Chapter 9: Motivation
"As we wiped away our tears, I said, "Don't call yourself an orphan anymore. Now, you've got me. I'll be like a family to you, supporting you just like my dad supports me. I promise," and I stuck out my pinky finger towards him, I kept going, "Hey, you know, if you want a reason to work super hard, well, here I am! I can be your big motivation. If you don't wanna miss out on having me as your family, then just work hard, okay? I promise I'll stick around with you," and I still held out my pinky finger in front of him."
"In that moment, under the streetlight's gentle glow, he looked at me with his soft eyes, kind of teary and unsure about how to respond to my words. When he saw my hand reaching out, he then slowly lifted his own hand to express his acceptance. We just hooked our pinky fingers together, making a promise to stick by each other no matter what. Right there, beneath that streetlight, we promised to have each other's backs through everything life throws at us."
"Even though I was the one making the promise that I will always support him, but it felt more like a mutual agreement, a silent understanding that we were in this together. As he wiped away his tears, we began walking, the weight of our shared commitment lifting the heaviness in the air."
"After he dropped me home, he looked at me and said, "Good night," a simple yet sincere farewell that echoed our unspoken bond. With that, he continued on his way, and in that quiet moment, I couldn't help but feel the strength of our promise lingering in the night air."
"The following day during our tuition, he performed well in the exams, and it seemed as though my promise had served as a source of motivation for him. Experiencing his success filled me with an indescribable joy and a sense of pride. As we left the tuition center, he stood there, appearing to be waiting for me. Approaching him, I remarked, "You did fantastic today. I'm really impressed." A genuine smile adorned his face as he listened to my words, creating a shared moment of quiet accomplishment."
"I reassured him, saying, "No need to worry! I haven't forgotten our promise from yesterday. We're like a duo, and I've got your back. But here's the deal - you've gotta put in some serious effort because, well, you're gonna be like the main head of our family. So, buckle down and work hard, okay?" He seemed a bit confused and asked, "Main head?" with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty written all over his face, as if trying to figure out what exactly being the "main head" meant."
"I responded, "Silly, yesterday I told you I'd be your family, meaning I'm gonna marry you. So, you'll be the main head just like in my family where my dad is the big boss. He works crazy hard, and my mom's always there, having his back. So, in the future, you'll work hard, and I'll be right there supporting you." After hearing my words, he blushed all of a sudden, trying to avoid making eye contact with me. It was adorable - like a shy reaction you see in movies."
"Seeing his silence, I persisted, "What's up? Did you forget our promise from yesterday?" He quickly responded, "No, no. I remember it crystal clear. I promise to work super hard and make you happy." I playfully added, "Absolutely, you've got to. You know I dream of a huge house filled with teddy bears and whatnot." That became the starting point of our journey."
"From that day forward, our daily conversations became a ritual, creating a rhythm in our lives. After his school classes, he made a detour to my school, and together, we created countless beautiful memories. As we shared dreams and aspirations, it felt as if a famous painter had dipped their brush in the palette of our emotions, crafting a masterpiece on the canvas of our lives. The promise we made under the streetlight wasn't just a pact; it was the foundation of a relationship painted with the vibrant hues of shared hopes and endless possibilities."
"In this way, our childhood love story started," Diana concluded, recounting the entire incident with closed eyes. Upon finishing her tale, she turned to Kirti, only to find tears welling up in her friend's eyes. Concerned, Diana inquired, "Is our story so bad that it brought tears to your eyes?"
Kirti responded, "No, no. It was amazing. They are happy tears." As she wiped away the traces of those tears, she continued, "You know, your story sounds like a fairytale to me. You're really lucky. I can't help but feel a bit jealous."
Hearing Kirti's words, Diana tried to reassure her, saying, "Don't worry, you'll also have your own incredible experiences in life. Your story is just waiting to unfold and I'm sure it will have its own beautiful chapters. Just be patient, and you'll experience your fairytale moments too."
In the midst of their shared laughter, a spark of realization crossed Kirti's face, and she asked, "Wait, the story you recently told sharing your opinion on love, is that your story?" Diana affirmed Kirti's curiosity with a nod and a gentle, warm smile, saying, "Yes." Kirti's eyes widened with excitement, and she exclaimed, "Wow!" absorbing the revelation with enthusiasm.
As they parted ways after lunch, heading to their separate workplaces, Kirti couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts from Diana's storytelling. Engulfed in a daydream, she found it hard to focus on her work. The hours ticked away unnoticed as her mind drifted, craving the kind of moments that Diana had painted with such vivid colors-romantic, unforgettable experiences that could breathe life into her own story. The yearning for such vibrant hues in her life lingered, casting a gentle shadow over the rest of her day.
After completing her work, Kirti entered Vishnu's cabin to submit her work. While he was checking for mistakes, she remained deep in thought. Vishnu, noticing an unusual number of errors, asked her, "Why so many mistakes today? This isn't like you." Lost in her daydream, Kirti didn't respond. Vishnu, growing curious, called out, "Kirti, are you there? Earth to Kirti," trying to bring her back from her reverie.
"Apologies, I got lost in my thoughts," Kirti quickly admitted. Tarun, with a light-hearted tone, responded, "Hey, daydreaming is fine, but not during work, and this many mistakes are strictly prohibited." Feeling a sense of regret, Kirti replied, "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again. Starting tomorrow, I'll be more focused and work efficiently."
While expressing those words, it seemed like she was carrying a hint of sadness. Vishnu, keenly observant, noticed her demeanor and inquired, "What's on your mind? Share it with me. Maybe I can help." In response to Vishnu's concern, Kirti swiftly replied, "No sir, it's nothing." However, Vishnu persisted, saying, "Tell me. If you continue working like this tomorrow, I'll have to take it seriously."
Kirti hesitated for a moment before opening up, "No sir, actually, I heard Diana's love story this afternoon. It was so amazing that I got lost in thoughts. You see, sir, I've always wished for someone to support me like Diana supported Robin. My mom was strict, always pushing me to work hard and achieve big things, I hardly remember any joyful moments with her. On the flip side, my friends were not true friends, always talking behind my back. They pretend to be friendly in front of me to get help in studies, but they gossip about me when I'm not around. I've always wished for the kind of moments you see in movies, where everything turns out magical. I tried convincing myself it's just fiction, not reality, but Diana's story brought back those thoughts. I'm really feeling low, that's all sir," she confessed with a sense of sorrow in her voice.
Hearing her words, Vishnu remarked, "Looks like you have a lot on your mind." Deep down, he sensed her pain, having experienced similar things in his own childhood. His friends had also acted all good before him to get help with studies. Suddenly, another team leader joined their conversation, holding a kerchief and wiping his tears. With a deep understanding, he expressed to Kirti, "I can feel what you're going through, girl."
As Vishnu noticed Aarav, the other team leader, he questioned, "Aarav sir, what's happening? Why are you in tears, and when did you join our conversation?" Aarav offered an apology, explaining, "I'm sorry for eavesdropping, but it seemed like she needed some encouragement. That's why I'm here."
Shifting his focus to Kirti, Aarav expressed with empathy, "Kirti, I can truly feel the emotions you're wrestling with. In real life, you often find yourself standing alone. You have to be your own support and keep moving forward. While there may be exceptions, but waiting for someone to offer support may not yield the best results. Sure, there comes a time when you meet someone who becomes the support you've always yearned for, but it doesn't happen by waiting. It happens when you continue progressing. Got it? Even if you don't receive support from others, you'll discover something that fuels your motivation. So, just keep moving forward, don't let yourself get bogged down by upsetting thoughts. So, just keep moving forward, don't let those sad thoughts steal your peace of mind," offering a profound response to Kirti's concerns.
Those comforting words not only uplifted Kirti but also resonated with Vishnu, who occasionally grappled with feelings of loneliness, despite knowing his mother's unwavering support. Her absence still cast a shadow over Vishnu, creating a sense of apprehension about his surroundings. A Vishnu was lost in his contemplation, on the other hand, Kirti responded to Aarav, the team leader, saying, "Yes, sir. You're right. I'll keep moving forward. Thank you so much for your encouragement." Aarav humbly replied, "It's okay."
While Vishnu also wished to express gratitude, he held back, instead turning his gaze towards Aarav with a face filled with appreciation. In response, Aarav met Vishnu's eyes with a gentle, warm smile, a silent acknowledgment of the gratitude conveyed through Vishnu's expression. Seeing Aarav's smile, Vishnu understood that Aarav had accepted his gratitude.
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