Orderly Chaos

The Architect from Andheri

"There now, monkey, you know mumma's gotta go to work."

"But mom, you'd promised to accompany me to the theme park today," Aarav complained.

Katha sighed. She wanted to be there for her son whenever he needed her but her main focus at the moment was to arrange funds for his treatment. She had very recently bagged a job at Kapoor Industries, so taking a day off so very soon was out of the question.

"I know darling and I'm sorry. I can't miss my first day, can I? But I have another surprise for you," Katha replied. Aarav huffed and turned his face away. "I don't wanna hear it," he sulked.

"Well, your best friend Siya is arriving from Sydney but if you don't wanna know, then I'll inform her to cancel her trip," Katha announced. Aarav squealed with delight. "Really? Oh my gosh! Siya is really coming to see me? I can't believe I'll be seeing her after more than two years now." Siya and Aarav became best friends the moment they laid eyes on each other. Coincidentally, they were born on the same day, month, and year. Ever since they'd learned to speak, they were joined at the hip. They used to play pranks on their parents, and quarrel with older kids - mostly Siya, she derived satisfaction from punching boys that bullied Aarav. Aarav was the quieter of the two. They were total opposites, in every possible manner. It was rare to see such friendships sustaining for long. They did fight an awful lot but eventually made up. Nothing could keep them apart for long.

But then, Aarav's father, Yash passed away in an unfortunate accident. Aarav had been pretty close to his father, so his father's untimely death left an indelible mark on him. He became quieter and more reclusive. The only person he'd share his sorrows with was Siya; she knew and understood him, after all. But that didn't last long either. Siya's father was transferred to Australia by his company. As much as it pained her to do so, Siya had to bid goodbye to her best friend. They'd promised to keep in touch and they did - FaceTiming on weekends, discussing a movie or show intensely - for a while, at least. And then, one day, out of the blue, Aarav collapsed. Katha had rushed him to the hospital only to find out he suffered from Polycythemia Vera - a rare form of blood cancer.

Katha's entire world had come crashing down at her feet. She had barely mourned her husband and now, it seemed like she'd have to mourn her son as well. She scolded herself for even thinking about the latter.

She had decided then that she would do everything in her power to make sure Aarav lived a long life. She worked two jobs, as an architect during the day and as a customer support executive during the night. She worked her bones off, travelling in buses instead of autos, buying cheaper clothes, and skipping a meal here and there. But it still wasn't enough. She applied to big and well-reputed firms but most of them rejected her application. Kapoor Urban was the only firm that called her over for an interview. She had presented her designs and their potential. Safe to say, she had bagged the job as a senior architect. The pay and perks were great as well. She continued her customer support executive job at night. She barely even slept four hours a day. But she worked religiously. 'For Aarav' she chanted all the time.

Katha sighed. She ruffled Aarav's hair and kissed him on the forehead. "Be good okay? And don't exert too much pressure. And don't bother Pramila Aunty okay?" "Yes, captain!" Aarav announced. "When is Siya arriving?" he questioned his mother. "Next week. She's coming on vacation. We'll go out someplace nice okay?" Aarav's eyes sparkled at that and he nodded. It had been a long time since they'd eaten out. He was looking forward to it.

Kapoor Urban was almost an hour away from Katha's house, so she preferred to board a train instead of the bus. It was extremely humid and the lack of sleep did nothing to help her pounding headache. She somehow made it to the company in one piece. The edifice loomed over her. It was tall and made of glass. At the very top, the words Kapoor Urban was mounted in big, bold letters.

Katha took a deep breath. So, this was going to be her new office. She felt a major sense of relief upon entering the building. The cool breeze from the air conditioner calmed her nerves and her headache. She seated herself on the nearest couch to catch her breath. A few minutes later, she approached the receptionist. "Hello. I'm Katha Singh. I've very recently joined Kapoor Urban and it's my first day here." Katha was nervous beyond measure. She'd never worked at such a large firm before. It was going to be a lot of pressure.

Katha steeled herself. She had to be brave for Aarav. The receptionist glanced at her clothes and made a face. Katha didn't mind, she wasn't dressing to impress anyone. Her clothes were appropriate enough for work. The receptionist pointed her in the direction of the elevator. "Eighth floor. Mr Kapoor wanted to have a word with the new architect," said the receptionist coolly. Katha nodded and made her way to the elevator. She exhaled noisily as soon as the doors closed. She took out her handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her brow. She felt a little dizzy but managed to steady herself.

The doors to the elevator opened with a ping. The moment she stepped out, the world spun around her. She tried to grab onto something but there was nothing to hold on to. Black spots danced around the edges of her eyes and before she knew it, darkness engulfed her and she fell to the floor with a thud.