Dr Meera Saravana has been on the run for the last ten years due to a fatal misunderstanding. She ends up in New York, hoping that maybe this time everything will work out. But that's turning out to be impossible the more she gets involved with the...
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MEERA
I woke up that morning to Pharaoh pawing at my leg for breakfast and a feeling of unease that would not let up until I turned off my alarm. I turned over to glance at the digital alarm clock which was a blurry mess of numbers. I sat up, gently pushing Pharaoh off my leg and swung my legs over the edge, feeling a jolt as the chill of the morning hit me faster than coffee.
Today was my first day. New job, new colleagues, new life. It was time to embrace the newness...and not fuck it up majorly while I'm at.
The sun was peeking out through the curtains, spilling into the hotel room. It felt so warm even though the outside was so cold. I checked my phone out of habit. No new messages. It was only six in the morning. I could go back to sleep and wake up in 15 more minutes but I was too excited to do that.
I threw off the covers and dragged myself to my sad-looking suitcase in the corner of the room, pulling our breakfast for Pharaoh and clothes for me.
Let's see. On the first day on the job, I should probably wear something flexible yet professional. My wardrobe was seriously limited and I didn't know when I would be going shopping for new ones. I picked out a crisp white button-down shirt, my comfiest pair of black slacks, and a pair of heavy-duty boots that had seen better days. I held my shirt up in front of the mirror, debating if I should wear a tie with it or not.
"What do you think, Pharaoh?" I turned around, holding the shirt in front of me. "Would the tie be overkill?" He blinked at me slowly, his tail twitching. "So no?" I turned back around. My face in the mirror was an anxious one. I tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. "You're right," I said picking up a red tie hanging over the edge of the hotel's chair. "First impressions are key."
Pharaoh meowed happily when I placed a can of Fancy feast down for him and gave him a scratch. I do love the little hellion but I think I might be spoiling him. "Don't worry, Pharaoh. When we find a nice apartment, I'll make sure you'll have lots of places to play and explore."
I've made him that promise several times, I just hope I wouldn't break his little feline heart with my optimism.
I take the quickest shower in the world and get dressed, putting myself together in front of the mirror till I no longer resemble a gremlin arising from a decade-old slumber. I picked up my small trusty tube of concealer and my nearly empty tube of eyeliner to carefully hide away my dark circles. If I blended it enough, I could hide my insecurities and low self-esteem away. I'm in the process of deciding which lipstick to wear when My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I was on a schedule.
The clock said it was almost 7:00. The breakfast buffet opened at 7:15.
Pharaoh starts rubbing his head against my calf, getting cat hair all over my slacks. "Poor thing," I cooed and picked up the grey cat, careful to avoid his sharp nails. "Aw, are you going to miss me when I'm gone?" I kissed his head and gave him a scratch behind his ears before putting down the purring ball of fluff. "Behave, don't rip up the pillows. I'll be back soon."
