The Innocent Angel Vs The Ruthless Devil

CHAPTER 3

Riya POV

My mind was clouded with the persistent question of why Maa had always been so cold towards me and Bhai. Tears welled up in my eyes, a silent plea for the love I yearned for her. Despite the strong and confident facade I maintained for everyone else, the truth was that it hurt deeply to realize my mother didn't show me the same affection she lavished on my younger siblings, Meenu and Aryan. 

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the familiar voices of Mauli and Nandhini, yelling at me to hurry up since we were already late. Quickly, I wiped away the tears, plastered on my most bombastic smile, and braced myself for the usual scolding from my dear best friends. 

As I approached them, Mauli greeted me with a smack on the head, her voice rising with all kinds of nonsense she could muster. She had always despised Ms. Dsouza's classes, convinced the teacher had a personal vendetta against her. In truth, it was Mauli who always dozed off or chatted incessantly during the lessons. But if I dared to point this out, she'd probably sprout horns and never let me live it down. So, I wisely chose to keep my mouth shut. Seeing this, Nandhini stepped forward to silence Mauli's bickering, much to my immense relief. I sighed heavily, which didn't escape Mauli's notice. She gave me a playful slap, and I was momentarily stunned before we both erupted into another round of our usual banter. Nandhini, with no other option, grabbed us both by the ears and twisted, eliciting a pair of painful screams from us.

Mauli and I immediately began pleading for forgiveness. Nandhini demanded to know if we'd behave until we reached the classroom, reminding us that we only had ten minutes before Ms. Dsouza's class. The reality hit us like a thunderbolt, and in unison, we chorused, "Sorry, meri Maa" (Sorry, Mother). As Nandhini loosened her grip, Mauli and I engaged in a silent war of cruel stares, communicating our frustration through our eyes. This didn't escape Nandhini's notice, and as a reward, we both received a sharp smack on the head, snapping us out of our eye war. Without another word, the three of us sprinted to our class, narrowly escaping Ms. Dsouza's inevitable scolding.

The day passed pleasantly with Mauli and Nandhini by my side, their presence helping to push aside the troubling thoughts of Maa. To our surprise, Mauli managed to stay awake during Ms. Dsouza's class, determined to avoid her wrath. She rewarded herself by dozing off in our law class instead. The law teacher, rather than wasting her energy on Mauli, let her sleep, secretly relieved that a silent Mauli was better than a chattering one. 

As the day came to a close, the three of us exited the college gates and shared a warm, tight hug before bidding each other goodbye. On my way back home, I glanced at the clock and noticed it was 3 PM. Realizing I still had plenty of time to complete my assignments, it struck me how much time I had been wasting by being solely focused on my studies. At that moment, I felt a surge of clarity—I had found the perfect step towards my goal and a way to make Maa proud.

Hurrying home, I quickly freshened up and diligently finished my assignments. With a sense of purpose, I took out my laptop and began browsing for jobs and internships, eager to embark on this new journey and turn my aspirations into reality. As I scrolled through countless job listings, I noticed many companies were hiring for personal assistant roles. Despite their attractive salaries, I dismissed them because my passion lay in finance. I didn't want to compromise my principles by choosing money over meaningful learning experiences.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally stumbled upon a promising opportunity at a company called "The Up View." They were recruiting for a "Part-Time Junior Auditor" position, offering a fair stipend and flexible hours. This job seemed tailor-made for me. Without hesitation, I clicked the "Apply" button and meticulously filled out the necessary details. To my delight, I received an email shortly after, informing me that I had an interview scheduled for the coming week. Excitement surged through me, and I couldn't wait to share the news with everyone.