chap 02

(unedited)

Before 6months

​The humid Mumbai air clung to Divya's skin as she stomped down the crowded pavement, her blood still boiling. Beside her, Nikita was frantically trying to catch her breath, half-laughing and half-pleading with her fiery best friend to calm down.

​"You literally stopped me from handing that crooked bus conductor straight over to the police!" Divya fumed, her eyes flashing with indignation.

​Nikita threw her hands up in exasperation, her voice echoing over the roar of passing traffic. "Oh come on, sister, take a deep breath! You pick a fight everywhere you go. That scissor-like tongue of yours... do you ever eat sugar? Tell me honestly, why does your mouth always taste so bitter?"

​"So what do you expect me to do-stay completely silent?" Divya retorted sharply.

"He explicitly swore the seat was empty, but the second I climbed onto that crowded bus, he turned around and claimed there were no seats left. Why lie? I despise people like that! They sell their integrity for a few cheap bucks. I am standing on the right side of truth, so why should I keep my mouth shut? If I paid my hard-earned money for a ticket, I deserve a seat. It's because ordinary people choose to stay quiet that crooked people grow bolder by the day!"

​Nikita softened her tone, grabbing Divya's arm. "Babe, I know you're right in principle. But sometimes, choosing not to stand up for every little battle is the greatest favor you can do for your own peace of mind. You should try that for a change. Besides, it hasn't even been two days since you arrived in Mumbai from Assam, and you're already starting street fights. God only knows how you manage to handle a classroom full of kids back home. Do you beat up the teachers there too?"

​Divya shot her a withering glare, trying fiercely to silence her. "Listen to me very carefully-not a single word against my school! I am an incredible teacher, and my students genuinely adore me. It's just those two or three annoying, desperate colleagues who keep hovering around, nagging me about getting married. Sometimes I feel like walking around wearing fake vermilion and a wedding necklace just so everyone assumes I'm taken. How does that brilliant idea sound?"

​Nikita burst out laughing. "That is a terrible idea! But seriously, you're already 29 years old-when are you actually planning to tie the knot? I want to dance my heart out at my best friend's wedding. Did you find a prince charming hidden away back home, or should I start hunting for one?"

​"If you pull a stunt like that, I swear I am blocking you on every single platform," Divya warned, pointing an accusatory finger.

​"You get angry way too fast!" Nikita giggled defensively. "I was just teasing you, yaar. Though, to be completely honest... if I were a guy, I would have used every ounce of my soul to impress you. I mean, I've known you since our school days-you genuinely deserve a true prince charming."

​Divya rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Don't butter me up this much, or I'm going to slip and fall flat on my face. I've seen plenty of girls who are far better-looking than me,

The city noise outside the café window blurred into a steady, distant hum, but inside, Divya’s voice cut sharp and clear through the chatter.

"I don’t want any Prince Charming," she said, her words tumbling out in a rapid, impassioned rush. "God knows how many young girls' lives have been completely ruined by these ridiculous, fabricated fairy tales. Honestly, I'm perfectly peaceful just living my life the way it is. Between my mother, my older sister, our adorable little niece, and the relatives who exist solely to drive us crazy, the house is already full. I don't need anyone else."

Nikita rolled her eyes, leaning back against the plush booth cushion with a dramatic sigh. "Look, family has its place, Divya, but a romantic partner is a completely different universe. You can't exactly share a romance with your relatives, can you? Sure, my own boyfriend gave me the ultimate heartbreak three years ago, and honestly, every guy I look at now just seems like a total jerk, but still..."

Divya couldn't help it; she burst out laughing at the blunt cynicism of her best friend.

Sensing an opening, Nikita leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with mischievous intent. "Come on, tell the truth—don’t you ever feel the absence of a boyfriend? You’ve been single for so many years it’s like you're wandering through a barren desert all by yourself. Now that we’re living in Mumbai, consider it my official responsibility to fill that empty space for you." Nikita puffed out her chest with comical pride.

Divya narrowed her eyes, fixing her best friend with a deeply doubtful stare. "Just what exactly are you planning to do?"

"I’m going to set you up on an incredible date," Nikita declared without missing a beat.

"The guys here in this city are amazing, trust me. Why are you so stubbornly stuck on this one idea? Not every man turns out to be useless like your brother-in-law, you know."

The moment those words left Nikita’s mouth, the playful energy in the air evaporated. A heavy, somber shadow washed over Divya’s face.

*Not every man turns out like your brother-in-law.*

The thought hit Divya like a physical blow, instantly dampening her mood. It was true—her older sister’s life had turned into a silent tragedy. How many bright hopes and quiet dreams had her sister harbored about her husband on their wedding day? And yet, every single one of them had been systematically crushed and destroyed. Men like that were terrifyingly deceptive. Their polished appearances and charming fronts were just masks hiding something cold and unrecognizable underneath.

As far as Divya was concerned, they were all nothing more than a bunch of disguised hypocrites.

Seeing the sudden, vacant look in Divya’s eyes, Nikita stopped talking. She watched her best friend zone out completely, the carefree banter vanishing as a heavy silence settled between them over the cooling cups of coffee.

alright? By the way, you've been living here in Mumbai for a whole two years now-surely you've crossed paths with plenty of handsome guys and gorgeous people?"

​Nikita's playful expression instantly faded, replaced by a heavy sigh. "Oh, please. For the past year, I've just been running around hunting for jobs... and the competition for even basic roles is so cutthroat you wouldn't believe it.

It feels like everyone on earth wants to settle down right here in Mumbai. And you know how my communication skills in English are-I end up getting rejected everywhere..."

​Sensing her best friend's sudden vulnerability, Divya's tone softened.

"Anyway, do you have any interviews lined up anytime soon?"

​Nikita hesitated, biting her lower lip. "Yes... there is one massive opportunity. At least, it is for me. But I'm utterly terrified I'll get rejected there too, so honestly, maybe I shouldn't even go."

​"Why do you always turn so pessimistic the moment things matter?" Divya scolded gently.

"Go and try! You used to be the one lecturing me about being negative, and now look at yourself."

​"No, it's not like that... getting a job there would be like watching an impossible dream come true,"

Nikita whispered in awe. "Have you ever heard of Raichand corporation?"

​Divya frowned. "Never. Why?"

​Nikita's eyes widened with excitement.

"They are literally among the top three richest families in all of Asia. They throw luxury around like it's nothing, girl. Their corporate headquarters sit right in the heart of the urban city, and they practically have the government wrapped around their little fingers. The kind of luxury they live in... it's unreal. And guess what? One of their elite 7-star luxury hotels has an opening for a housekeeping job..Do you want to know the monthly salary? A staggering eighty thousand rupees!"

​Divya gasped. "Eighty thousand? Why on earth are they paying a housekeeper that much?"

​"Because their maintenance standards, security, and safety protocols are insanely strict," Nikita explained eagerly. "You aren't even allowed to sneeze out of turn while working there."

​"Are they hiring human beings or advanced robots?" Divya scoffed. "Why don't you skip a toxic place like that and look for something normal? How are you even going to survive inside an environment that suffocates you?"

​Nikita looked down at the pavement, her voice dropping to a quiet, weary register.

"I understand, Divya... but my life right now is already pure suffocation. What I earn from working part-time at that local café doesn't even cover my basic expenses; I still have to keep asking my parents back home for money. If I could land a job like this, I could finally send money back to them. How long can I keep holding myself back?

Part of me desperately wants to experience high-end luxury, too. I am just so completely exhausted of living this ordinary middle-class struggle."

​Divya looked at her best friend, the fierce anger from the bus ride completely melting away. She realized then how heavy the weight on Nikita's shoulders truly was-and why this upcoming interview meant everything in the world to her.