Flipped apart

1. Stepping on the Ladder or Loosing it

Neha's POV:

"Didi, I will miss you a lot", Radha started to cry again. She is our maid, just 19 year old does all kind of activities of our home from cleaning to cooking to manage her expenses but she is more than a maid to us. 

It is the power of the heart; even if our ages are very different, if we are attached to someone, we never allow them to separate us and create a special bond. Similarly, me and Sana share the bond with Radha. 

I still remember when we first met her near the pavilion of the metro station sniffing and wiping her eyes through her sleeves, her dress was covered with dust and she was asking for any kind of work which amused us both. She was not begging but rather asking for work for the expenses and we went near her and got to know—her mother died 3 days ago, leaving her and her brother alone in the world and the house owner has thrown them from the house. 

Sana got pity over her and took responsibility, I don't know how she managed — she bought a house in Chawl (building divided into small flats/houses of 2 or 3 rooms usually seen in Mumbai) near to our apartment for Radha (though Radha hesitated to stay so finally Sana told her to pay rent of the house), offered her job of maid, also enrolled her in some courses as she don't want to study further and admitted her brother in a school taking the education responsibility till he gets a job and becomes financially stable, till date Radha is working for us. She does all the activities in the morning and later goes to the training center which provides some self development skills to the ladies. 

Seeing Radha cry even I became emotional but I can't stay here for my own good call me selfish or whatever but I can't see.........

No, No I have to leave. By controlling my tears and showing some anger, I slightly yelled at her "Radha this is the tenth time you are crying and you have not done any work who will do it, look I will cut your salary if this floor is not cleaned and there is a week left for my departure" I quietly yelled at her which of course didn't work. Even she knows I won't deduct her salary but I have to control myself. 

Wiping Radha's tears, I made her understand how my leaving is necessary for my professional life which is half the truth; I can't tell her the whole truth.

After few hours, Radha gave me a close hug and smiled stating from now on she won't cry and will cook all my favourite dishes until I stay, starting with Radha's special Kanda Poha (an Indian dish made with Rice flakes), she makes it very tasty both me and Sana are big fan of her Kanda Poha to which I gave her a smile and agreed. 

After eating Radha's special Poha, I got up for packing my things though I have a week but I have to start today itself as my plans to return are never going to happen. In future, if I come to Mumbai I won't be coming here or seeing anyone's face especially her and him which made my heart swollen dropping a drop of tear from my eyes followed by other series, "Why, Why, Why....Ya Allah, l have fallen into this situation in which I have to leave the people I love—for two years this was my home away from home, my little world of me, she, and him and never ending chawl stories of Radha. Why this have to be me?" I shouted.

Radha has already left and Sana has not returned from her shoot though she should come back 3 days earlier to which she said there are some technical issues which delayed the shoot but I know she is lying as I have met her colleague yesterday and she said the shoot was completed as per the schedule. I even kind of understood where and with whom she is, thinking about it made me cry more.

After my crying session I got up and gave myself a prep talk - "Leave it Neha, you should not waste your time remembering un important persons, no more tears for them, with a big smile engulf the new beginning it is the dream you came here for and now this step will make your dream higher", I got up and started removing my clothes from the wardrobe.