Chapter 1 Throughout her college studies

Mira's POV

Happiness filled my life. My parents were the best. The sweetest of all was Grandma. They were everything to me. Despite being lavished with attention, I was disciplined. In our hamlet, my father was a highly esteemed and significant individual. He practiced medicine. Before he died, my grandfather advised my father to do everything in his power to assist those in need. Thus, my father established a free hospital in our hamlet. South India is where our village is located.

As a gold medalist in economics throughout her college studies, my mother found fulfillment in establishing a free senior living facility. She had dreamed of opening an assisted living facility after losing her parents when she was quite young. She used to argue that leaving our parents was terrible because we wouldn't be here without them.

My dad had a younger sibling; thus, my family doesn't end here. The agricultural land is under his care. Priya is a younger relative of mine. You must have questioned how we manage the free hospital and assisted living facility. The majority of our village's agricultural land belonged to my grandfather. You would have seen by now how the profits from agriculture were used to pay for the costs of the hospital and the assisted living facility. My life was ideal. Up until that day, I even thought I was the luckiest person alive. Twelve years ago, my entire world was turned upside down. (Mira, age 9) Mom yelled from the kitchen, "Mira, wake up. Grandma is ready."

Grandmom and I made the decision to go to the temple event the following day after I shouted back, "Ma, I will be ready in half an hour," and got up to get ready (ma-mom). My aunt and Priya took a holiday to her parents' house.

My folks are traveling to the neighboring hamlet today to attend a marriage ceremony.

I got ready and then went down.

"Good morning boo boo" or "Good morning pa" (pa-dad). Dad said, "Come here and close your eyes." I call my pet boo boo.

"Y pa" "Close your eyes and don't ask questions." I felt something in my palm when I closed my eyes.

"Now open your eyes and see," I said, opening them quickly to reveal a dreamcatcher. It was the same one I was pointing to the Dreamcatcher in one store with my dad, so I was taken aback.

"I cherish you, Dad. I hugged my dad and said, "I know you Boo Boo," not expecting this. Dad returned the hug and stated

"So you don't love your ma?" my mother said as she came from the kitchen. I ran to embrace her and tell her, "I love you too, ma."

"So you don't love me, you only love your mom and dad haan?" my grandmother then questioned.

"I love you too, and you three know how much I love you all," I murmured, releasing my embrace.

They all chuckled.

It was becoming late, so my parents got in the car and drove off.

Grandma and I abruptly decided to attend the evening temple function.

When the call that rocked my life arrived, we were both watching television.

"Is this doctor sir's house?" I said. "Yes." "I'm not sure how to explain that this doctor sir and his wife had an accident and passed away immediately." I dropped my phone. My body was immobile and motionless. My mother's and father's smiles began to reflect backward. I passed out right there.

At noon, I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. When I realized the truth, I began to shake. Since I was too little to witness the accident scene, I was told that my grandmother and uncle had visited the location and that I was not permitted to meet my parents.

At least for the final time, I was unable to see my parents' faces. When they got in the automobile, the last thing I remember them doing was waving their hand good-bye.

Twelve years have passed since the accident. Everything changed after that. A year after the deaths of my parents, my grandmother passed away. She was unable to go past the sadness since she loved her son so dearly. I was left alone with my heartless relatives after she fell ill and passed away. Only after my grandma passed away did I realize the true nature of my uncle's family.

The old age home, the hospital, and the property were taken over by my uncle. He converted the free senior living facility into a paid one. The hospital is no different. Both were transformed into the ones that generated enormous revenues. He quickly quadrupled the property, made money, and transformed everything into luxury-but not for me. We relocated to the metropolis from our village.

My aunt frequently hosted parties at our home and brought other wealthy women. She was elected president of a well-known women's club. Priya is a fashion designer in her final year of undergraduate studies.

Regarding myself, once my loved ones went, my uncle sent me to a government school, which is free, and Priya to a renowned city school. My father used to say that anyone can learn anything wherever if they are determined to study, so I wasn't bothered by it.

I had to embrace the fact that my new daily regimen was exhausting and entirely different. When I was in school, I would get up at five in the morning, clean the house, make tea, and offer it to my aunt and uncle. Make a bath for Priya and my aunt. From a young age, my mother demonstrated and taught me how to cook.

Twice a week, she would provide the underprivileged with complimentary meals in our home. I became their cook since I know how to cook. I ate breakfast and lunch, rushed to school, returned at 4 p.m., completed the tasks assigned to me, made supper, washed the dishes, and went to bed. Despite their wealth, they kept a maid in the house who served as both Aunty's maid and personal assistant. I started working as Priya's maid. For twelve years, I have been performing the same act.

I was a great student throughout my academic career. Priya and I are the same age, and I went to government college to complete my undergraduate degree in physics after finishing school. Despite my merits and all of my scholarships, my uncle forbade me from attending distant colleges.

My two closest pals are Pooja and Divya. They are everything to me now. From school till now, we have been one, and they are fully aware of me. It's clear that they detested my family, and my family detested them in return. Even with them, I was never permitted to walk outdoors, and they were also prohibited from entering the house. My father used to adore his brothers very much and always urged me to respect them and treat them as my parent's second. For this reason, I never complained about anything and took everything. They are now my family, at least in terms of namesake. After we relocated to the city, I was introduced to everyone as a maid.

By the following week, our undergraduate days will be coming to an end, and now we have tests. I had to study for my tests today, so I got up at three in the morning. I was permitted to remain in the tiny space on the other side of the kitchen. I started cleaning the house at five in the morning since my aunt always likes it to be spotless, and she would stop eating if she found even a single dust particle.

Every day, I only get to eat what's left over from every meal. After that, I cleaned, lit the lamp, and prayed to God in the pooja room. I then made tea and served it to Uncle and Aunty at 7 a.m. It's 7.30 now, and I have to go wake Priya. I ascend the stairs to the house's first level. I opened the room carefully. Priya's room is large, with pink walls and pictures of her and her happy pals hanging all over it.

I approached the bed carefully and gave her a call. She didn't answer as usual. Now I roused her a little. "You idiot, don't you know how to wake someone up, how dare you touch me?" she said as she stood up abruptly. She half-closed her eyes and yelled. I took a step back, dropped my head down, and said, "I'm so sorry, Priya. I had to wake you up because you were going to be late for college."

As she walked to the bathroom, she remarked, "You had better make my breakfast and iron my clothes right away or else you know the consequences." I swept the room, folded the bed linens, and nodded. I quickly went downstairs to prepare her breakfast after keeping her in bed as I had previously ironed her clothes.

I cooked the breakfast that was on the dining table and left for my room at eight in the morning. I slept on the floor, and my room was basic with no cot. When Priya decided to throw away her dresses, I had them. The majority of them were too modern, so I would either mend them and wear them myself or give them to Aunty's maid. As a result, I had fewer outfits, which I purchased with the meager funds I received from my job at the college library. I walked to my clothing in the little cupboard. I grabbed a blue Kurti and wore it with a shawl and leggings.

I gazed at my thin frame and pale face in a tiny mirror. I knew I was undernourished, but I was unable to stop myself. I combed my long, naturally wavy, black hair, which was tailbone length, put on a clutch, and let it fall loose. I put eyeliner on my round, jet-black eyes, and my mom gave me flawless eyebrows by nature. I am fair-skinned, with large lips, a sharp nose, and round eyes.

I prepared to go by keeping a small bindi and applying a small amount of viboothi, which is a Hindu forehead ash formed from burnt wood. My lack of funds is the only reason I don't use cosmetics. I don't trust my buddy when she says that I don't need cosmetics because I look gorgeous. Priya often reprimands me for being a worthless creature and having an awful face. After gathering my belongings and obtaining my hall pass, I headed to the bus stop.