember the last time a purchase had brought me genuine happiness.

"Don't be jealous of me, Vaani?"

She looked genuinely taken aback by my question "Sorry, Ma'am?"

I shook my head. "Nothing." What was I saying?

"Turn up the AC," I demanded, fanning myself with my hand. The heat was suffocating, causing my shirt to cling to my skin. As I brought my hand down, I noticed how my hands were still trembling. I balled them into fists and dropped them on my lap. Pressure built behind my eyes, so I screwed them shut and pressed my forehead against the cool window.

_____

People stared as we re-entered the office, their gazes sliding over my new appearance.

I could almost hear the office gossip, clear as if they were being broadcasted through the office speakers: "Boss' daughter threw a tantrum and was put back in her place by her father."

Their eyes followed me down the hallway. Some quickly ducked their heads when I passed, rather fascinated by their computer screens. Others watched openly, hungry for the gossip. By tomorrow, I was sure even the security guard and his family would know how the boss had finally managed to tame his wayward daughter.

Vaani knocked on Adarsh's office and waited for his permission to enter the cabin, but instead of doing that, I simply let myself in and sat on the visitor chair. Adarsh was seated on the couches, surrounded by all files and books.

Vaani and Adarsh exchanged a look, but I couldn't be bothered to decipher it. I was far too occupied by trying to control the jitters in my legs. They were shaking far too much and I could barely stand. I pressed my hand against my knee, hard enough to leave marks, hoping it would stop the tremors.

My assistant placed a tablet and notebook on the table in front of me. I looked up at her in confusion. "If you want to take notes," she murmured. When I gave her an incredulous look, she hurriedly added,"Let me know if you need anything else." With that she hurriedly left the room.

Once we were alone, Adarsh took a seat in his chair. Smoothening his tie with one hand, he reached for the tablet with the other. He unlocked it, tapped the screens a few times and then handed it back to me.

"This is the presentation we usually use for our new employees. They have a lot of legal jargon because it's designed for the legal department, but I'll walk you through the basics," he said, holding it out for me.

I grabbed it with both hands. My hands were still trembling and holding onto something helped. "Can you turn up the AC?" I asked, wiping away betraying beads of sweat with the back of my hand. The words on the screen swam before my eyes, familiar letters rearranging themselves into patterns I could barely understand or comprehend.

Adarsh began talking. Something about regulations, FAA, and DGCA, but it was seemingly becoming too difficult to focus. His voice felt distant, like a radio turned low and in a different room.

My heart suddenly started to race, definitely faster than it should. I gripped the tablet tighter.

Breathe, Aahana. You can do this.

"...managing risk, regulatory compliance..."
"Good Girl"
"... Fines... "
"You're the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on..."
" Compliance..."
"You make me so happy"
"... Risk..."

I felt an invisible noose tightening around my throat. I rubbed my neck as if it would loosen the stronghold that was making it so difficult to breathe.

"Aahana, what's wrong?" I heard Adarsh's voice through the sound of blood roaring and white noise in my ears.

I looked at him and he was watching me, concerned. "Aahana?"

"It's so hot. Turn up the AC," I said, breathing heavily through my mouth.

"You're shaking," He reached for his jacket, moving toward me. Instinct took over and I lurched from the chair, using it like a shield.

He raised his hands, retreating a step. "I was just going to give you this," he said, the jacket hanging limply from his extended hand. "Okay?"

I nodded jerkily, realizing he was right. I was shivering. I clenched my jaw, but my teeth chattered so hard that it was making it impossible. Adarsh approached cautiously, like someone approaching a cornered wild animal and draped it around my shoulders. The weight of his jacket settled around my shoulders and I clutched the fabric closer to me. For some reason the piece of cloth brought some temporary relief.

I had just spoken to Inder.

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning, my whole body went numb with fear. My skin turned to ice as a cold sweat coated every inch of my body, leaving me shivering and gasping for air.

Adarsh reached out to touch me, but I recoiled. "Don't touch me," I screamed, though it came out as nothing more than a feeble whimper. My legs gave out beneath me and I clung to the chair for support.

Horror washed over me as I remembered the conversation I had with the man.

I spoke to him politely.

I smiled at him.

I did as he asked.

My fingers dug into the material of the chair, but the memories of the things the man had done to me and made me do made bile rise in my throat. My whole body trembled with disgust and rage, but I could only wretch air.

I pressed my hand against my chest. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I relived the torment I faced as a child. Even now, after all these years, the emotions were still raw and consuming. The anger and disgust boiled inside me as I thought about how he showed no remorse for his actions. Meanwhile, I was drowning in shame and guilt that suffocated me.

"You are a good girl."

It only took those 5 words for me to turn into that helpless little girl again, powerless to fight back against his manipulation and abuse.

My vision started to close in, like I was looking through a tunnel, and my hands... my hands were going numb.

Come on, Aahana. Breathe. Breathe.

I tried to force myself to focus, to breathe, but it felt like trying to pull air through a straw. Shallow, quick breaths that didn't seem to do anything. My head spun, and I closed my eyes for a second, hoping it would help. It didn't.

When I opened them, I saw Adarsh watching me with concern. However, my vision was blurring.

"Aahana, I think you are having an anxiety attack," he said, softly.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. My throat seemed too tight, the words stuck somewhere between panic and breathlessness. I felt my pulse racing faster, faster, my knees buckled. However, Adarsh caught me before I hit the floor.

"I'm—" I started, but it sounded so weak.

"I'm going to carry you to the couch, okay?"

I wanted to protest, to tell him I could walk, but the truth was, my legs weren't cooperating. My knees felt like jelly, and my body was too heavy, too weak. The world around me was spinning in and out of focus, my breath still caught in my throat. All I could do was nod weakly, the panic still pulsing through my veins.

Adarsh lifted me effortlessly, carrying me across the room like I weighed nothing. I could feel his arms around me, like a security blanket, and I clung to the small bit of comfort that it provided. The world around me still felt like it was tilting, like I was on the verge of losing myself completely, but he was calm. His heartbeat was steady and even, so opposite of my own erratic pulse.

He set me down on the couch, kneeling beside me, his eyes full of concern but no panic. That helped too– his calmness. "Aahana," he brushed his hair away from my face. "It's okay. I'm right here. Breathe."

I wanted to believe him, but the panic had me in its grip, tighter and tighter. My chest felt like it was being crushed, and no matter how hard I tried to force air into my lungs, it wasn't enough. My hands were numb now, tingling, and my head was spinning so fast I thought I might faint.

"I'm... trying..." I whispered, my voice so faint I wasn't even sure he heard me.

"Aahana," he called my name again, his voice soft but firm, cutting through the fog. It was as if he was reminding me of who I was. "I need you to breathe with me, okay? Focus on my voice."

I tried to nod, but my body felt different, like it wasn't even mine. I clung to his voice, his touch, his scent, his presence. I was desperate for something to pull me out of the suffocating spiral I was trapped in.

"Alright," Adarsh said gently. "We're going to breathe together. Five seconds in, five seconds hold, five seconds out. Can you do that with me?"

I tried to focus, to understand what he was saying. Five seconds. That seemed doable, right? I nodded, even though my breathing was still erratic, still short and uneven.

"Okay," he said softly, his voice steady. "Breathe in with me. One, two, three, four, five."

I inhaled, shaky at first, but trying to follow his count. My lungs still felt tight, like they weren't getting enough air, but his voice was like a lighthouse and I was the lost ship struggling to find its way in the tumultuous seas.

"Hold it," he reminded, when I exhaled too quickly. "Take a deep breath...One, two, three, four, five. And now hold it," he said before counting down once again.

My chest was tight, but I held my breath, focusing on the numbers. Just hold.

"Now breathe out," Adarsh continued, his voice soothing. "Five, four, three, two and one."

I exhaled, letting out the breath slowly, shakily. It wasn't perfect, but it was a little deeper than before. A little more controlled. I could feel his presence beside me, solid and calm, and I focused on that—on him, and not the panic trying to swallow me whole.

"Again," he said softly. "In. One, two, three, four, five."

I followed his instructions once again. I had no idea how many inhales and exhales it was when I finally felt the tightness in my chest begin to ease. It wasn't gone, but the crushing weight had lessened, just a little. The world wasn't spinning quite as fast, and I could feel my pulse slowing slightly.

"You with me?" Adarsh asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

I nodded weakly, my voice too small to use, but he seemed to understand. His expression softened, the tension easing from his shoulders as he stayed close, not moving from his spot beside me.

"You're doing great," he said again. "Now, I want to try something else, okay? It's called grounding."

Adarsh gave me a few seconds to compose myself. "First, I want you to look around the room and name three things you can see."

It felt impossible at first, but I tried. The room wasn't spinning as much now, but my vision was still a little blurry. I forced myself to focus. "Your family photo," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "The one on the shelf."

A small smile appeared on his lips as he followed my line of vision. "Good. Two more."

I glanced around, trying to find something else to bring me back to reality. "Your law books."

"One more," he encouraged. That's when I realized I was clutching his hand tightly.

"The lamp."

"That's great," Adarsh said. "Now, three things you can hear."

I focused, trying to tune into the world around me. "The air conditioner," I said after a moment.

"Good," he said. "What else?"

"Your voice," I whispered.

"One more."

I strained to listen. "That girl who was at the cooking competition... What's her name?"

He chuckled. "Janvi."

"I can hear her high-pitched laugh. I don't like it."

This time his laughter was louder and lasted longer. "Now, let's try something else." He gently pried his hand away from mine. "Can you move your fingers for me?"

My fingers felt stiff, almost disconnected from the rest of me. Slowly, I wiggled them, and as I did, his eyes followed the motion.

"Good," he said, his voice a bit softer now. "Keep moving them, nice and slow."

I did, and his hand brushed mine lightly, as if checking, making sure I was okay. The touch was fleeting but comforting, and it sent a subtle warmth through me.

He bent forward and helped me take off my heels. "Now your toes," Adarsh said, his voice low and gentle. "Wiggle your toes for me."

It was harder than I expected, but I managed to move them as he asked.

"Now, roll your shoulders back. Let's get rid of some of that tension."

I slowly rolled my shoulders. They definitely felt sore. I could feel myself again—my fingers, my toes, my shoulders. My mind. I wasn't lost in the panic anymore.

"Now," he said, his voice still soft, "Take one more deep breath with me. In for five, hold for five, out for five."

I followed his lead, breathing in deeply, holding it, and then releasing it slowly. My breath wasn't perfect, but it was steady now, more under my control than before. The panic hadn't vanished completely, but it was fading, no longer overwhelming me.

"There you go," Adarsh said softly. "You're back. You're okay."

I let out a shaky sigh, leaning back against the couch. My heart was still beating a little too fast, but it wasn't racing anymore. I wasn't drowning. I was breathing.

But I was never going to be okay.