Almora

Author's pov

" Naina......naina....you will get late.....take your lunch." Damini spoke from the kitchen.

" Yes Maa......just a minute" Naina voiced from the terrace. A bright, beaming smile played across her lips as she admired the sparrows devouring the small piece of food.

It's her usual habit, she still misses those days when she used to feed them along with her late father.

Naina gently rubbed her smooth locks in a towel, her hairs gracefully wafted across her face as she wiped them.

Heading downstairs, Naina saw Mitali, her Chachi feeding hot aloo parathas to Kavya. Avay bhaiya was also sitting there, enjoying his meal.

His eyes fell on Naina as a warm smile spread across his face.

" Naina come join us....." He said urging me to accompany them.

I was absolutely famished, so I promptly took a seat, ready to eat the paratha infront of me as I saw Chachi pulling away the paratha onto Kavya's plate.

" Maa, what are you doing ??? You took naina's paratha....." Avay bhaiya said in irritation, totally annoyed by her actions. He knows Mitali was doing all this deliberately.

" Avay calm done, she must have already eaten......." Mitali said twisting her face arrogantly at Naina which was noticed by Avay.

" Naina, you eat mine.....I am already full..." Avay said suppressing his anger.

" No bhaiya.....you eat... I am getting late....maa must have already packed my lunch." Naina said with a smile. She got up and made her way inside the kitchen.

" Naina take this.....I have made your favourite aloo paratha, I know how much you like it." Damini said handing her the lunch box.

Damini saw Naina's face lightening up as she gazed at the lunch box.

" You are getting late, go or else you'll get a scolding from Mr Rey....." Damini said pushing her.

" Wait.....maa again you forgot to take the medicine." Naina gestured towards the box, kept near the tv.

Damini held her head realising while Naina glared at her mother for forgetting again to take the medicines on time. She has to be serious regarding her health or else it would increase the heart issues even more.

" I would definitely mind it from the next time." Damini said

An hour later, she reached at her destination " Sunshine public school, Almora ".

Standing infront of the gate, Naina touched the stairs of the school before heading inside. She admired the small school as she made her way towards the classroom.

Students of every age were present in one classroom, there were hardly any children present and she knows the reason behind this.

It's because of her, people of this village hate her, their eyes hold nothing but cold contempt for her.

Years back Naina's father opened a hotel built to suit the villagers' way of life and affordability. He stayed with them, helping the villagers in farming and in other purposes.

He provided them food, water, clean clothes and many things for their comfort and need.

People of the village started liking him and respected him and gave him the title of "God" who was sent as their saviour but one day everything got destroyed and Naina's father was left with nothing but a stain of disgrace.

According to the villagers Mr Randeep Deshmukh, naina's father was the one behind poisoning the food taken by villagers. He was accused of killing them to use their land for his business.

The villagers attacked his hotel and destroyed everything. Randeep Deshmukh was jailed and was sentenced lifetime imprisonment.

Meanwhile Naina's mother, Mrs Damini Deshmukh who was handling her saree business had to shut down her Saree showroom which had the best handloom Saree.

Naina was young at that time when her family went through such tough phase, she lived in her Chachi's house in Almora along with her mother.

Damini worked day and night to pay the fees of Naina's school and their basic needs. Mitali never liked them and treated them like an outsider.

Naina's chachaji, Manish Deshmukh helped them secretly without Mitali knowledge.

But Mitali always disliked Naina because of her beauty, she felt insecure about kavya. Kavya was dusky, being the reason of Mitali hate towards Naina.

"Excuse me Madam..... "

Naina snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a voice. A young lady stood next to her daughter at the doorway of the classroom . She seemed worried.

" Umm.....can you teach my daughter ?" The woman spoke hesitantly.

"Yes....I will." Naina spoke assuring her.

Naina tenderly took the child in her arms She cradled the kid in her embrace, the little one's delicate smile softened her from within.

" What is her name ?" Naina asked playing with her hand.

" Roshni...." The woman spoke, her expression softened by a warm smile. She felt at peace watching Naina playing with her daughter.

" Please have a seat." Naina insisted, urging her to be seated.

" May I know your name ?" Naina asked while pulling out few papers from the drawer.

" Laxmi....." She said faintly.

" Laxmi ??? " Sakshi entered inside the room spotting her.

" You know her ???" Naina spoke

" Yes....you remember, yesterday I was telling you about a woman, that's her, she is laxmi." Sakshi spoke, her voice filled with happiness.

A flicker of pain crossed Naina's gaze but somehow she hide it behind a gentle smile. Sakshi told about Laxmi and the challenges she faced once she got married and had to settle down in the village.

The way she was tortured by her husband and in-laws for having a daughter was indeed shameful and utterly contemptible, Even After all this Laxmi decided to educate her daughter.

" I am with you Laxmi......Roshni will surely study. " Naina held Laxmi's shoulders in assurance.

" Yes, I am also with you." Sakshi said

Laxmi's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

" Ma'am it's playtime, can we move to the ground ?" Kavi said knocking on the door.

" Yes, be careful and make a line while moving to the ground." Naina spoke

The three of them exchanged conversation and thoughts with eachother, their discussion brought a sense of ease, lifting their mood.

" It's already time, the children's should head home." Naina spoke while raising from the chair.

They were making their way to the ground when all of sudden they witnessed a car crashing violently into another.

Everything in front of them went hazy for a while, A cloud of dust was all they could see. Suddenly Naina heard screams.

" This.....noise.....it's there screams...." Naina held her head in fear.

She started running here and there madly in search of them but unfortunately she couldn't find them.

"Naina.....my......daughter......Rosh..niplease....save her...." Laxmi started sobbing in terror.

" Laxmi stay here, I will save them....... nothing will happen to anyone." Naina spoke, her voice steady despite her fear.

Out of nowhere, flames erupted from the cars.People scrambled to escape in panic, Naina couldn't understand anything, her mind went blank, she felt helpless.

Her eyes felt on kavi, he was grabbing the tree in fright. Without pausing to think, Naina dashed towards him.

Naina pulled them to safety one by one, as Naina was about to save roshni.

Trembling with fear, Roshni ran towards the road. Spotting the approaching vehicle, Naina immediately sprang ahead to save her.

" Do you want to die?? Bloody stupid girl!!" A man yelled in his deadly voice.

Naina fell on the grass clutching Roshni tightly, Roshni's crying voice dragged her out of her daze. She got up and handed Roshni to her mother.

"Ohh Hello?? you, I'm talking to you. Can't you hear ??" He spoke again holding more bitterness in his voice.

Naina was about to apologise when suddenly she noticed several mens stepping out of the car holding cameras, lights and various equipments related to shooting items.

Naina's gaze hardened with suspicion.

"Brother, we got the best shot after all the hardwork..... thanks to you, it couldn't have been possible without you, glad that your idea worked." A man spoke showing his camera to him.

"I can never go wrong and you know that....." He spoke proudly.

Suddenly his eyes fell on Naina, whose presence slipped away for a while. He stared at her for a second before clearing his throat.

"It's normal for villagers to not pay attention while walking but I don't tolerate that even a bit, today luck was in your side and you were save otherwise anyone who has ever came before my car has never left alive." He spoke, his voice dripping with vanity.

" Excuse me, It's not your place where you could perform such stunts without any concern for public safety.....YOUR CARELESSNESS COULD HAVE ENDED LIVES, DO YOU EVEN REALIZE THAT? " Naina yelled at him.

The villagers gathered in a huge crowd and stood behind Naina, there anger evident and eyes blazing for answer.

" Do you even realise who you're up against?" One of his men spoke fury lacing his words.

" Raj Singh Raizada, Our Boss...." His mens, voices rose together.

Raj stood there calmly,his eyes hidden behind dark shades.

The villagers steps halted when they heard his name. Murmurs spread among the villagers about his identity. People began whispering about him.

"He is a thriving businessman"

"He lives a life of luxury"

" Raj Singh Raizada, a film producer"

Raj smirked confidently, a smug smile spread across his face.

" So?? Does that gives you the right to play such stunts without the villagers' consent? What if your irresponsiblity could've lead someone to death? Would you be responsible for that???" Naina spoke sharply, without fear.

" You have no idea what I can bring upon you and these villagers." Raj hissed near her ear while grabbing her hand.

Unable to bear his insolence, Naina delivered a fierce slap across his face as his head snapped to the side causing his shades to break into pieces.

Raj's eyes flared with anger as his fingers curled into fists.

" You have messed with the wrong person" He gritted bitterly before stepping inside the car.

" Naina, we need to leave now....come on". Sakshi dragged Naina out of the crowd.

" Why do you always save these villagers?? Can't you understand they don't care, they are still going to hate you.....Do you even have slightest idea about the person you were yelling at???" Sakshi shook her apprehensively.

" Sakshi are you serious??? Today my students could've....died for that man's carelessness and you are shouting at me for speaking up.... What has gotten onto you???" Naina spoke, her voice quivering at sakshi's strange demeanor.

" Naina..... you are not getting.....he can literally bury you under the ground and yet the world wouldn't bat an eye." Sakshi spoke desperately.

" Sakshi, I don't have any idea what is cooking inside his head, he got what he deserved.....I just reacted to his actions..... that's it " Naina spoke and left without a word.

Evening

Naina was busy consulting patients and making there reports. Sometimes it gets difficult for her to manage her work and teaching side by side even when the work becomes tiring, she realises it is what fulfills her.

Spending time with children heals her from within, she gets the reason to smile and laugh just like them.

Life is too short, she doesn't want to live her life staying serious and pleasing people. In fact the truth is, helping others makes her happy, it completes her.

Her eyes scanned the computer screen, showing a list of people suffering from typhoid.

"More than Fifty people, Is it??" Dr Rey spoke, conjecturally.

"This time, it's more than anything we had imagined." Naina spoke, her brows knitted with tension.

" They won't listen nor let anyone help them...... interesting" Dr Rey spoke, as he gave a short laugh of disbelief.

" They are driven by their ego and it is only resulting those children and elderly people to endure countless health complications." Naina stated

She showed the papers related to building a hospital in that area which they rejected.

"For what reason??" Dr Rey spoke

"A liquor shop already exists there, and they refuse to demolish it." Naina spoke

Out of nowhere, the incessant blare of car horns reached their ears, catching them off guard.

Dr Rey and Naina walked outside, annoyed by the constant noise.

She sighed tiredly noticing the person before her. Raj Singh Raizada, His car stood in front of them, horns blaring,while his eyes pierced her like knives.

" Hey you, stop making noise" Dr Rey yelled at him.

In the blink of an eye, Raj strode quickly towards Dr Rey and shoved him violently.

Naina clasped her mouth in shock at his monstrous behaviour. Her eyes widened noticing blood oozing out of Dr Rey's head endlessly.

" ARE YOU MAD??? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???? " Naina screamed, as she jerked him by his collar,her eyes blazing in anger.

All of sudden, Raj struck her violently across her face and clamped a cloth over her nose as she felt herself losing her consciousness.

.........................