42 Getting ready for life

The next day Zara tiptoed around her house, ensuring that her mother wasn't aware of her being awake. Zara wasn't able to sleep for a long time and decided to roam around, she couldn't just sit tight.

Zara had feigned sleep when her mother had come into her room to check on her. Zara was feeling nervous and anxious. But, she didn't want to trouble her mom with further stress.

As she inched her way back towards her room, she heard her mom talking to someone on the phone, "Yes, I know, I know. My salary will be credited this month and once I have it in my account, I will pay off all the debts. I just need a week."

Someone on the other side of the phone didn't seem convinced as more explanation followed. Zara got worried and started biting her nails in anticipation as her mother kept giving promises of paying everything back to whoever she owned the money.

Zara shot a worried glance at her mother as she disconnected the call. Rose sat hunched on the chair, the phone in her hand and her head bent low. Zara felt guilty for having been so stuck in her personal problems that she never paid enough attention to her mother.

Zara crouched behind her mother and hugged her as a tear fell down her cheek. Her mother patted her on the back and asked worriedly, "Honey, what's the matter?"

Zara quickly wiped her cheek off, trying to show no sign of hearing her mother's worries. "Nothing mom, actually I forgot to tell you something."

Rose ruffled Zara's hair and pinched her cheeks, "You look so pale, don't I cook well?"

Zara raised her eyebrow and her mom chuckled, "Hey, I am improving okay? You know what, yesterday I checked online for a new steak recipe. Should I try making one today?"

Zara smiled and tried to wrestle out of her mom's reach, "Mom, I am not a kid anymore. I have to learn to be independent now."

Rose's smile faltered at the sentence and her face was streaked with worry, "Are you planning to stay with someone else? Is it Jake?"

Zara put her head in her hands and groaned, "Gosh mom, it's not that. I have been meaning to get a part-time job, but you always denied stating that I had to focus on study. But, I need to start saving and earning from now."

Rose sighed, "I don't think you will be able to manage, sweetheart. You already had a sort of a breakdown due to the pressure of studies. Adding a job to the pile doesn't seem worth the risk."

Zara took her mother's hands in hers and gently clasped them, "I am your daughter. If you can juggle three jobs, I can surely manage one. Pleaseeee"

Rose let out a teary-eyed smile, "My daughter is growing up now. What do you plan to do anyway, as your first job?"

Zara was happy that her mother caved in so easily, maybe their household income was really dwindling. "I don't know, how does waiting tables sound?"

Rose's brow creased, "Are you sure you want people you know from college, maybe your friends too, giving you orders and you serving them."

An image of Jake carrying trays of food to the other students in the cafeteria cropped up in her mind, "Well, if Jake can do it, I guess I can do it too."

Rose wasn't convinced, "Jake is not a waiter, I think he does it out of courtesy. But, you would be bound to serve every single customer." Rose added as an after-thought, "Why don't you try working somewhere as a part-time accountant or cashier? You are good at math."

Zara mulled over the options, "Ok, I will try whatever gets me more money."

Rose passed her a tray of cookies as she sternly reminded her daughter, "School is your number one priority, don't forget that, okay?"

Zara munched a cookie as she replied, "Aye, aye"