The small, dimly lit shed that housed Piya and Tara's software development business buzzed with energy as the two women celebrated their unexpected triumph. Tara's laughter filled the cramped space, her voice a vibrant contrast to the peeling walls and dusty corners.

"Can you believe it, Piya? We got the contract!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with disbelief and excitement. Piya grinned, her fingers flying across the keyboard of her ageing laptop as she typed out her response.

"I know! I can't believe it either. This is our chance to turn things around," Piya's message appeared on the screen, her words conveying the same enthusiasm that radiated from Tara's expression.

Tara spun in her chair, the wheels creaking beneath her. "And the best part? We get to move to Budapest!" She clapped her hands, her joy infectious. "Now we'll finally have a proper office, not this..." she gestured around the shed, "...this glorified garden shed!"

"Cow shed would be more appropriate" Piya chuckled, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned back in her chair. "I can't wait to see the world. It'll be like a paid vacation, except we actually have to work." Her fingers were flying across the keyboard.

Tara grinned, her excitement bubbling over. "And imagine the coffee shops in Budapest! We'll get to sit by the Danube, sipping lattes while we brainstorm code."

"We can explore the city on the weekends, sample the local cuisine, and maybe even learn a few words of Hungarian. Imagine it, Piya - us, living it up in Europe!"

Piya's fingers paused, and a hint of uncertainty crept into her expression. "But what about the client? Sana, was it?" She tapped the screen, her brow furrowing. "I couldn't quite figure out what role Rahul played in all this."

Tara's laughter subsided, and she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "That's a good question. Rahul seemed a bit too young to be Sana's father, and they weren't exactly sibling-like in their interactions." She chewed on her bottom lip, her gaze shifting to her  laptop. "Let me see if I can find some more information on him."

Piya watched as Tara's fingers flew across the keyboard, her eyes narrowing in concentration. After a few moments, Tara's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and intrigue. "Well, well, well," she murmured, her voice laced with amusement. "It seems our dear Rahul Saxena is quite the successful businessman."

Piya raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. She leaned forward, her fingers poised above the keyboard, and Tara continued. "Rahul Saxena, age 35, runs a thriving IT services company. Impressive client list, awards, the whole nine yards." Tara whistled, shaking her head in disbelief.

Piya could not wait to find out more. She pushed Tara's chair away from the table and commandeered her laptop. She quickly navigated from the business sites to the business news where Rahul made appearances and, from there reached the society page of a newspaper article published five years ago.
And there was a picture of the whole family. Rahul, much younger but still carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders with his father and mother, Kavita. Kavita, her mother's best friend.

Tara, still unaware, came dancing to the desk with some sweets. "Here eat this ladoo, no celebration is - "

The ladoos tumbled to the floor, rolling across the dusty ground like fallen stars. Tara froze, her eyes widening as she took in Piya's pale face.

"Piya?" Tara gently guided Piya to her chair. There was no need to ask any questions. She had seen Kavita's photograph a million times. It was an old faded picture of Piya's mum and Kavita that Piya kept in her wallet. "My mother and her murderer" she often said.

Tara's mind raced with many scenarios, each worse than the last. They would lose the shed they call office, and with her savings dwindling she would lose her home. The baby would be born without a roof over their heads. Tara wanted to cry at the injustice of it all, but there was enough time for that later. Right now there was something more important that needed to be done.

She squeezed Piya's shoulder and dialled a number on her mobile. " Hi, Sana, This is Tara. We'd like to thank you for the generous contract, but I am sorry to say we can't take this project. "

The sole light bulb in the office flickered and died out leaving the girls in darkness.