Divya almost never cries, but that is because she cries in a different way. Her tears become her actions, her problem-solving. She channels her love into helping in that wonderful obsessive way of hers. If her friends tell her they have a problem, either in words or in body language, or a combination of the two, she'll be in a level of discomfort until she has solved it for them. That's real love, that's truth.

She'd protect them, help them, shield them with her own anatomy because that heart of hers bears the burden of unheard the silent cries of theirs- not the mask or self-deception, but the real self that slips through the cracks in tiny speckles. That is who she responds to, which can confuse those who don't have a strong connection with their true selves. So ironically, when she is emotionless, she is most emotional, volatile state. It's when she needs help the most but not everyone seems to understand her pleas like they couldn't decipher their own. Perhaps it is some sort of a sensory overload reaction- there is too much emotion to process and so her brain tries to edit it out, the same way her brain edits out fear when it has no purpose.

Despite shutting off the emotions for self-preservation, she's still working on saving them, helping them, and loving them in a way that is enhanced by the lack of emotions.

It's possible to love someone and be disappointed. It's possible to love someone and hurt them. It's possible to love someone and be unable to live with them. It's possible to love someone and be the reason for their downfall. It took Divya a long time to understand that.

That's often the problem with the world.

Divya Singhania was a rockstar, a woman of pride, honesty and confidence. Yet recently everything seemed to go against what she thought. She has prided herself in thinking that she was a good leader. A bad person but a good leader. But that also seems inaccurate right now. "You can't see the wrong you do until it's pointed out to you."

The guitarist didn't expect herself to be jerked out of her trance by falling face first on the ground. "Mother..." she groaned at the throbbing in her recently healed ankle.

"Sorry!"

Divya overtly rolled her eyes hearing the all too familiar voice. "Miss sorry soul," she addressed the person who had collided with her. "Watch where you are going."

The students around them gave Drishti a sympathetic look as she dusted herself off and helped the guitarist to her feet. They waited for her to get tagged with their sticker, the announcement from a few days ago forgotten.

"I am starting to think we are fated to meet. You know since we keep bumping into each other." Drishti said in all seriousness as she worked on getting all the books dropped back into her grip.

"I'll be dead before our fates collide. Besides, my luck ain't that bad." She watched in amusement as Drishti struggled to hold the books in her hand. In a move that surprised everyone, herself included, she picked up some of the fallen items.

The class parent's mouth went dry. "Please do not set those on fire."

"I am not a pyromaniac."

"I am sorry for not watching where I am going but please do not burn those books. They belong to your classmates..."

"I am helping bring them to the staff room."

"And I haven't...wait what?"

"I am helping you get them to the staff room since you are clearly incapable of doing it on your own," she repeated with a little modification to her previous statement.

Drishti continued gawking at her. When it became obvious the class parent wasn't moving, Divya grew annoyed. "Were dropped on your head as a baby or something?"

"I don't think so?" she replied, confused, still staring at her student.

The guitarist rubbed her hand over her face. "Oh my god...okay let me spell it out for you in brainless people terms," she offered, although it was as condescending as it could get. "You are the princess in the tower that can't do shit on your own. So I, the prince, am here to help you." she cringed at the terminology.

"Helping me..." she muttered, finally processing the sentence.

Are you kidding me? "Yes, helping you. Congratulations. you hit the nail on the head," she rolled her eyes once again. Divya ignored the jaw-dropping reactions from everyone and turned on her heel towards the staff room. "Pick up the pace, Sharma. I don't have all day." she quipped.

Drishti jogged to catch up to her. "You never stop surprising me," she added gleefully. Looks like the announcement wasn't some joke. I guess they are really coming around.

"Don't get used to it, miss sorry soul."

"I'll try," she laughed at the indignant sigh that left her students' mouths. It was unusually quiet as they walked. "I see the rest of the group isn't around today," she said, realising the absence of her three friends. Ragini in particular leaves her with an uneasy feeling in the gut.

Divya wanted to snap, her lips already curling into a nasty remark at ready. "It's shocking I suppose." she settles for instead.

"Well yea, since you guys are practically joined at the hip."

"We are not," the guitarist growled. "We have our own individual perspectives and lives. Everyone is their own person."

Drishti fell a step back fearing an angrier reaction. "Okay, Miss Singhania. I get it. Why so defensive," silent treatment it is. Drishti went along with it until curiously itched her once again. "So uhh...how is Ragini?"

Divya frowned at the mention of her best friend. She was running late from what Ragni told her. It sounded weird and she was definitely going to question it later. But why is miss sorry soul asking? "Fine, why do you care?" she asked briskly.

"Oh good. I was worried that she was still sad about yesterday."

The student stopped dead in her tracks. "What are you talking about?" she asked, feeling her guard getting pulled up at the little line between Drishti's eyebrows and the hesitation she could read there. shifting the books into one arm, she used her free hand to whip out her phone which she rarely used.

"I met her on my way back home. She was pretty upset...I thought she told you." the class parent said, noticing the panic the other girl was experiencing. "Relax, I got a note this morning. She went home. I am sure she is fine."

"Let's just get to your desk," she snarled, stuffing the phone back into her pocket because the call went straight to voicemail. Reaching the table, Divya dumped the books on it and made an attempt to sprint out of the office. Her feet paused briefly, taking in the sight of the photo frame kept on the desk.

Drishti followed her line of sight. "My parents. Taken a while back on their anniversary. It was a good day and..."

"Stop talking. The more you do the more I want to rip my lungs out."

"Why?"

"So I can focus on the pain of not being able to breathe rather than that annoying voice of yours that's giving me cancer."

"I thought our growing chasm was fixed," Drishti sighed.

"Mistaken again. bye," she shrugged off the implication and the familiarity of the older girl's parents and left the room. She tried once again to get in touch with Ragini but to no avail. "Come on, Jaan."

---broken promise---

Ragini's face fell, noticing it was a quiet morning. She took measured steps into the kitchen, pouring herself some coffee and sitting on the counter. A Hysterical peal of laughter ripped out of her and made its way out. Being lonely in a crowd took on a different meaning. they were finally back- long term, since the divorce proceedings were going to take a while and yet it still felt empty. These four walls rang hollow in the bright sunlight. Placing her cup into the sink, she walked into the den looking for the bag that had been left there the night before.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when it appeared right in front of her face. "Mom, you scared me," she grumbled, taking it from her.

"Sorry."

Ragini looked her up and down to see her dressed in a tank top, jeans and denim to complete the look. Smart casual. The pianist assumed she was going into town to run errands but it didn't quite make sense since she would be leaving soon. Staying. They are staying this time. "Going somewhere?" she asked, letting curiosity get the better of her.

"I just thought I would send you to school. We could grab a coffee on the way. Or you could tell me about..." Sanjana listed on before getting interrupted.

"Mom, you don't have to do this. I can walk by myself." Ragini sassed, grabbing a toast as she headed for the door. She was already running late and didn't need to hear the baseless justifications of her mother early in the morning.

"You will be late if I don't." Sanjana tried persuading. She grabbed her bag and held the door as a silent plea.

Just because she dearly missed having her mom send her to school at a younger age. Just because her stomach roiled uneasily like a nest of vipers with knowledge of all this being temporary. Just because a bile burned at the back of her throat, did not mean Sanjana got the privilege of seeing her vulnerable.

"Won't be the first and definitely not the last." she sent a sharp glare in the direction of the older woman and climbed into the passenger seat, knowing arguing would get her nowhere. The car started moving and the silence grew heavier and awkward with each passing building.

Sanjana cleared her throat and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel nervously. "I just wanna know your decision because your dad..."

Ragini gritted her teeth and pulled at her hair. "Again with this. Seriously?"

"Ragini, I love you so much," she continued despite the scoff from her daughter. "I know I sucked at showing it and being a good mother."

the teenager nodded. "That's the one thing we can agree on."

"But if you give me the chance-"

"To disappoint me again. yeah, I don't think so."

"Please...just hear me out," taking the lack of answer as her cue, the mother went on. "I can make it up to you. I can-can move uptown. Move us to a new city and start over. Anywhere that you want. We can..."

"Stop!" Ragini shrieked, widening her eyes in alarm.

Sanjana abruptly slammed the brakes causing her head to bob forward. She breathed heavily looking at Ragini in confusion.

Her mother was thinking of separating her from the place she grew up in, loved and adored. More importantly, she was taking her away from the family she made for herself. "You do not get to walk in here after years and in the name of making up for a decade of absence, take me away from the place and people I love."

"Ragini, that's not what I meant." Sanjana stammered out. This was not going the way she expected it to.

"Really," she challenged.

"Yea. I just thought that if we could get away, things could go back to normal." she sighed, starting the engine again. The words sounded ridiculous once said aloud.

"Normal was gone a long time ago. So now let me tell you what is normal. You and dad come for a visit every few months for a day or two. During that duration, we sit and stare at each other. From a family discussion, it turns into a business debate and it's called a day. Radio silence from your end for months except for the transaction in the bank."

Sanjana's eyes burned and she kept her attention on the road. She failed. I know. Big time. "I know. And you spend more days at the Singhania residence with Divya and friends."

"Shocking. You are aware," she said, sarcasm soaking in each word. Nearing the school building, she strapped her bag onto her shoulder and gave her mother a pensive look. "I am choosing Aditya and Anjali. At Least they were there when I needed it the most while my own parents were busy settling a business deal. Unlike you and dad, they don't run away from problems." she slammed the door shut behind her and stormed into school.

Sanjana's face fell and she sat there, staring dumbly at her daughter's retreating figure. A sob left her lips involuntarily as her diaphragm convulsed. It burned her insides and her stomach churned at the thought of losing her to someone else.

"I'm sorry I let you down, sweetheart," she sobbed. "I let you and myself down."

Her job was to take care of her child. But she couldn't- didn't. When her kid needed her mother to soothe her to sleep, she wasn't there. When she needed to help her through the tough phases of early adolescents she wasn't there. Now when she was here and wanted to be there, she wasn't allowed to. And there isn't anyone to blame but herself.

It was too much. The pain and shame of letting her daughter down

I need to make this right. Throwing the car into drive she sped off towards the people she knew could make this right. If they want to.

---broken promise---

Lakshya wiped the dirt off his clothes, glaring at the smaller boy in front of him. "Run," he whispered.

The boy didn't need to be told twice as he bolted in the opposite direction. He ran as fast as his small feet could take him before being lifted off the ground. A frightened shriek followed by a giggle left when he saw it was only Lakshya. "Put me down." he beat his small fist against the muscular body lightly.

Lakshya smiled in amusement. "Should have thought about that before tripping me to fall flat on my face. Now the tickle buddies are not going to leave you. Muhahaha." he said, imitating an evil laugh and tickling the boy he was holding.

"It's not my fault you're so clumsy." the boy snickered.

"I am not clumsy. I am athletic."

"You're a musician. Athletics ain't your best suit. You're like a hulk but clumsier. A lot more clumsier."

"I am..." he cut himself off with a yelp because shikar flicked the back of his head. "Rude."

"What's rude is you holding this child captive," Shikar got the boy's Lakshya grip and set him on the ground. "Run away before the hulk comes after you again," The boy ran off leaving the brothers alone. "This punishment isn't so bad is it?"

The guitarist shrugged. "Other than name calling children, yea it is not."

"Get used to it. We are going to be here for a long time. Mom even called the warden just now to make sure we showed up."

"She did? Damn, she is serious this time."

Shikar looked to see where his name was being called. Giving the kids a wave, he turned to his brother. "Yeah, she is. But this could be your opportunity to do what you wanted. Make these kids more trusting again." he gave the older boy and let himself be dragged away by a group of kids.

Had it not been for the confession they made to their mother, the brother wouldn't have come to the orphanage amidst all the chaos brewing in their lives. Despite all this, Lakshya appreciated the opportunity to visit these kids. He looked around and frowned. This was not what he expected. It didn't look like these kids needed to be explained anything. They were happily playing with each other. From the stories the warden shared when they first arrived, they were all close friends and family as well. Some even wanted to be adopted into the same family together.

A weight had been lifted off his shoulder. The guilt that burned like liquid fire in his veins finally got the relief of water putting it out. He walked out to the garden to get some fresh air. It was a nice cosy space to relax and just enjoy nature's wonders.

As he struts around until a flash of blonde hair catches his eyes. The S.P.A.C.E student leaned against the tree gingerly to study the girl, no older than twelve, who was busy painting on her sketchpad. He contemplates breaking her concentration but waits instead. The child finishes off her sketch with a hint of a grin threatening to break loose on her face. Lakshya takes it as his cue to approach her in small light steps, not wanting to startle the girl.

He fails however when a twig snaps under the wright of his foot and the girl whips her head around to stare him down. Guard up, hands held in front defensively, sketchpad dropping to the ground, she snarled at him. "Take another step and I will rip your throat out."

"I am not here to hurt you, sweetie." he held his hands up in front of her to prove it.

"Could have fooled me," she let out a derisive snort. "And don't even try with the nicknames."

He tried to be subtle but it seemed stupid. Should have just said hi to begin with. "My name is Lakshya. You can call me lucky."

"What do you want, Lakshya." dropping her hands to the side, she picked up her fallen drawing book and returned to her position on the bench before being interrupted.

"Uhh- I am," he pauses trying to find the right words. She didn't recognize him. How do you ask a child why they are sitting out like a loner? "What are you doing here? All the other kids are inside."

"I don't want to play with them," she mumbled.

"Why not? They are pretty cool. Especially the one with a turtle." Lakshya chuckled, remembering the boy that called him a hulk.

"Trent is a weirdo. Besides, I am not friends with them. We are different."

A frown made itself known on the older boy's forehead. "Doesn't mean you can be friends with them. Who knows, they could be really nice people."

"Hard pass," she scowled as if the mere thought was irritating. "I'd rather fall into a malivoire pit and be forgotten."

Lakshya cautiously shifted closer and nudged her. "I think I know where you got that reference."

"Legacies," they said together before the girl let out her first small smile since that meeting.

"Let's do a retake," she held out for a shake. "Hi, I am Ahana. Nice to meet you."

"I am lucky. How has your day been, kid." he shook her hand fondly.

"Normal. No monsters showing up from a hell portal at least. No signs of a certain tribrid trying to open a gate to the prison world with Gemini witches as well." she sassed.

"No portals for you to jump into either."

She nodded with disappointment. "Unfortunately."

The boy thought for a moment, wanting to use the shared interest to his advantage. "Hope was stupid to jump in." he tried.

"Maybe. but I get where she is coming from," he looked at her curiously so she explained. "All her life she felt like the black sheep of her family. Klaus, Hayley and Elijah died trying to protect her because family is always and forever. She saw an opportunity to do the same for the people she loved. Sure there is something suicidal about that but still."

"You are pretty smart for your age," he complimented and a light shade of pink covered the girl's cheeks. "But why would you want to be forgotten? Your loved ones would look at you and not remember anything about who you are."

Her expression hardened. "The ones I lived with aren't here anymore. No matter what I do it doesn't matter."

"They could still be looking for you. But if you are forgotten they won't know who to look for anymore."

"That would be better."

Lakshya took a deep breath. Patience. "As much as I hate Landon when hope was forgotten he knew someone was missing. The rest of the school as well, they knew but just didn't know what. Even hope for that matter, she hated not being able to interact with them the way she did. It only caused everyone pain."

"It was only painful when they remembered. If no one remembers me then no pain."

"When Lizzie remembered hope, why was she so happy?" He tried again.

"Lizzie was the only person on the planet that knew who she was. Of course, she would be happy."

"Yes and because Lizzie is family. She could look at someone she loved and they would know who she was. She was no longer a stranger to everyone."

"Rubbish. Lizzie and she weren't even that close when she remembered."

"She was from the Salvatore school. The exact same place she was dying to get back to after returning from malivoire," he explained. "Besides after the miss mystic falls dance no one can say they aren't friends."

Ahana scoffed with a playful roll of eyes. "You just ship them. Hashtag hizzie."

"Yes I do but," he said slowly. "Hope's disappearance caused everyone and herself a lot of pain that didn't need to be there. so you can show to be her or make the Salvatore school your home like Rafael... and Landon... to some extent," he added as an afterthought.

His heart went out to this girl who never experienced the warmth and affection a found family could bring and had been completely blessed with it.

The blonde fell deep in thoughts. When she looked up again, her eyes seemed to shine brighter and a pleasant smile made its way onto her face.

My job is done.

Rather than giving an actual answer, she chose a diversion. "You definitely like legacies do you. Nerd." she teased.

"Who wouldn't. The show is funny but emotional and sometimes downright mediocre. The tone is way lighter than vampire diaries and originals."

"You remind me of my dad. He is a nice man."

Lakshya smiled fondly and bowed his head in respect. "I am sure he is. You remind me of someone too. At least when I first met her."

The girl scrunched her nose in confusion. "Is she cute and a one-liner as well."

"She used to be. Wanna try guessing her name?"

"Not really. No," she said, sucking the excitement out of him.

"Come on. It'll be fun."

"We have different definitions of fun."

"We will see about that."

"Fine. A hint would be nice seeing as I am not a mind reader and met only minutes ago." she sneered.

"It starts with the letter d."

"Dracula." He gave her a weird look and she shrugged. "You love fantasy. Who knows, maybe you decided to get together with the devil himself."

"You are mean," he gasped with a hand on his heart feigning hurt. "But no. Try again." They carried on their small talk as it neared the time for the boys to leave.

Lakshya felt accomplished. Every scary thought he had about meeting these kids vanished only to be replaced with newfound respect for them. He watched them laugh, play and be mischievous after going through all that torture at their young age. It was admirable and he knew from that moment what to do after graduation.

A home for you. That's going to be the name of the boarding school.

---broken promises---

The last person Anjali expected to be crashing her afternoon date with her husband was Sanjana Khanna. "Sanjana, I didn't expect to see you here." She barely refined from containing the surprise on her features. Stepping aside to let the woman in, she took in her appearance.

Pale face, puffy red eyes, mascara trailing roads on her rosy cheeks, carefully covered eye bags making themselves known as the foundation wore off. Her clothes were unkempt. She looks like a truck ran her over. All in all, the usually professional chief executive officer looked messy. Sanjana doesn't do messy. Then again, she hasn't seen her in the last few years.

While her husband and...friend? Daughter's friend's mother, Settled in the living room, she made her way to the kitchen to get her some water. She walked back and offered the glass to the distraught mother who silently took it.

"Mrs Khanna is...umm,' Aditya cleared his throat awkwardly, looking at his wife for help.

She nodded and took a seat beside him opposite the other woman. "Is everything okay?"

Sanjan set the glass on the table. She wrung her hands nervously unable to make eye contact with the Singhanias. "Rohan and I are getting a divorce," she spoke barely above a whisper. "Ragini didn't take it so well."

"I am so sorry to hear that," Aditya sympathizes.

Anjali placed a hand on her knee reassuringly. "If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know."

"Yea anything. We will try our best."

"That's why I am here actually," Sanjana sighed, preparing herself. "Ragini has to choose whose custody she wants to be in. either mine or Rohan."

"She chose Rohan?" Anjali guessed not seeing the problem. It will be painful to give up custody but ultimately it would be Ragini's choice. She could relate to an extent. She had a daughter as well.

Sanjana shook her head. "She chose you."

A/N: Don't forget to R&R! Criticisms and suggestions are welcome!