When a boy went to college for admission, he met his own stepmother there… Then the boy…
Sometimes life tests us silently. There are no drums beating, no warnings. A day comes when your courage, your decisions, and your humanity are truly tested. In Delhi’s glittering corporate world, where speed and results are expected at every step, a woman named Anushka Chauhan was fighting a big battle with her own small truth. Her truth was that she was now a mother. Not a blood relation, not a birth connection, but a relationship adopted from the heart, smiling in a corner of the orphanage. Little Arya, whom Anushka had included in her life.
That morning, when Anushka arrived at the office, she was ready as usual. But there was a new hope in her heart and a little tiredness in her eyes. Returning after a three-day vacation was not easy. In her hands was the first photo of her daughter, which she was about to put on her desk. But what she heard in the company’s conference room was beyond her imagination. We believe in professional growth, not emotional journeys. Miss Chauhan, the HR manager’s voice was cold and indifferent. “You are no longer a part of this organization.” For a moment, it seemed as if time had stopped. Anushka’s breathing was heavy, but there were no tears in her eyes. The only thing on her face was respect. She looked deeply at her 10-year career, her hard work, and her honesty. Then she got up, picked up her bag, and walked out of the office without a word. A new battle awaited her on the stairs. A new identity, a new fight, and perhaps a new victory. That Delhi afternoon was cold. But something else burned within Anushka. She walked fast. Not in anger or fear, but in that strange emptiness that shakes a person to the core. Her old scooter was parked outside the gate. A small toy tied to the handle was shaking. Arya’s favorite. She took her daughter in her lap and took a deep breath. “You are my reason now, and I am yours.” She spoke softly, a voice Arya could hear. The next few days were like the silence after a storm. Phones didn’t ring, emails didn’t arrive. People who used to meet for coffee were gone. In the corporate world, relationships are often tied to salaries. But Anushka wasn’t the kind of woman to sit and cry. She rebooted her old laptop, which was covered in dust. Opened old files and pulled out ideas. Once, she was considered the best in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) projects. Now, she had only one purpose: to give voice to her story. Three weeks later, she posted her first video. Adopting someone doesn’t just change a person; it can change the world. The video had no production. Just her face, her voice, and Arya sleeping in her lap. But perhaps it was that truth that touched the world. Millions of views in 24 hours. The following week, several NGOs and media houses contacted her. Then she was invited to give a Tet Talk. There, she didn’t speak any great English. She simply said, “When the world rejected me.” A girl chose me. Meanwhile, the situation at the company that had fired her was changing. An old PR scam had resurfaced. Criticism had begun on social media. Investors were piling up pressure. Leaked emails were circulating. The HR department was being severely trolled. The CEO’s face was growing more tense every day. Then one day, during a board meeting, a junior said, “Sir, call Anushka, whose video is everywhere. People trust her.” The CEO thought for a moment, then, after a long silence, nodded. The next morning, a car stopped outside Anushka’s house. Arya was sitting in the lawn, playing with mud. Anushka was reading the newspaper, which had her picture on it. The single mother who bucked the system. The next morning, a car stopped outside Anushka’s house. Arya was sitting in the lawn, playing with mud. Anushka was reading the newspaper, which had her picture on it. The single mother who bucked the system. The driver said, “Ma’am, you’ve been called to the board meeting. To initiate change in the company.” Anushka said nothing. She just looked at Arya. She smiled and said, “Come on, son, now Mom’s work begins.” For the first time, the atmosphere in that board meeting room on the 10th floor of a corporate tower in Delhi was uneasy. Every face was alert, every eye was apprehensive. Then the door opened. Anushka entered. Wearing a white kurta, a blue dupatta, a simple smile, and Arya in her lap. There was no arrogance in her gait, only self-respect. The HR manager who had fired her six months earlier stood up on his own. But Anushka continued without looking at him. The CEO stood up, hesitating a bit. “Anushka, we’re sorry. What happened was wrong.” Anushka took a deep breath. “Apologies don’t restore trust. But forgiveness is necessary so we can all move forward.” Then, Anushka played a slide on the screen: “Rebuild with Respect.” She clearly outlined how the company could rebuild its brand: single-parent-friendly policies, flexible hours for female employees, education campaigns for orphans through CSR, and a public, open apology video in which the company acknowledged its past thinking. Everyone fell silent. The HR manager said softly, “But how will people trust us again?” Anushka said, “When you bring someone down, they feel pain. But when that same person lifts you up, the whole world listens.” What happened over the next two weeks shook the entire corporate world. Anushka’s face was featured in a new campaign.