The weather was gentle. It was already September. September ends many things. Heat is one of them. People feel happier and gentler. I waited for Nira and Saurav to arrive at the coffee shop. They texted me that they will be late by a couple of minutes, as the traffic is very slow.

I looked around the café. It was a Friday evening. Everyone looked happy. Most people seemed to sit there post work. Their laptops were safely parked next to them. There was some soft music. My heart went to the times, I would meet Hem, my then fiancée post work. I was trying to be a writer then. If I look back at myself now, I think it was a bad decision. I should have kept my job. I really struggled to make ends meet. It was hard. No doubt Hem left me for a richer woman.

Suddenly I saw both Nira and Saurav walking towards me. I wore a blue business suit with an expensive watch. I smiled at them. Nira is a reporter for a magazine and Saurav; is her photographer. They both seemed to be in their mid-twenties. The mid-twenties are a wonderful time to make mistakes and learn. They both have come to interview me. My solo business made a turnover of 2 crores. I sat there smiling as they approached.

I first ordered food for them. I know they must have had a long day chasing for stories. Nira started speaking about how my work has been helping so many women. I saw that twinkle in her eyes. She added that I am helping build many lives. She kept speaking, and I started thinking of the day, I had to steal a little money from my mother to pay some debt. I remember the time paying the rent had been tough and I had to find a pretext to borrow from friends. I kept a gentle smile as Nira went on praising me. She looked sincere.

The food arrived. We started eating and talking. I remembered the day I could not afford food in any restaurant and ate leftovers from the fridge. I always believed that one day my writings will fix my life. Also, I was sure that my fiancé would marry me and my book will bring money. That was the dream I lived for. Everything just went downhill from there.

We finished the food and Saurav who was the photographer asked me to pose. I did. It hardly took 10 mins. He found the right picture. I suddenly thought of the mental breakdown I had after Hem dumped me. I had to be hospitalized in the psychiatric ward, as I had a breakdown. I would just wait for him to come back or watch Tarot readings on YouTube. I literally was broke and somehow managed to pay the rent. I shared one room with two other girls. And 10 women shared one flat. We shared two bathrooms. Sometimes it felt like a place where nothing is private. 10 women in a 2 BHK. That was all I could afford.

Nira kept asking me how I managed my business and my beautiful writing. I knew what I had to say, I said how I always loved literature and wanted to write. And how I realized that my heart was in business and not a job. Nira started writing it down. These are the standard answers I gave. They made a good read. As Nira kept jotting down, I thought of days when I was so desperate that I could not pay the rent. I would keep away when the landlady would come. I was almost thrown away until a friend came to my rescue. There was hardly a friend from whom I did not borrow. Those were the hardest days.

Nira asked, “What advice, do you want to give to women?” I talked about economic independence. On her, every woman must have her own money and never be dependent on men. And in the back of my mind, I remembered how I was desperate to marry Hem. Yes, I did love him. But I was so tired of being poor and living in such clumsy places. I also lived in places where a thin aluminum wall, separated two rooms. I shared my room with three other women. The washroom was common. Hem was a well-off man. Well traveled. He had his own house. He was someone I loved but he was also my ticket to a better life. A life out of this hell. Maybe he sensed it and left me. After him, I picked up the threads of my life and here I am rich and giving an interview.

I was brought back to reality as Nira said, “Thank you, Ma’am. I think I have what I needed.” I smiled back. She and Saurav stood up to leave. We had a selfie too.

I walked them to the door. They came on a motorbike. As they left, I took some time for myself. I ordered a cup of coffee as my mind went back to things and places I traveled that only stayed in my heart.

This story was written as a part of the certification course, "Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization," by Wesleyan University, USA.

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