### Sheena's Perspective
I used to believe I had everything under control. Balancing a demanding career, running the household, raising Sonia—it was a well-rehearsed routine, strict and relentless. I was accustomed to the solitude that comes with handling every decision alone. I tried to be happy, though the truth was that Sonia's father, always away for work, seldom came home—sometimes once a month, maybe less.
When Sonia was kidnapped, it felt like my world shattered beyond repair. I didn't know if I had the strength to go on. Then Veer entered our lives, and suddenly, things began to feel different.
He's just a teenager, yet he possesses this quiet, unshakable wisdom that feels out of place for his age. At first, I thought it was merely a matter of maturity, but it didn't take long to realize it went deeper. He notices things, pieces situations together in ways that sometimes even I overlook. Just the other night, as I was mulling over a particularly tough work issue, he looked at me and said, "My sweetest elder sister, stress won't make it easier." It was such a simple remark, but it stopped me in my tracks. How did he even know I was stressed?
And now, he's someone I lean on. Veer has this way of reminding me that I don't have to do it all on my own. Having him here has transformed my life from feeling like a solitary pillar holding up the world to feeling like part of a team. We'll sit together at the dining table, him throwing out his straightforward thoughts on finance or investment strategies. I used to laugh it off, thinking, *What could he know?* But now, I'm not so quick to dismiss his advice. Having him around has softened me, perhaps even changed me in ways I never expected. He's my son, of course, but he's also something I didn't know I needed—a confidant, someone who sees through my walls and stands by me simply because he cares.
### Sonia's Perspective
I know it—I'm a drama queen. Everyone around me knows it. Even my father, who comes home once in a while, knows it. When I was kidnapped, I thought he'd drop everything to be by my side. But all I got was one call. A single, damn call.
And then, Veer entered my life, like a tsunami, and I never saw it coming. Somehow, I found myself feeling closer to him than I'd felt to anyone. I could rant for ten straight minutes about school, my friends, or whatever else annoyed me, and he'd just sit there with that faint smile, like he was amused but too polite to let it show. Then, when I least expect it, he'll hit me with something like, "You know, you'd worry less if you just said what you think." Annoyingly enough, he's usually right.
With him around, everything feels different. I'd never been the type to consider others' feelings—I was too caught up in my own world. But Veer's changed that. He's always there, reminding me to "think before I speak," nudging me to really listen when someone's talking. I still roll my eyes at him, but I notice it now when he's not around. It's like there's this silence, this… emptiness.
The best part? He gets me. Sure, he teases me when I'm being ridiculous, but he also knows when to just listen. We have this connection, this sibling bond that lets me share anything with him—even things I wouldn't tell anyone else. Before, it felt like the world revolved around me. But with Veer, I feel like I have a partner in this messy, chaotic life of mine.
### Suhana's Perspective
When I first met Veer, I thought he was just another kid from an ordinary family. Fame's been a constant in my life—people recognize my last name, make assumptions before I've even spoken a word. It's isolating, really, always wondering if people like me for me or just because of who my father is. But Veer? He was different from the start. He didn't care about who I was supposed to be. He just talked to me, asked me questions, like he wanted to know the real Suhana. No flattery, no pretense. Just… Veer. Even his slightly irritating, deadpan expression when he's teasing me somehow feels genuine.
We started spending more time together, mostly just talking, but it didn't take long for me to notice the little things. He listens without interrupting, and he says things that sometimes completely take me off guard. One day, as we were walking home from school, I opened up to him about something I'd never admitted out loud. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm living a life that's already decided for me." He didn't laugh or try to console me awkwardly, like most people do. He just looked at me and said, "Then create a part of your life that's just yours." Those words went right through me. In that moment, I knew I could trust him.
Now, whenever I'm with him, I feel free in a way I never have before. I look forward to every minute we're together, every unexpected insight, every half-smile he throws my way. I've never felt this way about anyone, and the fact that it's with him—Veer—feels strangely perfect. Not that I'd ever admit it first. No way. I'm not going to be the one to break the silence.
### Diya's Perspective
For as long as I can remember, my life has followed a predictable path. Growing up in a middle-class family, I had no complaints—I was loved and supported by my parents, even as I studied endlessly to get into a decent college, worked toward a stable job, and pursued a career in teaching. Teaching wasn't just a job; it was a calling, a chance to make a difference. But with no steady position available, tutoring was the best I could manage. When a friend told me about a family looking for a tutor, I thought, *Why not?* I needed the work, and it seemed routine enough.
But Veer? He was far from a routine student. From our first session, I noticed he was respectful, attentive, and so insightful for his age that it was almost startling. He listens, takes in every word, and then he'll ask the kind of questions that leave me wondering where he gets his perspective. I try to keep it professional, as instructed by his mother. After all, they're clearly a well-to-do family. And yet, Veer has this way of disarming me. He'll drop these little quips or, occasionally, something unexpected. Like the other day, when he glanced up from his book, gave me this serious look, and said, "Diya ma'am, if I had the IQ of a dolphin—one of the smartest animals alive, solving puzzles and outsmarting humans—I'd still tumble head over heels just by looking at you."
It was such a simple, playful compliment, but it left me… speechless. I felt noticed in a way I hadn't in so long. I'd been careful to keep a boundary, to remain professional, yet his presence—his sincere questions, his thoughtfulness—makes that difficult. My life, which had started to feel predictable, has taken on a new color since Veer became a part of it. Now, I find myself looking forward to our sessions, to his gentle humor, his charm, his unwavering determination. He's more than just a student; he's made my work feel meaningful again in a way I hadn't expected.