I was sitting in my office idling away when I heard commotion outside, one distinct voice that I heard was of Rohan.

"Can you stop shouting?" Rohan asked.

I walked outside and froze as I stared at the cause of the nuisance.

"But Rohan beta, we had some work with Sanjana,"

"Sanjana?" Rohan asked as he raised his eyebrows in my direction, clearly know that my aunt was bluffing.

I just shook my head as my blood started pounding in my ears as I felt myself getting light-headed. I don't know why I gave them so much power over me, why I let them affect me so much but I just couldn't help it with these people. They always knew how to get under my skin.

I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as I focused in myself. My eyes started drooping and my knees gave out. I braced myself for a fall but arms wrapped around me and steadied me.

"Hey Sanjana, it's okay, they're gone now," his soft voice whispered in my ear as I breathed heavily.

I hid my face in his shoulder as I clutched the collar of his blazer.

"Sanjana I've got you," he said.

He rubbed my back in a soothing manner and continued whispering sweet nothings in my ear as I calmed down.

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I wiped my face.

"Hey there's nothing to be sorry about," he said with a small smile.

He guided us inside my office and stood by the door as I walked near my desk. I turned around mid-way and looked at him.

"Can I-- can you hold me?"

"Anytime Sanjana,"

He closed the distance between us and wrapped him arms around me. I sagged against him as I sighed. We stayed there for some time before I pulled away and Rohan left me alone after I reassured him that I was okay.

°

A few weeks after the incident, I was eating lunch in my office when my mom called me.

"Sanju,"

"Ha ma,"

"Why didn't you inform us that she was there in your office?"

"I'd forgotten about it ma,"

"You'd forgotten about it? You never forget about this,"

"Ma,"

"You don't need to worry about worrying us okay? You need to tell us! She must have triggered you again, that good for nothing lady I need to get a restraining order on her, just because we haven't done that she seems to think she can show up anytime, that witch--"

"Mom,"

"--that wench, if I get my hands on her I'll strangle her to death, how dare she try to sabotage your relationship--"

"Mom!"

"What beta?"

"Ma calm down, Rohan handled her," I said.

"Did she try anything funny?"

"No ma,"

"But you had a panic attack," she said already knowing.

"Yes," I said in a small voice.

"You know you can't let her have that much power over you right?"

"I know ma, but I can't help it okay? It's not like I have any control over it..."

"But you can have control over it--"

"I don't want to talk about it mom!" I snapped.

"I'm only trying to help beta,"

"Well you can't!" I snapped, frustrated at mom.

"Beta,"

"Mom, I have work to do, I'll call y'all later okay?"

"Okay, I love you beta,"

"Bye,"

I don't bother saying I love you and immediately feel guilty for the way I behaved with her.

I'm about to call her again to apologize for my behaviour when my office phone rings.

"Ma'am, you need to come to the emergency room right now, there's a woman here and she won't talk to us,"

"What do you mean she won't talk to you?"

"Ma'am, I think she's a victim,"

Lilly doesn't need to say more because I'm immediately on my feet and rushing to the emergency room.

"Where is the lady?" I asked Lilly.

"She's inside, ma'am she's terrified," she whispered.

"You go call Rohan and Sunil and ask them to stand outside while I'll go talk to her okay?"

I don't wait for her response as I walked inside. My eyes widened as I took in her disheveled look, I noted she was married and that she was shuddering.

"Hey," I said softly.

I walked towards her and her eyes widened in fear.

"Hey, I'm not going to do anything okay? Now will you tell me your name?" I asked as I stood next to her.

She didn't say anything but then raised her bruised arms to sign something.

Because I had stopped talking from the age of 17 until the age of 21, my dad had introduced me to sign language. Though I was not fluent in sign language I could make out what she was saying.

"Help me please,"

"I'm here to help you, could you tell me your name?"

She looked surprised that I understood the sign language.

"Monica,"

"Now--"

I couldn't finish the sentence because the door burst open and in walked Rohan and Sunil. Monica immediately hid behind me in fear.

"I had informed Lilly that you guys would stay outside the room,"

"We had to come, the victim may need medical attention and we have some protocols to follow Bhabhi," Sunil said.

Upon hearing Sunil's voice, Monica peeked from above my shoulder and looked at Sunil. Sunil froze and tears welled in his eyes as he looked at Monica.

"Monu," he whispered as he walked closer. Monica stepped forward as she looked at Sunil with tears in her eyes.

Is it the same Monu? The one Rohan said Sunil loved?

"Monu," he said as he moved forward to wrap his arms around Monica.

I moved forward to stop him, she may not be comfortable but a hand held me back. I turned around and found Rohan shaking his head.

"They know each other," he said and pulled me closer to him.

I stared at Sunil and Monica as they hugged each other and cried.

"I'm here Monu, I'm not going anywhere," Sunil said as he pulled away but Monica's hand around his shirt pulled him back.

As they calmed down and then Rohan greeted Monica, we all settled down on the sofa. Monica was nestled closer to Sunil and she was shuddering every now and then.

"Do you want me to get you a set of clothes?" I asked.

She shook her and and closed her eyes.

"We need to get you medical attention, from what I can see you have a broken bone or two,"

"I'm not going outside," she signed frantically.

"But how will we get you medical attention Monica?" I asked softly, clearly aware of the curious eyes of Rohan on me.

She didn't say anything as tears welled in her eyes.

"What happened? Why is she crying?" Sunil asked.

"She doesn't want to go outside," I said and leaned back on the sofa.

"Monu, we need to get you medical attention sweetheart," he said as he held her face in his hands.

"I think she's scared, I know the feeling,"

I immediately stop myself from spilling all the details but I can see Rohan stiffen besides me.

"How about you take her home and get a doctor there, a female one preferably," I suggested.

"She still needs to step outside," Rohan murmured besides me.

After much discussion, we finally decided that Sunil would carry her to the car and have a driver drive them home as Sunil kept her company.

"Thank you so much Sanjana," Sunil said as he and Monica left.

We sat there in silence and only broke our silence when Rohan picked my hand and entwined our hands.

"So this is what you must have been like hmm?" He said softly.

"Rohan I don't want to talk about it," I whispered.

"So I still haven't earned your trust, hmm I need to work harder it seems," he said with a small smile.

"No, you're perfect, I'm just not ready to talk about it yet,"

"So I'm perfect hmm? Good to know," he said with a goofy smile.

"Shut up," I grumbled as a smile tugged on my lips.

"Sanjana?"

"Hmm?"

"I wanted to do something for a long time, I don't know if I'll be alive after that or not but I wanted to take my chances," he said honestly.

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yeah,"

"Then close your eyes,"

"No,"

"Please,"

"No I can't Rohan,"

"Hmm okay then, at least I tried," he murmured the last part to himself.

"Rohan--"

"I want to give you a forehead kiss, I've read that it's really a cute gesture and I just wanted to try it," he said honestly as he stared at me.

"Oh,"

"Don't feel bad, and I'm sorry if it felt like I was pressurising you," he added softly.

"No you weren't,"

"Okay then, look at the time, I have a meeting," he said as he stood up.

"I'll give you a chance," the words were out of my mouth before I could even stop them.

"Nah Sanjana, I know somewhere you feel like you need to do this not because you want it but maybe because you feel bad for denying me, I'll pass this opportunity this time," he said and waved before leaving.

"What is this man? Who is this man? How is he so understanding?" I mumbled as I watched him leave.