Meher came out of the kitchen eating a rolled parantha. 

She saw her mother coming out of her room. She had woken up due to the noises from the kitchen.

Naina looked at the time and then at her daughter who looked at set to leave somewhere.

"Aaj itni jaldi kyu uth gyi?"

(Woke up so early today?)

She asked Meher who was in a hurry and was booking a cab on her phone. Today was an important day and Meher didn't want to be late so she decided to ditch rickshaw and book a cab today.

"Bataya tha na ki ek company mai apply kiya hai. Aaj interview hai. Wahi jaa rhi hu. Breakfast maine bana diya hai. Lunch ki tension mat lena wo mai aakar bana dungi. Ghar ki safai bhi kar di. Bas aapka room bacha hai. Wo bhi mai aakar kar dungi. Khud krne mat chal dena. Waise hi kuch dino se aap ki tabiyat thik nhi hai. Papa ki medicines time par de dena. Aur-"

(Told you that I applied in a company. Today is interview. I am going there. I made breakfast. Don't worry about lunch i'll make it after I return. I cleaned the house too. Only your room is left. That also I will do after returning. Don't do it yourself. You already are not feeling well. Give papa's medicines on time. And-)

"Aur apna dhyaan rakhenge. Pata hai."

(Take care of ourselves. I know.)

Naina chuckled and said. She was used to hear the similar lines from many years. 

"Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai mai teri maa nhi balki tu meri maa hai."

(Sometimes I feel like you are my mother and not vice-versa.)

Meher smiled sheepishly and said.

"Maa nhi dadi maa."

(Not mother grand-mother.)

"Thik hai dadi maa. Ab dhyaan se jaana and all the best."

(Ok grandmother. Now go carefully and all the best.)

Both of them laughed and Naina blessed Meher who left in a hurry after kissing her bye.

Naina smiled sadly looking at her daughter leaving. She couldn't understand how she was still smiling and laughing even after going through so much. 

Meher sat in the cab and a sad expression formed on her face as she remembered the incident that changed their lives forever.

She was in the 9th standard and she and her mother were watching tv waiting for her father to arrive when they received a call from his work.

Ajay worked in a construction company.

Naina went stiff as she heard the person from the other side.

Ajay had an accident on site. She and Meher rushed to the hospital he was taken to.

He had thankfully survived the accident but his spine was injured badly and his body was completely paralyzed.

His company gave him the leftover amount of his salary and they were given the insurance money.

Ajay was the sole bread owner in their family. Naina had to start looking for a job to sustain their family and also look after Ajay's medical expenses.

A few month things were fine but slowly their savings started to vanish because of Ajay's expenses. Naina finally found a job which was just enough for their survival.

If they ever needed some extra money it was a huge problem. 

Meher was shifted to a government school to cut the fees expense. 

When she was in 10th she realised that the money her mother earned was enough only for their basic needs but if someday they needed money for any emergency they did not have that.

She started looking for some freelance jobs. The extra 5-7 thousand she earned helped in ways they could have never imagined.

Meher had never complained about not getting stuff that kids her age had. 

She really had matured way early than her age.

She broke out of her thoughts as she reached the office building.

She entered with nervous steps. The receptionist told her the way.

Meher frowned seeing so many girls already sitting there. Most of them were correcting their looks and were looking as if they were here for a fashion show rather than an interview.

She was not the one who judges people quickly but there is a certain way you dress for certain occassions.

She patiently waited for her turn and she did not have to wait much. Around an hour later she was called for her turn.

Crossing her fingers and praying to God she entered in. The only thing in her mind was if she gets this job it would help in managing their expenses a lot.

Also, her mother could now leave her job.

She was told that they would contact her if she would be selected.

She went back home and saw her mother sitting beside her father watching their usual comedy show. 

The doctors have advised them that her father should remain happy so that he could recover better. They have tried all the medicines possible but there was no visible results even though the doctor said that he was recovering.

Meher shook of the negative thoughts and started preparing the lunch. She then sat with her parents and enjoyed the show with them.

In evening she was arranging her clothes when she received the call she was hoping and waiting for.

"Hello. Am i speaking Miss Meher Srivastava?"

"Yes."

"Congratulations Miss Meher! You are selected and hired for the post of Secretary in Target Ltd. You will be working under Mr. Vihaan Singhania-"

Meher did not hear anything else. Vihaan Singhania. The name still made her heart skip a beat.

She started going down the memory lane. She broke out of her reverie when she heard the person calling her.

"Ma'am? Are you there?"

"Yes. I am sorry. Could you repeat what you said?"

"Ofcourse ma'am. You are expected to join from tomorrow. Are you fine with it?"

"Yes. Yes its fine."

"Great! You need to be present here by 9:30 am sharp."

"Sure thank you."

She said and disconnected the call. She started to think about him but then shook her head.

'Nhi Meher. Don't go there. He was in the past. Abhi teri priority teri family aur parents hai bas.'

She slipped into slumber after explaining her this.

**************************************

The next day she woke up early and prepared the breakfast and asked the nurse that came for her father to prepare something light for lunch.

She left for the office early as she was going in rickshaw and she didn't want to be late on her first day.

She reached exactly 10 minutes before 9:30. Sighing in relief she asked the receptionist where she was supposed to report. She was shown her cabin which she supposed was right next to her boss's.

She set her cabin according to her and around 20 minutes later she was asked to report to the COO's cabin.

She knocked on the door and entered in when she heard a strong voice giving her the permission.

"Good morning Sir."
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