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Maya tensed. She couldn't bring herself to tell her mother that she had walked the ramp, breaking the promise she had made.
“It was good. It was a busy day, though,” she tried to cover up.
“Why don't you take a break, Maya? You've been overworking for the past few months, and it's not good. You don't have any personal life outside this house. I'm worried for you,” Garima said, touching Maya's cheeks. Maya smiled back.
“Mom, you worry too much. I have friends.”
“Yes, married ones. They're all busy with their husbands and babies now.”
“I know. But we still get together.”
“Every six months,” Garima pointed out.
Maya raised her hands in defeat.
“Fine. What would I do on a break, Mom? And I love working.”
Garima shook her head.
“Too much work and no rest can make you sick. This house already has one patient; why do you want to add to the count?”
“Mom, you're not a patient. You're okay now.” Maya sighed.
Garima faked a smile as Maya hugged her. No matter how stressed she was, being home with her mother always gave her strength.
*************
The next morning, Maya woke up at 06:00 a.m. and headed outside for her usual morning jog. She plugged in her earphones and played music that would energize her. Thoughts of yesterday's ramp walk kept coming to her mind, no matter how hard she tried to distract herself. And then the thoughts on the bouquet and card from the Sponsor. Hopefully, the Sponsor understood that she wasn't interested in any kind of communication or relationship with him.
She ran past a bookstall and suddenly stopped, noticing the newspapers displayed there. On the front page of one of the leading newspapers, her picture from the ramp was featured, with her standing beside Roshni Kundra. There were several articles related to yesterday's event.
“Dammit,” she screamed in anger, frustration clouding her thoughts. Suddenly, the thought of her mother seeing that newspaper struck her, and she ran back to her building as fast as she could.
Maya nearly tripped over two children playing there and pressed the elevator button forcefully. Knowing the elevator would take time, she decided to take the emergency door and started climbing the stairs. She pushed the main door open and immediately picked up the newspaper lying on the floor, the one that the newspaperman had delivered. Maya hid it as she saw her mother coming out of the bedroom.
“Maya? You came back from your jog so early?” Garima asked.
Maya breathed heavily; she had never run so fast, and her legs ached.
“Yes, Mom. I finished early,” she lied and hid the newspaper behind the shoe rack. Garima walked to the Puja room, prayed for a few minutes, and then returned to Maya.
“What's wrong? You look worried,” Garima asked.
“Nothing. I have a lot of work today at the office. I'll be late.”
Garima sighed.
“Okay, where's the newspaper?”
“The newspaper guy wouldn't be coming today. So, there's no paper today, Mom.”
Garima believed her.
“You wait; I will make breakfast for us,” Maya changed the topic.
Garima relaxed on the couch as Maya headed to the kitchen. Today, she felt lucky. But how did that event end up on the front page of every newspaper? That was unexpected. She needed to find out. No matter what, she couldn't let her mother know she walked on the ramp. She immediately called Ritu and asked her to come over by 08:00 a.m. as Maya had to leave for work early. She then showered, had breakfast, and was getting ready for work when Roshni's call came in.
“Morning, Roshni.”
