The next morning, Aleyne woke up later than usual. Her head felt heavy, and a dull ache pulsed at her temples. She knew she wasn’t well enough to go to work, but staying home wasn’t an option. Her job was one of the few things keeping her life afloat, and she couldn’t afford to miss a day. A quick glance at the clock sent a jolt of panic through her—she was running dangerously late. Aleyne’s heart raced as she imagined her aunt’s reaction. But as she hurried to get ready, she realized the house was tranquil. Her aunt had already left early to meet her friends.
Relief washed over Aleyne. She had narrowly escaped another scolding, the kind that would have dragged her parents into the conversation once again. The thought of enduring those harsh words so early in the morning was unbearable. “Who could stand being yelled at before even starting their day?” she muttered as she quickly dressed. With her aunt out of the house, she was spared the usual storm of criticism. But even as she rushed out the door, the weight of her situation hung over her, reminding her that this small reprieve wouldn’t last forever.
As Aleyne hurried to get ready for work, she noticed Mira sitting quietly at the kitchen table, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her uniform. Mira's face was pale, her eyes filled with worry. She knew that Mira had probably heard the argument from the night before, and it weighed heavily on her young mind. Before heading out, Aleyne knelt down beside Mira, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
Aleyne: softly "Mira, you okay? You seem a bit down today."
Mira: hesitant "I’m fine, sister. Just… worried about you. Auntie was really mad last night. I don’t like it when she yells at you."
Aleyne: smiling warmly "Don’t worry about me, Mira. I’m okay. Auntie just gets frustrated sometimes. But I can handle it, alright? You don’t need to worry about anything."
Mira: looking up at Aleyne "But I want to help. I wish I could do something to make things better."
Aleyne: hugging Mira gently "You already do, Mira. Just by being here, you make things better for me. You’re my little sunshine, and that’s more than enough. Remember, we’re in this together, okay?"
Mira: nodding, feeling reassured "Okay. I’ll try not to worry too much."
Aleyne: kissing Mira’s forehead "Good. Now, let’s get you to school. You’ve got a big day ahead, and I know you’re going to do great."
Mira: smiling a bit "Thanks, Aleyne. I’ll try my best."
Aleyne: standing up and holding out her hand "That’s my girl. Come on, let’s get going before we’re both late."
The sisters walked to the nearest school, hand in hand, with Aleyne offering Mira reassuring smiles along the way. Though her heart was heavy with her own worries, Aleyne knew she had to stay strong for Mira. As they reached the school gates, she gave Mira one last hug before sending her off.
Aleyne: cheerfully "Have a great day, Mira! And remember, no matter what happens, I’m always here for you."
Mira: waving "I will, Aleyne. I’ll see you later!"
As Mira disappeared into the school, Aleyne watched her go, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She had to keep moving forward, for both of their sakes. With a deep breath, she turned and made her way to work, hoping the day ahead would be kind. As Aleyne walked briskly towards the bus station, her mind started to run through the list of tasks she needed to complete at work. She was already behind schedule, and the thought of everything that awaited her made her feel even more anxious. Suddenly, she remembered something that made her heart skip a beat—the new CEO was starting today.
Her pace slowed as the realization sunk in. She had been assigned to assist the new CEO, beginning today. The rumors about him had been circulating around the office for weeks. He was known to be old-fashioned, with a reputation for being incredibly strict and demanding. Every task had to be completed to perfection, with no room for error. Aleyne felt a shiver run down her spine just thinking about it.
“I’ve just escaped from a crocodile,” she muttered to herself, “and now I’m about to face a lion.”The weight of the day ahead pressed down on her. Dealing with her aunt was hard enough, but now she had to make sure she didn’t slip up in front of the new CEO. The fear of making a mistake and being reprimanded by someone even more intimidating than her aunt filled her with dread. As she approached the bus station, Aleyne took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. “You can do this,” she whispered to herself, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. The bus was already pulling up, and she knew there was no turning back. She stepped onto the bus, mentally preparing herself for the challenges that awaited her.
As Aleyne boarded the bus, she was greeted by a familiar face. The bus driver, Mr. Raj, had been driving this route for as long as she could remember. He was always kind and had a way of making the morning commute a little brighter.
Mr. Raj: with a warm smile "Morning, Aleyne! You’re running a bit late today, aren’t you?"
Aleyne: sighing, but smiling back "Morning, Mr. Raj. Yeah, it’s one of those days. I barely made it out of the house in one piece."
Mr. Raj: chuckling "Don’t worry, I’ve had those mornings too. You’ll get through it. Just take it one step at a time."
Aleyne: nodding "Thanks, I’ll try. But today’s going to be tough. The new CEO is starting at my office, and I’ve been assigned to assist him. They say he’s a real stickler for details."
Mr. Raj: raising an eyebrow "Sounds like you’ve got quite the challenge ahead. But you know, Aleyne, you’re stronger than you think. You’ve handled worse, haven’t you?"
Aleyne: smiling softly "I guess so. It’s just… I’m a bit nervous. I’ve heard he’s really strict, and I don’t want to mess up."
Mr. Raj: with a reassuring tone "You’ll be fine. Just be yourself, and do what you do best. People like that respect hard work and honesty. And if all else fails, just remember to smile—it works wonders."
Aleyne: laughing lightly "I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Raj. Thanks for the pep talk. I really needed it today."
Mr. Raj: grinning "Anytime, Aleyne. Now, you just focus on getting through today, and the rest will fall into place. I’ll be rooting for you!"
Aleyne: feeling a bit more at ease "Thanks, Mr. Raj. I’ll do my best."
As she found her seat, Aleyne felt a little lighter. Mr. Raj always had a way of making her feel like everything would be okay, even on the toughest days. She took a deep breath and looked out the window, feeling a bit more prepared to face whatever challenges the day might bring.
to be continued in Chapter 3 .....
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