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People often build walls and bury themselves in work to escape the vulnerabilities of personal life. A person can try to fight the battle alone, but universe may always provide a shadow to walk them home.

​The bedroom floor was swallowed by open suitcases, folded clothes, and the distinct, bittersweet chaos of a major life transition. Isha knelt beside her luggage, meticulously organizing her essentials for her upcoming move to Hyderabad, where her official posting at Foxconn awaited.

​The door creaked open, and Neha walked in carrying a tightly sealed glass container filled with homemade pickle and a distinct container of oil.

​"Ishu, yeh bhi rakh le trolley mein, (Put this in your trolley bag too,)" Neha said, gently nudging the containers toward her.

​Isha looked up, a look of immediate panic crossing her face. "Mamma! Yeh leak ho sakta hai. (Mamma! This might leak.) I'm not carrying oil and pickle in my clothes suitcase. I am not taking it."

​"No, it won't leak! Maine do covers se wrap kiya hai isko, (I have wrapped it with two plastic covers,)" Neha insisted warmly, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Maine khaas kar tere liye hi banaya hai. Hyderabad paas mein bhi nahi hai ki baad mein bheju. Lekar jaao.
(I had this made especially for you. Hyderabad isn't nearby that I can just send it later. Take it with you.)"

​Isha stared at her mother's earnest, loving face and let out a soft sigh, her resistance melting away. "Uff... thik hai meri maa. (Uff... fine, my mother.)"

​Just as she carefully wedged the containers into a secure corner of the bag, her phone flashed with an incoming call from Deepali. Isha picked it up instantly. After a few moments of warm conversation and sweet farewells, Deepali wished her the absolute best for her corporate journey.

​"Thank you so much," Isha said softly into the receiver. "Aur aap bhi apni sehat ka dhyan rakhna. (And you too, please take care of your health.) I'm waiting for you to visit me."

​Meanwhile, across town, a completely different kind of preparation was underway in Shivansh's room.

​After publicly turning down the prestigious Hegwarts offer to right a systemic wrong, Shivansh hadn't looked back. He hadn't applied to a dozen corporations either. He had set his sights on exactly one target: Foxconn. He wanted-needed-to be exactly where Isha was going.

​Being the university topper, the off-campus selection process had been less of a hurdle for him. He had secured the job effortlessly.

As he packed his own bags, a rare, genuine smirk played on his lips. He hadn't uttered a single word about the selection to anyone in the gang. He wanted his presence in Hyderabad to be an absolute, unadulterated surprise for her on their very first day of work.

​While two paths converged toward the south, destiny was busy playing its own intricate card game in Pune.

​Riya had successfully joined Redcliffe Company, while Yash had landed a position at Pemberton.

Kismat connection dekho dono ki, (Look at the connection of destiny between them,) both of their offices were located within the exact same Special Economic Zone (SEZ), housed inside the massive, state-of-the-art Mantera Building-just on completely different floors.

​Later that evening, the entire gang assembled on a group video call, their faces lighting up the grid format screens of their phones.

​"Shivansh, placement ka kya hua tera? (Shivansh, what happened to your placement?)" Isha asked, leaning closer to her camera.

​Shivansh cleared his throat, maintaining a perfectly casual poker face. "It's a work-in-progress, Isha. Jaldi mil jayegi. (I'll get it very soon.)"

​"Yeah, don't worry, you'll land something massive," Isha replied encouragingly.

​Purvi clapped her hands together on her screen.

"Alright, everyone state your office locations right now!"

​Isha proudly stated her Hyderabad posting. When it was Riya and Yash's turn, they spoke up almost simultaneously: "Mantera Building, Pune."

​Akshat burst out laughing on his feed. "Wait, you both are in the exact same building?!"

​"Yeah," Shivansh chimed in with a knowing grin. "Wo Redcliffe aur Pemberton Special Economic Zone ki hai na, isliye. (Because Redcliffe and Pemberton are part of the same Special Economic Zone, that's why.)"

​"What a twist! Wah, Tom and Jerry ek hi building mein! (Wow, Tom and Jerry in the exact same building!)" Purvi teased, making the whole screen erupt into chuckles.

​On her video tile, Isha quietly caught Riya's eye. Knowing her best friend's deep, unspoken feelings for Yash, Isha gave her a soft, meaningful look through the screen, silently acknowledging this beautiful stroke of fate.

​"Anyway, guys," Isha said, her tone dipping into a nostalgic softness.

"I am going to miss you all so much."

​"Yes," Purvi whispered, a bit emotional.

"Four years passed by so quickly, pata hi nahi chala kaise guzre. (We didn't even realize how they flew by.)

​Breaking the heavy emotional dip, Akshat suddenly turned his head off-camera.

"Purvi, wo Aadhaar card bhejo na apna. Tatkal mein booking karni hai. (Send your Aadhaar card. I need to do a tatkal travel booking.)"

​"Yeah, sending it in a minute," Purvi replied, tapping on her phone.

​Shivansh raised an eyebrow. "Dono ja rahe ho Mumbai? (Are you both going to Mumbai?)"

​"Yes, bhai," Akshat answered firmly. "Pune mein opportunities kam hain isliye. (There are fewer opportunities in Pune for my line of work, that's why.) I am shifting my base to Mumbai."

​"Good idea, man. Go chase those chords," Yash supported with a thumbs-up. After a few more rounds of inside jokes and promises to stay connected, the video call finally disconnected, leaving a quiet emptiness in the air.

​A few days later, the reality of the corporate world hit Isha like a tidal wave.

​Standing in the bustling, sleek lobby of the Foxconn office in Hyderabad, she felt incredibly small. The environment was entirely foreign-swarms of employees in formal wear rushed past her, corporate jargon echoed through the corridors, and a sharp spike of social anxiety began to tighten around her throat.

Sitting down at her assigned desk, she stared at her blank computer screen, a heavy cloud of self-doubt settling over her mind.

Will I be able to survive here alone?

Can I handle this pressure?

​Suddenly, the world went dark. Two warm, familiar hands gently placed themselves over her eyes from behind.

​Isha stiffened for a fraction of a second.

"Who is this?" she asked, her voice cautious.

​"Guess who," a deep, deeply missed baritone whispered near her ear.

​Isha's eyes widened behind his palms. She recognized that voice instantly. She pulled his hands away, spun around in her rolling chair, and gasped. Shivansh stood there, wearing a sharp formal shirt, an effortlessly charming smirk plastered across his face.

​Without a single thought about the corporate decorum or the busy colleagues around them, Isha stood up and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Shivansh caught her smoothly, wrapping his arms around her waist, letting her anchor herself against him.

​"You?! Tum yahan kaise? (How are you here?)" she asked, pulling back just enough to look at him, her eyes bright with sudden tears of relief.

​"Yeah," Shivansh smiled down at her, his eyes incredibly gentle.

"I applied for Foxconn during the off-campus drive, and I got the offer."

​Isha instinctively reached down, holding his hand tightly as if to confirm he was real.

"Shivansh, pata hai mein bohot darr rahi thi. (Shivansh, you know I was so scared.) I felt all alone here.

But knowing you'll be working with me... thodi dil ko tasalli aur shanti mili hai. (My heart has found a bit of solace and peace.) Thank you so much for joining Foxconn. I am so happy to see you here."

​Shivansh looked straight into her eyes, the ambient noise of the corporate office fading into absolute insignificance.

"Seeing you makes me happier than anyone else, Isha."

​Isha's anxious demeanor completely vanished, replaced by a sudden burst of energy.

"Shivansh, hum na ghumenge bhi bohot Hyderabad mein! (Shivansh, we are going to explore Hyderabad a lot!)"

​Shivansh let out a genuine, captivated laugh.

"Haan haan bilkul, teri hukum sar aankhon par. (Yes, yes absolutely, your wish is my command.)"

​As Isha laughed, a beautiful, carefree sound, Shivansh watched her intently. He was seeing a completely new side of her today-a cute, delightfully childish side that she usually kept hidden behind her defensive armor.

For Isha, the crushing weight of the new city and corporate nervousness had completely dissolved, replaced by a profound sense of contentment just by having her person standing by her side.

​Meanwhile, back in Pune, a rhythmic daily routine had formed between Yash and Riya.

​Every evening, without fail, they would wrap up their work at the exact same time.

Yash would roll up to the exit gates of the Mantera Building on his bike, waiting to drop Riya back home. This proximity also brought their mothers closer.

Back home, Sunandha and Sarala frequently connected over long phone calls. Sunandha, having walked a difficult path herself, knew exactly how grueling it was for a woman to stay strong and handle a fractured household all alone. Through their shared empathy, the families' bond grew stronger by the day.

​However, the peace was fragile.

​One afternoon, Yash and Riya were sitting at the office cafeteria, sipping juice during a quick break. As Riya pulled out her wallet from her handbag to pay the bill, a heavy, gold-embossed card slipped out and fluttered onto the floor.

​Yash leaned down, picking it up before she could. His eyes locked onto the elegant font: Pralay Rathore's Wedding Invitation.

​Yash's expression instantly hardened. He looked up, his gaze intense.

"Why is this with you, Riya? What exactly are you planning?"

​Riya sharply snatched the card back from his hand, shoving it back into her bag as her defensive walls flew back up.

"Inspector ho tum? Jo sawal mangoge aur mein jawab de doon? (Are you an inspector? That whatever question you ask, I will just give you an answer?)"

​She stood up abruptly, intending to storm out. But before she could take a step, Yash reached out, his grip firm yet careful as he caught her wrist and pulled her back.

​"Riya, this isn't a joke," Yash said, his voice dropping into a low, fiercely protective whisper.

"What are you planning? It's not as simple as you think. It is incredibly dangerous and risky."

​Riya sharply pulled her wrist free from his grip, her eyes flashing with a stubborn, independent fire.

"Mujhe pata hai meri problems kaise solve karna hai. (I know exactly how to solve my problems.) I don't want your interference in it. Just stay away!"

​"Why should I stay away?" Yash demanded, standing up to face her, his eyes wounded yet determined. "Aren't we friends? Friends are supposed to share their worries, Riya."

​Riya looked at him, her heart clenching painfully. In her mind, a chaotic storm raged: I can't tell you, Yash. I don't want anyone-especially you-to get hurt because of my family's battles. This is my burden to carry.

​Aloud, she forced her voice to remain cold and detached.

"I don't want to talk about it right now. I have an urgent meeting. I'm leaving."

Without looking back, she clutched her handbag tightly and walked out of the cafeteria.

​Later that evening, Riya deliberately stayed back late at her desk, staring aimlessly at her spreadsheets just to avoid him.

She pulled out her phone and sent him a quick text: 'You go ahead. Mujhe aaj late ho jayega. (I'll get late today.)'

​Nearly an hour later, she finally walked out of the main glass doors of the building. The office complex was mostly deserted, the evening air cool and crisp.

But as she neared the main security gate, her footsteps faltered.

​There he was. Yash was leaning against his bike under the dim streetlamp, his jacket zipped up against the chill, patiently waiting.

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