At just nineteen, coming from an orthodox family, I was about to step into a new world. A graduate university in Navi Mumbai one of the most famous business colleges in Mumbaihad accepted me. Alongside my studies, I had also decided to take a part-time job in digital marketing.
I am Sara. And this is where everything began.
"Sara! Wake up! You'll be late for your interview!
My mom's voice echoed from the kitchen, sharp and full of urgency.
I shot up from my bed, my heart pounding.
Oh my God, I thought, blinking at the clock. It was 6:00 a.m. My interview was at 9:00 a.m. It sounded like I had enough time, right?
Wrong.
In Mumbai, it's not just about reaching it's about surviving the battlefield called local trains. Two hours of standing crushed between strangers, fighting for air and space.
And right now, I was already running late.
By the time I reached the company's building, it was 8:40 a.m.
I stood outside, my breath catching in my throat.
The building was massive sky-high, covered in shining blue glass. Neat rows of flowers and green plants framed the entrance so perfectly it looked almost unreal.
The company's name was engraved on the front in such clean, sharp letters that I could literally see my own reflection staring back at me.
Taking a deep breath, I walked towards the reception desk.
"Good morning. I'm here for the interview," I said, my voice barely steady.
The receptionist smiled politely and
pointed towards the waiting area.
As I followed her directions, my palms grew sweaty which was ridiculous, because the AC was blasting at 18°C.
There were five other candidates already waiting.
They looked so professional confident suits, polished shoes, calm faces.
I felt like a child who had wandered into the wrong room.
My heart was hammering so fast, I thought it might just burst out of my chest.
Do you think I stood a chance? Big no.
My turn came after waiting for what felt like an eternity exactly one hour and thirty minutes.
And just like I had feared, the interview didn't go well.
I didn't get the job.
I stepped out of the building, feeling hollow.
I didn't cry. I just walked.
I walked aimlessly for almost an hour, the city buzzing around me, too alive for my numbness.
Finally, exhausted, I dragged myself into a metro train and headed home.
At dinner, everyone asked me about the interview.
I gave a small smile and a nod, pretending to be strong, "Yeah... I got rejected.
Just as I was pushing the food around my plate, trying to swallow the
disappointment, my phone buzzed. An email.
From...