ARE YOU MINE?

CHAPTER 1. ORDINARY GIRL

EDITOR'S FIRM, NEW YORK, 2015

Commonly known as “chores-girl” in her office, Aradhya was an ordinary woman in her early twenties. Recognized for her compassionate and empathetic behaviour, she was often seen doing tasks for her colleagues. Bringing coffee in the morning and editing their half-completed works were usually assigned to her.

Constantly seen as adjusting her bulky glasses and tripping over things while trying to maintain a good working record. If anything Aradhya was not a looker, or more precisely, that’s what she believed.

Her alluring hazel eyes were covered with the glasses while her long black hairs were always tied in a bun. Moreover, people didn’t consider her much more than a stepping stone.

Since she was naturally a person of kind demeanour, it had always been difficult for her to turn away from a person in need, even when it meant letting the person take advantage of her.

This was quite apparent in her daily life. While she struggled to complete her own work, she continuously aided people in completing theirs too.

“Ardahya!" called out Cindy while pointing at her wristwatch.

She stood frozen and didn’t budge even a little.

Cindy went towards her and said with a contemptuous stare, “You are always late. I was about to nap waiting for your insignificant ass. What took you so long? All you had to do was carry the lunch. Consequently, I can discern that you must be slacking off since we haven’t been really hard on you for a long time. I won’t tolerate this dereliction. Just remember to perform your duties carefully.”

Aradhya lowered her gaze and said in a soft voice, “I will take care of it from now onwards."

The woman was pleased with her apology, so she left without making a ruckus.

Just when Aradhya was about to return to her desk, another person called out her name.

“Yes, David?", she replied while turning her gaze towards him.

He approached her and declared, “Since my mother is really sick, I need to leave urgently for the hospital. Could you take care of my work, please.”

She nodded amiably and assured him by saying, “Yes, you should leave. I don’t mind. I'll do it." 

Then, she drew out a heavy breath and began working on his project. She realised that she clenched on to any opportunity that she could in order to feel needed, even when it meant performing other people’s chores. But she always felt that there wasn’t much she could do to exempt herself from her persisting situation.

While running her errands, she wondered about how this habit of being a doormat inculcated in her.

Then, she remembered how her mother told her once that she was an unplanned child as her mother already had two children at that time. Initially, her mother planned to abort the baby but ended up giving birth on the insistence of her husband.

Due to the existence of her older sisters, her presence and status in the family had never been much eminent. She was made to wear their used clothes and was given their old toys to play. But, she never complained as she was grateful that even though her circumstances were critical, she was endowed the invaluable gift of life by God. The gift which was incomparable to all the earthly pleasures.

It was apparently true that her family never paid much attention to her but that was not the case with her father. He adored her and gave her unconditional love and care. She still remembered clearly how he would make her sit upon his lap and narrate her the story of Cinderella.

She cherished that story as it reminded her of her own situation. Then, invariably at the end of the tale, her father would advise her that, ‘If she will perform every task with hard work and believe in goodness, only fortunate things will transpire to her’. He always told her that being ordinary wasn’t actually a bad thing, all she needed was to love herself the way she was.

‘My father was a nice man and nice people don’t live very long. Before witnessing his daughter's happiness, he was taken away from us', divulged Aradhya while filling in the information in the article.

Though the loss was anguishing, yet she smiled while recollecting the fond memory of her father.

It had gotten pretty late, but that didn’t discourage her from working. She was habitual of working this late as she used to get the request for works every other day. While sending the draft of her article she remembered something again and smiled gleefully.

‘Everything in my life had been pretty tragic but something that happened two months ago changed my life entirely. For the first time, I was asked out by someone, and that too by George. He is the most accomplished individual in our office. Every girl desires him. Though fancied by all, he preferred me. Since then, he had been by my side’, contemplated Aradhya while slobbering.

Just when she was shutting down the system after completing her work, her phone began to ring.

“George!”, she yelped in excitement

The man on the other side interrogated in an indignant manner, “Where have you been? It is Christmas and you’re still working?”

Aradhya said while pleading, “I did call several times in the morning to inform you about my working schedule, but all of my calls were sent to your voicemail”.

The man became disgruntled and said in a gruff voice, “If your work is more essential than me, then you must've said so. Goodbye, Don’t call me again”.

Before she could say anything, he disconnected the call. Subsequently, she whined at her helplessness and tears of agony came slipping down her cheeks. Then, she gulped in the anger and began to gather her stuff to leave.

ARCADIA APARTMENT, NEW YORK 

After ultimately reaching home, Aradhya took a shower, made herself dinner and then began to surf dreadful stuff on the internet.

With a pen in her mouth and her gaze fixated on the laptop's screen, she observed carefully the outcomes of her inquiry that she posted online.

Then, she found an article on the internet which was concerned with the facts related to ‘winning your man back'.

The idea that stood most prominent among others for Aradhya was to ‘go on a romantic holiday with your beloved'.

She wasted no time and grabbed her phone hurriedly to text George. She apologized for her negligence and implored him to join her on this holiday to rediscover their feelings for each other.

she instantly received a reply with a heart emoji. The man said that he would love to be there with her. She smiled gleefully at his response and stayed awake while planning her holiday with George.

She booked a room in a reputed hotel in Hawaii. This did cost her a hefty amount, but she was willing to do it for the sake of her love for him. 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

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I’d be highly grateful to you.