The phone call shattered his world. His mother was no more.
She had succumbed to the complications of her illness, which he could not afford to treat.
He felt a surge of guilt, grief, and anger.
How could this happen? Why did fate have to be so cruel? He had come to Surat with a dream of becoming a successful diamond merchant, but all he had achieved was failure and misery.
He blamed himself, he blamed his boss, he blamed his friend, he blamed the city, he blamed the system, he blamed Bhagwan.
He blamed everyone and everything, except the real enemy — laziness.
He remembered how he had left his native village in Saurashtra, six months ago, with high hopes and enthusiasm. He had joined a diamond factory as an apprentice, where he learned the skills of cutting, polishing, and grading diamonds.
He had a natural talent for the trade, and soon he became an expert diamond worker. He earned a meager amount, but he was confident that he would rise up in the payment structure with time and hard work.
