The Fall of the Evil

Chapter - 10

In Chennai,

A girl came running into the house all excited and dropped her college bag on the chair and started calling her parents.
It is Shivani.

Shivani: Amma! Appa!

Lakshmi: Why are you shouting like that?

Shivani saw her mother and hugged her and said,

Shivani: Amma! I am very happy today. I am selected in my college placements. I got a very good job.

Lakshmi's face lit up listening to that.

Lakshmi: It is such a good news. I know my daughter will achieve anything.

Just then, Kiran entered the house, they shared the news with him as well.

Kiran: Congratulations!! Amma! Which company?

Shivani: MM group pa. It is in Mumbai. There is a training for 2 months. I have to leave next week.

Lakshmi's smile faded listening to that.

Lakshmi: Mumbai  !! It is a so far. We don't know anyone there. How will you go? Where will you stay? No need to go anywhere. You find a job here itself. Even if it is small you will be here in front of us and we won't be worried.

Shivani: I am not going alone ma! There are 7 students selected from my college. All of us are going and the company itself is taking care of accomodation. So there is no need to worry.

Lakshmi: But still I won't send you there alone.

Shivani looked at Kiran with pleading eyes.He assured her with his eyes. He then turned to Lakshmi and said,

Kiran: See Lakshmi! We know she has worked so hard for all these years and right when she is about to receive the fruits of that effort we as parents should stand behind her and encourage her. Let her go. Anyway she is not alone. Her friends are also there. Moreover, I trust my daughter she will shine for sure.

Lakshmi hesitantly nodded her head in agreement. Shivani squealed and hugged her.

Shivani: ok! I will go to my room. I need to prepare some documents to submit.

Saying so she went inside.

Kiran saw Lakshmi's face filled with worry.

Kiran: Lakshmi, I know your worry to send her away from us. We are not her parents and she is not aware of that. You are scared that she might one day come to know about this truth and leave us.

Lakshmi: Why are you talking about her leaving us. She is my daughter. She won't leave me ever. She won't right?

She asked with tears flowing down her eyes. Kiran wiped her tears and said,

Kiran: She won't Lakshmi. You are worrying unnecessarily. You know right she always understood our situation and always worked very hard to study on scholarships because it will be very tough for me to pay her fees. She never complained. Nor she ever demanded or asked us anything that we could not afford. She never questioned our love towards her. She has always been the best daughter any parents would wish for. Even if we have children of our own I don't think they would love us like her. But when its time for her to fly and explore we should not pull her back because of our fears right? We should trust her and see her grow.

Lakshmi: You are right. I think I am overthinking.

Kiran smiled at her and she smiled back.

On the other side,

Rudra entered home after a tiring day of continuous meetings. Meera was waiting for him in the living room. She saw him coming and welcomed him. He straight away came and laid in his mother's lap. Meera smiled and started caressing his hair.

Meera: You look so tired Rudra.

Rudra: Yes Amma! It is a big project so was busy.

Meera: hmm. Ishaan told me. Go and freshen up. I will set dinner for you.

Rudra: ok.

Saying he went inside his room. When he returned Meera served him dinner and he ate dinner talking about random topics.

Meera: Rudra! Ishaan said you will be free next week. Actually I talked to the priest and arranged a pooja next week. I want you to attend that with me.

Rudra: please ma! You know I don't believe in god. There is nothing like god. So I won't come. You ask me anything else but not this.

Meera: ok then get married.

Rudra: ma! I am not yet ready. I still need time.

Meera: you say you don't have any girl in your life. Atleast tell me what type of girl you want. I will search my daughter in law.

Rudra laughed at her and said,

Rudra: She won't be available in any shop ma! So that you can search and buy.

Meera: Shutup! You are hopeless. Good night. Saying so she was about to leave.

Rudra: Don't be so angry Ma! I am not saying I will never get married. I just need some time. A girl who will love me and you might have been born somewhere. I will get married when I meet her. Ok?

Meera: You have been saying the same thing for 2 years. Do whatever you want. It's very late. Go to sleep.

Rudra: Good night ma!

He went and closed his eyes on his bed, his thoughts went to the same girl whom he saw in Chennai when he went there for a business meeting.

Flashback start

Rudra completed his meeting and was returning to the airport. He was looking through some files in his laptop sitting in the backseat. The signal turned red and the car stopped. He turned towards the window and was seeing outside. On the other side of the road a bike hit a small puppy and went away without stopping. The puppy could not get up and other vehicles were passing by. It was very scared. Then a college girl came to the middle of the road escaping the moving vehicles and spread her dupatta on the road and took the puppy in it and took it to a safe place where vehicles are not coming. She then cleaned the wound with her waterbottle and gave the puppy some biscuits from her bag. Meanwhile, the signal turned green and Rudra's car moved forward. But Rudra's eyes were fixed on that girl. When he could not see her anymore he turned into the car and unknowingly a smile crept on his face.

Flashback end

Rudra remembered the incident and opened his eyes.

Rudra MV: Dammit. It's not like I saw someone saving a dog for the first time. But I could not forget her face. She is disturbing me a lot.Common Rudra Don't be crazy. Don't waste your time on a random girl and sleep.

He then closed his eyes and slept.

After a week, Shivani reached Mumbai along with her friends and settled in the flat. Today is the day of joining. She and her friend Kavya are sharing the same flat. They got ready and reached the office. Arun took all of them inside and gave a tour of everything.

Arun: Welcome all of you. We are glad to onboard you. Since today is your first day, let's get you introduced to the operations here on a high level. She is Ms. Swetha. She will guide you throughout your training.
(He introduced a 40 year old woman. )
I will check with the CEO if there is a way he could address you people personally. since some of you might work along with me directly reporting to him. But for now keep in touch with Swetha for your work. Saying he left from there.

Later they all talked to Swetha and took some assignment.

To be continued.....

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