Neha's POV:

"Didi, I will miss you a lot", Radha started to cry again. She is our maid, just 19 year old does all kind of activities of our home from cleaning to cooking to manage her expenses but she is more than a maid to us. 

It is the power of the heart; even if our ages are very different, if we are attached to someone, we never allow them to separate us and create a special bond. Similarly, me and Sana share the bond with Radha. 

I still remember when we first met her near the pavilion of the metro station sniffing and wiping her eyes through her sleeves, her dress was covered with dust and she was asking for any kind of work which amused us both. She was not begging but rather asking for work for the expenses and we went near her and got to know—her mother died 3 days ago, leaving her and her brother alone in the world and the house owner has thrown them from the house. 

Sana got pity over her and took responsibility, I don't know how she managed — she bought a house in Chawl (building divided into small flats/houses of 2 or 3 rooms usually seen in Mumbai) near to our apartment for Radha (though Radha hesitated to stay so finally Sana told her to pay rent of the house), offered her job of maid, also enrolled her in some courses as she don't want to study further and admitted her brother in a school taking the education responsibility till he gets a job and becomes financially stable, till date Radha is working for us. She does all the activities in the morning and later goes to the training center which provides some self development skills to the ladies. 

Seeing Radha cry even I became emotional but I can't stay here for my own good call me selfish or whatever but I can't see.........

No, No I have to leave. By controlling my tears and showing some anger, I slightly yelled at her "Radha this is the tenth time you are crying and you have not done any work who will do it, look I will cut your salary if this floor is not cleaned and there is a week left for my departure" I quietly yelled at her which of course didn't work. Even she knows I won't deduct her salary but I have to control myself. 

Wiping Radha's tears, I made her understand how my leaving is necessary for my professional life which is half the truth; I can't tell her the whole truth.

After few hours, Radha gave me a close hug and smiled stating from now on she won't cry and will cook all my favourite dishes until I stay, starting with Radha's special Kanda Poha (an Indian dish made with Rice flakes), she makes it very tasty both me and Sana are big fan of her Kanda Poha to which I gave her a smile and agreed. 

After eating Radha's special Poha, I got up for packing my things though I have a week but I have to start today itself as my plans to return are never going to happen. In future, if I come to Mumbai I won't be coming here or seeing anyone's face especially her and him which made my heart swollen dropping a drop of tear from my eyes followed by other series, "Why, Why, Why....Ya Allah, l have fallen into this situation in which I have to leave the people I love—for two years this was my home away from home, my little world of me, she, and him and never ending chawl stories of Radha. Why this have to be me?" I shouted.

Radha has already left and Sana has not returned from her shoot though she should come back 3 days earlier to which she said there are some technical issues which delayed the shoot but I know she is lying as I have met her colleague yesterday and she said the shoot was completed as per the schedule. I even kind of understood where and with whom she is, thinking about it made me cry more.

After my crying session I got up and gave myself a prep talk - "Leave it Neha, you should not waste your time remembering un important persons, no more tears for them, with a big smile engulf the new beginning it is the dream you came here for and now this step will make your dream higher", I got up and started removing my clothes from the wardrobe.

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At Night

After quickly finishing my dinner I called Ammi to tell her about my arrival. Yes,  I am leaving to Hyderabad then later I will be going . Initially, my plan was just to visit a week and return and then leave from here but my plans have been changed now. I have taken permission for work from home from the company for a month, and from there itself I am leaving for New York.

 "Assalamualaikum Nehu, How are you? Had your dinner? " Ammi's voice brought me back to reality. 

Quickly replying to Ammi, I asked about Papa; "Waalaikumassalam Ammi, I want to tell you both something, Where is Papa?" hearing me Ammi got alert and asked "Everything good beta ? Anything happened at office? "

"All good Ammi just want you all to tell something, first call Papa."

"Ok, he came just now from the night walk let me call him" Ammi called Papa
"Super, put the call in speaker." 

As soon as Ammi kept the call in speaker I heard the voice of my Papa . "Assalamualaikum, Neha beta, How are you? How's work?" as usual he asked about me first then about the work.

"Waalakumassalam Papa, I am good Alhamdulillah, I have news for you all, I got promoted to the New York office and next month I will be going to New York and this week I am coming home then from there I will be flying directly.  Isn't it good news!" I squealed.

"MashaAllah great, we both are happy for you beta" Papa said excitedly where as Ammi got gloomy stating "Come back soon Nehu its been years I have seen you atleast for few days I can feed you then don't know when I will see you." 

Yes, it's true I didn't go to home lately because at first, I was not given leaves during training period then later I got habituated here and didn't want to leave Mumbai.

"Ammi don't tell like that I will be missing you so much" don't know when my tears started to flow again with the mixture of reasons—the reason of leaving parents, reason of leaving this city of dreams, Mumbai which  gave shelter to her for 2 years and witnessed her every stage of success, failure and lastly betrayal.

"Now don't make me swim on the river full of tears, this is the time to celebrate and when Neha comes lets throw a party" Papa as usual like a matured person cheered and stopped our cries but my tears were unable to stop so to avoid the situation I bid goodbye stating I have to pack—"OkAllahafiz, Ammi and Papa have to start packing"—and cut the call.

After disconnecting the call, a turmoil of feelings started running from the day one of my arrival to the city full of dreams as a stranger to being a full on Mumbaikar and roaming around the marine drive, sometimes with Sana and sometimes with both.

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Author's POV:

As thinking of all the memories Neha remembered her first foot in Mumbai.

Flashback Starts

"Assalamualaikum Papa, I have landed just now going to take my luggage then I will be directly going to the studio apartment, How's Ammi still weeping? " Neha called her father to inform about her arrival parallelly moving to the luggage belt for the luggage.

"Waalaikumassalam Beta, you reached safely right or had any issues during the journey and don't worry about your Ammi you know about her give her some time she will be okay." Ali asked Neha about her journey and assured her about her mother.

"Yeah I have reached safely there were no issues during the journey. What is she doing now?" informing about her journey details Neha asked about Ruksana again worriedly

" Here you go you only talk to her" Ali handed his phone to Ruksana chuckling, knowing well both mother and daughter can be assured after speaking with each other.

" Nehu, Have you reached safely? Had any problem during the journey? Did u take your luggage? Had anything or you are still empty stomach? " Neha's Ammi bombarded her worried questions as soon as she took the phone from Ali.

"Ammi Ammi shanti shanti(cool down)" cooling down Ruksana, Neha started to answer her questions one by one. 

"Yes, everything is fine and I have reached safely, I didn't took luggage yet going for it and don't worry after taking my luggage I will have something " Neha comforted Ruksana making her relax.

 Meanwhile Neha reached her luggage belt started to look out for her luggage. "Ok, be careful and don't miss anything and call us after you reach studio. Ok Allahafiz, I have to make dinner for your Papa and do eat and sleep; don't sleep without eating"  like a typical desi mother, Ruksana started to scold her to eat as she got back to normal form.

"Allahafiz Ammi, I will call you after reaching and I WILL EATTTTTTTTT don't worry" stretching the word eat Neha assured her and took blue suitcase hurriedly and left for food court to have something.

Neha has just now landed in Mumbai, a city full of dreams carrying her own dreams. She has applied for an internship at one of the fashion companies in Mumbai where she got selected and here she is for a training period of 6 months which later based on her performance will be decided about her permanent employment.

Flashback Continues at next chapter.....

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First Chapter is out showcasing few glimpses of Neha and to know further about her past and her future steps grab on your seatbelts to enjoy the rollercoaster ride.

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