Situation in the Ray family was worsening day by day, Anuradha's dream of having a happy family was slowly cracking and the crack was getting deeper and wider. Despite talking to Kamlesh multiple times, Anuradha failed to convince her father to settle things with Kavitha.

No matter how bad Kavitha treated her, Anuradha was still determined to patch the breaking family together. The love she did not get since she was young, Anuradha wanted to experience those longing feeling of family bonding at least now.

Anuradha knew Ajay could help her convince Kavitha but being a hopeless brother, Ajay did nothing from his part. She was slowly losing hope.

Regardless of the situation in the house, Anuradha was quite excited for today as she will finally be going out of the house. It was Manohar's audition day.

Wishing him all the best and informing him that she will be there an hour earlier, Anuradha's happy morning turned disastrous as the talk of divorce was going on between the parents.

"Divorce?" Anuradha was perplexed unable to drink in the morning news.

"Anuradha, come. We need to discuss a few things before I put an end to my relationship with Kavitha." Kamlesh spoke in a very calm tone.

"Wh-What are you saying, Dad?" Anuradha's voice was almost inaudible.

"Your mother and I have decided to end our bitter relationship for good. Kavitha and Ajay will be leaving this house shortly after she signs these papers" a tear dropped as she looked down at the papers with Kamlesh signature adorned the footer of the first page.

"I have agreed to give Kavitha the farm house, the land in Canterbury and a sum of money as alimony. As for Ajay, I'm transferring the ownership of the Ray Motor Vehicle Manufacturing company to his name." Kamlesh added with no emotions shown.

"I'm glad that you at least remembered Ajay as your son now." Kavitha huffed.

"I'm giving that only to shut your mouth because the rest of the property has been transferred to Anuradha's name" Kavitha's jaw dropped as she got up pushing the chair behind.

"What do you mean by the rest of the property, Kamlesh?" Kavitha slammed the table hard.

"My decision is final. I have decided to free myself from all this luxury and only keep as much as I need to lead my new life with my new love." Kamlesh spoke with utmost serene even though in front of him stood an erupting volcano.

Kavitha wasn't angry for Kamlesh finding new love but the property. The multi-million worth property that she thought would be hers' and Ajay's went down the drain. She knew there is no point of arguing any more with Kamlesh, Kavitha signed the papers and slid it across the table to Kamlesh.

She left the house two hours later with Ajay, her very own company still secured under her name, the keys of the farm house, the documents of the land and a cheque of agreed amount.

Anuradha sat there at the dining table motionless, tears rolling down her cheeks as everything that she didn't want to happen was happening in front of her. Her years of longing of having a perfect family shattered right in front of her eyes.

Kamlesh place a hand on her shoulders, "Don't waste your precious tears for a woman who did not care for you and don't waste it for me either. I know have not been the best father but I do care for you Anuradha. Kavitha had made my life miserable all these years but when I met Kriti just a year ago in a conference life took a turn for me. I begin to feel there is love even after fifties. She is a widow, a simple woman whom I found a new hope and life through her in this one year.

And for me to transfer all the property under your name because you will be the only one who will take care of it and again I don't want the money to be a reason for this new relationship to break, though I know Kriti isn't someone who is greedy for money.... I'm handing you all the responsibilities but don't worry I won't let you sail the ocean alone. I will work as an adviser for you in the companies until you are ready to sail our ship all by yourself."

It was too much for Anuradha to take in a day, she remained quiet. All alone now in the big building, she still sat there trying to comprehend the entire event. She was brought out of her deep blank thoughts when Shark started barking loud at her.

It took her quite sometime to realise that she was supposed to meet Manohar for his audition. Wiping off the tears, she wanted at least someone to be happy this day and don't want to be the reason for spoiling it. Anuradha quickly got ready and checked the time. An hour left before his audition starts.

*-*-*-*

Anuradha was on time, she looked around to spot the familiar face and found him sitting at the stone slab in front of Chimp Limited's office. As she neared him, she noticed he looked stressed and dishevelled.

"Manohar?" she called, sitting down next to him Anuradha tapped his shoulders.

"Manohar? What happened?" she asked.

He shook is head, looking down. "I'm done with the audition"

"What do you mean done with the audition?" Anuradha was confused, she checked her watch again she remembered him texting her the audition time is at 2.30 p.m. and it's just 2.00 p.m.

How is it possible that the audition is over? She thought.

"They preponed my slot to 12 o'clock and I have been trying to reach you since 11 o'clock" he said in disappointment.

"11 o'clock..." she mumbled softly as she recalled what happened in her house at the very same time.

Before Anuradha could say anything, Manohar got up "Never mind, Radha. Looks like I have to try harder and not to depend on anyone." he said, the words hit her like a wave.

"I'm sorry, Manohar. I'm really sorry, I wasn't able to answer your call nor was I having my phone with me" she apologised, she was ashamed that she had to break a promise.

"It's absolutely fine, Radha, I don't mind at all. Anyways, I have to make a move now. It's a long way back so, good bye and all the best for your future and if destiny and time permits we shall meet again" Manohar tried to hide his disappointment with a smile and left.

Putting her bad day aside, she tried to be as casual as she could be. She felt really sorry for not being there when he needed her help. She knew it was his dream to get his composition to be produced and published by that company but when she, herself was sailing her boat through the storm how will she even help him.

Anuradha huffed at the game of faith. 

Two dreams shattered in a day.

"Good bye, Manohar." A fake smile adorned her face as she waved her hand to Manohar who drove off disappearing into the busy street.

*******-------------*******

The buzzing alarm and the continuous phone call was the only thing Anuradha hated. Thanks to the person who bought her the alarm that sound like a world war II air-raid siren. She wondered where he had gotten it from. It was genius, no-one would ignore that.

The past three years, these alarms that has been her wake up call very morning. Reminding her of the duties she has for those who are depending on her. She again thanked Christopher for the alarm.

She still misses her long sleep and her habit of spending her long walk with Shark but responsibility had eventually destroyed even that of what she loves to do. Turning off the alarm, a not so shocking number of missed calls from Handsome and Romeo greeted her.

"Good morning, Sir. What's the early call for?" Anuradha called Christopher as soon as she left for office.

"For being a reminder for you that you have a meeting at ten o'clock with the delegates from France, sleepy head" he spoke, gasping for air.

"How many times should I tell you that stay put when you are on call? Why do you always need to run here and there?"shuffling of papers was the only sound she heard from the other end. 

"Anyways, I'm on my way. See you" Anuradha hung up the call.

Right after Anuradha took over the company three years ago, she was only surrounded by loneliness in her life.

It was choking her. 

The loneliness. 

The building that she once called house.

Cameron and Christopher was the immediate people she called. They helped her out of her depression state and also made her move out of that chocking house, and searched for a new house of her choice.

Just a year ago, Anuradha offered Christopher a job in her company as the Head of Creative team. Which was a good thing for her, at least she had someone called friend in that huge office.

"Hello, Romeo... documents ready?" Anuradha asked with a big smile as soon as she entered his room.

"Butterfly, next time I'm going to set huge speakers in your room so that you will wake up on time!" Christopher scolded, walking to his desk and picking up a black and a blue file. Once she had drifted to sleep after a long day of work and did not answer any call until three in the afternoon. Soon after knowing Anuradha; a heavy sleeper, Cameron and Christopher had gone into every shop in Camden to get her the loudest alarm clock that day. 

"Do you know that you missed the nine-thirty meeting with the contractors?" he asked and handed her the files.

 Shaking her head side to side with a simper, she took the files he handed. "New design proposals in black file and documents for the next meeting in blue file" Sometimes its Christopher who acts as her personal assistant. 

"Cool! Once the meeting is over I'm heading to the café down the street so, don't disturb me till I come back, okay" Anuradha walked out of the office before he could talk.

*-*-*-*-*

Meetings were always something that Anuradha never interested in but she knows without having any meetings, without her knowing what's happening in the company she won't be able to survive the company for long.

Four long hours of meeting finally came over, Anuradha sighed a relieve. Time for coffee.

"Anuradha," a familiar voice called her.

"Yes, Dad. You need anything?"

"hmm... I have been wanting to tell you that, why don't you take a short break. You never left this country or even this city since you took charge of the company, Anuradha." Her father spoke to her in concern.

"There is no need of break, dad. If time comes I will surely go for a break but now I'm going to get a cup of coffee into my system before I get to work" Anuradha hugged Kamlesh before walking out of the meeting room.

Anuradha always preferred to have her coffee down a couple of blocks away from the company building for few reasons; it's not at the main road and the coffee there was her favourite among the cafés she had tried and it's a quiet place too.

Shortly after paying for her order, the always clinging Romeo joined her taking a seat outside the café.

"Why do you always follow me?" Anuradha asked trying to keep a straight face.

"Someone forgot that she had once said she is lonely and don't want to be alone anymore" Christopher remained her earlier days of rambling when she started handling the company and staying alone all day.

She stuck her tongue out and sipped the aromatic coffee. A loud shout for helped alerted the two who was the only one outside the street.

A middle-aged woman heavily wounded ran out of an alley with two men chasing her. Upon hearing her, many more came out of the nearby buildings to help the lady. Before Christopher and Anuradha could reach them, one of the two man snatched her handbag and ran away pushing her hard on the wall.

The lady fell unconscious when both approached her, Anuradha and Christopher brought her to the nearby hospital. Since they did not have any particulars of the lady to contact her family, Anuradha decided to stay with the lady till she regain conscious.

On that night itself, the police had called and informed Anuradha about the woman's particular as soon as they got the bag. As the police insisted to keep the bag with them till they further investigate the case, Anuradha only managed to get the mobile number of one of her family members.

The police reminded her to inform the lady that she has to be here for another two days just to clear the case before she leaves anywhere out the city.

Hanging up the call, she dialled the number the police officer gave.

"Hello, Mr. Uday Chauhan?"

***************************

2024 Author's note: I did not make any edits to the chapters. So, if there was any glitches, please excuses me 🥺