ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 1

Mumbai, the city of dreams, the city that never sleeps. Each and every word is true. Mumbai was home to all those people who came as low and then grew high. One such person was on her way back from Chicago right now, thinking the same thing. Nishtha.

She was currently flying above Mumbai, just above to land, as she stepped into her home soil after almost 2 years. After a bittersweet ending of her undergraduate studies, she had taken her first flight out of India and gone straight to the US, to Chicago, for her masters. She was glad she did, because she got an insane exposure to many companies and people, which not only boosted her confidence and career, but also gave her a much needed distraction from her chaotic personal life. She used that one year to distance herself from everyone. Nishtha preferred the silence. She was once bubbly and loud, but after her breakup, that personality broke up with her as well. She now was much more silent, choosing to spend her time reading and singing. However, that didn't mean she didn't have her friends. She has always been a friendly person - loved by all. Aditi and Priya, her two closest friends, had also joined her in the US for their masters, so despite studying in different states, they would keep meeting frequently. She stayed in the US for 2 years after her masters ended, where she worked as a research assistant and a consultant.

Now she had landed back home, to her city, for whatever the future held for her. Her friends were soon to land, they had taken the next flight from her and would be in Mumbai within the next 2 days.

When she got down the flight, she was once again in awe by the smell of her soul. She felt nostalgic and relieved to be back, although she did miss US.

Once she finished the formalities, she picked up her bags and got a cab to her apartment. It was a surprise visit. Her parents didn't know she's coming. She was excited to see their faces!

She rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.
Soon, she heard muttering on the inside, getting louder every second. The door opened and a lady, in her mid 40s, with a phone on her ear, stood in surprise.
"Nishtha?" Rupali Yadav, her mother, screamed as she cut the call.
Nishtha walked in and hugged her Mom. It had been months since they met.
"How are you? When did you reach? How long are you here for? Why didn't you tell us?" Rupali bombarded her with questions. 
"Aai, Aai, relax. I'm fine. I'll answer everything, can I sit first?" Nishtha chuckled.

She sat down in her house. She's grown up in this house. They moved here when she was 4 and her brother was just newly born. She had done her schooling and her university from the same city.
It's safe to say, she knew Mumbai inside out.

"Where is Neel coming back?" Nishtha asked.
Neel, her 21 year old brother. He was studying in UK, and would be finishing his undergraduate studies shortly. She was hoping he comes back.
"He will come in a week. He booked yesterday. Your dad and I tried to tell you but your phone wasn't ringing."
"That's because I was on the flight here Maa! Oh and where is Baba anyway?"
"He's gone to work."
"On a Sunday?"
"It's a site visit. He has to go today."
"I see. When will he come?"
"Should be back in an hour now?"
"Perfect. Don't tell him I'm here! I'll surprise him too! I'll go freshen up."
"Yeah go. Take a shower and freshen up. Sleep for a bit if you want. I'll make lunch for you."
"Aai, I'll make lunch. It's been months. You sit and relax. I'll make food, you just make a nice cup of chai for you and me, I'll be back!"

She hugged her Mom and went to shower. Soon, she changed into her baggy teeshirt and shorts and made some daal rice for her family. Then, she sat and spoke to her Mom.

"So what now Nishtha?"
"What now?"
"Work?"
"Oh like that! Yep, I've applied. I have got a few interviews this coming week. I have one on Tuesday."
"Where?"
"Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM."
"Really?"
She laughed, "No Maa! I wish. I just have interviews with IBM and Amazon right now. Do you or dad know any other companies hiring?"
Her face fell.
"Aai?"
"Huh..." she said, coming back to reality, "No.."
"What's wrong? Tell me."
"Vo... YUVA is hiring." Her face looked down.
Nishtha took a deep breathe and sipped her chai.
YUVA. His company.
"There are other companies on earth too, Aai."
Rupali nodded, regretting adding salt to her daughter's wound, "You will get a good job!"
Nishtha chuckled, "I'm sure Aai. Now come on, change this sad face and tell me what's new!"

And so, Nishtha hid her pain behind her smile for the nth number of time, battling her pain in her own way.

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