Chapter 2
Viya
I got the job.
Oh my god, I got the job.
Three days after the interview, the HR department called just as I was stepping out of the auto near my home.The woman's voice on the other end of the line was professional and warm, and when she said the words "We are pleased to offer you the position," I had to stop walking because my knees suddenly felt weak.
"You will be joining as a Junior Developer in our tech department," she continued. "Your start date is this coming Monday. We will send you an email with all the necessary details regarding your onboarding process and documentation requirements."
I managed to choke out a thank you, my voice shaking with excitement. After the call ended, I stood there on the sidewalk, clutching my phone to my chest, a huge smile spreading across my face. People walked past me, giving me odd looks, but I did not care.
I had done it. I had actually done it.
For the first time in my life, I had something that was truly mine. Something I had earned on my own merit. Not charity. Not pity. Not something given to me out of obligation. This job was mine because I deserved it.
I needed to tell someone. I needed to share this happiness before it burst out of me.
Uncle would be proud. I knew he would. He had always supported my education, always encouraged me to study hard and build a future for myself. But before I told Uncle, there was someone else I needed to call.
Puneet.
My best friend. My constant support system. The one person in this world who had never treated me like I was less than anyone else.
I had known Puneet for as long as I could remember, since before I had even learned to speak.
Our families used to live in the same neighborhood when my parents were still alive.
We grew up playing together, going to the same school, sharing secrets and dreams. When my parents died and everything in my life fell apart, Puneet was the one who stayed.
Through all my thick and thins, through every difficult moment, he had been there.
I dialed his number immediately.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Viya? What's up?"
"Puneet, I got it," I said, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice. "I got the job at New Gen Corp."
There was a brief pause, then he let out a loud whoop that made me pull the phone away from my ear.
"Viya! That is amazing! I knew you would get it. I told you, didn't I? I told you they would be idiots not to hire you."
I laughed, feeling warmth spread through my chest.
"Can you meet me? I want to tell you everything. I need coffee and someone to celebrate with."
"Of course. The usual place? I can be there in twenty minutes."
"Perfect. I will see you there."
I hung up and practically skipped the rest of the way home. I needed to change and freshen up before meeting Puneet. When I reached the house, I slipped inside quietly, hoping to avoid Aunty for now. I wanted to savor this happiness a little longer before reality came crashing back down.
I changed into a fresh kurta, washed my face, and tied my hair back into a simple ponytail.
Then I slipped out again, making my way to our usual coffee shop.
It was a small place tucked away on a quiet street, nothing fancy, but it had comfortable seating and made decent filter coffee.
Puneet and I had been coming here for years.
He was already there when I arrived, sitting at our favorite table near the window. He stood up when he saw me, a huge grin on his face, and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Congratulations, Viya. I am so proud of you."
I hugged him back, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I blinked them away quickly and pulled back, smiling.
"Thank you, Puneet. I still cannot believe it is real."
We sat down, and he ordered two coffees from the server who came by. Once we were alone again, he leaned forward, his expression turning serious.
"So tell me everything. How did the interview go? What will you be doing?"
I told him about the interview, about the panel of people who had asked me technical questions and reviewed my portfolio. I told him about the projects I would be working on, the team I would be joining, the salary they had offered. With each detail I shared, his smile grew wider.
"This is incredible, Viya. You deserve this. You have worked so hard for this."
I nodded, feeling my chest swell with pride and gratitude.
"I know. It feels like finally, after everything, something good is happening."
Puneet reached across the table and took my hand, squeezing it gently.
"This is just the beginning. This is your chance to build the life you want. A life that is yours."
His words settled over me like a warm blanket. He was right. This was my beginning.
"Did you tell your uncle and aunt yet?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Not yet. I wanted to tell you first. I will tell them when I get home."
Puneet's expression shifted slightly, a hint of concern creeping into his eyes.
"And what if your aunt does not allow you to work? You know how she can be."
I had thought about that too. The worry had been gnawing at the back of my mind since I got the call. Aunty had never liked the idea of me having independence. She preferred to keep me under her control, dependent on her and Uncle for everything.
"Uncle will convince her," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "He has always supported my education. He will support this too."
Puneet did not look entirely convinced, but he squeezed my hand again.
"Listen to me, Viya. If your aunt tries to stop you, if she makes things difficult, you do not have to stay there. You can move in with me. I have a spare room. It is not much, but it is yours if you need it."
I stared at him, touched by his offer but also a little overwhelmed.
"Puneet, I cannot just move out. Uncle has done so much for me. I owe him."
"You do not owe anyone your happiness," Puneet said firmly.
"You have spent years repaying a debt that was never yours to begin with.
Your parents' death was not your fault—you were just a child.
They took you in because it was their duty, and of course, they were receiving your parents' savings. You never owed them anything.”
I looked down at my coffee cup, his words hitting closer to home than I wanted to admit.
"I just want to see you happy, Viya," he said softly. "If you feel like this job is right for you, if you feel like this is what you want, then go ahead. Do not let anyone take that away from you."
I nodded slowly, feeling a lump form in my throat.
"I will. I promise."
We finished our coffee in comfortable silence, and Puneet walked me partway home before heading in the opposite direction toward his own place.
As I walked the last few blocks alone, I tried to gather my courage.
I needed to tell Uncle and Aunty about the job.
I needed to stand my ground if Aunty tried to object.
When I reached home, I went straight to Uncle and Aunty's room.
The door was slightly ajar, so I could see inside before I knocked.
Uncle was sitting in his favorite recliner near the window, reading the newspaper with his reading glasses perched on his nose.
Aunty was on the bed, scribbling something on a piece of paper, her brow furrowed in concentration.
I knocked lightly on the doorframe.
Both of them looked up. Uncle smiled immediately, his face lighting up the way it always did when he saw me. Aunty's expression remained neutral, her eyes flicking over me with mild interest.
"Come in, beta," Uncle said warmly, gesturing for me to enter.
I stepped inside, my heart pounding. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get a single word out, Avija came bursting into the room behind me, pushing past me so suddenly I stumbled slightly to the side.
"Mom, is the list ready?" Avija asked breathlessly, completely ignoring my presence. "The list of items we are going to serve on Friday? I need to finalize the menu."
Aunty started to respond, but then she seemed to remember I was standing there. She held up a hand to stop Avija mid-sentence.
"Wait, Avija. Viya, why are you here? Do you need something?"
Uncle looked at me with gentle curiosity.
"What is it, beta? Is everything alright?"
I looked at Uncle and smiled, drawing strength from his kind eyes.
"I do not need anything, Uncle. I am here to share some good news.”
I waited for a second to breath.
“I got a job."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Avija snorted.
"What job did you get? Sweeping floors?"
Her voice dripped with mockery. I felt my face heat up, but I kept my expression calm. I had learned long ago that reacting to Avija's jabs only encouraged her.
Uncle, however, was not amused.
"Avija, stop that," he said sharply. Then he turned to me, his face breaking into a proud smile. "Congratulations, Viya. That is wonderful news. Where will you be working?"
"A tech firm," I said quietly. "As a Junior Developer in their tech department. I start on Monday."
Uncle's smile grew even wider.
"That is excellent, beta. I am very proud of you. You have worked so hard for this."
His words made my chest swell with warmth. This was exactly the reaction I had hoped for.
But then I made the mistake of looking at Aunty.
Her face was unreadable, her eyes calculating. I could practically see the gears turning in her mind, weighing options, considering angles. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured and controlled.
"Well, that is good news. Congratulations.
But just because you have a job now does not mean you are free from your responsibilities here.
You will still need to finish all the household chores before you leave for the office every morning.
And at the end of every month, you will give me twenty thousand rupees for household expenses. "
I felt like I had been slapped.
Uncle's expression darkened immediately.
"Sangeetha, what nonsense is this? She does not need to pay anything. This house is her home too."
Aunty turned to him, her voice taking on that sharp edge she always used when she was about to win an argument.
"Why not, Vinay? She is part of this family, is she not? We have spent so much money on her upbringing, on her education. Is it so wrong to ask her to contribute to the household expenses now that she is earning?"
Uncle's jaw tightened.
"We spent money on Avija's upbringing too. On her fashion design course, on her business startup costs. We do not ask her to contribute twenty thousand rupees every month."
Avija opened her mouth to protest, but I could not let this continue. I could not be the reason for another fight between Uncle and Aunty. I had seen too many of those over the years, and they always ended with Uncle giving in and me feeling guilty for causing trouble.
If giving Aunty twenty thousand rupees a month bought me some measure of independence, it was worth it.
"Uncle, it is fine," I interrupted, my voice steady. "I am okay with contributing twenty thousand. It is only fair."
Uncle looked at me, frustration and sadness warring in his expression.
"Viya, you do not have to do this."
"I want to," I said firmly. "It is fine, Uncle. Really."
He looked like he wanted to argue further, but I gave him a small smile, silently pleading with him to let it go. After a long moment, he sighed and nodded reluctantly.
I turned to leave, but Aunty's voice stopped me.
"One more thing, Viya."
I turned back.
She held out the piece of paper she had been writing on earlier.
"This is a list of dishes I need you to prepare on Friday morning before you leave for work.
We are having some very important guests coming over.
Make sure everything is ready and presentable.
And I need you to stay at the office until evening.
Do not come home early. I do not want you around while the guests are here. "
Uncle looked like he was about to explode.
"Sangeetha, this is too much. She just got a new job. You cannot expect her to cook an entire feast before her first week of work."
But I reached out and took the list from Aunty's hand before Uncle could say anything more.
"It is okay, Uncle," I said quietly. "I will manage."
I did not wait for a response. I turned and walked out of the room, clutching the list in my hand.
As I walked down the hallway toward my own small room, I glanced at the list. There were at least ten dishes written in Aunty's neat handwriting. It would take hours to prepare everything.
I did not know who these secret guests were. Honestly, I did not care.
All that mattered was that I had a job. I had something of my own. And come Monday morning, I would walk into New Gen Corp as an employee, not as someone's burden.
That thought alone was enough to make me smile as I closed my bedroom door behind me.