Chapter 1 : Graduation Day

ANUSHKA'S POV

It was finally sunrise but still very early , maybe around five am in the morning..Of course it was five because my alarm went on crying violently causing me to snap my eyes open immediately..Usually It would have gotten me very frustrated disturbing my sleep but for some reason I was glad that it woke me up..

Right, I should be glad ,I should be happy..The day I was patiently waiting for my entire life had arrived..Today I was finally going to graduate and hopefully find a very good paying job after that so I could be able to help my older brother Shavaay to provide for the family..He was married now and lived with his wife and two children at their house ,so it was obvious that his salary was shared between two households..And I was completely sure that his wife was slowly and slowly getting fed up with that..But I would understand her though if she in fact was because brother Shivaay should have been only taking care of his family and see to it that their needs were met..But on the other hand he was still our brother and my father's first son and considering that my father was in his old age and very frail to do any job , my little brother Amaar still in high school and I was still attending college ,surely we needed an income to survive on.. So brother Shavaay took the responsibility to provide for us ,but now I thought it was about time I took that responsiblity away from him..I could send my CVs to different companies and see where I get my luck..

Anyway I got myself up from where I slept on the floor with my brother.. Remember that we lived at the colony  so obviously we lived in a one room  that we somehow managed to divide into a kitchen and small bedroom which was where my father slept..I got my scarf and put it on my neck to cover the front before I motioned to the kitchen counter to turn on the stove so I could start preparing some breakfast..

"God Amaar" I groaned realising that that boy didn't fetch water yesterday ,so now I had to go outside to fetch water so I could start with breakfast and warm some water for us to bath 

I took that empty basket and made my way outside..I closed the door gently before I descended the steel stairs down to the ground..It wasn't that dark outside and I saw in some of the rooms the lights were on indicating that people were awake..Probably the women, preparing breakfast and lunchboxes for their husbands when they go to work in about few hours now..I was now in the ground floor in no time and I could already see a queue made at the colony tap..We had one water tap of which we all used..But the line wasn't that long though since it was still early ,so I hurried there so nobody can arrive before me now and finally stood in the line..I greeted everyone queuing up..They were five women and they also greeted me back..I didn't know if it was only me who thought that but people at my colony  were very nice and friendly..Ever since we moved there from India after my mother passed away five years ago, they've been nothing but nice to us..They treated each other like one big happy family..There were hardly any quarrels between each other..And If there was any misunderstanding ,they made sure to resolve it and continue to live in peace and harmony which was the atmosphere of almost everyday in the colony..

"Oh Anu my dear come and pour water in your basket..Today is a very big day for you and we don't want you to be late, right ladies?"Mrs Manoj said happily as the other women agreed with her and I just smiled widely walking towards the tap before putting my basket in place and opening it again..

"Thank you very much aunt..I really appreciate it "I said genuinely happy going through each an every one of the with my eyes 

"It's no problem my dear"Mrs Sharma said with a big smile on her face  and I just smiled back brightly too

"We are so proud of you my girl and we are looking forward for your success and with no doubt you are going to be successful one day"Mrs Manoj added genuinely and I just didn't know what to do besides smiling like an idiot..

Lord ,such nice words to start somebody's big day ..

I thanked them once again before I made my way back to my house..Starting with preparing breakfast and warming some water for us to bath later..Good lord, I was so happy  that I couldn't even stop smiling to myself..I was so proud and I knew my father was just as proud as I was about myself.. He has been waiting patiently to seen me in my graduation gown and today he was going to see that... 

Finally!!

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"I want you to wear this my dear..This was your mother's favourite sari ,she only wore it on special occasions and today it is that special occasion and she surely would have wore it now..Since she is not here with us anymore I would love it if you wear it "My father said sadly as he handed me a silky red sari with gold details on it..

My heart sank painfully as I caressed the soft fabric with my hand..It also remembered me if her__my mother..It was about past eight in the morning now and everybody was getting ready for my big day..

"Thank you father ,I will wear it now "I said with tears blurring my view but a big smile formed on my lips as I took the sari from him and walked towards the bedroom to change.. 

I was twenty years, which was five years ago when my mother died..So during time with her she had taught me many things and wrapping a sari was one of them..So I didn't have problem in wrapping that beautiful sari around tiny my body..I had a very tiny frame but not that tiny though..I had just medium butt ,little wide hips ,not that big breasts and a very slim waist..I was pretty short about five something tall..I looked myself in the mirror and a small smile tugged on my lips as I took a glance of myself..No doubt I looked so beautiful , from my silky shiny dark brown long hair that floated freely on my back ,the shiny necklace around my neck and shiny bangles around my wrists..I had applied just light make-up on my round face..

"I wish you were here to see your little princess right now mother" I said murmured quietly to myself with tears threatening to come out but I controlled myself since I didn't want to ruin my face..With last glance on the mirror ,I walked back to kitchen-living room (they were practically in the same room anyway)

"You are looking so beautiful my dear ,just like my Sarla"My father uttered sadly,his eyes beaming with tears..Even now he still missed his wife badly and he always got very emotional whenever thinking about her 

"Oh my god! You look so pretty fuck!!" Amaar literally exclaimed ,obviously trying to minimise the sad tension that had welcomed the whole room.. Father playfully smacked him on his head for swearing as we all laughed.

"Thank you baby brother" I chuckled happily ,giving him a side hug before my father joined too in our little group hug..

"No way ,a family hug without me ?"A voice came behind and that was my big brother Shivaay walking towards us 

"Of course my son"Our father said welcoming him to our little family hug as we laughed happily , enjoying that moment 

"Alright, enough of this family reunion we need to get going unless you wanna be late for your graduation my dear beautiful big sister"Amaar said sarcastically and I playfully slapped his head too before we all collected ourselves and headed out ..

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"We appreciate your time you spent with us here and we say congratulations..Go ahead and conquer the world..Knowing that you such a hardworker ,you are going to make it in your life and once again congratulations Miss Malhotra "The head of the South Edovus college Mr Connor said happily as he put a yellow belt over my head and I was just smiling uncontrollably as people cheered especially my family who were sitting in the front row 

Next up there was a beautiful Indian woman and young man following up behind Mr Connor..I figured they were the Chief guests that everybody was talking about because they were the ones issuing out the trophies and certificates..

"Congratulations my dear ,we wish a very happy and successful life "The woman said genuinely giving me my certificate and surprisingly pulling me in a tight hug. I froze a little before hugging her back quickly before she pulled away

"Congratulations Miss Malhotra"The young man following behind her said lowly in deep voice staring deeply at me..The way he looked at made me very uncomfortable 

"Thank you" I said awkwardly still smiling though as he handed me my top student trophy..I took it from him and our hands slightly touched and I felt shivers ran down my spine..

This was very uncomfortable.

I released the breath I didn't know I was holding all this time as they finally moved to attend another graduates...Since then the man never shifted his eyes off of me and suddenly I was starting to feel very uncomfortable..I made sure to avoid his gaze as much as possible I could but it was impossible..When someone Is looking at you ,you can feel it no matter how hard you try to avoid it..Plus now I was left in that sari with little of my skin exposed there and there since I had taken out my graduation gown and I swear it made everything ten times worse for me..I really didn't like when my skin was out that was why I always preferred wearing my Indian dresses with matching scarfs around my neck to avoid that and I also didn't like western clothes just as much either..Finally the graduation ceremony was over after a very long day and some people were starting to excuse themselves..Even me and my family too..We made our way out the grand hall to my brother's car , getting in and then we were off the college's premises in no time , heading back to my brother's place for supper..

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