𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐍𝐢𝐲𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

The next morning arrived softly, almost shyly, as if afraid to disturb the silence the night had stitched across the house. A pale golden light filtered through my curtains, warming my face and pulling me gently out of sleep.

For a moment, I lay still, replaying last night in my mind.

I stretched, letting out a small yawn, and grabbed my phone from under my pillow. The first thing I saw was the email again the one that had changed everything.

“Congratulations, Niya Verma… you’ve been selected.”

My heart did a tiny flip.

It wasn’t a dream.

I threw the blanket aside and got out of bed, humming under my breath. I slipped into the hallway and saw that the house was unusually quiet no clanging utensils, no overboiled tea smell, no father’s voice echoing through the living room.

Strange.

I peeked into Nyra’s room.

Empty.

Her bedsheet was still creased from last night’s conversation, her pillow pushed to one side.

She must’ve left for work early.

I smiled a little, imagining her rushing to dress well, brushing her hair twice, checking her phone every two seconds…

Sahish definitely sent her a good-morning text.

I closed the door and walked toward the kitchen, where Mom was already preparing breakfast. She looked tired, but she still smiled at me.

“Good morning, Niya,” she said softly.

“Good morning, Mom,” I replied, hugging her from behind. She smelled like warm cardamom and comfort.

“You’re very happy today,” she noticed, glancing at me with that mother’s knowing look.

I tried to hide my grin but failed miserably. “I’ll tell you soon… but first, did Papa say anything?”

Mom shook her head. “He woke up early and left early. He didn’t even have breakfast.”

Her brow creased with worry. “Maybe he’s stressed.”

I nodded.

Mom handed me a cup of tea. “Drink this. You’ll need it. Today is a special day, isn’t it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I stared at her, confused. “Special? Why?”

She smiled softly. “Your interview result… it must come today, right?”

My eyes widened.

She didn’t know.

Not yet.

I placed my cup down and took her hands gently.

“Mom… I got selected.”

Her lips parted slowly, surprise melting into joy, and then into something deeper pride. Pure, warm, shining pride.

“Niya… my daughter…” she whispered, pulling me into a tight hug. “I knew you would do it.”

Her voice cracked, and I felt her shoulders tremble slightly. For a moment, I didn’t realize what it meant to her not just my success, but the possibility of me standing on my own feet, building a life different from the quiet compromises she had learned to live with.

She wiped her eyes quickly. “Don’t tell Papa yet. I’ll tell him at the right time,” she said firmly.

I nodded. “Okay.”

We ate breakfast together, the morning sunlight dancing on the table, wrapping our little moment in gold.

But just as I stood to leave, my phone buzzed with a message.

Nyra: “Niya… can you talk? It’s important.”

My stomach dipped.

The day had only begun,

and it already carried the weight of something new.

Something real.

Something that could change everything.

A small shiver ran down my spine. Nyra never texted like this not in the morning, not with that tone.

I stepped into the balcony, closing the glass door behind me so Mom wouldn’t overhear, and called her immediately.

She picked up on the first ring.

“Hello?” I said softly.

Her voice came through in a rush breathless, shaky, nothing like her usual calm.

“Niya… I’m scared.”

My heart dropped.

“Why? What happened? Didi, are you okay?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end… the kind that presses against your chest.

“I met Papa… outside the colony gate,” she whispered.

Her voice cracked. “He asked me why I was leaving so early… and Niya, he saw me with—”

“Sahish?” I breathed out, my heart sinking.

Nyra didn’t reply. She didn’t have to. Her silence told me everything.

I gripped the balcony railing, my mind spinning. “What… what did he say?”

Her breath wavered. “Nothing. Not a word. He just… looked at me. Not angry. Not shocked. Just… disappointed.”

Disappointed.

A word heavier than anger.

I knew that look.

Papa’s silent disapproval was sharper than any scolding.

“Did he say anything at all?” I asked again, my voice barely steady.

“No,” she whispered. “He just told me to go home before him tonight. And then he left.”

I closed my eyes. Papa had that dangerous calm before a storm, and I knew tonight wouldn’t pass quietly.

“Didi… don’t panic,” I tried to reassure her, though my pulse was racing. “Maybe he didn’t understand--”

“Niya,” she cut me off softly, “he’s not stupid. He saw me with Sahish. Even from a distance… he knows.”

I swallowed hard.

“What should I do?” she whispered. “I’m scared of what will happen tonight.”

I wanted to say something comforting, something brave. But all I felt was my own fear tightening around me.

For a few seconds, both of us stayed quiet, our breaths threading through the line.

Then I gathered whatever courage I had.

“Didi… listen to me. You’re not alone. Whatever happens tonight, I’m with you. I promised you that last night, and I meant it.”

Her breath hitched half relief, half fear.

“Thank you, Niya… I needed to hear that.”

We stayed on the phone until she reached her office building, both unwilling to cut the call but knowing we had to.

Before hanging up, her voice softened.

“If Papa asks anything… don’t say much. Just be with me. That’s all.”

“I will,” I whispered. “Always.”

When the call ended, I stood still for a long moment, staring blankly at the morning sky.

The sunlight no longer felt warm.

Something had shifted quietly, dangerously and I could feel the entire day preparing to unfold into something we weren’t ready for.

I turned back inside.

Mom was waiting at the kitchen doorway, concern written all over her face.

“Niya… is everything okay?” she asked gently.

I forced a smile, hiding the tremor in my chest.

“Yes, Mom. Everything is fine.”

But inside, I already knew

tonight wouldn’t be fine at all.

Tonight…

things would change.

Even as I got ready, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

It was supposed to be the happiest morning of my life

my first day at work, the job I had dreamed of, the job that finally felt like mine.

But all I could think about was Nyra…

her trembling voice,

Papa’s silent stare,

the tension waiting to explode tonight.

I tied my hair, untied it, tied it again. Nothing looked right.

My mirror reflected a girl who should’ve been excited, glowing, proud.

But instead, she looked worried. Distracted.

A smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Still, I forced myself to grab my bag and step out of the room.

Mom placed a tiffin in my hand and cupped my cheek gently.

“You’ll do great today,” she said.

I nodded with a small smile. If she knew the storm building inside me… she didn’t show it.

I slipped on my sandals and left the house.

The road outside buzzed with the usual morning chaos

vendors calling out, buses honking, children shouting, autos stopping suddenly.

But my mind felt strangely quiet.

Too quiet.

As I sat in the auto, I found myself tapping my fingers rapidly on my thigh, unable to stop.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵?

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨?

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘕𝘺𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴?

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨?

The auto driver looked at me through the mirror.

“Madam, first day kya?” he asked kindly.

I blinked in surprise. “Huh? How did you know?”

He smiled. “Nervous lag rahe ho… sabka pehla din aisa hi hota hai.”

( You're looking very nervous...... everyone's first day is like this)

I gave a small laugh, even though my tension had nothing to do with the job.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said softly.

But my heart knew

I wasn’t scared of the office.

I was scared of the evening.

When I reached the building, I paused at the entrance.

Tall glass doors. A clean marble lobby. People walking fast with confidence and purpose.

I inhaled deeply.

You deserve this, Niya. Don’t let fear steal today.

I stepped inside.

The receptionist smiled warmly. “Good morning! You must be the new content associate?”

“Yes,” I said, trying my best to sound confident.

“Welcome! HR will guide you in just a minute,” she said.

I nodded and took a seat.

But the moment I sat down, my phone buzzed.

My heart jumped.

𝐍𝐲𝐫𝐚: “𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺.”

My breath caught.

The lobby around me suddenly felt colder, louder, harsher.

For a moment, I forgot I was in a new office.

I forgot it was my first day.

I stared at the message, fear curling inside my stomach like a tight knot.

“Miss Niya?” a voice called gently.

I looked up.

A woman in a formal kurta smiled at me. “Come with me. We’ll start your onboarding.”

I swallowed hard, shoved my phone into my bag, and stood.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸,I told myself.

Your sister needs you strong.

Your future needs you present.

Your heart needs you brave.

So I followed her through the corridor, every step heavy with the weight of the evening waiting at home.

Inside the conference room, as they explained rules, forms, responsibilities, I nodded at the right moments but my mind kept drifting back to Nyra.

Would she be okay?

Would Papa yell?

Would he stay silent?

Which one was worse?

Still, I kept reminding myself:

𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘕𝘪𝘺𝘢.

𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.

𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘣.

But the ache inside my chest refused to leave.

By lunchtime, I finally managed to breathe a little.

My colleagues were friendly, the work felt exciting, the office environment warm and welcoming.

I even caught myself smiling genuinely a couple of times.

But then my phone buzzed again.

𝗡𝘆𝗿𝗮: “𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀.”

And just like that…

my stomach twisted again.

The evening was waiting.

And whatever would happen tonight…

would change everything.

............................🤍..............................