While she was doing her special needs education course with the emphasis on autism spectrum disorder, she took an additional short certification course on clinical psychology. A brief study on personality disorder was included in the syllabus which she had just skimmed through without getting into details. Since her aim had always been to work with children, she didn't pay much attention to that short course of six months. But now that she was facing this unexpected turn of events in her life, she had no other option but to recall the lessons on schizoid personality disorder.

When Priyasha revealed that shocking information, she couldn't believe her own ears. Since it was relatively difficult to diagnose this disorder as people with schizoid personality disorder were able to function fairly well and seldom sought treatment, it never occurred to Shreya even though all the symptoms were out in the open. In fact, extremely visible, extremely in the eye.

A person who has been diagnosed with Schizoid personality disorder are extremely withdrawn from general interaction and social activities. This eccentric type condition makes a person appear odd and different than the others around them. People with schizoid personality disorder tend to be apathetic, distant, indifferent, and detached towards social relationships. They just prefer solitude and do not view their personality as a problem. Cause, they can function pretty well in all other aspects of life if they get to do the activities in solitary.

Schizoid people can't express emotions. In fact, they don't feel emotions.

The most terrible trait a schizoid has, they do not desire or enjoy close relationships, neither emotional, nor sexual. Even if it's their family members, they do not just care. Even, it can be safe to say that they do not feel the pull towards anyone in general.

Always indifferent to praise and criticism, they do not like making friends. They appear completely aloof and cold both inside and outside.

Shreya rushed out the room as soon as she processed what Priyasha just revealed about his son. Her parents followed her obviously. She knew they thought she wanted to get away from here. In fact, everyone thought so. So, no one came after her.

She did leave the house. But not to go away.

There was a vague chest pain she couldn't explain. She didn't know what exactly she was feeling. Her brain felt foggy. But it worked perfectly, as if it was on autopilot.

Just before running across the driveway, she stopped her parents to follow her.

She held up a hand and said quietly, "Maa, Papa, you don't need to follow me now. We can't board the train anyway. Just wait for me here. I'll be back."

"What? Why?"

"But where are you going?"

She didn't stop to answer as she was already halfway down the driveway. She glanced down on her phone and wiped off the tear stains that had almost dried by itself.

Why did she always end up in crossroads where she couldn't take decisions on such big of an issue? She felt so helpless and in need of support. But she didn't know where to go? Whom to call? She raised the phone and stared at the screen while walking out the main gate.

She noticed Neil and Rafi stood by the gate, while Irfan talking with the gatekeepers. They noticed her, but didn't come forward to stop her. Her mind raced towards the thought of them watching over her along with Abhimanyu and Dev while they were in Darjeeling. Blood rushed to her face when the thought of them watching the viral clip dawned on her. She felt ruined and used. Moreover, she didn't even know whom to blame. Whose fault was it? But the camera installed in Abhimanyu's room - who did that? How could she let it slide without knowing the truth? Or should she? Must she run away from here and start anew? Would it work?

A messy storm caught on inside her mind while she walked absentmindedly on the sidewalk. She didn't realize when she walked too far away that she came face to face with a papparazi and got papped without her consent. She flinched at the flash and noticed the a few more people holding DSLRs, busy clicking at her.

She took a step back as a fear settled in her mind. She'd be doomed in here if she roamed freely around the city. At this moment, she was on target for several people and everyone was focused on chasing her down. Commonsensically, as a new face, she must be at the top of their priority list whose name got linked with the infamous Roys. Because, everyone needed spicy fresh change once in a while.

She turned around swiftly and hit someone's chest directly. The irony in her fate!

She looked up at the familiar face and him calling out her name at the same time, put some equanimity in her. Relief washed over her when he wrapped her in a warm embrace and walked her away from there. Away from the papperazis. Although she could hear them clicking photos while they were hugging like this. But at this point, she didn't care.

"Crap! Are you okay?" Ashwin's worried voice made her more emotional than she was before. She broke down in tears when he helped her get inside the car he brought. He hurriedly went to the other side and climbed into the driver's seat and ignited the engine.

"You look like a hell! Do you know that?" He commented.

She couldn't response but continued weeping.

"Okay now stop crying and tell me what's going on?" He pressed.

She covered her face and cried even more at his words. She didn't know from where she should start. He drove the car to somewhere away from there. She didn't know then, she was being followed by two groups of people, separately.

Eventually, she did tell him everything.

"The fuck? How did you end up in this mess? You were already doing bad with Naveen, and now this! Speaking of that devil, have you heard from him?"

She shook her head.

"So that jerk abandoned you. Not that I'm surprised. In fact, it was expected of him." Ashwin slowed the car as they reached the ganga ghat and parked it aside. "Let's go. Let's seat here for a while. Your brain will clear up."

She flinched apprehending the consequences. She hurriedly shook her head repetitively. "No! The papparazis are everywhere! I don't want them to see you with me."

"Oh c'mon. I'm not afraid of them."

Ashwin tugged on her arm. But when she persisted, he gave in.

"What will you do now?"

"I don't know," she said truthfully.

Ashwin let out a deep sigh. "Damn man! I could easily pull off being a fortune-teller and a relationship adviser."

She stared at him, dumbfounded.

"I mean, look at your situation. You actually got offered to marry a Roy. It's a different thing that your situation is far worse than I could've possibly predicted." He shrugged casually.

She wiped off her tears and stared at the water without saying anything. The river is flowing upstream.

Ashwin asked after a short pause, "Where are your parents?"

"They are still at the Isha mansion."

"What's their take on this situation?"

"They won't approve."

"What do you want?"

She took a deep breath and looked at her phone screen. With a swift touch of her finger, she unlocked the phone and opened the phone book.

"Whom are you calling?"

She did not response, just scrolled through the numbers and found the number she wanted to call.

She dialed the number, and it started ringing immediately. But after the third ring the call got disconnected. She lowered the phone and stared at it feeling numb.

"Who was that?"

"Naveen."

"What?" Ashwin flipped out. "Oh! For fuck's sake! You're still thinking of that jerk? He literally cut you off from his life because of that petty clip. What are you even expecting from him now?"

Her eyes welled up again along with an excruciating pang in her chest. She mumbled, "I cannot take a decision this big without talking to him. He wanted me to move in with him a few weeks back."

"I swear to God, if I ever get a hold of him, I'm going to smother that manipulative narcissist bitch!" He punched the air with both hands alternatively while cursing Naveen. A thought crossed her mind when Ashwin kept boxing with the air.

"There's one more person."

Ashwin stopped his boxing immediately before shifting his focus back to her. "Who?"

"Gyan."

"You mean, Abhigyan. Abhigyan Roy. Another Roy. Oh God. I don't want to feel excited in this stressful situation, but I'm feeling..." he kept on rambling while she dialed Gyan's number. The mechanical telephone operator voice flew in. His number was out of reach.

Where exactly was he?

She hadn't seen him since they went to Darjeeling. And even after all of these happened, he never once thought of giving her a call? Was he misunderstanding her as well? Even if he did, it would be the most natural reaction from him. She whimpered and broke down again.

"Hey! What happened? Listen, I didn't just leave the hospital early to see you cry for hours. C'mon Shreya. Crying can't bring you any solution. You have to take a decision."

But she didn't know how! She wanted to scream that but all she could do was cry.

Ashwin put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it softly. "Tell me honestly, if Abhimanyu Roy didn't have this condition, would you have accepted this offer?"

This question made her chest ache so furiously that she wanted the car seat to just consume her and end the hurt for once and all. She did not want to remember the secret behind the cold appearance of this infamous businessman. But that thought exactly wasn't leaving her mind since the instant it entered her ears.

~~~

When they returned the villa, Trishna and Dibyendu were anxiously waiting for her in the hall. When they noticed her coming through the door with Ashwin, they rushed towards her and took her aside.

"You got us worried, and they weren't even letting us go behind you," Trishna said in a hushed voice. Her voice dripping with concern.

In the hall, she saw Priyasha, Abhiraj, Vijay, Rishi, Tiyasha and Sunny. When she made eye contact with him, he averted his gaze. Discomfort was written all over his appearance.

She shifted her gaze back on her parent.

Dibyendu informed, equally in a hushed tone, "Roy Babu sent his men after you to keep you safe."

Shreya winced. They were being followed all this while? She'd have never known that if not being told. Her eyes roamed around again, but she didn't locate the person her eyes were searching the most.

Trishna said quietly, "Mrs. Roy wants to talk to you in private. They have told us everything. Even though I empathize with them, I do not approve this arrangement. Your father agrees with me. Now, it's all on you. I want you to think it through. It might be your life, but remember, we have equal rights on what would be your decision. I don't want you to suffer anymore, and if you're not being careful, you'll hurt a lot." Trishna caressed her cheek softly. "I love you."

Her vision blurred again as she nodded and blinked a few times to tear up in front of everyone.

~~~

Priyasha moved the tea cup towards her. "I know, it's a difficult decision to take in such a short time. So, I want you to take your time."

"How much time do I have?"

She paused for a moment, observing her closely. She made straight eye contact with her without being fazed.

Priyasha took a sip from her cup before saying, "Tonight."

"Can you please remind me why am I doing all these? Cause I can't see anything of my convenience in this situation." Shreya's tone was firm but polite enough.

Priyasha nodded once in acceptance of her complaints. "That's right. You don't have much of a convenience except money and status. Yet, I'd like you to consider my offer after I tell you my son's history."

He had a history. Shreya's heartbeat quickened in matter of time.

Priyasha put down her cup and started, "When Manyu was 5 years old, he was abducted from right below our noses by one of our enemies. My husband did everything in his control to find him. But we had no luck until after 48 hours, police tracked down the abandoned cotton mill where they kept Manyu.

"The day was still very fresh in my mind. When we finally reached the spot and found him, half of his face was covered in his own blood and there was a fresh wound on his left eyebrow, it was split in half with some sharp weapon."

Shreya winced learning the terrible information. How could anyone do that to a toddler?

Priyasha continued, "Since Manyu is our first child, my husband is extremely biased towards him. He never verbalizes it, but through his action he makes it very transparent that his eldest son is his first and foremost priority. It's like, he's holding onto him. Even before the incident happened, he used to spoil Manyu often. His obsession with his son was so scary, that one day he came up to me and said, he'd make Vijay his legal guardian in stead of me. He was ready to transfer all his property to Manyu, when he was only 5. That's how much he loves Manyu.

"So, when we found Manyu like that, if made Abhiraj very vulnerable. I'd never seen being that much weak what he appeared while sitting outside the door of O.T. He was ready to give up everything to save his son." Priyasha paused momentarily before adding, "And he did. He gave up all those precious quality times he could've spent with his son to save him. I could not talk him out of his decision, when he decided to sent Manyu away to a boarding school. No one knew the school's location except Abhiraj and Vijay. They didn't even tell me anything.

"I used to spend my days weeping from morning to night. That's all I did, honestly, until I learned I was pregnant again. The situation, though saved me from my misery, it increased the distance between Manyu and us even more. Abhiraj has always been very strict with all his life decisions. So, when he learned my condition, he started bringing Manyu infrequently.

"It was an excruciating phase of my life. Too difficult that I don't even want to remember. The age where we should've pampered our child with lots of love, we did our best to minimize our interaction with him. This arrangement, although saved Manyu's life from another attack, but it made him distanced from us. Physically as well as mentally."

Priyasha stopped for a few seconds to take a deep breathe. She gazed at the void and resumed after a while. "When he graduated from his boarding school, everyone was so happy to finally have him back. During this time, Tiyu and Dev were also living with us. Unlike Ritu, Gyan never says so, but trust my words on this, he looks up to his elder brother the most. He was finally happy to be united with Manyu when he returned.

"But fate had something else in its store. After a week of Manyu turning 19, we were returning from a business party. I left with Gyan and Ritu earlier. My husband and Manyu stayed back as Abhiraj was intending to meet his elder son to all his acquaintances. It was then, the next accident happened.

"Some goons attacked right in the middle of the party. They were serving there as fake waitresses. Even under all those security and camera surveillance, they could fetch in guns inside. They shot my husband and son and it was clear as day, their main target were these two important men of my life."

Shreya couldn't describe how she was feeling inside at this point, but she could definitely feel the teardrops streaming down her cheeks.

Priyasha continued with a heavy voice, "Manyu has two gunshot wounds on his back since that time. Abhiraj has many. I lost count after a while. His life has been at stake since I walk into his life." She waved a dismissive hand gesture. "I didn't want my son to have the same exact life like my husband. So, I prompted for his higher study, abroad. He moved away again for another five years. Next when he returned and took charge as the CEO of permabell, I noticed the change in his behavior. But it was too late.

"Manyu never discussed his personal life with any of us and we can never really blame him. He always stayed away from us. And when he was with us, despite having everyone's company, he felt like an outsider. He never brought up the matter of having any girlfriend or boyfriend. We used to think, we have raised a gentleman. But how wrong were we?" She sighed.

"He likes spending time alone, he never expresses his feelings or emotions even when someone is praising or criticizing him. His outlook became more and more apathetic towards people in general. Mind you, my son is not crazy. He's never given us a single scope to complaint against his work efficiency. He just became detached and indifferent towards everyone.

"I became worried with his attitude. So, I sought help from one of my friends who's a psychologist without telling anyone anything. I called her over one day, when my husband was on a business trip. I knew no one else would question me except him. So, it was better that way. My friend came and observed Manyu closely, and thus we came to know what was wrong with him.

"Manyu would've never agreed to go and seek help from a professional otherwise. Cause, he doesn't think he has any problem. In fact, no one from his professional connection would say that against him. It's his social life, that has been affected. It's like, he's with us but he's not really." Priyasha paused and looked at her way while wiping off her tears.

"I never disclosed this secret to anyone until yesterday. No one knew about this, not even Manyu himself. Everyone thinks he's a cold and unkind personality, but in reality, he's very vulnerable. My husband thinks very highly of him because he had never turned him down in his business. But trust me, even he feels bad sometimes when his feelings aren't reciprocated by Manyu. Gyan became so infuriated with him that now he loathes his own brother."

Priyasha wet cheeks glistened as she lowered her eyes and covered her face before breaking down completely. She whimpered in between her sobs, "I feel so helpless Shreya. I never knew I'd be the reason behind forming the cracks of my family. It's me who's responsible for all of this. I am such an unlucky person, Shreya. Even after being so privileged in all aspects of my life, I never could keep it safe and sound. It scattered away... like sands. No matter how hard I tried to safeguard them, tried holding everything in my fist, they all slipped away from the crack between my fingers."

Shreya wept along with her. Both of them had similar pain they couldn't share with anyone. It was personal but too identical.

Shreya almost choked on her words as she asked, "Does your son approve of this arrangement?"

"He has nothing to say. He never does. If it doesn't interrupt with his work, he remains completely aloof. I want him to disagree with me, disagree with his father - say something to dispute us. Have a clash with us even. But he just won't. He never involves himself in any matter. Even the results of his work done don't faze him. If it yields good result, he doesn't brag about it. Likewise, when the business fails, he's not moved by it. He simply carries on to the next action. No criticism can make him express himself. I don't know what's in his future, but I'm too worried and scared for him."

Shreya didn't know how to respond to that. She didn't have any words of consolation to provide this heartbroken lady.

On the other hand, she knew, no matter what, her parents would never approve of this arrangement. Her speculation was proven right when they joined the Roys during the dinner. They had to stay back as Priyasha insisted, and more or less, she wanted to stay back. She wanted to talk to other members of the family who were avoiding her since it all happened.

Except Abhmanyu, everyone was present at the dining table when she joined them along with her parents. Ritu and Tiyasha ignored them in the beginning. But when she went for the rice at the same moment Ritu reached for it, a scene created all of a sudden.

"I can't believe I have to eat now with people like this! Didiya, do you want to eat pizza? I'm ordering online. Come to my room. I can't sit at the same table as these opportunists." Ritu flipped out.

"Ritu!" Abhiraj scolded her immediately. "Watch your words! Where are your manners?"

Priyasha apologized simultaneously. "I'm sorry. I'm sure she didn't mean it. It's just... the situation itself is..."

But Abhiraj interrupted her. "Isha, no. You don't need to cover up her misbehaviors. She's not a kid anymore. I'll not tolerate this. Ritu, apologize! Right now."

Trishna and Dibyendu had stopped eating long ago. Their eyes focused on the Roys while a sour expression took over their faces. Shreya understood the tide was flowing in the wrong direction. But at this moment, she was helpless. So, she stayed shut.

"Why Papa? Why'd I apologize to an opportunist like her? If she wanted something like that, she could've pursued my brother directly. But now, my brother's reputation is at stake because of her stupidity!" She raised her voice at the end.

"Ritu!" Abhiraj warned her but Ritu went on in a frenzy, "I'll never forgive her. Never. I can't even imagine when Gyan will return, what'll happen! I thought, she was a friend. Turned out, she's been taking advantage of the situation behind the mask of an innocent! I'll never forgive her!" By saying so, she got up and rushed out. Tiyasha said nothing all this while. She only gave Shreya a reproachful look before she also left taking Dev with her.

Everyone was blaming her for something she didn't even do, and the thing which was hurting her most, she couldn't even defend herself in this situation. She's got no counter evidence which could prove her innocence.

Abhiraj apologized in their behalf. "They don't know the truth. Please excuse them. I'm extremely sorry that you are facing this kind of discrimination everywhere. But, trust me, it'll pass. I'll go everything in my control to reverse all the hurt that has been imparted on your daughter, Mr. Mitra, Mrs. Mitra."

Trishna's response was immediate. "Mr. Roy, just because you asked us to keep quiet, we are tolerating everything with our mouth closed. But we're not so good people after. If things get to our goodwill any further, which is, by the way, getting affected very fast, I'm afraid we cannot stay mum for a long time. It's not only my daughter who was at fault. Your son could've prevented it. He could've left her alone or shouted for someone's help or anything, but he didn't. Instead, now you're asking for another sacrifice from my daughter. What do you expect me to do, Sir?"

Abhiraj opened his mouth but couldn't bring up something to say. Priyasha apologized one more time and asked to finish the meal which didn't take long as they got up halfway through their portion.

After dinner, as expected, Trishna declared they'd leave Isha mansion the first thing in the morning and Dibyendu backed her up without another word.

But when Shreya told them what she had in her heart, Trishna slapped her hard. "You'll regret this, you thoughtless stupid girl!"

~~~

13th November

Her hand shook from nervousness. The sweat formed inside of her hand made it worse. She turned her head and glanced at her mother who wore a scowl that was more disappointing than scary. She gulped and turned back before taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

There was no going back from here. Decisions had been made, and she weighed the risks too many times. Plus, it's temporary. So, she didn't have to be scared. Right?

She took another deep breath before signing her name on the paper.

"What is going on?"

~~~

Author's note: 😭 My baby is here! I'm sorry, baby. But I'll give you justice in your book, I promise. ☹️ You're my favorite, you know that. I love you. 💖😩