"Piya, open the door," Rahul stood outside the bathroom. The noise of the shower was the only response. "Piya, you need to grow up; you are not a teenager anymore." He knew those words were a mistake the moment they left his mouth. The water continued to run, drowning out any sound but his own. Rahul leaned against the door and waited.

Piya, in many respects, was still the same teen who had packed her bags and simply left after her mother's funeral. If he remembered correctly, she did not even stay for all the funeral rites. Her departure from their lives was sudden and unexpected. He was not sure she realized the devastation she left behind.

Kavita went into the operation theatre grateful and hopeful, the doctors had promised that the transplant would improve her health considerably and give her many more years while her dearest friend would recover quickly. The news that Meena died on the operating table was devastating for Kavita. "I killed my best friend," she sobbed as she clung to JR for comfort.

Meena was not only a friend but a family member for them, and in their overwhelming grief, none of them remembered Piya. Rahul wondered if those few hours when JR and he were busy consoling Kavita were the moment they inadvertently lost Piya. The sound of water continued to cascade, mirroring Rahul's spiralling thoughts. Even now, as he stood outside the bathroom, memories of that chaotic day swirled in his mind.

"Piya, please," he called again, softening his tone. "Do you really want to waste the whole day in there?"

Silence hung like a heavy curtain. He could almost feel the tension vibrating through the door.

Finally, the water stopped. Piya emerged her expression a carefully constructed shield of defiance. Still dressed in her pyjamas, she held her head high as she stepped out, eyes narrowed at him like a challenged warrior.

"Piya, you can't just lock yourself away like that," Rahul said, arms crossed. "You've been avoiding everything. This isn't the way."

Piya just stood there, not moving a muscle. This was exactly how she stood when Rahul confronted her in her office—defiant, unyielding, her silence a weapon more potent than words. Rahul instinctively stepped back, recognizing the futility of his attempt to breach her emotional walls. "Get ready and eat your breakfast. We leave for the office in twenty minutes," he said, his tone a mix of frustration and resignation.

Piya's silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken words and buried pain. She turned away, her back a rigid line of defiance as she headed toward her room. The tension between them crackled like static electricity, a tangible reminder of the emotional barriers she had meticulously constructed over the years.

The meeting was going well but the client's behaviour was getting on Rahul's nerves. "Mr. Saxena, can you explain this section on firewalls again?" The client leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on Rahul, completely dismissing Piya who sat across the table.

Piya felt the heat of embarrassment creep up her neck, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her laptop. She fought against the instinct to go silent, to withdraw into herself, but as the client's words slid past her like a cold breeze, she couldn't help but feel her defences crumble.

"Miss Sharma, do you have any input?" the client asked, his gaze flickering over to her as if only now remembering she was present.

Piya typed an explanation. She understood the problem and had a great solution but only if the client would read it. Rahul read out the response in a monotone. It was obvious that Rahul did not like the way the client was behaving. "Mr. Kapoor," Rahul's voice chilled, weighed down by tension, "Piya has intricate knowledge regarding backend security that could greatly enhance your system. It's worth considering her insights directly."

The client leaned back, feigning interest but his body language screamed disinterest. "Right. Okay. But isn't she more of a support role in your team?"

Rahul's jaw tightened. " "Piya leads backend development; she isn't just a support role. Her insight comes from years of hands-on experience."

Rahul's voice resonated with determination, but Piya could see the shadows of doubt flicker in the client's eyes. Piya's heart sank; it felt like she was suspended in the air, waiting to drop.

"You see, it's critical that we collaborate effectively on this project," Rahul pressed, his voice steady despite the chaos of emotions swirling inside him. "We want you to have the best from our team, and that includes Piya ."Piya felt a rush of gratitude mixed with dread. It was comforting to see Rahul standing up for her, yet everything felt like a performance. She forced a smile, trying to project confidence even as her insides twisted with anxiety.

"Piya," Rahul said, finally turning to her, his gaze piercing yet compassionate. "You can explain the backend integration if you feel comfortable."

Her heartbeat raced as she wrestled with the sudden spotlight. Words clawed at her throat, but nothing emerged. Piya took a deep breath, her fingers dancing over the keyboard as she crafted a response that danced between clarity and frustration. She typed quickly, her mind racing to keep pace with the words forming in her head.

"Firewall protocols must prioritize incoming and outgoing traffic without compromise," she sent to the chat window, wishing for the confidence to say it aloud, wishing for a voice to match her thoughts. Rahul read her message, nodding slowly, though Piya could see the concern in his eyes. "And that's precisely why we need to reinforce our security measures," he added, his tone blending authority with encouragement.

The client gestured dismissively. "Right, but it's still all a bit too technical for me, Rahul," he replied, leaning back with crossed arms, a hint of condescension in his posture. "Can you break it down for me? Rahul clenched his jaw, feeling Piya's frustration radiate through the air.

"Mr. Kapoor," he began, forcing calm into his voice, "the measures we implement aren't just necessary; they're crucial for the longevity and security of your infrastructure. Piya can explain it in layman's terms if you give her the chance, but undermining her expertise won't serve either of us in achieving our goals."

Mr. Kapoor was quick to recover, "I didn't mean to. It's just that I've never faced a situation like this before." He rubbed the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable.

Rahul's voice softened, finding a balance between professionalism and empathy. "I understand it's new territory for you, but I assure you, Piya's contributions are invaluable. Allow her to present her ideas without filtering through me."

The rest of the meeting concluded smoothly, yet Kapoor's unprofessional demeanour and lack of empathy had deeply wounded Piya. Her shoulders slumped, she avoided eye contact, her fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against her laptop.

"She needs someone to talk to," Rahul told himself. The haunting image of the previous night replayed in his mind—Piya emerging from her nightmare's grip, her vulnerability exposed, her normally impenetrable facade crumbling. The memory stirred something profound and unfamiliar within him.

As the meeting ended, Piya kept her gaze fixed resolutely on her laptop screen. Rahul could feel the crushing weight of disappointment emanating from her, a tangible cloud of dejection that seemed to envelop her entire being.

Rahul turned to her, voice low, "You handled yourself well, Piya. The client just...does't understand the full extent of your capabilities. Don't let his ignorance undermine everything you've accomplished."

The car ride to the hotel was silent with Piya trying her best to become invisible. Rahul had seen the proud exterior she wore crumble bit by bit the entire day. It was not a pretty sight.

"I am sorry" he finally said as they stood at the entrance of the hotel, the quiet buzz of the city spilling around them. " Kapoor is an ignorant fool"

He mumbled something about dinner plans and walked away without waiting for Piya's response. He needed to clear his head and she needed a sympathetic shoulder to lean on.