There was only one day left for our final performance of the second evaluation round. Yesterday, my team had stayed for one hour extra after the practice hours, but I had to leave a bit early because I lived far away as compared to my teammates.

I knew Tejas wanted us to devote most of our time towards polishing our teamwork, and I also wanted to stay in the studio as much as I could, but I had some limitations. Therefore, even after trying to reach the studio early, I couldn't make it on time.

Fortunately, Tejas let the matter slide. He excused me as Yukta had also gotten late, and he didn't want to waste more time. To avoid making the same mistake as yesterday, I woke up early and got ready to catch the first train, but my mother again spoiled my whole plan.

"Bhoomi, I need some help, beta," Mom said just after I placed my right foot outside our home.

"No, Maa, I can't this time. I am already late," I complained.

I knew Mom would have started blackmailing me again, so I decided to dash out of there. I would have helped her any other time, but not today. Just as I walked a few steps further, I heard a deep cough that lasted for a minute.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Mom clutching her mouth with her saree's pallu, her body arched forward. I instantly rushed towards her and held her before she fell down.

"Maa, are you okay?" I asked.

Mom's coughing turned violent. I moved her inside the house and made her sit down. My sister looked upon us helplessly as I gave our mother some water.

"Why don't you go to the doctor?" I scolded.

Mom shook her head, her eyes shifting towards her bed-ridden eldest daughter. Dhara Didi blinked rapidly as unshed tears pooled up in her eyes. Beside her, my niece, Srishti, was sleeping peacefully.

"Di, you sleep. I will take care of Mom," I told my sister.

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come back," Dhara Di cried. "Only if I had stayed there... only if I hadn't divorced him..."

As soon as my sister started crying, my mother also began wailing silently. Seeing them like this broke me. Even if my sister had returned to us three years ago, her mind always reminded her of the torture she suffered at her in-laws' place.

I consoled my mother, but soon, Dhara Di's situation started getting worse; she kept mumbling same stuff over and over again. Mom told me to grab the medicines while she held Dhara Di.

I checked the medicines kept on the window sill and all of the bottles were empty. I looked for the new ones on the top of television box, but those were also finished.

"Maa, why aren't there any medicines?" I asked as I kept searching here and there.

I received no reply. I looked at my mother, and she was staring in the distance, her face contorted in anger. I shook her and asked her about my sister's medicines. Mom took a deep breath and looked at me apologetically.

"I couldn't buy the medicines, Bhoomi," Mom said.

I looked at her in confusion. "But why?"

"Because there's no money left."

"What?!"

Before I could process why my mother was saying that since only half of the month had passed, she showed me her wallet to prove herself.

"How is this possible, Mom? Does Dad know about this?" I asked.

"No, and please don't tell him," Mom said.

I just stared at my mother as I couldn't believe what was going on with her. Just a day before, we had a nice time eating mangoes and watermelons, and our family discussed our budget for the upcoming month. According to what Mom had said, we had at least thirty thousand rupees saved up.

"Maa, what's going on?" I asked seriously.

Instead of replying to me, Mom gathered herself and started wearing her slippers. She kept mumbling that she had no time to rest, and to repair the mess she had created, she would work even if her bones withered.

I yelled at her to stop and explain everything to me, but she left the house. I glanced at Dhara Di, and she seemed to have drifted off in her own world. I deemed it best not to disturb her and caught my mother before she zoomed off farther.

"Maa, stop!"

My mother froze in her spot and looked at me slowly. "Sorry, beta. I keep making you work when you clearly tell me beforehand that you don't have time. I keep dumping my workload on you. I wish I was literate; I could have earned more then. I am really sorry. You go ahead. Aren't you getting late? I should also go before-"

I hugged my mother. "Relax, Maa. You don't have to explain yourself to me."

Mom stopped rambling after a few minutes. I took her back to our home. I looked over my family; only dad was missing as he was yet to return from his night shift. And Mom reminded me to not mention anything to him.

At first, I was against her decision but seeing the heavy atmosphere, I thought it better to follow Mom's advice. I still didn't know the reason behind her emotional outbreak.

Similar situations had happened before, but this time was a bit different. We were always short of money, but we never ran out of it before the month even ended. I believed Mom was frequently taking Dhara Di to the hospital but the empty medicine bottles told me otherwise.

While I was busy with my college and dance training, my mother was suffering by herself.

What is it that she doesn't want my father to get involved? Yesterday, she said that she had to deposit Srishti's late fees this week, but if we have no money, then how is she going to do that? It can't be possible that we don't even have a single penny left.

I sat beside my mother. "Maa, please tell me what's going on. I am worried."

Mom opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. After some time, I realised that I was putting too much pressure on her to tell me. I checked the time; I decided to take over my mother's work.

"Maa, you stay and rest. I will go to Urmila aunty's house," I said.

Mom shook her head and started getting up, but I stopped her.

"I will finish off soon and go to my dance practice. You take care of Dhara Di."

I left after making sure that my mother was okay. I knew I was going to get late, but I had to earn some money. A lot of doubts were running in my mind, and I wanted to solve my family's issue instantly, but I had a lot on my plate at the moment.

I will properly discuss this matter after I return. I hope Mom doesn't take too much load.

I reached Urmila aunty's house, and she asked me about my mother. She was not much happy when she got to know that I was the replacement.

"Bhoomi, if you work like this, how will you focus on your dance training? Isn't it important?" Urmila Aunty asked worriedly.

I plastered a fake smile on my face. "This is also important, aunty. Don't worry, I will finish off soon."

Aunty left me with a huge pile of dishes staring at me. I took a deep breath and started my work. As expected, it took me one hour and twenty minutes to get done, earning me four hundred rupees. I did the calculation and asked Urmila Aunty if she had any other work for me.

She hesitated for a moment but asked if I could spend one more hour and help her in preparing extra tiffins. I agreed and was able to make some extra bucks. After earning my wage, I left and bought some medicines for my sister and mother.

In the end, I was late again for my dance practice. No matter how fast I ran, I reached Sarthak's studio forty minutes past the time set by Tejas.

As I moved inside the practice room, I felt everyone's stare on me. I knew my team leader wasn't going to waste his time scolding me, so I dropped my bag in the corner and apologized to my team for coming late.

"I am sorry, guys. We can start now," I said.

My teammates nodded and began taking their positions. I also started taking my place, but my team leader's sharp voice froze me in the spot.

"What's exactly your problem, Bhoomi?"

I faced Tejas when he said that, and he looked angry - very angry.

I mustered up the courage as I didn't expect Tejas to react like that.

"I am sorry. I promise-"

"You promise every time and still get late. You do timepass with other teams instead of working with your own team and then complain about the choreography being tough. I wouldn't have minded it if it was any other day, but it is the last day of our practice, Bhoomi. And yet you dare to arrive as you please. You think you are the only one on the team?" Tejas complained.

"No, I had some emergency at home. That's why I got late."

"And you didn't feel the need to inform me? I am not psychic, Bhoomi. How am I supposed to know about my team's whereabouts if you don't tell me? Are you even taking this dance evaluation seriously?"

"I forgot. I should have informed you." I looked at Tejas hopefully. "Please let it slide this time. It won't happen again."

I thought he would let the matter go, but he didn't look convinced with me. I would have explained in detail about what made me late, but I didn't want to discuss my personal issues in front of others.

Fortunately, my team members took my side. I was really thankful to them.

"All of us will stay back for extra practice. It is our last day; I don't want anyone slacking off," Tejas announced.

Everyone cheered, and Tejas shook his head at me before we began the practice. Seeing him react like that didn't feel good. I didn't get late on purpose, but I was in no place to make excuses.

Ever since our team was formed, I kept getting late and thought that my inputs regarding our choreography were good, but that wasn't the case. Unfortunately, I wasted my team's time because of my own weaknesses.

We completed our first round of practice and gathered around the laptop to review it. Tejas played the recording, and I tensed up as his eyes kept shifting towards me.

When the video ended, he sighed and looked at me. "One more round, team."

We nodded and started practicing again. Tejas again reviewed the recorded session and pointed his finger at me on the screen.

"Bhoomi is out of place here," Tejas pointed out and threw a glance at me. "Do it again."

Like that, we practiced two more times thanks to me messing it up. I knew I had missed the beats during the middle part of the choreography, but I managed to reach my spot and maintain the formation. I wanted to voice it out but knew it would have made Tejas more angry. He was a perfectionist and wanted us to give our best for our own benefit only.

Following his lead, we practiced once more, and I was confident I didn't fuck up this time. We surrounded the laptop and watched the recording.

I sighed in relief when I realised that our performance looked really good. I looked at my team with a smile, but my happiness faded when I saw Tejas sporting a pissed off expression.

"How many times do I have to repeat, Bhoomi?" Tejas scolded.

What did I do now?

Just say sorry and save your ass, dumbo. Tejas will explode if you open your stupid mouth and argue right now. He is already angry with your tardiness, so don't add fuel to the fire.

"I am sorry, Tejas," I said even though I didn't understand what I did wrong this time.

"Do you even know what you are sorry for?" Tejas derided.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. Tejas let out a frustrated sigh, and my team members groaned when he announced for another round of practice.

"Fuck, I will die today," Omkar cursed.

"I can't feel my limbs, man," Michael cried.

"Let's just get this over with," Falguni said while cracking her knuckles.

"I am sorry, guys," I said.

My team didn't say anything and took their positions. Yukta patted my back and told me not to blame myself.

"We know Tejas won't let a single mistake pass, so don't guilt-trap yourself," she said.

I nodded lightly. I felt Tejas's gaze on me as we started the routine. I wished this to be our last round of practice, or we would have ended up spending the whole night in the studio.

"Focus this time, Bhoomi," Tejas told me.

"Okay," I replied.

Which part are you exactly messing up, Bhoomi?

I don't know. At one time, I don't get the beat, and then the other time, I am not in the right position. I think I am doing good, but why is Tejas not satisfied?

Are you talking about your performance or yourself?

I looked at Tejas in-between the practice, and he was totally absorbed in his part. But as if he sensed me looking at him, he glanced at me for a split-second, and I prepared myself for a scolding.

"Bhoomi, focus!" Tejas yelled.