𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

Chapter 4

Myra's POV,

Leaving my office, memories of Mumbai rush in. That city, it changed everything for me.

But telling Heer? It's tough. She hates that place because of what happened before. It's hard to show her how much it means to me now, despite the past.

Back at my rented place, just a stroll away from home, I unlock the door and head straight to my room.

After dumping my bag, I freshen up in the bathroom, slip into comfy black pajamas, and head to the kitchen, craving a meal. Poached eggs on brown bread hit the spot, so I dive in.

Once my hunger's sated, I gather the courage to call Heer and spill the beans about my Mumbai transfer.

"Hey, Miss Panda, finally caught you! How was your day?" She greeted as she picked up the call.

"I'm good, what about you? You seem happy today," I responded.

"Nothing much, just that our little bean won a trophy today for the 100-meter race at her school meet," she shared, clearly elated.

"Really?" I exclaimed with excitement. Our little bean, Maanvi Heer's younger sister, and she's twelve but oh so bright, mischievous, and stubborn, yet she understands like no one else.

She's incredibly precious to us. No matter how our days go, her banter and presence always light up our lives. And in that moment, I pushed aside my important talk with Heer, caught up in celebrating our little champ's victory.

After a chat with Heer, I headed to my bedroom and settled in, ready to doze off. Just as I was about to drift into sleep, my phone pinged with a notification from our school's w******p group.

It was Sonali, our classmate, announcing her wedding reception in Mumbai at the end of the week. She warmly invited us all to join in the celebration.

"Hey, dear classmates," her message, I read, "my wedding's reception will be held in Mumbai. I hope you'll come. Love you all, take care."

The unexpected message jolted me awake, excitement coursing through me at the thought of Sonali's wedding. Memories flooded back, reminding me of our school days and the bond we shared.

I know she's marrying early, so what, if she has found her right partner then I am very happy for her. Because nowadays finding love or right partner is become like finding needle in the dark room.

I quickly typed out my best wishes and promised to attend, eager to reconnect with old friends and celebrate this joyous occasion. After sending my reply, I drifted off to sleep, looking forward

to the upcoming reunion at Sonali's reception.

___________

As my alarm went off, I rose from bed and went through my usual morning routine, preparing for another day at the office. Once ready, I made my way to work and began my tasks.

Suddenly, my manager approached me and conveyed, "Miss Myra, since you've been transferred,here's no need for you to work here anymore. You can head back home and start packing. The company will cover all your expenses, including flight tickets and luggage costs. Don't worry

about a thing."

With that, he left, and I gathered my belongings, stepping out of the office with a mix of surprise and readiness to begin the next chapter.

Some fellow members approached me to bid farewell.

I'll miss them. Upon reaching home, I began packing for my journey to Mumbai tomorrow. Within an hour, I had

everything ready: two bags for clothes, a small handy bag for sneakers and flats, and another

bag for fiction books.

I really love reading about fictional guys in my big collection of books. I've read over 50 of them!

If I wasn't feeling hungry right now, I'd totally recommend some books.

Later in the evening, I decided to make the famous Indian dish, Aloo ka Paratha. While cooking, I couldn't resist and started eating along the way.

(I know it's a bad habit, but hey, I'm making this food for myself, okay!)

I ended up making five parathas for myself. Yes, I'm a foodie with a skinny body ̐. Carrying my meal, I went to my room and sat beside my bed.

You see, since childhood, my father used to advise me,

"myu, don't eat on the bed; it's a bad habit. Sit on the floor and eat."

After reflecting on his words, my eyes welled up. My baba is the only man in my life whom I love and trust the most.

When he left me, I was only 6 years old, and my life became miserable until I turned 18. For a few years, my own family pretended to be caring and loving, but eventually, they started mentally and physically torturing me.

A ping from my phone interrupts my thoughts. Upon checking, I find messages from my beautiful, bubbly childhood sweetheart, Sneha Kushwaha. She shares that her parents are celebrating 25 years of togetherness next month in March and expresses her desire for me to join her.

Let me delve deeper into the incredible 18-year journey shared between Sneha and me. Our connection began in preschool when my parents enrolled me, and there she was. Even from those early years, Sneha's beauty was undeniable, and her eyes held a captivating allure.

A intense childhood memory lingers in my diaries. I once got scratches on my right ear while engrossed in play, and to my surprise, Sneha empathized deeply, saddened by her friend's minor injuries.

The following day at school, she took it upon herself to apply the same healing cream my father had used, showing a level of care that went beyond the ordinary.

Now, as we navigate adulthood, Sneha's enduring trait is her possessiveness. Some may label it as such, but to me, it's a charming and unwavering expression of love that has stood the test of time.

Our bond has weathered the highs and lows, creating a tapestry of shared experiences that define the essence of our relationship.

After eating my aaloo ka Paratha with curd, I go to the kitchen, put my plate in the sink, and return to my bedroom.

It hits me that I'm leaving the home I've known for years, making me feel really sad. Surprisingly, I haven't told Heer about leaving the city and state, heading back to a place where life was both tough and beautiful.

With that thinking, I drift off to sleep.