FOE TO FLAME

1. THE BOND STRENGTHENED

MANNAT

The sun dipped toward the horizon casting a golden hue over the quiet neighborhood as I stood at the threshold of our charming two-story house. Jani Maa my dear and cherished guardian was returning from her routine grocery trip bearing the weight of heavy bags that she had no business carrying. The years had etched lines of wisdom and grace upon her aging visage making it abundantly clear that such burdens were no longer hers to bear. I implored her gently, "Jani Maa please may I relieve you of these grocery packets? You see, you are not as young as you once were and it pains me to watch you struggle even with the stairs."

A fragile smile danced upon her lips as she paused mid-stride her eyes betraying the presence of concealed tears. She reached up brushing a tear from her weathered cheek then cupped my face tenderly. Her voice was a whisper of love as she reassured me, "Never harbor such thoughts my dearest. You are and shall forever remain my most beloved daughter through every moment of my life."

Regretfully, the bags in my hands prevented an embrace but a swell of emotion welled within me cascading into tears that I discreetly wiped away. I bent down to bestow a gentle kiss upon her forehead whispering softly, "You are the sweetest Jani Maa, there is no doubt."

Our emotional exchange lasted a brief five minutes during which we remained standing by the main gate. Finally, Jani Maa broke the silence saying "Beta, hand over the bags and I shall assume this responsibility."

Ignoring her, I made my way inside. Our house a grand and sprawling residence, boasted two stories, with Jani Maa occupying the ground floor and myself residing on the first. Technically, we were neighbors but she was far more than that. She was my confidante my favorite neighbor and above all the embodiment of maternal love and care. Her qualities transcended that of a mother, a daughter, a wife, and a devoted helper, endearing her as my most cherished individual in the world. My love for her only deepened with each passing day.

Setting the grocery bags on the front table I poured a glass of water and handed it to Jani Maa. "Please promise me not to carry such a heavy load and if you need anything do not hesitate to call" I implored.

As I began my ascent to the first floor Jani Maa's voice reached me. "Beta, you mentioned an interview for tomorrow. Is it confirmed?" Panic gripped me as I had nearly forgotten the impending interview. "Yes it is" I replied, a sense of readiness and anticipation filling me. "Tomorrow is the day, Jani Maa. I'm going to interview for my dream job."

She took my hand in hers offering words of encouragement and warmth. "My prayers shall always accompany you. May tomorrow usher in a transformative chapter in your life bringing forth challenges, successes and even setbacks. Remember never waver in your chosen path, for everything in life happens for a reason. Do you understand my counsel?"

Tears welled in my eyes as I embraced her. "Thank you Jani Maa for your unwavering support. Please continue being my steadfast pillar. You are all I have, and I rely on your strength."

As I made my way upstairs my legs wobbled and I lost my balance. I found myself sitting on one of the stairs cradling my knees crying silently. In that moment, I reflected on the blessings of having Jani Maa in my life and the tribulations of my past. Slowly but surely my life was improving. With her by my side I had the courage to resign from my old job taking a bold step towards my dream job. After today, I knew my life would change in every way.

With newfound determination, I dried my tears and embraced happiness even giggling to myself as I stood up and entered my room. Yet, I was met with a sight of chaos. My clothes were strewn across the room lingerie dangled from furniture and papers lay scattered coffee stains adorning the floor. I sighed and turned my gaze left finding a pile of unwashed dishes. "Oh God, help me" I sighed. "I can handle this. I'm an organized person after all. It's just that the excitement of choosing my outfit for tomorrow's interview got the best of me. Now, the dilemma remains what should I wear?"

I went to my wardrobe and picked out some outfits that I'm going to wear for tomorrow's interview. Now it's time to clean up my messy room. I started by cleaning the room putting my dirty clothes in the washing machine and neatly organizing the clean ones in the wardrobe. I collected the papers scattered on the table organized them and placed them on my desk. Then, I headed to the kitchen area to wash the dishes, wiping away coffee stains and clearing up the mess. After making a fresh bed I felt completely exhausted and my back was aching. It was already 11 PM when I grabbed a magazine that was next to me and started reading it.

I came across a promotional page of my company featuring the CEO Mr. Anil Roy and the COO his son Reyan. Before applying for the job I had done some research on these individuals and the company. Mr. Roy is the CEO of Roy Enterprises and Reyan is the COO poised to be the future CEO. There were numerous rumors circulating about Reyan, but it was unclear whether they were true. I followed their stories through magazines, TV and social media. Roy Enterprises was the largest company in Mumbai known for its immense profits and rapid success. Reyan had been linked to various rumors about his relationships with women. Some TV channels labeled him as a playboy always flirting with staff and other females while others dismissed these rumors as baseless. They mentioned that Reyan kept his personal life private and these rumors were likely spread by his detractors. It was hard to believe he had time for such affairs as girls usually approached him and when he declined their advances, rumors started circulating.

I found myself wishing that I could get a chance to see him tomorrow but I knew it was unlikely. He is the boss and I am just an employee. In such a massive company the odds of our paths crossing were slim, it only happened in stories and on TV. Reality was quite different. I hoped he was a kind and down-to-earth person because he looked so innocent in the pictures. I gazed at his image for a while and had to remind myself "Stop fantasizing about this man. He's your boss." Saying this to myself, I closed the magazine and checked the clock it was already 1 AM. I had been daydreaming and staring at his picture for two hours. After a few more minutes I finally drifted into a deep sleep.

I was jolted awake by a distant voice calling my name, "Beta, beta, beta, wake up!" I opened the door to find Jani Maa standing there early in the morning. My mind was still hazy from sleep and confusion so I asked her if everything was okay. She responded by giving my head a gentle slap and said, "Nothing is okay!" I asked her what had happened and she exclaimed, "You're asking me what happened? Go before something happens!" My heart raced as I suddenly remembered the interview. "Jani maa, why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I lamented, sitting on the floor with regret. Jani maa reassured me "It's only 8:30. You still have 30 minutes before the interview. Get ready to go." Her words spurred me into action and I gave her a peck on the cheek before rushing to the bathroom. She called after me "I'm making breakfast freshen up and come down." I nodded and headed for a quick shower.

So guys I hope you enjoyed the first chapter let me know what excites you the most and don't forget to comment your opinion...