Destined To Be (Previously AdiYa Ki Daastaan)

Chapter 1

Zoya Siddiqui

Dear diary,

Tomorrow will be an important day for me. I have been selected for an interview in HS Interior Designs. Abbu wanted me to join his company to work and then take over when he retires, but there was a problem with that. I have graduated in interior designing while his company is all about accounting and tax consultancy. I did spend some time interning with dad to test the waters but the work did not interest me as much as I adored interior designing.

Abbu doesn’t say it anymore but I do know that he still wants me to join his company. At first, I did feel bad to disappoint him and refuse after my internship but what else would I have done?

The heart wants what it wants.

Now there is a little bit of nervousness for the interview but I feel that my preparations are okay. Earlier, ammi even acted as the interviewer to quiz me on potential questions. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

I glanced at the clock which showed thirty eight minutes past ten. Sliding the diary in my bedside drawer, I switched off the lamp and fell into a sound sleep.

~~~

"Zoya! Wake up or else you will be late for your interview," Ammi shouted.

"Ammi, please let me sleep", I said and turned to the other side, covering my ears with another pillow. “Even my alarm has not gone off yet.”

“Zoya, your alarm rang three times already! The whole neighbourhood heard it ringing,” Ammi taunted me, making me get up immediately.

“How many times did I tell you to change that song you have put as your alarm? You don’t understand the language either,” Ammi continued her rant while I rushed into the bathroom.

“Ammi, please don’t start early morning!” I shouted from the bathroom.

“Early morning? The clock doesn’t agree with you, Zoya” she replied sarcastically.

Where were all my comebacks when I needed them?

“Anyway, I’ll keep your breakfast ready and then I’m leaving for the market. Come downstairs quickly,” Ammi said.

After getting ready in a record time, I ran downstairs only to collide with my sister, Noor.

“Oh my god, what is it that I see today? Where did the sun rise from?” Noor looked shocked.

“What happened? Is there something on my face?” I asked, instinctively touching my face.

“Appi? How come you are ready so early today? Did you not sleep yesterday?” Noor chuckled.

“Oh shut up Noor. I’m already running late,” I dropped my bag on the chair and grabbed a toast.

“But it is only seven thirty, Appi!” Noor exclaimed. “Your interview is scheduled for nine, isn’t it?

“What? Seven thirty? No, this cannot be! Ammi came to wake me up because I was…” Words stopped coming out of my mouth when I suddenly realised what ammi had done.

Well done, ammi. Well done.

“Zoya, you better leave early today in case there is something unexpected on the road,” Abbu entered the dining room with his briefcase at the same time.

I nodded at him as I was still eating.

“Good luck, Zoya. I know you will ace this interview,” Abbu told me, “Afterall my Zoya is the best!”