The lively music echoed around the ornate hall, laughter bouncing between Greek columns painted in warm hues. Piya Sharma stood with Zoltan, her chest constricting with anxiety. She glanced around the packed venue, feeling the tremors of her unease.

"Come on, Piya!" Zoltan urged, grinning, his blue eyes sparkling with energy. "It's a celebration. Look how beautiful it is!"

But all Piya could focus on was the figure of Rahul across the room, his laughter ringing like a distant bell. Memories of their past played like a haunting slide show. She hesitated, thumb hovering over her phone, battling an urge to text Zoltan to suggest they leave.

"Is it all too much?" Zoltan asked, his voice dropping an octave as he tilted his head, concern flickering across his face.

Piya flicked her gaze away from Rahul, battling her swirling thoughts. Not just too much. Mortifying.

Before she could respond, Zoltan gestured toward a group. "Look! Even JR is here! Just think of it. A great way to celebrate our hard work!"

The tension in Piya's chest tightened. JR's familiar face sparked warmth tinged with anxiety. She wasn't ready to face JR yet, not before she had dealt with the ghosts of the past. Zoltan nudged her lightly. "You'll be fine." sensing her hesitation, "Remember, it's all about joy tonight."

"Let's at least say hello." Zoltan took her hand, tugging her toward JR with excited momentum.

As they approached, JR spotted her first, a radiant smile spreading across his face. "Piya!" He opened his arms wide, enveloping her in a hug that felt like heavy nostalgia and warm affection. "You've blossomed! Kavita would be so proud of you!"

Piya's heart swelled with complicated emotions. The warmth wrapped around her but memories of her mother tangled within her, pulling her toward sorrow. She forced a smile, gripping JR's hands tightly, hoping the connection would ground her amidst the chaos.

He continued, oblivious to her turmoil. "Your coding skills? Remarkable! Every time I talk to Rahul about work, I can see your brilliance. The world needs more selfmade people like you. We need more people like you."

A twist of joy mingled with an ugly pull of grief within her. She nodded, trying to keep her smile steady.

Just then, the atmosphere shifted, tension slicing through the air as Sana entered. With her perfectly coiffed hair and striking outfit, she was all confidence, all pretension. Piya's heart sank further, fear bubbling in her stomach.

Sana's eyes darted to Rahul, her expression shifting with a flicker of jealousy. The moment she spotted Piya with JR, her lips curled into a twisted smile.

"Of course," Piya thought grimly.

JR turned to Sana, his delight unchanged. "Sana! So glad to see you! You brought Piya back into the family fold. Wonderful!" JR moved to another side as other people came to greet him, leaving Piya and Sana alone for the moment. Sana stepped closer, her heels clicking on the polished floor like a countdown to doom. "Piya," she greeted, voice laced with sweetness that felt anything but genuine. "You're still the charity case I remember."

Piya's breath caught in her throat. She clenched her hands at her sides, fighting the urge to provoke a response.

"Just because they treat you with pity doesn't mean you're family, you know," Sana continued, her words wrapped in venom as she leaned closer, eyes sparking with a twisted satisfaction. "They help and then feel good about themselves. It's quite predictable, really."

Piya's hands trembled. Hurt surged through her, legs locking in place as Sana's venom sank into her like a deep-seated dagger. She couldn't respond verbally, but the microchip of anger ignited within her chest.

"Come on, Sana. This is all about celebrating our success," Zoltan chimed in, his tone defensive, but it felt like whispers tangled in the vibrant air.

Sana leaned in, the plastic smile of hers widening into a taunt. "And let's face it, Piya," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain, "you're uneducated, and well, handicapped. Just like a beggar on the roadside."

The words twisted like a knife, and Piya felt every point of pain land squarely within her. She fought the urge to shake, her breath shallow. Anger and humiliation welled up, battling with pride. How could she respond? How could she show them all that she was more than a mere shadow of their guilt?

She caught a fleeting glance at Rahul. He stood there, unaware of the brewing storm, engaged in idle conversation with colleagues.

JR didn't sense the tension where he stood, brimming with his usual enthusiasm. "I want you all to join us for dinner soon. It's time to celebrate our hard work!"

Piya's heart raced with resentment as Sana turned her sharp gaze back to JR, an insincere smile plastered across her face. "Yes, dinner sounds lovely. Just keeping this 'self-righteous' girl in her place. Right?" Sana's laughter echoed harshly in the otherwise jubilant atmosphere.

Piya stood frozen, a silent storm brewing within her. A million retorts churned in her mind, each one screaming that she was NOT a charity case, yet her disability rendered her voiceless. Her phone became a lifeline, clutched tightly in her trembling hand—a digital weapon against the tide of humiliation, her fingers white-knuckled as rage burned crimson across her cheeks.

JR, finally noticing the undercurrents, took a step towards Piya. "What's happening?" His voice registered the shift in energy, concern etched on his face as he looked from Piya to Sana.

Sana shot him a glance laced with annoyance. "Oh, nothing, JR. Just an open conversation about family dynamics."

Piya clenched her fists. The tension, electric and unbearable, screamed silently between them. She needed to break free from the spiral of judgment that tightened around her. She took a step backwards to avoid JR's hand as it was reaching for her. It was a long lost gesture from the past. It was JR who always held her hand when the roads were rocky. Meena, wanting to make Piya independent always walked a step behind her, ready to help her but never holding her hand.

Sana's expression shifted, momentarily confused. She wanted Piya to realize her place in the grand scheme of things and yet, did not want to antagonize JR who very obviously cared deeply for Piya. She brushed it off quickly and laughed lightly. "Please, Piya. You know that's not—"

"You speak like it's true." As Piya's pulse raced with each beat, she finally struck back, frustration pushing her forward. "This is not out of kindness. You think they're giving me a chance out of pity?"

Sana recoiled slightly, surprise flashing across her features as she read the text, but she recovered quickly, her smirk returning. "Oh, darling, the world is full of people eager to help the less fortunate" She opened the small clutch and with very deliberate movements kept her mobile in it, signaling the end of the conversation.

"Just don't fool yourself into thinking they want you there as family," Sana quipped, her tone ridiculing. "They're probably just guilt-ridden over what happened with your mother."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating Piya. The mention of her mother felt like a blow to her already fragile composure. She struggled to keep her breathing steady as Sana's words echoed in her mind, wielding the sharp edges of grief and anger. In that moment, Piya felt as though she was teetering on the precipice of an emotional collapse, the weight of memories and the sting of Sana's words battling for dominance in her heart.