It's a big bungalow, named "Happy Home". It's home to an ace Businessman, Viren Singhaniya. He lives with his beautiful wife, Naina and a pretty daughter, Raina. He's happy in his life with his girls and a well settled business. He's content with all he has in his hands. His daughter is named after his wife's late sister. They love her immensely, while Naina sees the cast shadow of her sister in her daughter.

It's a fine day, Viren comes back from his office and finds the house unusually quiet. His wife is away for a conference, and so it's Viren and his daughter, Raina, alone at the home. He calls for his daughter.

"Raina!! Papa's home!" he calls her daughter.

But he doesn't recieve a reply from her. He looks around the house, but she's not anywhere. He calls the housemaid, Savita, whom they call Kaki.

"Kaki! Aapne Raina ko dekha? Kahan hai wo? Roz toh main ghar mein enter hota hi nahi, wo mere pas daudi aati hai.. Aaj kya hua? " Viren asks.

"Pata nahi beta! Wo college se aakar seedha apne kamre mein chali gayi, uske baad bahar hi nahi aayi." the old woman tells him.

"Kya! Uski tabiyat toh thik hai na??" Viren asks, as now he's turning worried.

"Han beta! Wo thik hai, par shayad uska mood thik nahi hai. Tum dekh lo shayad tumhe kuch bata de." the old woman says.

Viren grows worried. Something is worrying his little princess and he didn't feel it. He's late to know it. But, she's not in her room. He moves into the back garden, where there is a small space, with a table and two chairs and a swing. It's Raina's favorite place, where she likes to sit. When Viren and Naina are back early, the three of them sit together in that mini space. Viren moves out and a smile lights up his face, as he finds Raina sitting on the swing.

He makes his way towards her, and stands by the swing. He eyes Raina, she looks upset. He smears her head.

"Hi, Princess!" he greets her softly.

She doesn't reply, and that worries him. Usually, it's Raina who stands on the door before he arrives home. She waits for him, and without giving any time, she hugs him, even before he's able to set his foot inside the house.

"kya hua Princess?? Aaj papa se baat nahi karni?? Roz toh khud hi aa jati ho! Aaj kya hua?" he asks ruffling her hair.

She looks at him intently, for a few minutes and then hugs him. Viren is surprised, but wraps his arms around his daughter and kisses on her head. He gets worried when he feels that she's crying. He breaks the hug and looks at her. Tears in her eyes pain him a lot.

"Kya hua? Mumma ko itna miss kar rahi hai kya meri princess, ki wo rone bhi lagi!!"he asks trying to ease her.

Raina nods her head negatively. Viren cups her face.

" Toh kya hua? Aaj hamesha ki tarah papa ka welcome bhi nahi kiya!! " he says taking a seat opposite to her.

" Wo office mein... " Raina begins to speak but paises hanging her head down.

Raina is a student of journalism, she wishes to become a good one and is doing an internship with a renowned media company. Everyone is happy with her work. She attends college in the day and works in the company in the noon hours till evening. Her parents are proud of her.

"Kya hua office mein?" Viren asks patiently.

" My report got rejected." saying so, she breaks into tears.

"Wo Fashionista group wala?" viren asks.

"Haan! Sari mehnat maine ki. I collected the facts, I worked hard, lekin sab kharab ho gayi." Raina says.

"Toh kya hua beta? We will work hard next time." Viren says softly.

"It's not fair, Dad. Not at all. Kyunki us Riya ne sab kuch jaanbujh ke kiya. Sandeep sir ne uske dad ki baat maankar, uska report approve kiya. Aur mujhe insult! Is it fair?" Raina asks, her eyes teary.

"After all, he's a great businessman! Aur maine toh kisi ko kaha nahi na ki main ace Businessman Viren Singhaniya ki eklauti beti hoon. Only name and money matters, these days, Papa! Mehnat karne wale ki koi kadr hi nahi." She says angrily.

Viren is listening everything intently. He looks at her.

" Par jo log mehnat karte hain, wo jeette bhi toh hain." he says calmly.

" You're wrong this time, Papa. Aap galat bol rahe ho. Agar ye sach bhi hai toh 20 saal pehle tha, jab aapne NaiRa industries khadi ki thi. Abhi ka sach kuch aur hai. Bas thode se paise kisi ki mehnat ko hara sakte hai. " Raina says turning to the other side.

She is doing an internship in a media company. Today she had to do a report over the wrongs in a fashion company. Raina has worked hard on her report. She has taken help from her mother, who's a fashion designer herself. But at the office, her report got rejected, because of her colleague. Riya is one stubborn girl who'll do anything to be on the top. She's quite offended with Raina, because Raina always has facts to prove her points, while Riya doesn't. Today, the head not only accepted Riya's flawed report, but he insulted Raina over her flawless report. Truly, he's fascinated with money. While Viren and Naina haven't let their daughter use their name for her sake.

"Hamesha yahi toh hota hai, Papa. Par aaj toh sandeep Sir ne Hadd hi kar di. Mehnat kisi aur ki aur credit koi aur le jata hai." Raina says.

She sits on the swing, her eyes still teary. Viren observes her keenly, and her tears affect him as well. But he has to stay strong for his daughter and then breaks his silence.

"Jo log aisa karte hain, unki success zyada derr tak nahi rehti bache!" Viren says.

" Par main toh haar jaati hoon na, papa! I don't want to do it. I'm not going there from tomorrow. Agar mehnat karke bhi kuch nahi hona toh mujhe nahi jana." Raina declares and this shocks Viren.

His daughter is not so weak to give up. They haven't made her so vulnerable to give up. He has to handle her since Naina is not in the city, so he has to convince her.

" You're giving up? So early!! " he asks.

" What else can I do? I can't stop Riya from doing the wrongs. So, It's better if I quit." Raina replies.

Viren doesn't know what to say. His daughter is hurt badly with all that happened with her. But, he can't let her give up on her dream. He pulls her in a hug, and the girl breaks into tears, getting her father's warmth.

" Mujhe nahi jana! Main aapko join karlungi. Mom was right. I should help you." she says amidst tears, and her words pinch him.

Viren and Naina have never forced her to join their family business. Naina helps Viren, despite of her own boutique , and they want Raina to help them, but not on the stake of the dreams. She wants to be a journalist, but today, she's fallen weak. Viren is pained to hear her crying. He can't bear to see tears in her eyes. He parts the hug and makes her sit on the chair and he goes on his knees. He makes her face himself.

"Look at me, Princess!" he says.

"Batao, give up karne se toh koi solution milega??" he asks.

The girl nods negatively. Viren wipes the tears from her cheeks.

"Jab koi solution nahi milega, toh give up kyun karna hai? Mera bacha toh bahut mehnati hai na!" he says.

"Par uski koi value nahi hai, Papa. I am tired." she says.

" Raina!! Beta! Aisa kyun soch rahi ho. Tumhe jo chahiye hota hai hai, wo toh tum hasil karti ho na! Kya hua aaj us thought ko??" Viren says.

Raina looks at her father,who continues to speak.

" Sabke life mein aise phases aate hain bache. We have to overcome it. Tumhe khud pe yakeen karna hoga. " he says.

" Lekin riya jaise log... " she says but Viren cuts her.

" They're using money, not the talent. Kehte hai na har chamakti cheez sona nahi hoti, waise hi paise ki wajah se riya internship mein bhale hi top kar le, but real life mein nahi kar payegi. Kyunki she's using the outer gold." he finishes his statement.

Raina looks at her father, letting him explain his words in an easy way.

" Your talent is the real gold, Princess. Not money. You should earn but on the base of the talent you have. Not because you're my daughter, or you're mom is an ace fashion designer." he says.

" Kya hua agar is baar bhi hum haare, agli baar fir se mehnat karo aur apni baat sabke saamne rakho. Kyunki gold tumhare andar hai. It's nowhere outside. " he says.

Raina looks at him and at the same time, they hear Naina.

" Papa is right, baby. Agar tum give up karogi toh jo log tumse influenced hai, unka kya hoga? " It's naina who's back from her conference.

" Meri beti ne itne saare logon ko influence kiya hai agar wo haar jayegi toh acha nahi hoga na! Aur phir hum hai na! Kuch galat nahi hoga. " Naina says.

" Yes! Apne andar ke gold ko bahar nikaalo. Kyunki life mein Riya jaise bahut log milenge. Lekin tum apne mumma papa ke naam pe nahi, apne talent ke base pe aage badhogi." Viren says patting her cheeks.

Raina looks at her parents, their smiles give her an assurance that things will be fine. She knows they always want her to achieve her dreams. She can't give up. Her trance is broken as Viren keeps his hand on her head and she hugs him again. It seems like she has found a way out of the mess.

"I know mujhe kya karna hai. Thank you, Papa." she says while in the hug as Naina watch the father daughter duo.

"Now stop crying you two. Baby! Stop crying, otherwise agar tumhare papa roye toh hamare ghar se nadiyan beh jani hai!" Naina says trying to calm them.

As she came back, Savita Kaki told her about Raina's foul mood. And as she enters the garden, she heard Viren speaking. She knows the phase, she has been through the same, and so she says so. Raina laughs lightly.

" Eh! Don't say like that, mumma! Wo emotional hain kyunki wo samajhte hain. And I love him for that." Raina says and keeps her head on his shoulder.

"Dekha, meri beti mujhe ache se jaanti hai" Viren says.

" I know. Di bhi toh yahi kehti thi." Naina says as she looks at her daughter, who's now clinged on her father's shoulder.

"Acha chalo! Let's go out for dinner. What say?" he asks looking at both his wife and daughter.

Raina chuckles on hearing it. She knows, he's doing it to cheer her up. He has given her a lesson for life and she has to abide by his words. She has to make her own identity. She holds each hand of her parents as they move inside the house to get ready for the dinner treat.

*****
Two months have passed by since the incident, when Raina was on her lowest point. Today there's a program organized by the media company where the best intern has to be announced. Raina had already told Naina and Viren to be on time.

She's in the office, giving a final touch to her final report, when someone comes to her. It's Riya. Raina sighs but decides to maintain her cool. She can't fall to Riya's level and fight with her.

"Mat karo itni mehnat, Raina. You know, I'll be the winner, after all." Riya says.

"Yeah! Just for this company, Riya. Aur waise bhi mera target yahan rehna nahi hai. Obviously yahan meri kadr nahi toh main kyun rahun yahan. My target is Nations Front Agency. And you know what, tumhare dad sandeep sir ko khareed sakte hain, not NF. So concentrate on your work. "Raina says and her eyes fall on the head, Sandeep Sinha.

" Thik kaha na maine sir, kamaal hain aap bhi. Jisne paise diye usey best bana diya par jisne nahi diye usey insult. Waise is behalf pe aapki company jaldi band ho jayegi. Maine socha aap mere dad k friend hai toh kar leti hoon, tab toh you said aap mujhe favor nahi karenge ab dekhiye! " Raina says pointing at Riya.

She finds some people around, some of whom are sandeep's seniors. She plays something and a video plays where Riya's father was giving money to sandeep and asking him to reject Raina's report. Riya, sandeep and Riya's father are shocked. Sandeep's senior is shocked and he scolds him for the same. Raina makes her way towards him and smiles..

"Jurm ka pardafash karne chale hain, pehle apne office ka haal dekhiye. Aur ye rahi wo 10 files jo reject hui. I have worked on them. Because my dad told me ki ek din kamyaabi zaroor milti hain. Hope today is one such day." she says.

Riya glares at her. She feels offended.

" You did it wrong, Raina. " she says angrily.

" oh yeah! I did it wrong jo main yahan aayi. I did it wrong Jo maine tumhe help karne ka socha. And if I did wrong, show me the proofs, Riya Khanna. Paise ke bal pe success kabhi nahi milegi.." Raina glares at her.

" And I don't care if anyone of you reject me for a job, because mujhe job ki zarurat nahi hai. Bcz aap jaise logon ka sach main NaiRa industries ke office mein baith kar bhi saamne la sakti hoon. Aur wo khabrein news ki headlines hongi. Koi reject karne ki himmat nahi Karega. Thanks for the time. " Raina says firmly.

She spots Viren and Naina at a distance and it seems like they have heard everything. She holds their hands.

" Mumma papa, let's go.. Waise bhi yahan hum jaise honest logon ki jagah nahi. " she says and they turn towards the exit.

At the same time, a deep masculine voice stops them.

"Wait a minute, young lady." he says.

Raina turns around and a man in his late forties smiles at her. Raina didn't know him.

"Aap kaun hai?" she asks.

"I'll tell you that, but before that, let me tell you that you're permanently hired for NF as investigative journalist." he says.

Raina is shocked. The man tells her that he's the senior journalist from Nations Front and he was here for the conference. Seeing Raina, he found her perfect for the job. Raina is elated and so are her parents. He says that she can join the office once she finishes with her semester. Raina agrees to the old man and thank him. He pats her head and leaves. Casting one last look at Riya who's ogling at Raina because she got the biggest break of her life, Raina leaves the office with her parents.

She jumps on her toes once they leave the office.

"I just can't believe it. I got it." Raina says cupping her own face.

"I told you, Princess. Hard work pays off." Viren says.

Raina hugs him.

"Yesh Papa! You're right. I am glad I did so! Finally NF!". She chuckles.

"I am so proud of you meri jaan! Aaj jo tumne kiya wo zaroori tha. And now you have to keep working hard." Naina says patting her cheeks.

"Yes mom! Now let's go for dinner! Pleash?" she looks at her parents.

"Ice cream bhi khayenge." Viren says patting his daughter's back.

Raina chuckles as the trio set off for a dinner date.

*****

You can't find success on if you don't work hard.

Gold is inside you, it's your talent, so use it and top the list.

Navkiran_Shergill i hope you like this small one shot. Love ya😍😘