In the Wake of Us

Chapter 4: The Destiny Giggles

*Rubs hands mischievously*

It's going to get better Guys!

Author's POV

"Destiny, oh dear destiny, how you love to play your games, and oh, how you make us wait," Tara sang softly to herself on her way back home. "I better get home soon before it starts raining. I hope Bruno hasn't created a mess."

Bruno, her rambunctious dog, had a tendency to get zoomies whenever the weather changed, often leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Plants would be overturned, and the house would be in disarray, but despite the extra effort he required, Tara loved him deeply. Bruno had been with her through thick and thin, witnessing her tears and smiles more than anyone else. For him, she'd lay her life on the line without hesitation.

Tara's POV
"Oh god, Bruno! What did you do, you little devil?" she exclaimed upon reaching home. "Who's going to clean this mess now? Bruno, come back here!"

As usual, Bruno darted to his favourite hiding spot under the bed, peeking out with his signature puppy eyes, knowing that Tara would melt.

"You little rascal! Come here, now!" Tara tried to sound stern, but Bruno's sad little face made it impossible to stay mad. She knew better though—he wasn't really sorry for what he did, just for getting caught. Still, she couldn't hold a grudge. To her, Bruno was a friend and a son wrapped into one.

After cleaning up his mess and making dinner for her grown-up pup, Tara turned to her own dinner.

"It's already 8:40! I'm starving," she muttered to herself. "But I'm not in the mood to cook... Ugh, but I'm broke too." She sighed. "Hey! I'm not broke, I'm just... resourceful."

It was a constant internal battle for Tara. She sighed again, finally giving in to the convenience of eating out. Much to her relief (and slight disappointment), she headed to her favourite food stall.

This was one of her grounding places—a little corner in her world that brought her peace. The stall was run by an old lady who had always treated Tara like her own daughter. They'd met shortly after Tara moved to the city for her job, and ever since, they had formed a beautiful bond.

Lata, the stall owner, smiled warmly as Tara approached.
"Didn't want to cook today either?" she teased.

"Well, you know me," Tara said, sitting down with a grin.

Lata chuckled knowingly. She understood that Tara took on the world every day, and the least she deserved was a good meal at the end of it. She served her favourite piping hot spicy "Chole Chwal" with some salad on the side.

After eating and chatting a bit with Lata, Tara headed home. By the time she finished her nightly routine of locking up, cleaning, and showering, it was past 10. Exhausted, she flopped onto her bed and dozed off.

At the Office

MD: "We need this report submitted and presented to the client by the 21st, anyhow."
Manager: "But sir, Shrishi ma'am is on leave. Her mother-in-law met with a serious accident."
MD: "Call her. Tell her it's her job, and she has to be there."
Manager: "I'll find out."

Shrishti's POV
"What do you mean I have to come in? I can't! My mother-in-law is in the hospital!" Shrishti's voice trembled with frustration.

"Ma'am, I understand, but the MD insists—" the manager stammered, clearly out of his depth.

"You understand? Do you? Does he? My family is in crisis, and you expect me to drop everything for this job? Where's the compassion? How heartless can you people be?" Shrishti's voice grew sharper, anger rising.

"Please, ma'am, just try to understand—" the manager attempted to calm her down, but his words only made things worse.

"You know what? Fire me. I quit! Tell your boss I'm done."
Without waiting for a response, Shrishti ended the call, her decision final.

The poor manager stared at the phone, frozen in place. For a solid five seconds, he didn't move—just blinking at the screen as if expecting it to explain what had just happened.

With Shrishti gone, Tara's already chaotic world took a sharp turn into uncharted territory.

MD: "Who else is working on the report?" he barked, barely holding it together.
Manager: "Tara, sir," the manager responded, his voice shaky.

The MD pinched the bridge of his nose. His pulse quickened—not because he doubted Tara's abilities, but because, frankly, he didn't know her abilities. She was just... young. Inexperienced. An unknown variable on a sinking ship.

"Yes, sir?" Tara entered the cabin, outwardly composed. Dressed in a simple red kurti and leggings, her hair neatly tied in an updo, she exuded an air of practicality and ease. Her posture was confident, but her but the weariness in her eyes told a much different story.

"You'll have to finish the report and present it as well," the MD said, trying to sound indifferent, as if this was just another day in the office. But Tara knew better. The entire office had heard Shrishti's explosive resignation, and now the weight of it had landed squarely on her shoulders.

"Why me?" Tara asked, her voice cracking slightly, though she tried to maintain her composure.

"Why not?" the MD countered, raising an eyebrow.

"It's just... the report is too technical, and I've never handled anything of this scale before. Presenting it—"

"Tara..." The MD cut her off, his tone shifting. There was a strange desperation in his voice—a mixture of panic and hope that Tara had never heard before. If she didn't know the situation, she'd have thought he was being sarcastic.

"You're the only one who understands this project inside and out. We need you to take this across the finish line. Whatever it takes, just get it done. We need to crack this deal."

And just like that, Tara found herself staring at a mountain of responsibility. No roadmap. No mentor. Just a looming deadline and a boss who seemed to think she had a decade of experience hidden somewhere in her desk drawer.

With a defeated nod, she left the cabin, already feeling the pressure building like a storm cloud over her head.

Fantastic. No pressure at all, she thought, rubbing her temples.

Now Tara was not only burdened with a massive task but shocked by the MD's audacity to expect her to pull off something as if she had 10 years of experience. Without any guidance or choice, she nodded and left the cabin.

Tara's POV

"FUCK THIS!" Tara burst out the moment she was alone. "How am I supposed to... No, mom! To hell with cursing!" She sighed deeply, frustration and exhaustion colliding in her chest. "Mom, God, you're not even listening... Ma, please," she muttered, her voice cracking.

On the other end of the line, her mom's gentle voice came through.

"Tara beta, how many times do I have to tell you? It's okay. If you want to do it, do it. If not, come back home. We're always here for you. Just stop stressing yourself out. You're going to turn into a ball of nerves—and for what, a report?"

Tara sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes even though her mom couldn't see her. A ball of nerves, she thought. More like a space rocket hurtling into disaster.

Her mom continued, "We can't stand seeing you like this. If this is too much, come home. There's no shame in it, darling."

Her mom's words were soft and reassuring, but to Tara, they felt more like a well-meaning consolation prize. Comfort couldn't quite reach her anymore. That was the issue, and she knew it. After a few more minutes of conversation, she wiped away her tears, hung up, and turned back to the "space rocket" of a report looming over her.  

Aaand how was it?? 

Please vote and comment guys, it motivates me to write! 

Also they're very close to the "first meet"

byeee!