If only heartbeats had different meaning, hers would have screamed of betrayal and vengeance. Her whole body was burning with more rage than shame. She kept closing and unclosing her fists since she learned the reason of all these brouhahas. She could still hear the noise from outside. The media people hadn't left yet. Also, the two bodyguards insisted on staying until everything cooled down.

Even if everything else cooled down, the fire burning inside her heart would keep burning until she took it out on Abhimanyu Roy.

It was all because of him. He was to blame.

Trishna and Dibyendu had been giving her accusing eyes since they all took seats and things stared unfolding before her. All of her confusion washed away when Dibyendu switched on the television.

Her legs trembled and gave out when she saw herself on the screen.

She saw herself clinging onto Abhimanyu, pulling him closer and asking him to kiss her. The clip was playing itself on loop. She recognized the background. It was Abhimanyu's room. She remembered how she woke up the next day in his room and it got her all confused. She even asked him what happened. But he said nothing. He didn't only underestimate her; he hid this controversy from her. Even though he knew this moment had the potential to wreck her entire world. Caught in 4k with the infamous businessperson in an intimate position – was the last thought she had in her mind.

People are accusing her, and rightfully so. Because the clip replaying itself over and over was depicting that it was her fault. Cause, it was her who was pulling him down towards her. She didn't even remember when did it happen. She remembered nothing of that night, and the person who could've told her, deceived her instead.

She didn't realize when tears started streaming down her face and then she found herself curling onto the floor, screaming, crying and blaming the other person with her on the screen.

~~~

The following few days went by in a flash. She didn't know when night fell or when sun rose. She didn't have the frame of mind to be calculative about the everyday functions. All she did was curled up in a ball and sitting all day long in a corner of her room. The humiliation and infamy broken her inside in thousand pieces. She couldn't hold her pain inside. Her eyes were continuously tearing up and she didn't know how to stop. The media people were still crowding outside of her house and she didn't want to show up in front of them. The controversy was so loud that all of her relatives got to know about it. Several calls came wanting to talk to her. Quite obviously she denied, but the impact was severe. She knew she was on the culprit pedestal.

Meanwhile, Trishna and Dibyendu also turned against her. They were not ready to listen to her plea, and rightfully so. Because, they believed their own eyes rather than her words.

She gave up eating at one point, or even if she did it was little to nothing. Her appetite was long gone. She didn't know how to break out of this situation. Ashwin came twice to meet her. She didn't. She was expecting Naveen also. However, he never came.

Several days passed by which she spent either by sprawling on the floor, crying or sleeping for an unnatural number of hours. Her cousins, aunts and uncles came. But nothing seemed to move her. Some days she thought of giving up. She'd look at the ceiling fan and it looked appealing to tie a knot with the bedsheet. But she couldn't be a runaway. She didn't want to.

The days were so bleak that she almost forgot that she was actually alive. Sometimes, she'd hear voices coming from the drawing room or the news updates from the TV, but she didn't have the energy to open her door and come outside to confront the matter actively.

All she could feel in her heart was humiliation for herself and vengeance for Abhimanyu Roy.

~~~

31st October

The sweaty palms of her were clasped together as she was sitting on the couch, head hung low, like a culprit, even though she was not. Beside her, Trishna was sitting and Dibyendu was at a little distance, sitting on a stool. In front of her, there were three people she wasn't expecting to see in her house. Mrs. Priyasha, Mr. Vijay and another person she had never seen before came to meet her.

It was unexpected to certain level. She knew someone from the Roys could contact her, but she wasn't expecting it'd be Mrs. Roy herself.

"This is a scam, and of course, very unexpected." Priyasha started. "You need not to apologize or feel guilty about it."

As soon as the words came out of Priyasha's mouth, Shreya looked up at her. She couldn't be sure if she was hearing right or it was just her hallucination.

"I have seen the clip and talked to my son. Although, it looked like you took some kind of initiative, my son has cleared all my doubts. I know it was not your fault. I have discussed this situation with my husband and both of us have agreed on a resolution."

Shreya was unsure of what to think of this whole situation. Priyasha seemed not to be angry with her. She was even thinking from her perspective. But, as far as she knew, Roys never released a statement denying the rumors. What were they playing at? Her inside quivered apprehending some conspiracy.

Priyasha continued, "I want you to come with me to the Isha mansion and hear us out. We'll give you enough time to think through the situation. You don't need to rush into things. Because, I know. I understand what you're feeling right now. You have developed trust issues after what happened. But trust me on this, things will be fine."

Vijay added, "Roy also wants to talk to you. I'm sure, you'll have no problem to follow up once you learn the what we've decided for both you and Abhimanyu. It'll be beneficial for his reputation."

As soon as she heard the name, the numbed down emotions in her raged out from her mouth. "Huh? His reputation? I don't even want to see his face! All of this happened because of him. It's his fault. I was intoxicated, so I didn't know what I was doing. But he knew. Then why did he take me to his room in the first place? And the camera. The fucking camera! Why was it installed in his bedroom? That supposed to be his private space. And moreover, he hid everything from me even after I asked him directly! Do you think I care whether this resolution of yours will be beneficial for his reputation? No! Absolutely not! My whole career is ruined because of his ignorance and silence. Nobody will trust me now. Where will I get work now?" She stood up hastily and raised her hand towards the door. "You can leave. I've had enough with your family, and I don't care about any of your reputation. So, please. Just leave." All the bottled-up emotions in her burst out of her mouth in the most predictable way.

Priyasha sighed, then stood up. Vijay and the other person followed her quickly. The former said, "I can very well understand what you're going through but before you take any decision, I just want to show you some papers so that you can relate to this situation more clearly. What you're assuming is completely wrong. My son isn't..."

"Mrs. Roy," Shreya interrupted, "I don't even want to know anything about your son. He deceived me. That's the fact and that's all I need to know to judge him. And, why are we even having this conversation? The damage is done. People will gossip about you famous business people for a while. Then they'll forget. It's my career that's over."

Priyasha hurriedly said, "It won't be over, if you just come with me. Trust me, you're misjudging my son. Come with me once and I'll show and explain to you everything. After that, you can decide what you want to do. It depends on your free will of course. But before taking any rash decision, just come to my house once. I plead."

Shreya conjoined her palms in front of her and said, "And I plead to you, Mrs. Roy. Please, leave me alone." She didn't have enough energy to put up with all these chaos. If she really wanted to be okay, all the people and situations that drained her energy needed to go away from her life.

When she remained unmoved in her decision, the three of them gave up arguing and left. Once they left, Trishna said, "What are you gonna do now?"

Without giving it a second thought, the words left her mouth. "I'll move to Guwahati. I'll listen to whatever you want me to do. I'll obey your every decision from now on." Without waiting for any response, she headed towards her room. She had no energy left to confront anyone anymore. She was exhausted. From life.

~~~

5th November

The guards were still there, whose names she had learned in the meanwhile. Neil and Irfan. When they packed their belongings and exited their home, they faced a few camera flashes that blinded their visions. But the guards made way through the crowd so that they could reach the main road, without getting humiliated too much.

She booked a cab online to avoid the discomfort outside. So, when they were out in the road, the cab was already waiting for them. They loaded their luggage before getting into the car. Neil and Irfan stayed back and stopped the media to get in their way. Once they were out, she sighed and looked out the window.

Her life turned upside down in a most unexpected way. For the first time in a long while, she was actually happy. She even tasted freedom while she went on the first trip of her life. The Queen of hills, the sunrise, the forest...everything seemed like a dream turned nightmare. Everything changed in a blink of an eye.

She didn't know how long she had been lost in her thoughts, but her trance broke when Dibyendu suddenly said aloud. "It isn't the way to Railway station. Where are you taking us?"

The driver answered calmly, "There's a shortcut. Don't worry. I'll take you to the right place."

Little did they know, the right place wasn't a railway station.