A small two bedroom apartment with a tiny kitchen and living room,with minimal furniture and a few clothes scattered here and there.It is an Apartment enough a for a working class family.

It was truly enough for her. Enough for her and her family. A bed placed at the right corner of the room with one pillow and a blanket laying on it. One person could barely manage to sleep in it. And A tiny drawer next to it and a few cupboards towards the extreme corner of the tiny room made of sawdust wood. Not an expensive material for making cupboards.

Walking towards her bed and setting her pillow straight after folding her blanket neatly, she took her blanket and moved towards her cupboard.

Opening the cupboard, she saw a tiny box covered in pink shimmering gift cover with a piece of paper stuck to it. Placing her blanket in her rack, she took the tiny gift in her hands and examined it.

The packing wasn't professional, but it was good. Good enough for the first time. She smiled. Not a lot of people gift her. And most of the times the gifts she received, they were because of formality or because they wanted something from her, but none were because of love. Even though once she thought that the gifts she got from him were with love,later did she realise that she was wrong.

Completely wrong. Pushing those memories aside,she took the gift and placed it on her bed. She knew who bought that gift for her. She was excited to see it. But sadly she couldn't at this moment . There was only person who loved her. She was sure about it. And she already loved the gift even though she didn't see it yet. It was because of the love he has for her.

She has to rush for an interview, walking out of her bedroom, she ran towards the kitchen before the boiling milk overflowed in her kitchen.

The kitchen wasn't extraordinary. It was a kitchen with basic appliances that were enough to take care of a middle class family. A stove and a small refrigerator along with few plates and glasses lay towards one side and the other had steel boxes filled with different Ingredients. Along with vegetable basket next to it.

Turning the stove off, she sighed.

'At lead the milk didn't over flow' she thought looking at the warm milk. Pouring the milk in a glass till it reached the brim, she poured the rest of it in a bowl and placed it on the kitchen slab next to her stove.

Drinking the plain milk without any sugar, she left the kitchen and walked towards her room to prepare for her interview. She had an interview at one of the most prestigious universities in India.

She was nervous. She needed to work. She had ends to meet. To live in this world,even though she felt dead inside, it was important. She had to work. She had to do this for her family.

After drinking milk from the tiny cup she placed it on the drawer next to her bed, and went inside her bathroom to change her clothes. Even though she could change in her bedroom, a lot has changed. She changed.

Draping the simple Saree with a matching blouse,she walked out of her bathroom and moved towards the mirror hanged on the wall next to her bed. She took a bindi and placed right above her the centre of her eyebrows and exactly above her slender nose. She braided her hair tightly and brushed her baby hair behind.

She took a deep breath, looking at the women in the mirror. Long gone was the crazy brat,replaced with a mature women. Long gone was the girl who spent a lot, replaced with a girl who has ends to meet every month. All she is now, a dead person living to take care of her only family.

She understood that she deserves all this. She deserves to be treated this way. She understands that she is to be punished for the mistakes she made. For the reckless decisions she took. For being selfish. She deeply regrets falling for the wrong guy,for trusting him.

But all along she was a fool. A fool for him.

Looking at herself for one last time she took her bag and put her resume inside it. Pushing the strap of her bag around her left shoulder, she took the tiny steel glass and left her room after shutting the door.

Placing the steel glass in the sink, she moved towards the rack in her tiny living room next to the small already used  t.v she bought with a lot of trouble. Taking the steel lock and it's key,she moved towards her door.

Walking out of her house she locked the door and checked twice. Taking a deep breath she left for her interview.

Walking down the stairs,she saw the water leaking down the walls from the corners and green algae forming at the lower end of the walls. It was a gruesome site for her to see everyday but now she got used to it.

She lived in a remote area. It wasn't the best place to live. But that was all she could afford. She lived in an apartment that had five floors with four flats in each floor.

She was lucky enough to have enough money saved up to buy this place. Even though once upon a time she would spend more money at a party or a dress,now it was all she had. And the furniture in her house,were all second hand goods.

She couldn't afford to buy them for the actual prize. Funny how fast everything changed in her life. She should have listened to her mother when she told her Again and again to spend wisely. But she spent money lavishly. She never understood the importance of respecting money.

She knows that money is not everything. But money is a necessity. A necessity everyone had. And she did too. And all she wants is to find a stable job. She needs a stable job.

Walking all the way down her street, she reached the main road. Looking at her watch which had a the marks of a broken glass,she was worried. It was already 8:30 am and her interview was at 10:30 am. She needs to reach the place on time.

And the place she had to reach was far from her place. She lived in the outskirts of Hyderabad. It was the best she could afford to buy. If it were her to find an apartment in the city, it would have costed her a lot. And she has to save money. She doesn't know what's in store for her future. After all future is unpredictable. She knew it way better then anyone.

There were no public buses travelling on the road that would take her to the venue. Now all she had was one option left, choose an auto or cab.

'Both the means of transportation is expensive. It's better I prefer an auto over a cab.' She thought.

Trying to find an Anto which would take her to her destination and at the money she could afford was less. Very less. Auto drivers these days wouldn't move unless and until you could pay more then the required money. But lucky her finally she found an aunti that was ready to take her to her destination at a low price.

It was already 8:45 am and it usually takes around an hour but being a working day, filled with all those people who need to reach their work areas, kids who had to go to school,etc, it would take her over one and a half hour to reach her potential work place.

She really needed this job. Even though she would have to spend around three hours a day for travelling, she would have a good salary.

"Mrs.Jannat, I don't know how long you need more to pay the rent. But we are not open for charity. So please pay soon. At Maximun, pay me by this coming Friday or leave." Yelled the landlord,Mrs.Mothilal.

She was an old women who used to live in gujarat but moved her after her marriage. They owned this community house which had many tenants. It was a cheap place. She didn't have to pay a very high rent. But now,she had to pay more then what she could afford. It was getting difficult. Things were getting harder.

"Or maybe you could ask that husband of yours,who doesn't even care about his wife and children" Mrs.Mothilal retorted angrily and left.

That was it. That one sentence broke Jannat completely. She didn't like it when people spoke about her family issues.She hated it. Mrs.Mothilal's words peirced through her heart like broken glass peirces through the skin.

She clutched the hem of her kurti tighly trying to control her tears. The locality she lived in wasn't like the richer socities. The houses very small and attached to one or more. And there was a little space to walk. After all,it was a slum. They lived in a slum. But thank the heavens,Jannat found a house in the better area of the slum.

Jannat could see all those neighbouring tenants and people around her whispering to themselves. She knew who they were talking about,it was her. She was the hot topic in their society.

One,because she couldn't pay the rent at times. More like she couldn't pay the rent for the past five months. Jannat understood that Mrs.Mothilal was frustrated with her for not paying for the past five months. But bringing her husband into this was uncalled. And when her kids could here her crystal clear,it was completely unnecessary.

Her kids,Dua and Dharini were few months over three years.They meant the whole world to her. She struggled a lot in her life to have a roof over their heads,clothes to wear and food to eat. She still couldn't forget the pain she dealt with during her pregnancy, both, emotionally and physically.

She had to work in the worst the time,when she was supposed to relax and not take any stress,all she lad was a lot of physical work. After all,working as a waitress during your pregnancy never helps. And she also worked as a bar singer at night.

Turning around,she saw her little girls peeping out, standing behind the door. She could see the glint of sadness in their eyes. She knew the reason behind it. They love their father the most. And when someone talks against him,they hate it,let it be their mother too.

Walking inside her house,she shut the door and the ugly stares along with the whispers.She smiled at them. They smiled back holding her legs.

Dua and Dharini look like her.Completely like her except for their eyes. Jannat was thankful that they didn't look like his carbon copy. She didn't want to remember him,the father of her kids.

Dua and Dharini held her hands and dragged her towards the long mat laying in their tiny living room.The walls had chips of dry cement falling. and the ceiling wasn't any better. four people could barely sit in their living room,but that was all she could afford.

Sitting in between her kids,she smiled looking at them.

"ma, when is dada coming?" Dua asked looking at her with those hazel eyes. Those same eyes that she fell for.

Jannat couldn't even utter a word. Everytime she heard her daughters ask about their father,she didn't know how to explain them about their father. 

Before she could say something, Dharini,her older daughter,dragged her younger daughter away, taking her small phone away.  Her old Nokia phone, which was only good for calling. And at maximum to have a few pictures,in which they had the pictures of their tiny family. Her tiny family that consists of her two daughters,jannat and their father,her husband.

"wli are calling your hushwand,our dadda"(we are calling your husband, our daddy)Jannat heard her older daughter Dharini say soflty before shutting the wooden door, which had pieces of wood ready to be ripped apart due to cracks.

All this time,Janant sat on the mat. She didn't know what to do. Everytime she thinks she is doing better then before something happens, something worse then before.

All these years,she struggled to protect her kids, give them healthy food, Good schooling,so that at least they don't ruin their lives like she did. 

She was a fool. A fool for him.

But here she is, she can't even provide them three meals at times,they don't even have the clothes she had as a child,because she can't afford.

She went to kindergarten back when she was three, but her kids can't go because she can't afford.

'All I want is to provide my kids a good life, Is that too much to want? Why are they being punished for my mistakes?' Jannat thought. She could feel the lone tear slide down her face.

She wiped it. She didn't want to cry.

No matter how many times she shed tears,he never returned.No matter how many times she wailed,her parents didn't let her in.  No matter how many times she weeped, her problems didn't go away. 

Her kids,Dua and Dharini,who were 2 minutes apart, loved their father unconditionally.  Even though she couldn't provide them everything they required,they still understood her and respected her. 

And she was grateful that they have their 'dadda' instead of their father. A father who never wanted them,will never want them.

Reaching her destination, she stared at the big metal gates coated in black.  It was huge. Even the old auto rickshaw driver was gawking at them.

"Ma'am,Do you work here?" the old auto rickshaw man asked her, still gawking at the huge building which stood behind those walls and gate. 

It was a beautiful fusion of nature and architecture.

"I don't work here Sir. But I am here for an interview. If I clear it,i will work here"  she said reaching the two hundred rupee notes in her bag. 

Looking at him,she extended her head to give him the money. The old man had grey hair,with dark circles and wrinkles. He took the money from her.  And smiled.

He didn't have his front upper jaw teeth.  Yet, when he smiled,he looked beautiful. His smile was genuine, she could see that. Many people smiled near her, but not many if their smiles were genuine.

She smiled back. But his next words made her genuinely happy.

"All the best,paapa. I hope you get the job" he said.  Even though she wasn't from Hyderabad,living Here for the past few years,she understood Telugu. She could speak too.

"Thank You thatha." she said joining her hands together,expressing her gratitude towards him.

She smiled while getting out if the auto rickshaw.

She turned to look at the huge board. She could hear the sound of the auto rickshaw fading away while the cold breeze hit her,making few hair strands of her soft black hair fall on her face. 

Pushing her hair stands behind her ear, she took a deep breath.

"The RJM University of India" She read silently.

Walking behind the women,she was shocked, the owner of The RJM University had his office in the University library. But all she wanted was the job. If it was the previous her, she would have already asked,but now she knew better, never talk until it is necessary.

The women walking ahead of her looked like one of those professional people she used to meet at those boring meetings. The women,who introduced herself to be Akira Kashyap, seemed like a women it is better to stay away from.

Ms.Kashyap walked inside the Cabin of the owner without even knocking. 

'What just happened? She didn't even knock,isn't he the owner? Are they dating?Maybe they are'  she thought standing there.

From all the information she knew, the owner wasn't an old man.  He was Young. She knew that.

She stood outside the cabin waiting for her name to be called but she saw Ms.Kashyap was out smiling.

"You can go inside. Agastya is ready to take your interview." Akira said.

'They are on first name basis. They must be dating. But interview?' she thought.

"Isn't he the C.E.O and the owner of the University? Why is he going to interview me?" She asked worried.

"It's because he likes to pick his staff personally. And, don't worry. All the best" Akira said smiling at her.

Taking a deep breath,she walked inside. After a few questions, she heard him say the words that made her happy.

"Congratulations,Ms.Shetty. You are a part of the RJM University.You are employed for the position of Assistant Professor of Culinary Arts." Agastya said.

"Thank you, Sir!" she said smiling. He was oddly familiar. Way to familiar. If he were to be place next to that guy, anyone would think they are brothers. She didn't like being called Ms.Shetty.

"You can call me Br-" shw was stopped by the sound of the door being pushed angrily.

A man rushed inside without looking at her and walked towards Agastya,glaring.

"How dare you fucking make any decisions related to The Culinary department? I told you before too that I would make all the decisions related it." he roared at Agastya.

She couldn't keep her eyes of him. The man she loved unconditionally. The man who she was ready to leave everything behind for. The man who left her.

She felt like the whole world stopped and everything went back to square one. She thought she was over him,but here looking at him,standing there,she knew he still meant the same to her. She could hear muffled voices, but she couldn't concentrate on it.

He turned his head,his eyes locking with her eyes. And that was all she saw before everything turned black,and someone's hands wrapped around her body before it touched the ground and his voice loud.

"Brahmani"

Hello Readers

How are you?

I hope you guys liked this chapter.

Finally, all the twelve are in the story.

So what do you think of Jannat?

And most importantly,this is the first chapter about Brahmani. What are your opinions about her?

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And let me know who do you want the next chapter to be about.

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