June 2025. A hot, suffocating night.
A tiny room—just five steps across, scattered with unwashed dishes and crumpled clothes. Mosquitoes buzzed in through the cracked window, drawn by the filthy open drain outside. In that room lay a thin, tall boy—shoulders drooped, dark circles under his eyes, a hollow look of defeat carved on his face.
Name: Raja.
Age: 20.
Height: 6 ft.
Weight: 50 kg.
Status: Broke. Alone. Burdened.
He lay on a worn-out mattress, staring at the ceiling fan as it creaked on and off.
"What did I ever do to deserve this life? Nothing's gone right since childhood. No friends. No peace. My sister's school fees are overdue, our house loan never stops biting, and my mother's medicines... How long do I keep fighting alone? Work all day like a dog, and in return, all I get are insults."
Phone rings…
He quickly composes himself.
Raja: (softening his voice) "Hello, Maa. How are you?"
Mom: (weak voice) "I'm okay, beta. Are you eating properly? Is everything alright there?"
Raja: "Yes, Maa. All good. Had dinner. Are you taking your medicines? And how's Pihu?"
Mom: "I am… and Pihu is okay too. But—"
Raja: "What happened, Maa? Tell me."
Mom: "It's nothing, beta… You already have too many burdens."
Raja: "Just tell me."
Mom: "Pihu's school… they keep sending her outside the class for unpaid fees. She comes home crying every day."
Raja: (holding back emotion) "Don't worry. I'll pay. Tell her not to cry, I'll handle it. I have to go to work early tomorrow… I'll talk later."
---
Next Morning – Mehta & Sons Accounting Firm
Manager Mishra — Mid 40s, well-dressed, from a connected family, full of ego and authority. No one dared to cross him.
Mishra: "I gave you such a small task, and you couldn't even finish that? Do you think we're paying you to breathe here? Get to work properly!"
Raja: "Yes, sir…" (That cursed first day still stings my memory...)
---
Six Months Ago – First Day at Office
Raja straightened his rented ₹400 formal shirt—borrowed from a cheap local shop. The soles of his shoes made a sticky chip-chip sound with every step, echoing his humiliation.
It was his first day.
Mishra: (without looking up) "Raja, is it?"
Raja: "Yes, sir."
Mishra: "Nice name. 'Raja.' Maybe I should name myself that one day."
Everyone laughed—without looking at Raja.
Mishra: "Here—ledger, bills, petty cash details. Know Excel?"
Raja: "A little…"
Mishra: "Learn more. You're not a king here—you're a servant of work."
Laughter filled the room again, louder this time.
Since then, Raja remained an outsider. No one talked to him. His clothes and his silence made him invisible. He received only sarcasm and scorn.
---
Three Months Later – A New Intern
Riya — kind eyes, polite smile. The only one who talked to him like a human.
She was new, so Raja helped her with everything—without even realizing how much. Slowly, all her work was being done by him. Still, her kindness made the office bearable.
He started to believe—maybe she liked him too.
---
Now
Riya still talked, but only when she needed work done.
He did all her reports, files, audits.
He still liked her.
Maybe she liked him?
---
Few Days Later
In the breakroom, hushed voices floated in the air—sharp, casual, and cutting.
"Raja's shoes are worse than a beggar's."
"Name's like a king, but works like a janitor."
His lunchbox: dry parathas from two days ago.
Riya sat nearby, but said nothing. Just glanced once and returned to scrolling her phone.
She, too, had started to ignore him.
That night, Raja lay in the dark.
"Was naming me Raja a cruel joke, Maa?"
---
Next Week – The Fall
A mistake was found during a major audit.
The file read:
"Updated by: Raja Sharma"
But the entire work had been done by Riya. Raja had helped her—but she never put her name.
Mishra (yelling in front of everyone):
"You're a parasite! Your name is cursed. This office is unlucky because of you!"
Riya? She didn't even look at him.
Later, Raja saw Riya and Mishra leaving the office in the same car.
Two days later, he received a notice:
"Due to poor performance, Raja Sharma is terminated."
HR Signature: Riya Malhotra
Raja stood frozen, betrayal cutting deeper than poverty ever did.
Everything suddenly made sense.
She used him, climbed over him, and pushed him into the abyss.