Happy Happy HAppy Diwali! Here's next week's update in lieu of celebrations (and my graduate applications). This one is for Vicky and Taani, because she deserved some support when there was literally NONE from ANYBODY. I'm salty.

*Flashback*

Low sounds of sobs reached his ears as he passed by the roof access door. Vicky checked his watch- 6 p.m. Who was here this late? Usually, the only people here were people in official positions, like...Taani. A groan escaped him. Of course, it would be her. Nobody else would be crazy enough to stay and fret this long for the most trivial things. She was always on their case about...well, about everything. And always so hyper. For a while, she'd almost been ice-cold towards them when she was fighting with Swayam, Sharon, AND Rey, but ever since a few days ago, she'd calmed down a lot. Nobody knew the reason, but the looks she exchanged with Rey sometimes when she thought no one was looking told him that he was involved somehow. Nobody else knew, obviously. Nil and Bharat just thought that it was the chemistry between the two, and if Vicky hadn't been able to read Rey the way he could, he would've thought the same. Luckily, he knew his best friend inside out. But anyway, back to the sobbing and...Taani.

Should he go into the alcove? Should he call Swayam? Obviously, she was hiding there because she wanted privacy. But...she was his friend? However reluctantly, but she was. She might be stuck up sometimes, she might be extremely confusing, she might be the most controlling person he ever had the displeasure of encountering, but she was a part of them. And Swayam's sister, but that was secondary. The way Swayam was treating her didn't exactly scream protective older brother right now. Maybe a listening ear would help. Hesitantly, he turned towards the sound and advanced. Glancing around the corner, he saw her hunched over, shoulders shaking from the force of her wracking sobs. A wince came over his face. That did not sound good. His approach was slow as if walking towards a spooked kitten. Squatting down beside her, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

With a jerk, Taani's head came up to look at him, eyes rimmed red and blood-shot. The skin around her eyes was red and puffy.

"I-I was just taking a break. Sorry, sorry. What are you doing here this late?" She stuttered out as she registered his presence. Hands clenched tightly on her lap and cheeks flaming, her eyes darted from his face to stare blankly behind him.

"Taani...Taani, tell me what's wrong. You're upset. Did something happen? Did Vishaka say something? Sharon? Or Swayam? That's why you're here, isn't it? It was Swayam? What did he do this time? Or was it someone else? Rey?"

Her breath hitched slightly and he knew.

"This has something to do with Rey, doesn't it?"

"W-w-what? No-no, of course not. I was just a little stressed. There's too much work to do and bhai and Sharon can't help out, because they're too busy with rehearsals." she said as bitterness permeated her voice as a twisted smile grew on her face.

"That's not it Taani. I can tell. Look at me, please. We might not be that close, but we are friends Taani. And friends tell each other things. Tell me. Tell me what he did. Said." He said in a firm voice, his arm now reached around to her other shoulder, slowly pulled her into him.

Her face crumbled. He had to strain to hear her next words. "I can't do this anymore. I want to be done with all this."

"All what Taani? What can't you do anymore? Tell me. Talk to me Taani."

The fight seemed to have left her. "All of it. The fighting. The taunting. The ignoring. Just...everything. All I wanted to do was help, don't you see? It all backfired like it always does. It's just me left, standing in the dust. The team supports each other, bhai supports Sharon and Rey supports bhai. But who supports Taani? WHO? Once again, I'm left to pick up the pieces of me that R-they left in their wake." She turned to clutch at his shirt, her knuckles white and eyes wrought in anguish as they stared into him.

He didn't have an answer. The truth, when it came down to it, was that she was alone. She'd had sporadic, if any support, ever since she had stepped into a position of any kind. At every turn, they had opposed her. Most of the time, just for the sake of it. The realization horrified him. There was no instance in his life that he hadn't had the support of his friends. Arms wrapped around her as he pulled her to him if only to hide his face in shame of their ignorance.

"I'm sorry Taani. We messed up. I can't speak for anyone else, but I messed up. None of what's happened is your fault. We're stupid, we're the ones who have their priorities wrong. None of it is your fault, I promise. Rey messed up. He's an idiot. He doesn't see what a gem you are and everything you've done for us."

The wracking sobs continued.

"You just wait and see. I'm gonna rip him a new one tomorrow. You might be uptight, you might be unpleasant to work with sometimes, but you don't deserve all the abuse that's been heaped on you."

She jerked back as if horrified at the very idea of confrontation. "NO! Please don't. I don't want any trouble. If you talk to him-any of them, they'll just think that I bitched about them. I just want…. I don't know what I want. Just to be done with all the fighting I guess."

"No, Taani. Not talking won't solve anything. They'll keep talking. Saying worse things about you. And I won't let that happen Taani, not anymore, now that I know about it. I know that we've been unfair to you after the whole debacle with the sixth dancer and then you being a non-dancer. You deserved the benefit of the doubt. And we were supremely unfair. But that ends for me right now. If Swayam won't speak up for you, I will. If he won't protect you, I will." His words came out with a conviction that made her look up at him in awe, her sobs a distant memory as she registered the meaning of the oath he had just sworn.

"You shouldn't say something like that. It'll do you more harm than good. If you start hanging out with me, protecting me, defending me, they'll ostracize you too. You don't want that. You should go Vicky. It's late and you need to be up tomorrow for rehearsals. And if you look too tired, Neha will get worried. I'll finish up the last bit of paperwork and head home" She placated him with a smile.

It stung him, how quickly she forgave them all. "No Taani! You need someone in your corner! I don't care about me but I see today what everything has done to you! No. You're coming home with me to my place and you're staying over. I'll take care of Swayam. C'mon. Get up. We're going and that's final. You need a good night's sleep and a day off tomorrow. Screw everyone else and all their work. The world won't end if you take a day off. You let me worry about their bullshit." The fragile hope and happiness in her gaze struck him deep. How badly had they hurt her that basic caring surprised her and brought her close to tears? When had she shattered so much that someone just attempting to put the pieces back gave her hope? This ended here and now.

"I can't promise you that everything will be all better on the morrow Taani. But we will work on it. I will work on it. I'll protect you. I'm sorry I haven't so far. But I will try. I'll try to be a true friend, who stands by you in times of need and who brings you happiness. And I'll protect you like...like a brother should." He added hesitantly, praying he wasn't overstepping his boundaries.

The glimmer of hope in her eyes strengthened a little and the innocence she once arrived with made itself known in her tone as she shakily nodded and stammered, "I- Thank you. I can't tell you- You didn't have to say all- Thank you Vicky….-bhai?"

A giddy feeling overcame him but he nodded as calmly as possible. "If you want. Nothing would make me happier than for someone to call my own. A family after my mom and dad."

Tears pooled in hazel eyes as she remembered her own parents. "Okay."

He helped her up and out to the taxi stand. There would be plenty of time to talk and bond. Right now, she needed a break and he needed to think.

*End Flashback*

And thus went the start of a bond that now lay in tatters around him, his girlfriend trying to collect the pieces.