It had been five days since the fiasco in Bangalore. I had heard that the conference had been abandoned and everyone had flown back to the offices, working as means to perpetuate normalcy. But nothing was normal anywhere.

Abeer had single handedly caused havoc in Mr. Kapoor's life with his heartfelt confession and had him in a pickle. It was a tough thing, to get out of pickle you haven't declared false in front of the public.

Mr. Kapoor had remained quiet the entire time, neither agreeing nor denying the accusations. The highlight being not denying the accusations. The media was ablaze with the scandal, the business community abuzz with whispers and shock. I knew the media would be up on a new scandal after a few days, no doubt on insistence of Mr. Kapoor himself, but the scandal would die down.

But I wasn't sure of Taira. Taira wasn't the kind to let a crime get away. Even if it was one committed by her own father. Her sense of justice was way too high, so much so that it scared me sometimes.

Just like its scaring me now. Taira might do the 'right thing', but I know she loves her father. She hadn't known her mother, because she had died giving birth to her. She had only known her father. And for all that he had done wrong, he had the perfect daughter in Taira, and the man everyone knew wouldn't bend for no one, had been standing speechless in a auditorium full of people accusing him of crime, just because his daughter had refused to be by his side in his falsitude.

It was strange to think a man who had wronged a woman to the extent of her choosing death over life, would care for his daughter to the point where it would lead to his absolute destruction.

Taira hadn't picked up my calls from that fateful day. I was worried sick. Her father might not go through hell because of the power he held, but Taira would. She wouldn't be able to live under the same roof as a man who had wronged women. Who had taken advantage of them. Even if it was her father.

Correction - especially because it was her father. She had cut off all contact with everyone after the incident. She had even left her father's house. Everyone in office was ruthlessly gossiping all day about the event that had unmasked their owner, and unearthing similar cases of office harassment.

There had been more, apparently. Though Abeer wasn't part of the company anymore he had shown kindness towards many, and people had gone forward and made petitions to demand justice. All day long, work hadn't been a priority. Getting Abeer's family justice was the goal. Petitions by the staff members demanding resignation of Mr. Kapoor were being passed on, the senior employees were being egged on to write letters to the high seating shareholders and investors to pressurize Mr. Kapoor into resigning and coming clean.

I had penned several letters myself and sneaked in signatures from Mr. Chaudhary. The last five days had gone in a similar fashion.

The cases of harassment that were dug out were highlighted and sold to the media, all in the bid to strike when the iron was hot for maximum reach. The past five days had gone in a blurr, I hadn't been able to focus. I was in a daze, unable to process anything other than what was currently happening to me.

I hadn't stopped to think about Abeer's confession. It felt as if those things hadn't happened at all. But the problem was, that they had, and I was pushing it as far behind as possible. I got home from work that Friday, and a call rung on my phone.

"Taira," I answered, breathless with worry.

"I tried, Aashi. I threatened him with everything possible to make him confess to his deeds. But he refused to do so. So I took the other route and contacted those alleged victims the media was talking about. And..."

"Taira," I stopped her mid sentence, my heart clenching. Taira didn't speak for a minute, but I refused to let her go. I stood in silence, waiting. And then the dam broke. Taira cried inconsolably, pouring out every bit of her frustration, her pain, her worry. I held my own tears at her sorrow. No daughter deserved this. I couldn't imagine the pain, the guilt that must be eating her at that point.

"Why...why?" Taira hiccuped, her voice frail and distraught. I did not say a word. I let her cry for some more time till she recovered and silence ensued between us.

"Where are you living?" I asked softly.

"In a hotel near his house," she muttered, her voice stratchy due to the crying.

"Come here," I ordered. I couldn't let Taira live alone, desolute in a hotel room. I couldn't stand that. "And no excuses, I want you here by tomorrow evening," I said sternly.

"The company is providing me with an apartment near the office," Taira said quietly. My brows furrowed.

"What company?"

"My father's company. They're pushing me to claim his place in the board."

I stayed quite for a moment. "What do you wish to do?" I asked, trying to keep the question as light as possible.

"I think I'm going to take it," I heard her mumble from the other side, which had me confused even more. And I couldn't stand anymore. "Why?" I questioned, confusion and incredulity laced in my tone.

As far as I was concerned, Taira didn't want to take up the post of authority in the comapany. She hadn't refused to take it up in the future, but then she hadn't agreed to it either. She wanted the claim the experience before claiming her position in the company. Her sudden decision had me taken aback.

"They said they would negotiate another stakeholder if I didn't claim the post. This company was set up by my grandfather, and even though we aren't the owners anymore, mere partners in the company, it means something to us. To me. This was the only thing he did right, and I would like to treasure it," Taira spoke, her voice dimming at the end.

My heart cried out for Taira. I got what she meant. Her father had wronged her mother, betrayed his daughter's trust and love. He had done every relationship wrong, but he had given the company his heart and soul.

She wanted to cherish the only right Mr. Kapoor had done in his life.

"Dont do this, Taira," I said softly. "Dont go to those victims. Don't do this to yourself."

It felt cruel. All of it did. But what felt downright heartbreaking was Taira's insistence to get her father behind the bars. I had no idea the courage she must have mustered to go the people her father had wronged, and demand that they help her to fight against her father in the court. It felt terrible.

"Perhaps, this all might be wrong. Perhaps the only reason he might not have confessed to the allegation were because they were wrong, "I started, but halted as the words tumbled out my mouth. They felt so false to my own ears, there was no chance anybody would buy them.

Taira stayed silent. I knew, deep down she wished these weren't true too. This past week hadn't happened at all. But she was at the same crossroad as I. Because this week had happened, and we couldn't do anything about it but accept the reality.

Taira had always been better at doing that than I.

I veered the topic. "Till what time will you be here tomorrow?" I asked, keeping my voice stern that broke no arguement. Hearing all this had my resolve stronger. If she wouldn't come here willingly, I was more than glad to drag her down from the blasted hotel to my place.

She drew in a breath. "By 5 in the evening,"she muttered, her voice defeated. I chuckled at her reaction.

I knew she wouldn't stay with me for a long time, because she would accept the apartment the company was providing her. But for as long as she would be with me, I would try my best to have her life a little less complicated and melancholy than it was.

It was Monday evening that we saw the news. The families Taira had contacted had come forward to lodge a complaint against Mr. Kapoor, and on basis of the evidence provided, he was arrested from his mansion at 9 PM.

I felt a strange relief surge within me, a sense of accomplishment for the woman who had died living the torture, leaving her beautiful family, finally come to justice. That was the only time I had allowed Abeer to occupy my thoughts, but that went flying away as I saw the blank face of Taira, staring at the television screen with a stern, clenched face.

That night, Taira cried herself to sleep in my lap, and I let her, promising her that this would be the last time she would cry for her past.

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