Shadows of love

Chapter 1: Shadows of Love "Neha, wake up! It's already morning, and you're going to be late for college!" Zara exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of urgency. Neha stretched and yawned, "Oh my gosh, Zara, can't I just enjoy my beauty sleep? Being late won't matter." Zara persisted, "Neha, you need to get up and bathe. You can't go to college looking like a mess!" Neha replied, covering her ears with her pillow, "Zara, just let me sleep some more." Zara removed the pillow and said, "Neha, if you don't get up and go to the bathroom now, I'll drag you there myself and bathe you!" Neha reluctantly stood up, "Zara, you're the worst." Zara smiled and said, "If waking my sister up is a crime, then I'm a criminal - a very bad one!" Neha ignored her and walked out of the room, heading to the bathroom. Zara called out, "I've kept hot water for you to bathe with!" Zara rushed into the kitchen to check on what she was cooking before waking Neha up. Zara's POV: My sister Neha can be such a baby sometimes, but I love her for it. It makes me feel like a big sister. She's always running late for college, and it's only her first year. I hope she grows out of this habit soon. As I headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch for our uncle and Neha, I heard Aunt Bhoomi calling out to me. "Zara darling, Zara!" she said. I replied, "Yes, Aunt, I'm in the kitchen." Aunt Bhoomi entered the kitchen, and I greeted her with a namaste, touching her feet. She smiled and said, "Zara, you don't need to do that. My blessings are always with you." I replied, "I love taking your blessings every day, Aunt. It's a habit I'll never break." Aunt Bhoomi chuckled and said, "You always win, Zara." She asked if I had packed lunch for everyone, and I nodded. "Yes, Aunt, all taken care of." She thanked me, and I replied, "No need to thank me, Aunt. It's my responsibility." Aunt Bhoomi smiled and left the kitchen, leaving me with my thoughts. Let me introduce myself. My name is Zara, and I'm 19 years old. I live with my aunt and her family, a loving and supportive family that has been my rock since I lost my own. You may wonder why I don't live with my biological family. The truth is, I'm an orphan. I became one at the tender age of 5, when my life took a devastating turn. My family was a happy one, filled with love and laughter. We lived in a village, surrounded by nature's beauty, and I cherished every moment of our peaceful life. But fate had other plans. One day, we set out to visit my dad's sister in Delhi, a trip I was eagerly looking forward to. Tragedy struck, and our bus met with an accident. Only two people survived - my mom and me. Everyone else, including my dad, passed away. I escaped with minor injuries on my hands and legs, but my mom was severely hurt. She had internal bleeding and a head injury that kept her in the hospital for six long months. I stayed with my Aunt Farnaz in Delhi, trying to come to terms with the loss. The day my mom died is etched in my memory forever. I was by her side, tears streaming down my face, as she took her last breath. With her final words, she pointed to Aunt Bhoomi, who was standing opposite us, tears in her eyes. Aunt Bhoomi rushed to her side and held her hand, comforting me in my grief. My mom's last words were, "My daughter..." And with that, she was gone. Aunt Bhoomi has been more than a mother to me since that day. I love her with all my heart, and she's always been there for me. My mom had foreseen her passing and had made arrangements for me to live with Aunt Bhoomi, knowing she would take care of me. And she was right. My mom would often tell me that a day would come when she wouldn't be with me. I didn't know that day would come so early, but I've accepted the sorrow life gave me and the family life gave me to replace it. This is my story.