Arvi's pov:

I sat on the edge of Nia's bed, my fingers curled around the mug of chai she'd made for me. The warmth should've comforted me. It didn't.

She was sitting across from me, her eyes filled with questions she hadn't dared to ask yet. Not until I was ready.

And now... I was.

I took a deep breath, my voice low. "It all started the day I got fired."

Nia's brows furrowed, but she stayed quiet.

"That guy... the one I spilled coffee on?" I let out a humorless chuckle. "Rayaan Oberoi. I didn't even know who he was. Just some arrogant man with too much pride and too little patience."

She blinked. "Wait-the Rayaan Oberoi?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Turns out, he's Sulekha aunty's son."

Her eyes widened. "The same Sulekha aunty who?"

"-found me unconscious on the road," I finished for her. "Yes. She brought me home, gave me a place to stay when I had no one and nothing. I didn't know it was his house until he walked in weeks later and saw me."

"And?"

"He hated me," I whispered. "From that very first moment. Thought I was after their money, their name... called me a gold digger, Nia."

Her face tightened with anger, but she let me continue.

"I wanted to leave, I swear. But aunty stopped me. She believed in me. She gave me a job in Oberoi Industries. And suddenly, I was working under him."

I paused, staring into my tea. "It was hell. Every single day. He humiliated me. Made me question why I stayed. But somewhere... somewhere in the middle of it all, I think I started to see a version of him that wasn't completely heartless."

My throat tightened, but I pushed through.

"But then it happened again. He hurt me. Said things that... broke something inside me. That night, I was crying when you came. I wasn't even surprised. I knew you'd find me."

She reached for my hand, gently squeezing it. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"My phone broke," I said quietly. "And maybe... maybe a part of me was ashamed. I didn't want you to see me like this. I was supposed to be strong."

Nia shook her head, her voice firm. "You are strong. But you don't have to be alone."

Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time, they weren't from pain they were from the relief of finally being seen.

I whispered, "I'm tired, Nia. I don't want to fight for a place where I was never wanted."

She wrapped her arms around me, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself break. Not because I was weak, but because I was finally safe.

And this time, I knew I wasn't going to run anymore.

I was going to rise.

I stared out the window of Nia's house, the quiet hum of the city far away in the background. My heart still felt heavy, but somehow, just being with her made everything a little more bearable.

She sat beside me, waiting patiently, like she always did when I needed time to find my words.

"I want to go back," I finally said, my voice low.

Nia turned to me. "Go back where?"

"My room," I said softly. "The one I used to rent before all of this. Before the Oberoi Mansion... before everything."

Her expression softened. "Arvi, are you sure? That place was tiny."

"I know," I said, almost smiling. "It was small and noisy and sometimes the tap didn't work. But it was mine. It felt like mine. I could shut the door and just... be. No eyes watching me, no one doubting my intentions, no heavy silences."

I looked at her, my eyes brimming. "I just want that again. I want to feel like I belong somewhere even if it's just a room with peeling paint and a rickety fan. That place held my peace. And I think it's time I find that peace again."

Nia nodded slowly, reaching out to brush her thumb across my cheek. "Then we'll go tomorrow. We'll clean it up, open the windows, let the light in. We'll make it home again."

I let out a small breath I hadn't realised I was holding. For the first time in weeks, the thought of going back didn't feel like a failure it felt like freedom.

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.

.

.

.

The room smelled exactly how I remembered faint traces of old incense, dust, and the familiar comfort of my own things. It was small, but it was mine. My mattress was still pushed against the wall, my books still stacked on the floor shelf like they had been waiting for me to return.

I sank down onto the bed with a soft sigh, brushing my fingers across the faded bedsheet. Nia was standing near the window, tying back the curtain, her eyes darting around with that same thoughtful look she always wore when she was planning something.

"You really came back here without a second thought," she said, grinning. "Most people would've chosen the mansion."

I gave her a small smile. "I just needed to come back to myself."

She turned, walked over to me, and sat beside me. Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she pulled something out of her bag and held it out toward me.

"Here," she said. "For you."

I blinked down at the small box in her hands. "What is this?"

"Open it."

I hesitated, then gently pulled the lid off and my breath caught. A brand-new phone, sleek and simple, lay inside the box.

"Nia..." I looked up at her, stunned. "What... why?"

She shrugged, but her voice was soft. "Because yours was broken. And because I don't want to lose you again not even for a day. You don't have to worry about money or repaying me. Just promise me you'll stay connected this time."

I didn't realise I was crying until I felt the tear slip down my cheek.

"I'm so sorry I disappeared. I really tried-"

"I know," she interrupted gently, pulling me into a hug. "You don't have to explain anything. I'm just glad you're here. And that you're you again."

I held onto her tightly, the phone pressed between us like a quiet reminder that I wasn't alone anymore. That even when the world turned cold, there was always someone ready to bring warmth back into my life.

I wiped my tears quickly, smiling through the sniffles as I stared down at the phone in my hands. It felt unreal new, untouched, like a fresh start.

Nia leaned over, nudging my shoulder. "Alright, give it here. I'm setting it up for you."

I looked at her, amused. "You don't trust me to do it myself?"

She scoffed. "Please. You'll skip the backup, forget the passwords, and somehow lock yourself out in two hours."

I laughed, handing it over. "Fair enough."

She got to work quickly, fingers tapping across the screen with the kind of focus only Nia had. "New number, new beginnings," she muttered, then glanced up at me. "By the way, it's high time you got back on Instagram."

I blinked. "Instagram?"

"Yes! The world needs to see Arvi again. And don't even try to argue I already have the perfect username in mind."

I raised an eyebrow. "Should I be scared?"

She grinned. "Only a little."

I shook my head, laughing softly. "Okay, fine. But don't make me an influencer overnight."

"No promises," she winked. "You're too pretty to hide."

I rolled my eyes, heart lighter than it had been in days. Sitting there with her, teasing and rebuilding little by little I finally felt like myself again.

Maybe this was what healing looked like. Quiet moments, genuine laughter, and a best friend who never stopped believing in you.

I watched Nia as she moved through the phone like it was her second nature setting up everything, organizing apps, adjusting settings. She looked so serious until her lips suddenly curled into a sly smile.

"What now?" I asked, already suspicious.

"Oh, nothing," she said, clearly trying to sound casual.

"Nia..."

She burst into a grin. "Okay fine I'm just adding Rayaan's cousins on your Instagram. Aleesha, Arekha, Vanisha-done."

My eyes widened. "Why would you do that?!"

"Because," she said, holding up the phone proudly, "they adore you. They should know you're okay. Besides, it's fun watching people squirm when someone they care about suddenly becomes unreachable."

I stared at her, half-shocked, half-laughing. "You're unbelievable."

"Thank you," she said with a dramatic bow. "But seriously, they tried so hard to stop you that night. I saw it in their eyes they love you like family, Arvi. Maybe this little notification will remind them you're still out there... just choosing yourself for once."

I looked down, a small ache blooming in my chest. I did miss them-more than I wanted to admit.

"You think they'll message?" I asked quietly.

"They'd be stupid not to," she said, locking the phone and handing it back to me. "You lit up that mansion, Arvi. They felt it when you left."

I smiled faintly, my fingers curling around the phone. Maybe she was right.

Maybe leaving didn't mean disappearing completely.

Maybe it was just the start of showing up... for myself.

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I didn't expect it to happen so fast.

Barely five minutes after Nia added them, my notifications lit up-Aleesha Oberoi has followed you. Arekha Oberoi has followed you. Vanisha Oberoi has followed you.

I stared at the screen, stunned. "They added me back."

Nia smirked, not even pretending to be surprised. "Told you. They were probably refreshing Instagram like hawks."

Then another notification popped up. Aleesha Oberoi added you to a group chat: "Girl Gang, duh!"

I let out a laugh, warm and sudden. Nia peered over my shoulder. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Messages were already flooding in.

Aleesha: OMG YOU'RE BACKKKKK!!! I missed you so much I could scream.

Arekha: Why didn't you say goodbye properly?? I cried like a baby, okay??

Vanisha: We literally stood outside the gate watching you leave and now you're just popping up like a cool breeze?!

I blinked at the screen, heart full and eyes stinging. They hadn't forgotten me. They still cared.

Slowly, my fingers moved over the keyboard.

Me: I'm sorry I left the way I did. I just needed to breathe. I missed you all too.

Three hearts popped up instantly, followed by a storm of gifs, emojis, and voice notes.

Nia leaned her head on my shoulder, grinning. "Feels like home now, doesn't it?"

I nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek but this time, it wasn't from pain.

It was from the overwhelming, beautiful feeling of being remembered.

I was still replying to Aleesha's voice note when the next message popped up in the "Girl Gang, duh!" chat.

Arekha: Send me your number now or I'll show up at your door, Arvi.

Vanisha: Same. We're not doing this "only Insta" thing.

I smiled, hesitating for a second before typing it out and sending it.

Within seconds, another notification appeared You've been added to a new group: "Fam & Drama"

My smile dropped.

Because right there, listed in the group members, were names I didn't expect to see.

Vivaan .Not him but,

Rayaan.

My heart skipped a beat. My thumb hovered over the exit group option.

Nia, who had been watching my face closely, narrowed her eyes. "Don't even think about it."

I looked at her, panic rising in my chest. "He's in there, Nia. Rayaan is in that group."

"So?"

"So?" I echoed, my voice sharp with nerves. "I didn't sign up for this. I just wanted to talk to the girls not... not him."

She sighed, taking my phone gently from my hands. "Arvi, listen to me. You left for your peace, right? So don't let one name on a screen take it away again."

"But-"

"No. Breathe," she said firmly. "This is your space now. You're not in their mansion, under his roof, or answering to anyone. You're Arvi. Strong, stubborn, impossible to hate Arvi. If he's uncomfortable, he can leave the group."

I blinked at her, heart still racing.

And then, the most unexpected thing happened.

Vivaan: Arvi's here?! Finally!

Aleesha: Yup. And she's not going anywhere, so everyone behave.

I felt my chest ease just a little.

Nia nudged me. "Stay. Don't run this time."

So I stayed. Silent for now but present. And somehow, that felt like a win.

Rayaan's pov:

I was in my study, half-lost in files and half-distracted by my own thoughts, when my phone buzzed on the desk.

Once.

Twice.

Then relentlessly.

I frowned, picking it up.

"You've been added to a group: Fam & Drama."

What the hell?

I opened it, expecting some cousin chaos but the first name that jumped out at me wasn't Aleesha's or Arekha's.

It was Arvi.

Her name sat there like a ghost I hadn't invited.

My jaw tightened, thumb freezing mid-scroll. What was she doing in this group? Hadn't she walked out of the mansion like we meant nothing? Like the air she breathed was too heavy in our world?

Another message popped up.

Vivaan: Arvi's here?! Finally!

Aleesha: Yup. And she's not going anywhere, so everyone behave.

Behave.

As if I was the problem.

I stared at the screen, my pulse ticking a little faster not with anger. Something else. Something I didn't want to name.

It should've meant nothing.

But there she was again somehow finding a way back into the world I'd convinced myself she didn't belong to.

I locked the phone and tossed it aside.

Whatever.

She could be in every group chat in the world. I didn't care.

Not one bit.