An ear-piercingly loud and repeated ring emerged from beneath the pillow I slept on and filled every nook and corner of our bedroom, conveniently breaking through my sound sleep on a Sunday morning. With my eyes still shut, I slid my hand underneath the pillow and silenced the incoming call.

Within literal nanoseconds, the loud incoming rings screamed, and yet again, I silenced the call. When my iPhone rang for the third time that morning, Chanch whined and nagged in her sleep, and slurred, "Dia, answer the damn call or switch off your phone!". "It must be an important call, Dia. Answer it", Vaish vaguely said and yawned loudly. Blindly, I searched for my iPhone, swiped the answer icon and dropped the phone over my ears. "Who is it?", I mumbled in my sleep. "Dityaa, I'm Joshua", a monotonous voice reached my ear from the other end of the call. "Joshua? Joshua, who?", I questioned confusedly, still drowning in depths of sleepiness. "Your Manager", he straightforwardly said in a grave tone and I took me a moment to drag my eyelids open. Through my squinted eyes, I glanced at the bright iPhone screen, wondering if I was hallucinating in my deep sleep, or something; but it actually was Mr. Joshua, and he called at 05.23 a.m. in the morning, God knew for what joy! "Sir...what ha...hap...", I paused and yawned widely, until my nostrils flared open. "Sorry, sir...anyways, how may I help you? Is everything okay?", I questioned, laying on my back with my hand over my tummy. "Everything's okay. I want you to be at the office at 09.30", he ordered and shook me out of my sleep. "9? Office?!", I echoed loudly in sheer disbelief. "Dia, shut up!", Chanch almost cried, sleepily. "Shh, ChanChan; it's my manager!", I hushed. "Sir, today is a Sunday...it's a weekend", I said; if Mr. Joshua needed help in learning the days of the week, I didn't mind spending some time tutoring him! "I know what day of the week it is. I don't need your reminder. Do as I say, Dityaa. Don't question", he said, aggressively. "But—but, may I know why?", I asked him, blankly, and he sighed loudly. "I told you something – do not question!", he repeated himself, calmly but sounded furious. "But, Sir, you're...", I tried to argue, but he plainly cut me off. "I need you here by nine, that's all", he snapped on my face and cut the call.

"SCREW HIM!", I screamed on the top of my lungs and buried my face deep into the pillow. "Dia!", Chanch called out, angrily. "Shut up, Chanch!", I snapped. "You shut up. You're ruining my sleep!", Chanch snapped back. "Guys!", Vaish exclaimed and silenced us. I dragged myself out of bed and staggered my way to the balcony, when I met Nash in the kitchen on my way to the balcony; decked up in a long-sleeved white top and a pair of black Palazzos, she stirred a mixture of coffee beside the stove. "Oh God, Nash!", I exclaimed in a surprised manner, making her look up at me. "Good morning", she greeted with a smile. "Sometimes, I forget that you exist in this apartment", I joked and lazily slumped back on the marbled kitchen-counter. "And...by the way, good morning", I added. "Coffee?", Nash offered. "FYI, I never say no to free dramas and coffees", I shrugged and Nash laughed. "Did you just come home?", I poked her shoulder, and she answered with a nod of her head. "What were you doing all night, woman? Where were you?", I demanded of her. "I needed to meet the target for the photo-shoot and so, I spent the whole night in the studio with the team", Nash answered back, stirring yet another mixture of coffee. "See, I understand your passion for photography and all of that, but that doesn't mean you'll work without sleeping, Nash; that's extremely unhealthy. I don't even know how you're alive; I cannot get through my day without proper hours of sleep. If I was you, I would have murdered someone, out of irritation, for sure", I rolled my eyes. "Moreover, it's a three month long project, right? You have ample amount of time", I told her. "No, it's not a three month project...", Nash paused, and turned on the stove to heat fresh milk. "...actually, it was supposed to be a three month long project, but the project does not entirely belong to me anymore", Nash clarified. "Why?", it was hard to suppress the curiosity within me and Nash dragged a sharp breath in. "First, promise me you won't utter a word to Chanch or Vaish, until I feel it's the right time to let them know", Nash turned to look at me, and I looked back at her, taken aback because of the sudden seriousness in her tone. "Okay...I promise", I dragged my words. "You're not allowed to break the promise, no matter what; if you consider me as your friend, keep your word", Nash stressed, and in slow motion, I nodded my head in agreement, feeling the thuds of my heart against my chest.

"I'm going back home in two weeks", Nash blurted out in one breath, and although I grasped her words, I didn't move an inch. "Dityaa, I'm going back home", Nash repeated herself, calmly, and I snapped out of the shock that groped me tight. "Home?", I echoed, blankly, as the ground beneath my feet slowly slipped. "Sri Lanka", Nash exhaled and the ground beneath my feet disappeared within a blink of an eye. "Why?", the disbelief in my voice was glaring. "Omar's parents met my parents three days ago, and everything looks set; I think we're getting engaged in six months...probably, once he finishes his tours", Nash revealed. "That's such good news; congratulation...but six months is still a lot of time, Nash. Why do you have to leave in two weeks?!", I interrogated, impatiently. "Because...because...", Nash fumbled and fidgeted with the bracelet wound around her wrist. "Because?", I prompted. "Because Omar doesn't want me to work anymore; he think I've explored enough and it's time for me to quit", Nash confessed and my jaw dropped open. "What!", I spat. "Are you serious, Nash? You're listening to him? This is the stupidest thing ever!", I stated, feeling my blood boil. "Who is he to decide for you? I know he's your partner and he has his rights on you, but he does not have the rights to decide what you should do with your life. Despite being your partner, there's a limit he cannot cross...and Nash, I am so disappointed in you; I cannot believe you allowed him to cross that line. How does he know that you have explored enough? You need to decide for yourself, Nash; that decision belongs to you, how can you let him snatch it from you?", I bombarded her with questions in rage. "Dityaa...I believe it's alright. Love comes with the need to sacrifice, right?", Nash said and I wanted to slap her, left and right, and knock some sense into her head! "He's taking control of your life and snatching your dreams away from you. Is that love? I'm sorry to say, but I doubt it! I understand that you'll have to sacrifice in love, but that does not mean you'll blindly sacrifice your career, your passion and your dreams; Nash, these are the things that add meaning to life and once you burn that away, your life won't have a purpose!", I struggled to explain my point to her, but she was adamant. "Now, please don't say – 'I have him. He's my whole life'. That's bullshit, Nash; it's the stupidest thing to say and I slap you if you say that", I warned her. "Of course he's not my whole life, Dityaa, but now I've reached that phase in life where I'll have to focus on him, and on us", Nash justified. "Is he sacrificing his career to focus on your relationship?", I questioned and Nash obviously did not have the nerve to answer that question, even when the answer was an obvious one. "He's still going to play his game, tour around the world and live his dream to the fullest, while you'll have to sit down at home and burn your dreams away; and you're okay with that Nash?", I asked her, furiously, and she chose silence over an answer. "Answer me!", I demanded, and she turned off the stove. "Nash, look at me!", I commanded, and she followed orders. "Listen, Dityaa...I don't know how you'll take it, but...I know what I'm doing and this feels right, through my perspective, because Dityaa...he's all I have", Nash explained, paused and took a deep breath in, while I simply focused on holding onto my nerves and listening to her with patience. "No one knows me. Only I know how miserable and lonely I've been all my life; how I keep running away from people and places because nothing makes me feel settled. Nothing, but him; he's going to keep me home, and I'll stop running away from everything. I'll find my peace of mind and I'll be happy, and Dityaa, that's all I want from life at the moment. If I have to put my passion at stake for that happiness, I'll do it. I'll do anything to be with him. I've been dying to spend my days with him because I know it'll make me happy in a way like no other, and now that it's at the doorstep, nothing matters to me anymore; nothing's bigger than that. You make a lot of sense, Dityaa...you're absolutely right. But when you're in love, it's always going be hard to differentiate between what's right and what's wrong. When you look at it, closely, I'm not entirely wrong on my side, either. You cannot have everything in life, at once. One thing costs you another; that's how it works. Right now, Omar is bigger than anything", Nash said, and I didn't argue back.

It was pointless arguing with someone wholly blinded by love. Nash was an extremely emotional person, and her decisions came straight from her heart. I wanted to advise her, and let her know that she shouldn't get carried away because of her emotions for emotions change. I wanted her to be a little more practical in life. I wanted her to respect herself enough to prioritize her dreams and career, and most importantly – herself! But that moment in the kitchen with Nash, my heart only prayed for Omar to love her back, exactly the way she loved him; limitlessly, blindly and stupidly.

"At least, let Chanch and Vaish know now; don't save it for the last day", I changed the topic. "I will...let Vaish attend the concert and all first", Nash answered back. "Coffee", she held out my mug of coffee and passed on a warm smile. "Omar is one lucky man", I smiled back at her. "I think, I'm luckier", she whispered, wrinkling her nose, and I couldn't bring myself to agree with that.

♥

For a change, Mr. Joshua was out of his cabin; he stood midst a decent crowd and held a sheet of paper in his hand, pacing back and forth, as everyone gathered around him. Darshan was with Mr. Joshua, and looking absolutely unbothered, Darshan sat on the edge of the desk, rolling a plain A4-sized paper he held. "Dityaa, what took you this long?", Mr. Joshua yelled at me, and Darshan's head jerked up. "You said to be here at nine...right?", I said, thoughtfully, wondering if I misheard the timings in my sleep. "But that doesn't mean you'll walk in exactly at nine!", Mr. Joshua stated. "I'm sorry, Sir", I said an apology, one that I didn't mean at all, and Mr. Joshua went back to walking back and forth in hurry. Darshan and I exchanged glances, and he smiled at me, while he simultaneously fetched out his iPhone. Moments later, my iPhone vibrated in my pocket and I fished it out; it was a message from Darshan on WhatsApp, and I smiled.

Darshan- Is it safe to wish you a good morning?

'Chuck all that. Isn't this illegal? Getting people to work on a weekend morning is illegal, right? Can I call the cops?', I texted back, and looked up at Darshan, who had one adorable smile stretched on his lips.

Darshan- Don't let the '9 to 5' title cheat you. You'll always have to be at our service.

'Always at your service, my foot!', I messaged him, and within milliseconds, Darshan's soft and deep chuckle echoed in the pin-drop silent office, nabbing everyone's attention. I pursed my lips together and looked at Darshan, who had a terrified expression smeared on his face; I wanted to burst out laughing on his face. He looked hilarious.

"Yes, Darshan?", Mr. Joshua questioned in his monotonous voice, expecting Darshan to lend him an explanation for disrupting the silence and Darshan swallowed hard, licking his lower lip. "Uhm...", Darshan cleared his throat and looked around, hesitantly. "So—sorry, Sir", Darshan apologized. "Mind if you could keep that phone away?", Mr. Joshua gravely questioned and Darshan dropped his iPhone on the desk he sat on. Slowly, I shoved my phone inside my handbag. "And could you please get off the table? I understand it is your property, but that doesn't mean you'll sit on it", Mr. Joshua instructed and like a robot, Darshan hopped off the table; he was one frightened kid, for sure. Decently, Darshan stood beside Mr. Joshua and crossed his arms against his chest, with a serious looked on his face; he was beyond embarrassed and it was written all over his face. I raised my brow at him and flashed a teasing smile; he simply looked away and ignored me. Loudly, I cleared my throat, in an attempt to grab his attention, and he did turn in my direction. 'Don't cry, kid', I mouthed at him and he broke out into a beautiful smile, shaking his head to the sides, slowly. 'You're too much', I read his moving lips and I shrugged, flipping my hair. "Alright, everyone, listen up!", Mr. Joshua announced, loudly, and Darshan wildly turned to face him, making me giggle. "Grab a notebook and a pen; take down serious notes of whatever I'm going to say", he instructed, clasping his hands together.

Truth to be told, Mr. Joshua simply wasted away our Sunday with his 'serious and urgent meeting', which was not serious or urgent at all; someone had to teach him what the words meant. He was worse than my mom, when it came to dramatizing situations. Apparently, he believed that the productivity and efficiency of the employees had greatly decreased and it was high time for all of us to pull up our socks, before the company faced serious consequences because of our lethargic behaviour, which I believe wasn't true at all because everyone worked like machines in the office. "You need to get rid of your laziness; otherwise the company will get rid of you. Any questions?", he concluded his thirty-minute long break-free speech with a question; FYI that did not qualify as a speech because his words only broke everyone's spirits. Slowly, I raised my hand in the air, contemplating if I was about to do the right thing or not and I was convinced that it might cost me my job, but I couldn't suppress my inner-voice, which was desperate to find its way out. "Yes, Dityaa", Mr. Joshua pointed out and I cleared my throat, nervously. "Sir, will a printer print papers when you unplug it from its socket?", I raised a question, and almost instantaneously, everyone's heads turned in my direction. "The answer is obvious, Dityaa. What's your question?", Mr. Joshua shook off my question. "Sir, when a printer does not print papers when you unplug it from its socket; how do you expect your employees to work efficiently, when all you do is break their spirits with your unwanted criticism?", I slammed the question on his face, unbothered about the consequences I'd have to face for locking horns with the devil, whose expressions changed in a gap of seconds. "Miss Dityaa, you think you know better than me?", Mr. Joshua interrogated. "It is obvious that I don't, Sir. I may not be a Manager or the Boss of a company, but I'm human and what I know is – appreciation is the building blocks to successful beings and criticism is the block on the road to success. Now, please don't get me wrong, Sir – I'm not saying that you shouldn't criticize your employees; if they're wrong, they should be criticized till they rectify their mistakes. But amidst bad things, there'll always be something good and that needs to be appreciated. You'll have to boast their confidence; not break it down. They may be unproductive, but I think everyone's doing an amazing job; everyone's focused and driven. How would you know? You're always in your cabin. Sir, they work like machines; even a machine would need a break. Everyone makes mistakes, but that does not mean they're not good enough. You have an amazing bunch of employees, Sir, and you need to appreciate it", I blabbered, without sparing a second to filter my thoughts, and Mr. Joshua only managed to stare at me. Darshan stood behind Mr. Joshua, with his hand covering his mouth in complete shock; like I did, and said, the unthinkable. "I'm sorry if I---if I talked too much. I just said what I felt like", I said, slowly, and clasped my hands together. Psychic silence filled the office, and it was nothing but daunting.

"You should learn how to hold your tongue in certain places, Miss Dityaa. There's absolutely no need for me to learn anything from a beginner like you; I know what I'm doing!", Mr. Joshua bitterly said, and I stayed silent. "If you think you can have a better manager...", Mr. Joshua stated something I never even said, and I cross-spoke him. "Sir, I never said!", I defended. "You wouldn't have to come to work from tomorrow, Miss Dityaa. I'm firing you", he said, flatly, and I wasn't surprised with his decision; after all, I played with his man-ego! "Sir, why?", Darshan's raised his voice, and everyone's eyes gawked at Darshan. "Sir---I mean---you—", Darshan fumbled and took a pause. "Can we talk about this in the cabin?", Darshan requested politely. "There's nothing to talk about Darshan; my decision is final. I employed her on your insistence and if this is her attitude---", Mr. Joshua pointed his finger at me. "What's wrong with my attitude? I did not say anything wrong; I was stating my opinion and if my opinion does not satisfy you, throw it away and keep walking, Sir. Big deal! I cannot nod my head to everything you say, just because I'm a 'beginner'. Come on!", I threw my hands in the air. "Dityaa, shut up", Darshan ordered. "I'm firing her, and that's it. If you cannot accept my decision, Darshan, then, kick me out of my post. It's either her or me; pick!", Mr. Joshua served a condition to Darshan, who was torn between the two of us. "Sir, please!", Darshan pleaded, helplessly, and I had absolutely no idea why he did that. "No, Darshan; I cannot and I will not tolerate this girl and her rotten attitude. Keep her or keep me", Mr. Joshua stubbornly said and the answer was obvious. "Keep him, Darshan; he's a more important asset to your company. I'm pretty sure I'll find another job", I shrugged and Darshan looked at me disappointedly, with his head tilted to the side. "I'm extremely sorry if my out-spoken nature hurt you in any way, Mr. Joshua, but I know I'm clean on my side; I haven't done anything wrong. Probably my only mistake is I did not nod my head to whatever you said, and that's who I am. If I feel something's wrong, I'll raise my voice against it; but that does not mean I have a rotten attitude, it only means you cannot take my honesty. Anyways, I'll submit my resignation letter tomorrow", I concluded, and stepped backwards.

Although I was broke and hopeless, I did not regret my decision. I was better off without that job.

I had absolutely no idea what Mumbai had in store for me, but one thing was certain – I was doomed!