"Once again I failed. I failed miserably. They say every cloud has a silver lining, then why in my case it isn't? What's my mistake?" Today also I was sitting silently under the starry sky complaining to them about my unjust life. Closing my eyes, I was trying to make myself convinced that I have to be strong. I have to stand strong for my maa.

"I'm sorry Avni but Neela has Cancer." the doctor's words were again ringing in my ears. All the way back home, I stayed strong, only for my Neela maa. I didn't want to tell her about her condition all of a sudden. I was not sure how would she react to it. But as soon as I stepped inside the house, I dashed to my room and cried. I sobbed terribly.

"No, Avni. You can't cry like that. You've to be strong. Strong enough to pull out your maa from this situation. You can't be a stupid cry baby.", I collected myself and once again looked at the stars who twinkled at me. My friendship with stars had always been my strength.

I sighed and was going to talk to the medical professional again when I heard maa calling me.

"Avni, there's a letter for you.", Maa yelled from downstairs.

"Coming maa," I answered while descending the stairs.

"Thank you.", I said to the boy and took the letter signing the notepad.

My eyes widened and tears formed in them when I read it. "Terminated", I mumbled under my breath.

"Avni child, what's in the letter?", maa asked making me stiffen.

"Ah! nothing maa. I'll talk to you in a bit, actually, Sarah's letter came by mistake at our house.", I made up an excuse and hurriedly went back to my room.

"Sir, how can you just fire me like that without any prior notice, and on what basis have you sent this stupid letter to me.", I yelled at the manager of SK groups.

"Miss Mehta, you were absent for the last two days and for your kind information let me tell you I'm not the one who's responsible for your termination. The company has been bought by Mr Khanna and he's the one who fired you. So, you talk to him directly in my opinion.", the manager said and ended the call, dismissal was obvious in his voice.

"Who the hell is this Mr Khanna", I asked, "Hello, hello."

Why are you doing this God? Whenever I start believing in you a little bit, you do something in such a way that even that little faith of mine gets shattered.

My phone rang bringing me out of my trance but I frowned looking at the unknown number.

"Hello, who's this?"

"Miss Mehta?" I was sure I had listened to this voice before but bloody hell, where?

"Speaking."

"Oh! how does it feel to be jobless." A sense of familiarity was clearly visible in his voice.

"Who's it?"

"I don't know to beat around the bush, let's come straight to the point. Apologize to me right now and I promise I'll return your job at this instant."

'The company has been bought by Mr Khanna and he's the one who fired you.'

"Oh! so you bought the company just to get a stupid apology from me. My apologies cost you dearly, no?", I smirked. "You have a lot of money, don't you? So let me rephrase, do whatever you can I won't apologize because you can be rich, but not enough to buy my self-respect.", she said and ended the call.

"You'll apologize and I'll make sure that.", Mr Apologize-to-me-Khanna roared in anger.

"Keep dreaming."

~~~

                      "Avni child, at least eat the breakfast and then go.", Maa yelled at me again. It's been three damn days that I'm looking for a new job. Yes! She doesn't know that I've been fired from the stupid job. 

"No maa, I need to go.", I quickly kissed her cheek and rushed outside the house not before reminding her to take her medicines/vitamins.

I reached a random cafe and started looking for a job in the newspapers' advertisement column. Yeah! That's what I'm doing for the last 3 days. What to do? It is life, you have to live.

I quickly ran to the sights with my papers.

~~~~

"I'm sorry but you're not suitable for the job." Bloody hell this was the third interview of the day and again I'm rejected. What's happening.

I moved out of the manager's cabin disappointed over my fate.

"Yes, Mr Khanna...Right sir......She came...yes yes...I didn't employ her...Thank you sir.", I heard the manager say from the door. This Khanna is getting on my nerves. But I won't lose hope. I was on my way back home when a shining Porsche 718 halted right near my feet.

"For the love of God, if you don't know how to drive then why try?" I didn't want to yell but the stress and anxiety had taken a toll on me.

"Oh, someone is quite stressed out I see.", the same egoistic bastard who snatched my financial independence said and came out of the car gracefully.

I rolled my eyes at him," What happened Mr Khanna, again here for the apology?", I added and smirked.

I expected him to be boiling in anger, but he looked as cool as cucumber. He took a step towards her and I got nervous.

"Miss Mehta, I can buy every damn thing in this world, be it your apology or your so-called self-respect.", he said precariously and took another step. "Your mother has an orphanage, right?", he said while I remained silent.

"No, she doesn't.", I lied.

" It doesn't look good for a lady to lie."

"Oh please, don't tell me what I should do. Watch your behaviour."

"Is this your mother's orphanage?", he royally ignored my accusation and flashed a photograph in front of me. A glint of victorious pride flashed in his looking at my flushed face.

"N-No."

"I know you're lying but still, I am kind enough to warn you once again, leave your stubborn nature and apologize."

"Try me.", I gave him a challenging look.

"Your choice.", he stated and got back in his car and drove off. And the very next second maa's call came."Avni, some problem has arisen in Orphanage's property, come fast child.", Neela whimpered. My insides churned with worry and a sharp pain made its way to my chest. He couldn't do this. No!

I quickly hailed a cab and reached the orphanage.

"No...no, this can't happen.", I spoke and rushed to the orphanage where a Bulldozer was ready to demolish it.

"Child see what these people are saying. They are saying that our orphanage is illegally built, this property belongs to some Khanna.", Maa said, her face was tear-stricken and it made the pain in my chest more severe.

"Sir, please stop don't do this. How could you just demolish the orphanage without any notice?"

"Ma'am here's the notice and it was sent to you 2 months before. The due date is over, you get aside and let us do our work." And before I could argue more, the orphanage turned into a pile of dust.

I felt as if someone took my breath away. The orphanage mattered to me more than my life. It was my priceless possession. How could he do this?

I sat there looking at the labourers breaking the orphanage. It wasn't an orphanage it was his memories. Someone very close to my heart.

"Mr Khanna you'll definitely repent for this." I cried hard," I'm sorry I couldn't save your last memory too, I'm useless, absolutely useless."

"Still have the audacity to challenge me?", a voice brought me back to the world. It was him.

"You are a devilin disguise of human.", I clutched his collar tightly," Do you know what'veyou done. You just broke the orphanage. My Da- maa's orphanage."

"I told you, don't test my patience.", he said, his eyes didn't hold any remorse. He was serious when he said that he'll make my life hell.

He extended a cheque in front of me. What does he think? Money can solve everything?

"This is a blank cheque, fill the amount you want, conditions applied you need to apologize to me"

"Apology?" A dry chuckle escaped me. "My-My I can't believe this. You took away my job from me, my orphanage from me just for a godforsaken apology. Do you've any idea what have you done dammit?"

"You will apologise to me, or no?", he asked me. I can't bloody believe this man.

"You don't say.", he said in his intimidating voice and I stepped back and turned to leave. Enough Drama for today. I can't handle this anymore. I need to go right now.

"Miss Mehta, I don't appreciate your behaviour, I'm talking to you and you are going."

"There's nothing to talk about with you. It's better if I leave."

***

Hi wamily! Happy Happy new year. I wish this new year be filled with joy, surprises, good health and love for everyone .*throws chocolates on all*

A surprise update for you all! *smiles wholeheartedly*

Please don't kill me for the cliffhanger *blinks eyes cutely*

How far will Neil go ?

Whose memories was Avni talking bout?

Thank you so much for reading.

And the Next chapter already typed, so if you want comment me and votes' target -40

See you in the next update until then stay safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar

Love you all.