Chapter-1 (The Losing Battle)

Scarlett Miller

A smile graced my lips as I saw a young girl wrapped in her father's arm. He swept her hair back from her ears and swung her above his head.

The sight felt so pure and familiar that for a moment it almost made me forget about that part of my life which I always wanted to erase.

Tring….Tring...Tring...Tring…

A sound interrupted my thoughts, which automatically averted my sight towards the source. Moreover, it was enough to break my trance and knock me with the reality back.

Caller ID showed Mr. Larry, my mom's lawyer but I was a bit astonished, ‘Why was he calling me?’ I thought.

‘Was everything fine?’ I kept wondering.

Before I would have ended up assuming things, I saw the newspaper in my lap, 24 June. Now everything started making sense.

How irresponsible I had turned into; today was the final hearing. A final ending of all the sufferings of mine and mom. I yearn for things to go well.

Without any next thundering thought, I kept the cold screen against my ears.

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Me: Give me the GOOD NEWS already. Only three words I want to hear WE HAVE WON.

I waited for him to continue but there was only silence. I started panicking.

Me: Just say, we have won and from now onwards, we have nothing to do with that man.

Mr. Larry: Sorry Scarlett, But he still sticks to his very same condition till that, we can't do anything.

That's where I stopped breathing. Not this time.

Me: You are one of the best lawyers, find a way. Get us free from him.

Mr. Larry: An only option has been discussed with you, but you denied it. Still, one thing you can do, have a little conversation with him. After all, he is your father….

Before he could complete his statement, rage took over my senses and I yelled back,

"Don't ever address that man as my father, do you get that? Neither today nor tomorrow he will have me at his side; this is what he wants. Isn't it?

Let it be now. Tell him to stay away from me and my mom.” and I hung up in utter disappointment and rage.

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That man was my dad and certainly was my hero. He wasn't perfect, we weren't either. But I & mom was his family, he didn't think about us once. The only thing that hurts me is I’d loved him as much as I’d hated him today, hadn't I?

“ Mam, we have reached.”, those words hit me with actuality. I stepped out of the car and signaled my driver to take it back.

Once again, that man won. Once again he proved that money, power, and status that's what matters but even we are no lesser mom is a well-known fashion designer but again that businessman power overtook us every time.

“To make you lost, I need to play the same game now. “

I've been studying business for this very reason. Whatever and however to make the ends meet, I need to work very hard to match up to his level.

While surrounded by my thoughts, I reached near the college entrance and in a sudden moment I was taken aback by the breathtaking hug; finally, this is what I needed.

No medicine is better than this to cure my disturbed mind and that unknown ache at that moment.

An unknown relief took over my senses. Nobody can comfort me better than her.

Everything was incompletely complete now.

"Thank you, Carlos,” I whispered.

The only missing part of our trio was Daniel, he was being missed equally but this is what used to happen when your best friend is already up with studies and takes up the responsibilities of his family business.

I must say, he is the only sensible person among me, him and Carlos. But we complete each other.  It is always meant to be ‘us’, we three. Our trio completed three of us in every way.

"Aren't you supposed to pick up your best friend from the airport?" Carlos asked while faking anger.

"I thought Daniel would but wait a minute I had even called him and asked him to do this job. Where the hell....?" but my words vanished by her never-ending rant.

"Don't even take the name of that jerk in front of me. “she whined.

He is ever ready with his nonsense, I am warning you; we should stay away from these corporate practicing  guys unless we will have to face this throughout our lives." She laughed.

"First of all, what is this corporate practicing guys? “ I closed my eyes while stopping my laughter.

Let me tell you our Carlos, is popular in using weird terms and definitely for her self-made dictionary.

"You don't know corporate practicing guys, geez Scarlett.” She spoke over dramatically.

"No! You tell me.” I locked my arms and turned towards her.

"The way people practice religions, the same way these guys practice business as their religion.” She tightly smiled.

“I knew it. It must be another nonsensical word of yours.” I started walking away.

“Don't forget that even your father is a well-known businessman." I playfully completed it.

"Are you forgetting about your dad? Business is in our blood darling." She reverted, fading away a smile from my face which she realized later.

No one has ever traveled in my mind all day except him. I don't forget him for a second and never will be. Who is he? Just my father, the one I just took all my mind and power to cut out of life.

"I am so sorry Sky.” She immediately turned me back.

She was apologizing to me as a baby, not to make her feel guilty anymore. I smiled back.

We immediately made our move towards our class where we all were going to be allotted with our final year practical business communication project.

For that, we will be going to work under well-known business firms. For everyone else, it was a project, but for me, it's a chance and a step closer to my goal.

The business world is a mirage. There's always much more than what we can see. There's much more it can offer us than what it has already given.

I gleamed with the idea of being a permanent resident in that foreign business land.

"Mrs. Newal is it compulsory to do?” One of our classmates asked the assistant professor.

I and Carlos immediately got alerted about her coming words.

“It's fifty-fifty criteria. To get your degree, you have to pass the Internship program with a project report and even you need to pass the exam at the end of the semester.” She complied.

We understood its significance.

“Tomorrow, even one of you will be allotted the company's campus that has been chosen for each one of you.” She stood up.

“Mrs. Newal, directors of the approached companies have arrived. The Campus Chancellor demanded your presence in the auditorium.” One of the clerks informed her.

“Which corporations are being approached?” I asked Carlos.

“The one who is going to write our GPAs.” She laughed.

Suddenly I felt a weird feeling, like the things I was trying to control were moving out of my hand like sand.

But I’m Scarlett Miller if things won't move according to me this time. I will turn it's direction towards me by hook or by crook.

"Which corporation is in your mind?” She asked me.

“Any except one.” I sternly replied. She knew I would be okay with any place at the time it kept me away from that man.

“My dad can help us if you want.” She hesitantly completed.

"Wait! Even Daniel can help us. Jeez, we can ask him for help.” She excitedly jumped.

“No.” I started speaking but she stopped me.

Let's collect our assignments from reception. I shrugged her.

"Here's my Student ID,” I forwarded my card to Mr. Brown our administrator.

"Scarlett Miller, wait for a moment.” He replied while making entries on his desktop.

I nodded and started scrolling randomly on my cell phone.

"Sky,” Carlos whispered.

I didn't turn towards her. I knew she might be again drooling another guy standing in a row. I wasn't in such a mood. After her numerous failed attempts she jerked my hand.

“Scarlett Miller, your dad.” She yelled in a slow tone.

I shook my head again. “It's inconceivable that he'd come here for no reason,” I spoke.

"Think, Scarlett. You're looking over something wildly obvious." She replied.

"What's that?" Did I ask?

"You." She blurted out.

"Me?"I said in a surprised tone.

"Yes," said Carlos. "You're underestimating your father, I guess.”

I need to do something.  I can't afford to lose this already losing battle. Not anymore.

But the part that scares me.....

To be continued…..

Till the next time

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Authors Note

This is the first chapter where we meet Scarlett Miller, the female protagonist of this book.

What are your views about her, share your views?

With every passing chapter, I am sure you will get hooked on this book.

So are you ready to accompany Scarlett on this journey?

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Thank you
With love
Purva Narang
(Your author)

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