My fitness reports came, and damn, I didn't know my body was this much weak from inside.

Apart from having less weight, I also had multiple vitamin deficiencies, and my blood was crying for more iron. The blood pressure was anything but impressive, and if it wasn't all, the medicines and supplements the doctor had suggested would have surely given me an early heart attack.

I couldn't even read the names of the supplements and energizers recommended to me. And I knew all these fancy names came with fancier prices. Therefore, I googled their brands and wanted to throw the doctor's diagnosis away.

My fitness certificate declared me unfit for heavy strenuous activities, and it was burning my eyes the more I looked at it.

I won't let a single piece of paper decide my future. As for all these expensive supplements, I will just eat two more chapatis and extra bowl of daal in dinner. And if that isn't enough, I will ask Mom to buy an extra kg of chicken.

Feeling determined, I didn't show Fatima ma'am my fitness results and ran off before she could see me, but Tejas caught me instead. He scolded me to stop running like a maniac and noticed the doctor's diagnosis that I was trying to shove inside my bag.

Like an assassin, he took the prescription from my hands and read it like subtitles of a foreign movie. Fortunately, he couldn't scold me as he got disturbed by his mentor. I took that chance and managed to get away from his omnipresent stare.

I knew I should have been feeling happy for getting my idol's attention, but I was getting it for all the wrong reasons.

Thus, I deemed it best to avoid Tejas and rushed out of the studio.

I had plans of having a serious discussion with my mother regarding my savings, but she didn't come home at night. She just called and informed that the workload had increased, and due to low manpower, she was held back for the night shift. Her voice on the call was breaking a lot too, so I couldn't talk to her properly.

Due to this, in the morning, I had a lot of stuff to take care of. Dad was on a long duty and wasn't going to return soon, so it was just women left in our home.

I woke up at 2:30 am, cooked enough food for two times, packed my and Srishti's lunchbox, got her ready for school, put all of my sister's medicines near her along with the food after giving her a bath, washed our clothes, told Rahul to take Srishti with him to school, and finally when I was done with the most important chores, I fell flat on the floor.

"How does Mom do all of this every day?" I groaned.

I had yet to go to work before I left for college, but I had no strength left. I just wanted to go back to sleep. Moving even a finger felt like torture.

"Take a leave today," Dhara Di told me.

I shook my head by an inch. "Can't afford that."

I remembered that I still had a lot of energy booster powder left that Tejas had given me. I slithered towards the kitchen and pulled myself up with the help of kitchen counter.

Tejas had said to take the powder twice a day, and even with only a small amount, I felt a lot recharged.

I really need a huge amount of energy right now. What if I increase the intake?

The booster was suggested to be taken after eating food, so I ate my breakfast and drank the energy enhancer. The effect wasn't instant, but it was there, and I liked it.

I felt a spring in my steps, getting a boost to tackle the remaining day. I left to work at Urmila Aunty's house, and then, it was time for my main mission.

As soon as I landed inside the college, my scanners worked at high speed, and within five minutes, I located my target.

"Hriaan!" I called.

He looked in my direction as I headed towards him at bullet speed. He kept moving and entered his classroom, completely ignoring me.

"Hriaan, please wait," I grabbed his backpack.

He gave me a short glance. "The lecturer is very strict, Shorty. And I am a very diligent student, so don't disturb me."

I followed him inside, and he raised an eyebrow in question.

"I didn't know we had the same lecture," he commented.

"We don't, but I need your help," I said. "Are you free today?"

"I was but no longer." He grinned.

I gave him my puppy eyes. "I know you are still mad at me for the day before yesterday. I am sorry."

He shrugged. "Why should I believe you? If you are asking for my help now, then who was that girl who confidently accused me of lying, hurtfully said that she didn't believe me, and shamelessly discriminated?"

"That girl was me, and I really am sorry for being overconfident. I won't disrespect your opinion again."

"Really? But how can I trust a person who goes back on her words so easily?"

Ugh... What should I do?

I felt like pulling my hair out. I was continuously telling him that I was sorry for my actions, but he kept saying melodramatic dialogues.

He told me to shut up when the lecturer arrived, and I had to sit like a statue throughout the class because Hriaan was doing an awesome job representing the most focused student of the universe.

When the bell rang, he didn't even wait for me. His strides were too long and his pace too fast for me to keep up with him. Like earlier, he made me suffer through one more lecture.

Hriaan sat on the small wall lining the passageway of the second-year classrooms, and I stood in front of him.

"Hriaan," I pouted. "Please, I honestly need your help. Fatima ma'am will only change her mind if I prove that I can do better, and I need you to teach me."

He drank his water, and after looking here and there, he crossed his arms across his chest. "Fine, I will mentor you, but don't think that it will be for free."

I felt a huge mountain crash on me. I mentally estimated what his fees would be, but I knew my calculation was going to be wrong anyway.

"What's your fees?" I asked in a low voice.

"Well...." Hriaan tapped his cheek. "Considering you want me, Hriaan Viraaje, the best Robotics dancer in the town and also the vice-captain of the prestigious crew The Emperors', to teach you, I think ten thousand will be the right price."

"For a month?" I asked hopefully though I only needed his lessons for two days.

He smirked. "For a day."

My vision started getting blurry as the words 'Ten thousand rupees for a day' kept pricking my ears like needles.

"Deal, or no deal?" Hriaan asked.

I shook my head to get back to reality. "Isn't that a lot?"

"I guess no deal then." Hriaan started getting up.

I pushed him back. "Can we negotiate? Please? I am a student. I can't afford that much fees."

He twisted his lips. "Okay, I understand. I will give you a discount then."

"Of how much?"

He raised his index finger. "One thousand."

"Hriaan! I still can't afford it." I whined.

"Oh, come on, Shorty, you are being really unreasonable right now. You want me to give up my invaluable time - which I can use to study and play - to teach you, and still I need to give into your negotiations? How unfair."

"Is there any other way I can pay you?" I asked, seeing no other option.

I really needed his help because my position in Sarthak's training program was on the danger line. Hriaan was the only one who could help me to change Fatima ma'am's opinion.

Hriaan nodded. "You don't need to pay me upfront. It can be done in installments, but if you want me to start instantly, you will have to provide other services in exchange."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What services?"

He patted his stomach. "Like making sure I am being fed."

"Just wait here," I told him and ran off to the cafeteria.

I bought two samosas, vada pavs, and kanda bhajji for him. Within five minutes, I was back on the spot. I handed him the snacks.

"Please have this a confirmation of our deal," I said.

Hriaan smiled widely, and it didn't take him even a minute to gobble down two samosas.

"I am still hungry," he said.

I took out my lunch box and gave it to him. "Have this too."

"What will you eat then?" he asked and licked his lips when he saw my lunch.

"I will manage."

I narrowed my eyes when he took out his own lunch box from the bag.

"Here, let's exchange," he said.

I hadn't even opened his lunchbox when he swiped my tiffin clean.

Does he have a black hole in his mouth? Where is all that food disappearing? I won't comment though. I need to keep him happy, or he will break off our deal.

"Is this salad?" I asked after opening his tiffin.

"Yeah, I am on a diet," Hriaan said and pushed the full Vada Pav in his mouth.

I looked at him with flat eyes as he told me the benefits of eating vegetables and fruits while chewing on Vada Pav and Kanda bhajji.

When he was done, we decided to have the lessons at the dance club's room. There were already a few club members there, and they were really happy to see Hriaan.

After mingling with them, Hriaan began teaching me. I had brought a bottle of energy booster, so I took it before I started and told Hriaan to teach me as much as he could because I was running short on time.

"Will you be able to keep up with me?" he asked.

"Yup," I replied.

Though I said that, my reflexes were slower than my thinking. Hriaan was totally not being easy with his teaching and grilled me thoroughly. I was thankful for that as I was getting taught by a professional.

"Shorty, need some more sharpness," he scolded.

I followed each and every instruction of his, and after three hours, he announced a break. I told him to start again after fifteen minutes, and he refused.

"I think it is enough for today," he said.

"What?" I asked in shock. "We still have a lot of time left, Hriaan."

"What's time got to do with it? You are panting so heavily. If we continue, I am afraid you will end up in coma."

"You are exaggerating now," I complained. "I have trained for longer hours than this, and I am still alive. You forgot I was in Tejas's team during the group evaluations? We hardly got any breaks."

"Don't lie, Shorty. Even if TJ is strict when it comes to leading a team, he isn't that cruel to not give any breaks. Stop defaming my best friend."

I huffed. "Okay, fine. I accept we got sufficient breaks, so can we continue now?"

"Nope."

"Hriaan, please. I can manage. I promise."

He scratched his chin. "You are really stubborn. Let's continue then."

I sprang up and observed my teacher very carefully. I imprinted every detail in my mind, making sure to perfectly copy every expression and move.

I forced Hriaan to train me for three hours more, and when we ended our session, I couldn't even crawl on my knees. Hriaan could at least stand, but he was also tired and taking deep breaths.

"Damn, that was intense," he commented and wiped his sweat with his t-shirt.

"Thank you for today," I told him while lying like a deflated ballon.

"You sure you can go home by yourself?" he asked.

"Don't worry about me, and just tell your tomorrow's schedule."

"Let's meet at today's time only. I got some work to take care of."

"Okay."

I thanked him once more, and he helped me to get up. We left the dance club, and as none of us had any lectures, I left for my home, while Hriaan went to his crew's studio.

I dozed off in the train, and the short nap was enough for me to wake up refreshed. I reached my home, and Mom was busy running from one corner to another corner.

"Maa, what are you doing?" I asked and dropped my bag on the floor.

She told me to freshen up and eat something. I glanced at my sister, and she had a worried expression on her face. Srishti was playing outside with other kids, and she was still in her school uniform.

"Why hasn't Srishti changed yet?" I asked.

Mom froze and looked at me. "Why did you tell Rahul to take Srishti in the auto?"

"Why not?" I argued. "And why did you lie about her autorickshaw uncle raising his fees? Rahul told me he didn't do so."

Mom's face twitched. "You gonna believe a small kid over your mother? Fees and expenses are discussed with adults, not school-going kids."

"Rahul also said that the rickshaw uncle himself asks why Srishti is no longer coming in his auto."

"What does that Rahul know?" Mom asked in a frustrated tone. "And if you were not going to return from college soon, you should have informed me. There was no one at home except Dhara when Srishti arrived from school."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Where were you then? You also came just now or what? Mom, why are you pulling so many shifts at once? You wanna die?"

She rolled her eyes. "I am not that weak. And I am not working for timepass; our family needs money."

"As if I don't know. Why didn't you tell me about taking my savings?"

"There was some emergency."

"What kind of emergency?" I queried.

She looked away. "You don't need to know everything."

I narrowed my eyes. "Mom, you took my savings, and now you are even refusing to give me the reason. Didn't I already tell you that I have to buy clothes for me? I needed that money."

"Your savings? So what you earn is only yours? We don't have any right over it?" Mom asked and raised her hands in the air. "This is good. Your dad and I work our asses off and still not spend a single penny on ourselves, and when you earn, that money is just for yourself? Wow, I didn't know I will get to hear this from you."

I took a deep breath as anger rose to the top of my head. "Maa, you know that's not what I meant. Don't try to twist my words."

She kept mumbling how she got ungrateful children and brought up the fight that happened between her and Dhara Di a few days ago. My sister fisted her hands and kept staring at our mother.

"Sure, sure, glare at me, both of you. You are grown up now. You can talk back, demand answers, do as you please, but we parents can't say anything," Mom grumbled.

I opened my mouth to counter-attack, but my sister signalled me to shut up. By the way Mom was acting, I understood she was trying to divert the topic. If I had kept asking her about the savings, she would have cried her heart out and blamed herself for everything.

I swallowed my anger and told Srishti to come inside. When Mom noticed that I had retracted from the debate, she continued running from kitchen to hall, then upstairs and again coming down, multitasking while rambling non-stop.

After getting changed, I sent Srishti back to play and noticed Mom's phone getting charged on top of the TV. She was busy in the kitchen, so I tip-toed towards the TV and took her phone.

Dhara Di shot me a curious look, and I told her to keep quiet and signal me if Mom suddenly came out of the kitchen.

I opened my mother's phone and checked the call log. Apart from my call in the morning, there was nothing else. The message inbox was also filled with the sim company's notifications only.

Mom didn't have a smart phone as she never felt confident to use it, so all of the information was inside the call long and inbox only. Finding nothing, I locked her phone and went beside my sister.

"What was Mom doing before I arrived?" I asked.

"She was searching," Dhara Di replied.

"For what?"

"I don't know. When I asked her, she didn't tell me. And I knew talking to her was only going to end up in an argument, so I stayed quiet."

"You have any idea why she is lying so much nowadays? I mean, what exactly is it that she can't share with us? She is not doing something illegal, right?"

Dhara Di slapped me on the temple. "Stop watching too much Crime Patrol. Our mother won't do anything like that."

"But, Di, what if-"

My sister glared, and I bit back my words. I observed Mom as she continued working without taking a rest.

My sister won't allow me to argue with our mother, so I need to do something myself. Even if Mom succeeded in fooling us, I feel she is up to something. And I am not getting a good feeling about it. Let's pretend like nothing happened and remember every crime show episode I have watched. If Mom can act, so can I.