Authors Pov

The quiet hum of the office was all that filled the space. Saranya sat at her desk, her eyes scanning line after line of numbers and contracts on her screen, fingers typing furiously. She hadn't moved in hours—no breaks, no distractions. It had been like this for days. The only thing that seemed to keep her grounded was the work.

She and her Friend had built the company from the ground up. Every success was her victory, every setback, her failure. And yet, none of it felt like enough anymore. Her thoughts always drifted back to him—him. The man who had promised her forever and then shattered it with betrayal. But Saranya didn't have time to dwell on that. Not now.

The door to her office suddenly swung open with a force that broke her concentration.

"Anya, it's late," a voice said, laced with concern.

She didn't look up at first. She already knew who it was—Akash, her closest friend, and the only person who had been by her side through it all. He had been her rock, her anchor in a storm that was slowly consuming her. But she couldn't afford to acknowledge him. Not right now.

"Akash," she muttered, her fingers never stopping their dance on the keyboard, "I have work."

He sighed, a sound that spoke of deep frustration. "We both know why you're doing this. Stop it. You're overworking yourself. It's been a week since... since he left. Anya, he's not worth it. He cheated on you."

She froze, her fingers stilling on the keys. The words stung, but they weren't new. She had heard them a thousand times. Akash, in his own way, was trying to pull her out of the abyss, but she wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Akash," she said, the annoyance creeping into her voice. "I can't... I can't talk about this right now."

"Come," he said, stepping fully into the office and approaching her desk. His voice was stern, leaving no room for argument. "You're coming with me. Now."

Reluctantly, she shut down her system. She didn't argue; there was no point. Akash had that effect on her—when he spoke like that, she couldn't say no.

They left the office, the building eerily quiet as they made their way to the elevator. The top floor was where the company's boardrooms met, but tonight it would be their private space. The rooftop. The place where she had come to find solace, even if only for a few fleeting moments. The night air was cool, a sharp contrast to the stuffy atmosphere inside the office. The city of Delhi sprawled beneath them, a sea of lights that seemed so distant and yet so close. They stood side by side, neither speaking for a long while. The sound of the breeze and the distant hum of traffic were the only things that filled the silence.

"Anya," Akash's voice broke through her thoughts, low and serious. When he spoke like that, she knew there was no room for disagreement.

She looked at him, her heart thudding in her chest.

"Take a break," he said.

"I am," she answered, though the words felt hollow as they left her lips.

"No, you're not. Not like this. You've been working nonstop since we started the business. You haven't taken a proper break—except for meetings. Anya, it's time. Step away. Just for a little while."

She bit her lip, staring at the city below, the weight of his words sinking in. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew he was right. She had been running on empty for so long. She had lost herself somewhere along the way.

"Listen," Akash said, his tone softer now. "Do this for yourself. Leave everything behind for a few months. I've made arrangements. Go live a life where you don't have to think about him, your family, or the company. Just live. For once, think about you."

Her heart ached at the suggestion. Leave it all behind? The company?  felt impossible.

"Akash, you know leaving the company isn't an option," she replied, her voice tight. "The company is my life. I can't just walk away from it."

He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "I'm not asking you to leave the company forever. The company is stable now. I can handle things here. You don't have to worry about it."

She shook her head, unwilling to listen. "It's not that simple, Akash."

"You're going," he said firmly, cutting her off.

She met his eyes, seeing the seriousness in them. He was right. She needed this, and she trusted him. Akash was all she had, and she couldn't deny him when he looked at her like that.

"Where?" she asked, resigned.

A small smile spread across his face. "South Korea. I've set everything up. I know you can't live without some form of work, so I've arranged that too. I got in touch with the CEO of HYBE—I met him at a business event. Everything's set. Korea is perfect. The paparazzi won't be as intrusive there, but still, be careful."

"You've planned all this already," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Update me daily about the company," she said as they turned to leave.

"Anya, can't you survive one day without thinking about the company?" he teased.

"It's my blood and sweat, Akash," she replied.

He smirked. "And what does that make my contribution? Pee?"

Saranya closed her eyes and exhaled in exasperation.

"Akash, this company is like my baby," she said.

"Then it's my niece," he quipped.

She gave him a pointed look but couldn't suppress a small laugh.

After a long silence, Akash spoke again, his tone softer this time. "I miss you."

She didn't look at him, but his words hung in the air. He missed the Saranya he had first met—the one who smiled even through the struggles. Somewhere amidst the chaos of building the company, she had forgotten how to.

----------------------------------

Later that evening, Saranya returned to her apartment.She went straight to her room, the weight of the world still pressing down on her shoulders. She took a long shower, the hot water soothing her muscles, but the exhaustion was still there. When she stepped out, she stood in front of her mirror for a long while, drying her hair.

For the first time in weeks, she truly looked at herself. Her eyes, once full of ambition and fire, seemed tired. Her face, always masked by determination, now revealed the cracks she had tried to hide. She had forgotten what it felt like to take a break, to just exist without the constant weight of responsibility.

"I miss me too," she whispered to the reflection in the mirror, her voice barely audible.

***********