1. A Hard Blow

Zoya's POV

"Zoya wake up, it's late" I hear my mom say. "5 mins more ma" I start whining. All I get is a few more shouts. Lazily I pull myself from the bed. After brushing my teeth and taking a bath, I head downstairs. Once I reach downstairs I am greeted with sweet scoldings from my mom "Entha ponna vachitu enna panna poraino."(What am I going to do with this girl?). OK. My mom is a Tamilian and my dad a North Indian so we speak Hindi, Tamil and English.

I eat my food in silence. I am currently 23 and am pursuing an MBA. As I ate breakfast I remembered that I had to pay my fees today. "Ma, I have to pay my fees today ." "Do you think I'm growing a tree full of currencies? Go ask your father." Typical Indian moms reply.

I slowly walk towards my dad's office.  I hear noises arguing from inside, one of the voices belonging to my dad and another voice which I don't recognise but this issue is very important because as you know my future depends on it. Just think about being in a wealthy family and not completing your studies as you had not paid the fees. Horrible right??

I slowly knock on the door. My dad opens it after a few minutes. "Dad I have to discuss something with you, it is important, " I say. He gives me a you better hurry up look. " Today's the last day to pay my fees. I forgot about it ". After listening to me, he takes the cheque signs it and gives it to me. "Thank you, Dad," I say and bid him goodbye. I filled the rest of the details into the cheque.

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Later in the evening

I return home after a whole day of boring lectures. As I walk inside I see all my family gathered together along with my father, which is rare. They all pass me an apologetic look. Ooook..... something is wrong.