Isha Sharma

Isha Sharma

The shrill sound of the alarm clock tore through the quiet of the early morning, echoing down the hallway like a siren. In the master bedroom, Mrs. Sharma groaned, rubbing her temples as she turned to her husband, who had buried his face under a pillow.

From the next room, their younger son, Arjun, let out a frustrated groan. "Why does she set alarms if she never wakes up?"

In the guest room, even Grandma, who had lived through the noisiest of neighborhood festivals, stirred with a sigh. "Is it an earthquake? No? Then why the ruckus at this hour?"

Mrs. Sharma , sighing, threw off her blanket and trudged to her daughter Isha's room. The alarm continued to wail, unwavering in its duty. Inside, Isha lay sprawled on her bed, a picture of peace, her face serene, oblivious to the chaos she had unleashed.

"Isha ," her mother called, gently shaking her shoulder. No response.

She tried again, a little firmer this time. "Isha, wake up. Your alarm is driving the whole house crazy."

Nothing. Not a stir.

Mrs. Isha pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes. "ISHA!" she snapped, shaking her daughter with both hands.

Isha let out a soft sigh, turned over, and mumbled something unintelligible before pulling the blanket over her head.

From outside the door, Arjun yelled, "Just throw water on her, Mom!"

Mrs. Sharma exhaled sharply, then reached for the alarm clock and smacked the 'off' button. Silence finally returned to the house, but her frustration remained.

She leaned down, whispering in Isha's ear, "If you don't wake up in the next five seconds, the. Your going to miss your interview ".

Isha's eyes flew open in horror. She scrambled up, grabbed her phone, and gasped at the time. "Oh no! I only have an hour left!"

Then, she turned to her mother with wide, grateful eyes. "Mom, you're a lifesaver! Thank you!" she said, hugging her for a second before pulling away.

But as she looked around, she noticed the rest of her family standing at the door-her father with his arms crossed, Arjun smirking, and Grandma shaking her head in amusement.

Isha blinked at them, then flashed her most innocent, guilty smile. "Good morning, everyone!" she said sweetly.

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Morning? More like 'good chaos'."

Isha pouted, clasped her hands in a cute pleading gesture, and before anyone could say another word-she darted past them, escaping down the hallway. "Gotta go, love you all!" she called behind her.

Mrs. Sharma sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. "That girl is impossible."

After some time

Isha stepped out of her room, now fully dressed in a crisp formal outfit, her hair neatly tied, radiating a mix of nervousness and determination.

As she walked into the living room, she took in the familiar sight-her mother setting plates on the dining table, her father engrossed in the newspaper, and Arjun, dressed in his workout gear, adjusting his gym gloves.

But before anything else, she made her way to the small home temple in the corner. Folding her hands, she closed her eyes. Please, God, help me give my best today. Keep my mind calm and my confidence high. She rang the tiny brass bell once and touched the idol's feet before turning back.

"Come have breakfast, beta," her mother called warmly.

Isha nodded and sat down. A plate of hot parathas, freshly made, sat in front of her, along with a glass of juice. Though her stomach was fluttering with nerves, she knew skipping breakfast wasn't an option.

As soon as she finished, her father folded his newspaper and walked up to her. He placed a gentle hand on her head before pulling her into a brief hug. "You're going to do great, my girl. Just be confident."

Her grandmother, who had been watching with a proud smile, also came forward and cupped Isha's face in her hands. "Meri bacchi, you've worked hard for this. Go and shine." She kissed her forehead.

Isha felt a lump in her throat but quickly swallowed it. "Thank you, Nani. I'll do my best."

Just then, her mother arrived with a small bowl of dahi shakkar (sweetened yogurt). "This is for good luck," she said, feeding Isha a spoonful before enveloping her in a warm hug. "No matter what happens, we are proud of you."

Isha grinned. "Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."

Arjun, who had been leaning against the doorframe, smirked. "Well, try not to trip while walking in. That would be embarrassing."

Isha rolled her eyes. "Wow, thanks for the motivational speech, Mr. Gym Freak."

Arjun chuckled and patted her head. "Good luck, sis. You'll kill it."

With one last deep breath, Isha picked up her bag, looked at her family one more time, and smiled. "I'll see you all soon."

As she stepped out of the house, she felt a wave of confidence wash over her. No matter what the day had in store, she knew she had the love and support of her family behind her. And that was enough.

---

As Isha stepped out of the cab, she looked up at the towering glass building in front of her. It shimmered under the morning sun, sleek and intimidating. A wave of nervousness hit her, her palms turning slightly clammy. Can I really do this? she thought for a moment.

But then, she straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and reminded herself, I've worked hard for this. I deserve this opportunity. With renewed determination, she stepped inside.

The lobby was grand, filled with people moving in different directions, all seemingly in a hurry. She approached the receptionist's desk, forcing a polite smile.

"Good morning, ma'am. How can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"Hi, I'm Isha Sharma. I'm here for the interview."

The receptionist nodded, checked a list, and then gestured towards the elevator. "You need to go to the 10th floor. The interviews are being conducted there. Best of luck."

"Thank you, Isha replied, stepping into the elevator. She could hear her own heartbeat as the numbers climbed. Just stay calm. You've got this.

Once she reached the floor, she found a waiting area with a few other candidates. Taking a seat, she clasped her hands together, trying to steady her nerves. Minutes felt like hours until finally, a staff member called her name.

Isha stood up, smoothed her outfit, and walked inside the interview room.

The interview began, a mix of technical and behavioral questions. At first, she felt the weight of nervousness, but as she started answering, confidence replaced fear. She spoke clearly, honestly, and to the best of her ability. The panel of interviewers nodded, occasionally making notes, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, one of them said, "Thank you for your time, Isha. We will email you our decision soon."

She gave them a polite smile and left, feeling both relieved and uncertain.

When she arrived home, her family was eagerly waiting for her in the living room.

"How was it, beta?" her mother asked, scanning her face for clues.

Isha exhaled, setting her bag down. "It was good... but I'm not sure what the result will be."

Her father patted her shoulder. "Don't worry about the outcome. You did your best, and that's what matters."

Nani nodded in agreement. "Yes, and whatever happens, something good is always waiting for you."

Feeling comforted, Isha and joined them for the rest of the day, though the anticipation lingered in the back of her mind.

That evening, she was sitting in the living room, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone, when suddenly, a notification popped up.

A new email.

From the company.

Her heartbeat quickened as she clicked on it, scanning the words. And then-her breath caught.

Congratulations!

Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could stop herself, they started flowing uncontrollably. Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth, hiccupping between sobs.

Her family rushed to her side, alarmed. "Isha, what happened?" her mother asked, holding her shoulders.

Isha turned to her, still crying, barely able to get the words out. "I... I got selected."

For a second, there was silence. Then-her mother gasped, pulling her into a tight hug. "Oh, my God! Isha , you did it!"

Her father's eyes glistened with pride as he placed a hand on her head. "Beta, we knew you could do it."

Nani wiped a tear from her own eyes. "My granddaughter's dream has come true."

Arjun, though pretending to be unfazed, couldn't hide his smile. "Guess I'll have to respect you now, huh?"

Isha let out a watery laugh, still overwhelmed. She looked around at her family, their love and pride surrounding her like a warm embrace.

She had done it. And they had been there every step of the way.

That night, as she lay in bed, staring at the email, she realized-this was just the beginning.

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So finally first chapter is out now read..