Frozen Hearts

chapter 1

Swapna

My eyes ran through the features of the girl who was standing before me. She did change a lot from her original self in this past month, I can't even get a glimpse of old cheerful Swapna in her. She looked all worn out. The girl who got to work at a reputed company and earned a fair salary now left the job and preparing for an interview as a private tutor, Life sucks.

"Swapna" my mom's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I have to be get going I don't want to be late. I took a last look at my image in the mirror and took a deep breath it seems unreal, the new me.

"Swapna come here... Don't think I will let you roam around with an empty stomach..." My mom's voice stopped me on track but I was not feeling like eating moreover, I didn't want to talk with anyone. That was what I am doing for the past month avoiding them because I'm scared that I would break down in front of them.

I seated near my mom, I didn't see my sister around, she must have gone to college early today. She always does that spending most of the time studying and I was always jealous of her being a topper.

"Swapna..., what are you thinking about?... You didn't even touch the food." That was when I realized what I was doing; daydreaming, I was doing this more often nowadays.

"Swapna, is there anything bothering you?" She asked placing her hand on my shoulder, the question I feared the most.

"It's... It's nothing Amma... I'm just... Just worried about my... I mean... I'm having a headache." I know I failed miserably with my lie.

"Nowadays you are not even having your food on time... Swapna, you know you can share anything with me... You can tell me if there is anything bothering you..." I didn't dare to makeup anymore lies I know if I did I would stammer like before. I don't know why but I can't lie to my close ones. So I sat there silently.

"Don't stress yourself thinking about your previous job?"

"Amma... I have told you already I didn't feel like going there it's... It's really... I... I'm scared to work under a cunning boss like him. Now I'm more relieved..." Again a lie.

I didn't want to remain anything about my previous job. I worked there only for one and a half years but the memories it gave me were more than the time.

Thankfully, mom didn't ask me anything else so I left after having my breakfast. I hope getting a new job will help me to move on from my past. I want to separate my aching heart from the painful past even if it will make my heart bleed.

I choose to go by bus to reach my destination, window seat with headphones playing my favorite ARR track never failed to clear my mental conflict. As my vision moved through every passing building my heart moved through the passing memories.
I still remember everything like it happened yesterday. I never planned to work there it was my uncle who encouraged me to attend the interview. Everything went well until Mr. Devanayakam hand over the CEO position to his son. Devanayakam sir never treated me like an employee I'm more like a daughter to him.

After he appointed his son as the new CEO everything had changed. On the first day of joining itself, his son fired five employees; he was such a cunning person. I was too scared even to stand beside him then.

But I don't know how he managed to steal a little portion of my heart. His bossing around character changed to sweet gestures when it reached almost six months. After that many things had happened, those days are like warmth in my frozen heart. But that warmth didn't last long. That one and a half year as his secretary was the period which I wanted to erase from my life soo desperately. At a point when I cannot take it anymore, I resigned from the job.

Now it's been a month since I left the job. My friend informed me of a vacancy at a private tuition center, so I was going there. I hope I get a job also I need a change. I got down when I reached my destination.

"Swapna" a familiar voice stopped me.

"Uncle, how are you?" I asked Natesh uncle, the one who helped me in getting my previous job. I was avoiding him since I left the job. Because I was tired of explaining the reason to everyone.

"I'm fine Swapna kutty... What are you doing here at this time?... Did you take a leave?"

"No uncle, actually... I'm not going there... I resigned," I told him the truth as there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"Why?" he inquired in a shocked tone.

"It's... It's very hard to work there uncle... I couldn't cope up with all those stress... I tried but... I couldn't..." I explained in a calm but painful voice hoping he won't ask me anything more, I can't tell him even if he asked.

"Don't worry... I will talk to Deva." He said disturbing my already disturbed heart. Letting Devanakayam sir know what happened, was the last thing I wanted to happen.

"Uncle, please don't do that... if his son gets to know that... I can't even imagine what he will do... He is very scary..." I literally pleaded him, the truth was I don't want any bitter encounter with him.

"Then, what are you going to do Swapna...?"

"My friend informed about a job vacancy at a private tuition center... I'm going there..."

"Everything will get okay... don't worry" he parted away after that little conversation and I continued my aimless travel..................