The Test of survival

Ahana and Aditya stood on the balcony, both lost in thought, trying to figure out their next steps. The evening air was cool, but the uncertainty of their situation weighed heavily on them."Do you know the house owner's address?" Aditya asked, breaking the silence.Ahana sighed and shook her head. "No, I don't. I never had to deal with anything like this before."Aditya thought for a moment, then suggested, "Let's search for the tenant agreement in the house. It should have the owner's details."They began scouring the house, sifting through drawers, cupboards, and every possible hiding place. After nearly two hours of searching, Ahana finally found the document tucked away in an old file."Got it!" she exclaimed, holding up the paper triumphantly.Aditya quickly took it from her and scanned the document. "Here's the owner's name, phone number, and most importantly, the address," he said, relief washing over him. But before they could celebrate, Ahana voiced the worry that had been nagging at her."Adi... how are we going to pay the rent?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.Aditya placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't panic, Ahana. Let's meet the owner first and discuss our options."They set out for the landlord's house, which thankfully wasn't too far away. Upon arriving, they found that the landlady, Miss Rosy Robert, was an elderly Christian woman, her home adorned with religious symbols and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.Aditya hesitated before knocking on the door, but he knew they had no other choice. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Miss Rosy herself, a kind smile on her face."Hello, ma'am. If I'm not wrong, you're Miss Rosy Robert?" Aditya began, trying to sound confident."Yes, my child," she replied warmly. "How can I help you?"Ahana stepped forward, her voice shaky but polite. "Actually, we live in the house you rented out to Mr. Satendra Sharma, my uncle. And… there's a problem."Miss Rosy's eyes softened with concern. "Every problem has a solution, my dear children. But first, come in and let's have a cup of coffee."Ahana and Aditya exchanged nervous glances but followed her inside. The guest room was cosy, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the gentle hum of a ceiling fan."Tell me, dear, what's the problem?" Miss Rosy asked once they were seated, her voice gentle and motherly.Ahana nudged Aditya, signalling for him to speak. "Go on, Adi," she urged softly.Taking a deep breath, Aditya explained, "Miss Rosy, the problem is that Mr. Satendra has left the house without informing you. Ahana and I are still living there, but we're unsure of what to do next."Miss Rosy's expression turned serious. "How could they leave their own daughter like that?" she asked, bewildered.Ahana quickly clarified, "Oh no, ma'am. They're not my parents. They're my uncle and aunt."Miss Rosy sighed, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."Aditya continued, "We were hoping you could give us some more time to pay the rent. We're trying to figure things out, but it's been difficult."Miss Rosy leaned back in her chair, thinking deeply. "I understand, dear. But how do you plan on paying the rent? Do either of you have a job?"Ahana shook her head. "No, ma'am. But we're going to look for something. We're not sure where to start, though."Miss Rosy's face softened as she considered their situation. "You know," she began thoughtfully, "my husband and I run a small café. But he hasn't been well lately, and it's been hard for me to manage everything on my own. If you two are willing, you could take over running the café. You'd keep all the earnings from your hard work, and just maybe donate a part of it to our NGO if you wish. We don't need the profits; we run it for the joy it brings us. This way, you can earn enough to pay the rent."Ahana and Aditya exchanged stunned glances, barely able to believe their luck."That's... amazing, ma'am," Aditya stammered, overwhelmed by her generosity. "I don't even know how to thank you."Honestly, thank you so much, ma'am," Ahana added, her voice filled with gratitude. "I can't believe there are still selfless people like you in this world."Miss Rosy smiled warmly at them. "Don't say that, my children. You both remind me of my own son and daughter. It's my pleasure to help you. By the way," she added with a teasing glint in her eye, "you two make a lovely pair."Ahana and Aditya blushed, looking down shyly."We should get going," Aditya said, standing up. "We have a lot of work to do before we can start at the café.""Of course, dear," Miss Rosy replied, rising to see them out. "It was lovely to meet you both. Come by anytime.""Thank you again, ma'am," Ahana said, her heart feeling a bit lighter as they left.Later that evening, back at home, Ahana and Aditya were both exhausted but relieved. They had a plan now, a way forward. However, the day's stress had taken its toll, and they each retreated to their rooms for a much-needed rest.Ahana, unable to sleep due to hunger, woke up in the middle of the night. She realized she hadn't eaten anything and her stomach growled in protest. She called out, "Adi! Where are you?"Aditya, hearing her from his room, quickly made his way to her floor. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned."I'm starving," Ahana admitted, rubbing her stomach. "We didn't eat anything all day."Aditya chuckled softly. "Alright, what should we make?"Ahana looked at him sheepishly. "I don't have anything prepared."Aditya sighed good-naturedly. "Well, food has to be prepared before it can be eaten. But the question is, what should we make?""Anything," Ahana replied, clearly too hungry to be picky."Let me check what's available in the market," Aditya suggested. "We'll figure it out from there.""Should I come with you?" Ahana asked, perking up at the idea of getting out of the house."It's up to you," Aditya replied, smiling."Sure, let's go," she agreed, quickly getting ready.They returned from the market with a bag full of vegetables and kitchen essentials. As they set about preparing dinner, the atmosphere in the kitchen began to lighten. Ahana brought a small speaker into the hall and played some upbeat music."I can't cook in silence," she declared with a grin, her energy returning.Aditya shook his head, amused, but joined in the fun. As the music filled the room, Ahana began to dance around the kitchen, her movements light and carefree despite the heat. She grabbed Aditya's hand and pulled him into the dance, laughing at his awkward attempts to keep up."Come on, Adi! Loosen up!" she encouraged, twirling around him.Aditya finally gave in, letting himself get caught up in the moment. They danced and laughed as they cooked, the earlier tension melting away in the warmth of the shared experience.By the time they sat down to eat, they were both breathless from laughing so much. The simple meal they had prepared tasted better than anything they could have imagined, filled with the comfort of knowing they weren't facing their challenges alone.As they finished their meal, Ahana looked across the table at Aditya, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Adi. For everything. I don't know what I would have done without you."Aditya smiled, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "You're welcome, Ahana. We're in this together, remember?"Yeah," Ahana nodded, her heart full. "Together."And for the first time in a long time, they both felt hopeful about the future.