Diya’s pov                                                                                 

I stepped out of his office, my mind still replaying the failure. i didn't meet him. A little while later, my phone buzzed—an email from him. He assured me he would return my paper. Strange. He wasn’t as terrible as people painted him to be. In fact, he seemed almost… decent now. for future i can't guarantee but I’ve dealt with men like him before; experience has taught me how to handle their games.

Shaking off the thought, I drove to the café where I was meeting Major Virat. Calm, disciplined, and a man of ethics—he’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. We’ve known each other for two years, working side by side on a project. Trustworthy, dedicated, and now posted in Rajasthan. His family lives here, which explains his transfer.

I parked my car and entered the café. There he was, seated at a corner table, punctual as always—army discipline etched into his very being. His back faced me, but before I could speak, he said without turning,

“You’re still alive? I thought someone must have killed you.”

I smirked, glaring playfully. “Don’t worry. I won’t die that easily.”

We hugged, warmth in the familiarity, and sat down.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Instinct. Training,” he replied, pride flickering in his smile.

We discussed the project, security measures, and strategies. When the work talk ended, I asked about his family.

“You belong to a royal family? And you never mentioned it?” I teased, amused.

“I’m adopted,” he said softly. “But they love me like their own son.”

He asked where I lived. “With my family,” I replied curtly. He didn’t probe further—he knew my strained ties with them. That silence was his respect.

We parted ways with a promise to meet again.

It was already five in the evening when I spotted Sid’s car stalled by the roadside. I stopped, lowered my window, and his face lit up.

“Thank God, Di! My car won’t start,” he sighed.

“Hop in. I’m heading home,” I said with a smile.

He slid into the passenger seat, immediately filling the air with chatter—his meetings, hobbies, random stories. I chuckled. Now I understood how Vihaan tolerated me daily.

Gujral Mansion

We reached home. The family was gathered, tension clouding the room.

“Problem solved?” Chachu asked Sid.

Sid shook his head, disappointment heavy. “The data isn’t retrieved yet.”

I remembered Vihaan’s words and decided to give them a chance. Sitting beside Dadi, I felt her smile warm me, and for a moment, the heaviness in the room lifted.

“The tech experts tried, but no improvement,” Sid explained.

“What happened?” I asked, scanning their faces.

Chachu exchanged a glance with Dadu before speaking. “There’s a problem in the company server. It’s fixed, but the data is still missing.”

“May I try?” I offered.

Sid’s eyes lit up like a child’s. “Why not, Di!” He dragged me to sit between him and Chachu, handing me his laptop.

The issue was simple—something I could solve in minutes. Tarun, Vihaan’s AI, could have handled it easily. After a few keystrokes, I leaned back. “Done.”

Sid hugged me suddenly, gratitude spilling from him. “Di, you helped me twice today—first with the car, now this data!”

Their proud faces surrounded me, and for once, I felt… seen.

“You’re a good driver,” Sid added, then hesitated, realizing the weight of his words. “Dad taught me. Who taught you?”

“My friend,” I replied simply.

Chachi cut in, easing the awkwardness. “Get fresh, have dinner.”

Author’s POV

Later, Diya and Sid retired to their rooms.

“She’s so intelligent,” Rajendra murmured.

“We hurt her too much, Dad. She’s broken,” Arvind admitted.

“We can fix her. It will take effort,” Sumitra said firmly.

“We’ll all try,” Anjali added, worry in her voice. “But when she learns the truth… how will she react?”

“No one tells her anything until she’s comfortable,” Rajendra decided.

After dinner, they tried to talk with Diya, to know her better, to make her feel at home. She responded politely, cautiously.

Later, in her room, she called Vihaan, sharing everything—except her meeting with Raunaksh. When the call ended, she lay down, exhaustion pulling her into sleep.

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