At the break of dawn, as the sun rose slowly over the mesmerizing mountain terrain, a gentle golden glow spread across the peaks and valleys. The cool morning air carried the soft chirping of birds, their songs echoing peacefully through the silent mountains. Shadows faded, colors deepened, and nature seemed to breathe quietly, welcoming the day with calm beauty and quiet wonder.

As the morning unraveled itself, the small mountain village slowly came to life. Thin trails of smoke curled upward from stone chimneys as hearths were lit for the day. Doors creaked open, and villagers stepped out to greet the fresh air, carrying baskets, tools, and quiet smiles. The distant sound of footsteps on narrow paths blended with the murmuring breeze, while animals stirred in their shelters. Wrapped in the soft glow of the rising sun, the village awakened gently, following its timeless rhythm in harmony with the mountains that stood watch over it.

Villager: Good morning jailor saab.

Jailor: Good morning! Sab thik thak (everything fine)?

Villager: Hajur ekdum theek thak (Yes I am fine).
Bhai lai aju ek palta pathaunu huncha? Ghar ma aleek kam cha. (Can you send brother to my home I have some work for him).

Jailor: Huncha.(Sure)

Villager: Thanks.

The jailor of the small mountain village was talking to a villager when his phone rang.

Jailor: Hello!

Dr. Pao: Mamu how are you?

Jailor Albert D'Silva is Dr. Pao's maternal uncle

But today she did not call her uncle to talk to him.

Dr.Pao: I have a job offer for Lex.

Jailor: You know he would not agree to do it.

Dr. Pao:  Oh but he will this time, just let me talk to him.

Jailor D'Silva gestures his son to come to him then hands over the phone to him.  His son frowns in confusion but took the phone from his hand and answered it "hello".

Dr.Pao: I have a job for you.

~Back at Panaji~

As the massive gates of the estate opened with measured grace, Luna found herself drawn to the view beyond the car window. A strange familiarity settled over her, faint and elusive, like a half-remembered dream. The driveway stretched ahead, bordered by perfectly maintained trees whose shapes seemed oddly known to her, though she could not say why. The manicured front yard unfolded in quiet grandeur, its elegance whispering of a time she could almost recall, yet not fully grasp.
As the car moved forward, the estate seemed to watch her in return, gently urging fragments of memory to the surface. The manor emerged slowly from behind the trees—magnificent, timeless, and unsettlingly familiar. She felt as though she had stood here before, once upon a distant moment, though the details slipped away the instant she tried to hold them. Behind the entrance, the great fountain shimmered into view, its flowing waters stirring something deep within her, like an echo of laughter or footsteps long forgotten. The estate did not demand remembrance—it merely suggested it, leaving Luna suspended between what was and what almost was.

Jacob: Tia are you sure you want to stay?

Luna wasn't sure till now but after coming here she knew there's something she might remember if she stays here. Her unsurety slowly vanished into determination.

Luna: Yes I will stay , I want to...

Jacob: Very well then. Call me anytime you need me. Do know your mum and I both love you .

Luna: Hmm ok ..

The car came to a gentle stop, and even before Luna could gather herself, an overexcited Malcolm was already standing by her door, waiting to greet her with a broad smile lighting up his face. For the first time, she noticed a childlike trace in him—something unexpectedly warm. She had never imagined that the formidable business magnate Malcolm could possess such an unguarded side.

Right behind Malcolm, Lazarus also came into view. As Malcolm opened the door for Tia, Lazarus beat his own son to the moment, welcoming her with a warm hug. Holding her close, he gently said,

"Welcome home, my daughter. This empty house will finally feel like a home again. You have kept us waiting for a long time.”

Jacob felt left out, so he coughed and said, “I am still here, you know. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Everyone broke into laughter.

“Please take care of Tia, and if you need anything, let me know. Maria has already spoken to Dr. Pao. She will be sending her junior, who will handle Tia’s case. They should be here sometime within the week.”
With that, Jacob bade his adieu, leaving Tia to face what was yet to come.

Before stepping into the manor, Luna stopped. She didn’t know how to pray—only that she needed to.

“Lord… I don’t know if I’m saying this right. I don’t even know if You’re listening. But I have nothing else left. If there’s truth here, please show it to me. Help me see what’s real, and don’t let me believe a lie.”

Malcolm tried to read what was unfolding behind Tia’s quiet expression. Did she like the room he had prepared so carefully for her, or had all that effort meant nothing at all?
He felt unexpectedly light—almost foolishly so—like a boy waiting for his first word of praise. The realization made him smile and cringe at the same time.

What is wrong with me? he thought. Why does this matter so much? His heart thudded loudly in his chest, traitorous in its eagerness. What if she hears it?

To keep his feelings—and his heartbeat—at bay, Malcolm lingered by the doorway, watching her in silence as Tia slowly explored the room, every small reaction feeling far more important than he cared to admit.

Malcolm: “Did you... not like it?”

Luna: “No… no, it’s perfect.”

Malcolm’s lips curved into a quiet smile.
“You must be tired.
I’ll let you rest. If you need anything, I’m right in the next room.”

Luna:  with soft and unsure voice “Thank you, Malcolm.”

Malcolm reached out just a little, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch feather-light.

“It’s nothing, my love.”

he murmured, every word sincere, carrying the weight of his care and patience for her.