The luxurious office exuded power and control. Dim lighting cast long shadows across the dark wood furnishings, and the scent of expensive cologne lingered in the air.

Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city skyline, but the man seated behind the massive desk had no interest in the world beyond his walls.

His focus was on the framed photograph standing proudly before him.

Maya.

Her image was frozen in time, her eyes holding a quiet determination that both infuriated and fascinated him. He ran a finger over the glass, tracing the contours of her face, his smirk deepening.

A man stood before him, watching carefully.

"So, what's next? Do you have a plan?" he asked, his voice calm but expectant.

The mastermind leaned back in his leather chair, clasping his hands together.

"The first step has already been a success. I know her, I know her weaknesses-she will do anything for those so-called family members of hers. That makes it easier for me to manipulate her... and make her suffer even more."

The visitor's gaze flickered to the framed photo, then back to the man behind the desk.

"But in Bangalore, there's one more problem. How will you handle that?"

A chuckle escaped the mastermind's lips, dark and laced with amusement.

"That, I'll manage. No matter where she runs, she can never truly escape me. She belongs to me."

A beat of silence followed before the visitor spoke again, his tone low.

"Be careful of HIM. You know why."

At the mention of that unseen threat, the man's expression darkened momentarily, but he quickly masked it with an indifferent shrug.

"HE's not a problem. Not yet."

The visitor studied him for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. My part is done. I'll take my leave."

The soft sound of footsteps filled the room as the man exited. Once the door clicked shut, the mastermind reached forward, lifting the framed photograph in his hands.

He stared at Maya's image, his thumb brushing over the glass as if he could feel her beneath his touch. His smirk returned, colder this time.

"I love to see you in pain, my love," he whispered, his voice a promise of what was to come.

Outside, the city thrived, unaware of the shadows closing in. And Maya... Maya had no idea that the nightmare she thought she had left behind was only just beginning.

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As the first rays of sunlight peeked through her small rented room, Maya sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Half of her face was smooth, untouched-her original self. The other half bore the scars of an attack that had altered everything. No matter how much time passed, people's stares never did.

Shaking off the weight of her thoughts, she got dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark trousers. She grabbed her folder containing her certificates and took a deep breath before stepping out.

The streets of Bangalore bustled with life-tea stalls, auto-rickshaws honking, and office-goers hurrying to catch their buses.

At the bus stop, Maya noticed a few people stealing glances at her, their eyes darting away when she looked back. She had learned to ignore it, but some days, it still stung.

The bus ride to PSR Towers was long, filled with the usual jerks and sudden brakes.

As Maya held onto the metal pole, she caught sight of her reflection in the window-distorted by the moving glass, but still hers.

A little girl sitting beside her whispered something to her mother, who shushed her and quickly looked away.

Maya turned her face toward the window, pretending not to notice.

As the bus neared PSR Towers, her destination, she caught sight of the gleaming high-rise in the distance.

PSR Towers stood tall amidst Bangalore's urban landscape, its sleek glass facade reflecting the bright morning sky.

The towering structure was an architectural marvel, with clean-cut edges, polished steel beams, and tinted windows that mirrored the rush of the city below.

A landscaped garden with neatly trimmed hedges and a cascading water fountain adorned the entrance, adding a touch of elegance.

The sight of well-dressed professionals walking in and out of the revolving glass doors made Maya's nerves spike again.

As she walked through the large glass doors, the cool air-conditioned lobby greeted her.

The receptionist, a young woman of Maya's age with neatly tied hair, glanced at her and, for a split second, hesitated before offering a polite smile. Maya noticed the flicker of discomfort but pushed past it.

"Excuse me," she said, keeping her tone steady. "I applied for a job here a few days ago and received a call for an interview today."

The receptionist quickly turned to her screen. "Your name, please?"

"Maya Verma."

A few clicks later, the receptionist nodded. "Yes, Miss Verma. Please take a seat over there. Your interview will begin in about forty-five minutes."

Maya thanked her and walked toward the seating area. A few other candidates sat there, scrolling through their phones or flipping through documents. She could feel some of them glance her way, just like everywhere else, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead.

When her name was called, she adjusted her posture and walked into the manager's cabin.

"May I come in, sir?"

"Yes, please," the manager said, gesturing toward the chair. His eyes briefly flickered over her face, but he didn't comment.

The interview began. Maya spoke with confidence, answering questions about her programming expertise.

"You seem to have a strong technical background," the manager noted.

"I do, sir," she said firmly. "I've worked hard to refine my skills."

"Good," he said, nodding. "You qualify for the next round of tests. If you clear them, we'll discuss the next steps."

Maya exhaled quietly, relief washing over her. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity."

"Good luck, Miss Verma," he said before returning to his notes.

As she walked out of the cabin and through the glass doors of PSR Towers, she didn't bother looking at the reflections or the stares anymore.

She had taken her first step forward. And that was enough.

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The night was still, the only sounds coming from the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. Maya's rented house stood on the outskirts of Bangalore, nestled near the forest.

It wasn't lavish, but it was home-a two-bedroom house with a small yet well-maintained kitchen. The dim yellow lights cast a soft glow over the space, and through the kitchen window, the moonlight filtered in, illuminating the silent trees beyond.

Maya stirred the dal slowly, the warm aroma of cumin and garlic filling the air. She glanced at the clock. Prachi's school would still be allowing night calls.

Wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, she picked up her phone and dialed St. Mary's Boarding School in Dehradun.

The line rang.

"Good evening, St. Mary's Boarding School. How may I assist you?"

Maya adjusted the phone against her ear.

"Good evening, I'd like to speak to Prachi Verma from Class 9. I'm her sister, Maya Verma."

There was a pause before the receptionist responded,

"Please hold. I'll transfer your call to the student line."

Maya waited, listening to the faint static on the line. Then, after a moment, a familiar voice came through-soft, tired, and laced with unspoken sadness.

"Di...?"

A lump formed in Maya's throat.

"Prachi, how are you?"

"Fine..." came the small reply.

Maya sighed, immediately sensing the weight in her sister's voice.

"You don't sound fine. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Di... I just-" Prachi hesitated, then exhaled.

"I don't like it here. I miss home. I miss you."

Maya closed her eyes, the pain in Prachi's voice hitting her harder than she expected. She tightened her grip on the phone.

"I know, Prachi. I miss you too."

There was a silence before Prachi spoke again.

"Everyone else here has families who visit them on weekends. Their parents come and take them out. But me... I just wait." Her voice wavered.

"I wait, but no one comes."

Maya swallowed hard, pressing her fingers against the cold marble counter.

"Prachi, listen to me."

"What Di?"

"I had an interview today at PSR Tech, a really big company. I got selected for the next round. If I get this job, I'll have enough to take you out of there. No more waiting, no more being alone in that school. We'll live together."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, a whisper.

"Really, Di?"

"Really, Prachi. Just a little more time, okay? Stay strong for me. I promise, I won't let you stay there forever."

Prachi sniffled.

"I just... I don't want to be alone anymore."

Maya blinked back the burn in her eyes, forcing a smile into her voice.

"You're not alone, Prachi. I'm always with you, even if I'm far away. And soon, I'll be right there beside you."

The warden's voice echoed in the background, announcing bedtime. Prachi sighed.

"I have to go, Di..."

"I know. Sleep well, okay?"

"Hmm."

"Prachi."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

A pause. Then, softly, "Love you too, Di."

The call ended.

Maya stared at the screen for a long moment before setting the phone down. The kitchen felt quieter, the house emptier. She turned back to the stove, but the warmth of the dal couldn't quite reach the cold ache in her chest.

All she could do now... was wait.

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FEW DAYS LATER.

The PSR Tech headquarters stood like a monument of glass and steel, reflecting the morning light in a dazzling display.

Maya stood outside for a brief moment, her heart pounding.

This was it.

The final interview.

Clutching her file tightly, she stepped inside, where the cool air-conditioning greeted her like a stark contrast to the warmth of the rising sun.

The reception area was grand yet minimalist-white marble floors gleamed under soft lighting, and plush seating lined the space where a few candidates sat, some rehearsing their answers, others scrolling through their phones in an attempt to distract themselves.

Maya ignored the occasional awkward glances directed her way. It wasn't new. Half of her face-smooth, fresh, untouched by scars-made her seem like any other young woman.

But the other half bore the cruel imprint of her past, the uneven, melted skin a reminder of what had been taken from her.

She had learned not to flinch under their stares.

"Miss Verma," the receptionist's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"The CEO will see you now."

Maya exhaled slowly, smoothing down her light blue shirt, then walked forward with measured steps.

The large wooden doors loomed before her. She pushed them open and stepped inside.

A Room of Power

The CEO's office was breathtaking.

It was unlike anything Maya had seen before-a vast space lined with bookshelves, a massive mahogany desk at the center, and floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city's skyline.

From this height, Bangalore stretched out endlessly, a sea of buildings and movement, yet inside, there was an eerie silence.

The air smelled of leather, fresh coffee, and a hint of expensive cologne.

And there, behind the imposing desk, sat THE CEO.

Maya's breath caught in her throat.

It took a second for recognition to register.

AJIT MEHTA.

The man whose car she had fixed when she first arrived in Bangalore.

The man who had unknowingly been a fleeting moment of normalcy in her life.

The surprise in his eyes mirrored her own, but it lasted barely a moment before his expression returned to cool professionalism.

He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Maya Verma," he said smoothly.

"I remember you."

Maya inhaled, forcing herself to regain composure. "Yes, sir."

"Small world," he murmured, setting down the file in his hand.

"I must admit, I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I," she admitted, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her stomach.

Ajit gestured to the black leather chair across from him. "Sit."

Maya obeyed, her back straight, refusing to let the unexpected familiarity rattle .

Ajit's sharp gaze locked onto Maya as he flipped through her file. He wasn't interested in her qualifications-he already knew she was capable. He wanted to know if she could survive.

A slow, deliberate silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.

"Tell me, Maya... do you ever feel ashamed when you look in the mirror?"

The words landed like a blade, precise and merciless. Most people would flinch, would shrink under such a question.

Maya didn't.

Her back remained straight, her expression composed, but her fingers curled subtly against the arms of the chair.

"No." Her voice was even, unwavering.

Ajit leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

"Not even once?"

Maya met his gaze head-on.

"I didn't do this to myself. So why should I be ashamed?"

A slow, humorless smirk tugged at the corner of Ajit's lips.

"Spoken like someone who's spent years forcing herself to believe that."

Maya didn't react. She just waited.

Ajit studied her for a long moment before continuing, his tone turning colder.

"People will judge you, Maya. They'll stare. They'll whisper. Some will call you brave, others will call you hideous. Some won't even look at you directly."

He tilted his head. "Tell me, do you ever wish they'd just stop looking?"

A lesser person might have faltered. Might have let the weight of his words crush them.

Maya only blinked once before answering. "No. I want them to look."

Ajit raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why?"

Maya's voice was quiet, but sharp as a blade.

"Because they should see what people are capable of doing to others. They should know that I still exist."

Ajit exhaled a short chuckle, though there was no amusement in it.

"You talk like someone who thinks she's already won."

Maya's lips twitched, just slightly.

"I have."

Ajit's smirk faded. His eyes darkened.

"You don't belong here, Maya." His words were a calculated strike.

"You think strength comes from surviving? It doesn't. Strength comes from power. Influence. Control. What do you have?"

Maya's heartbeat remained steady.

"Myself and my someone for whom, I have been fighting "

Ajit exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "And is that enough?"

Maya held his gaze, unflinching.

"It has been."

Another silence stretched between them, heavier this time. Ajit drummed his fingers against the desk, considering her.

Then, suddenly, he leaned back, his expression unreadable.

"I don't tolerate weakness in my company."

Maya's eyes remained steady.

Ajit's smirk returned, just a hint of it. He tapped the file in front of him before finally nodding.

"You're hired."

The words didn't register at first.

Maya blinked. "...What?"

Ajit's smirk deepened slightly.

"Welcome to PSR Tech, Miss Verma. Collect your offer letter from HR. I'll be expecting you to prove yourself, beyond just words."

" Thank you Sir..." Maya rose slowly, her mind still catching up to what had just happened.

As she reached the door, his voice stopped her once more.

"By the way," he said, his tone lighter, almost amused,

"You never let me pay you for fixing my car."

Maya glanced back, a small, knowing smile playing at her lips.

"Consider this your repayment, sir."

And with that, she stepped out-leaving behind the stares, the doubts, and walking straight into the future she had fought for.

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Ajit sat in his grand office, the dim glow of his desk lamp casting long shadows over the polished mahogany. His fingers tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm against the table as he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered almost instantly. "Sir."

Ajit didn't waste time on pleasantries. His voice was firm, cutting straight to the point.

"I just sent you a list of the new hires. Run the standard background checks on them."

A brief pause. Then,

"Understood. Anything specific you want me to look for?"

Ajit exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on Maya Verma's name in the file before him. His fingers drummed once more before he spoke, his tone quieter but laced with unmistakable authority.

"Maya Verma. I want more than the standard check on her."

There was a shift in the voice on the other end, a silent acknowledgment that this wasn't a casual request.

"How deep do you want me to go?"

Ajit leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening slightly.

"I want to know everything-beyond what's on paper. Her family, her past, where she's been, what she's hiding."

His voice turned sharper, more precise.

"People don't just walk into my company with that kind of confidence unless they've been through something. Find out what."

Another pause. Then, the voice responded with quiet certainty.

"I'll get you what you need. But deep searches take time."

Ajit's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile.

"I don't have time. Make her a priority. I want her past on my desk before anyone else's."

The voice didn't hesitate this time. "Understood. Consider it done."

Ajit ended the call, setting his phone down with a soft thud. His eyes lingered on Maya's name once more, thoughts swirling.

People carried their pasts like shadows-silent but ever-present.

And if Maya Verma had a past worth burying, he would be the one to unearth it.

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𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝘿..