Chapter 1: An Ordinary Day
1339 Words
The alarm rang for the third time.
And for the third time, it was ignored.
"Anaya!"
A voice drifted from downstairs.
"You're going to be late again!"
A groan emerged from beneath a blanket.
"Life is unfair..."
The blanket moved.
"Girls suffer every month, and somehow society still expects us to attend college."
A pillow flew dramatically onto the floor.
"Why do girls always have to be the ones suffering?"
Downstairs, Mira laughed.
"You ask me that every month, sweetheart."
A few minutes later, Anaya finally stumbled into the kitchen.
Her dark hair had clearly lost a battle with gravity overnight and was gathered into a messy bun that seemed seconds away from collapsing. Large round glasses sat crookedly on her nose. Her expression suggested she was personally offended by the existence of mornings.
Mira placed a plate of toast and eggs in front of her.
"There."
Anaya rested her forehead on the table.
"I refuse to function."
"You'll function after breakfast."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You absolutely will."
Anaya narrowed her eyes.
Mira narrowed hers back.
After a moment, both burst out laughing.
The small apartment above the bookstore was filled with warmth.
It always was.
Ever since Anaya could remember, it had only been the two of them.
Mira sat beside her and gently pushed a cup of tea toward her.
Then she tucked a loose strand of hair behind Anaya's ear.
"Remember something."
Anaya looked up.
"God gives the heaviest burdens to the strongest people."
"That's a terrible motivational quote."
"It's true."
"It sounds made up."
Mira gasped dramatically.
"How dare you insult my wisdom."
Anaya rolled her eyes.
"You're only four years older than me."
"And infinitely wiser."
"Debatable."
Mira laughed and began humming softly.
Then she sang in a gentle voice:
*"Bhalobashi, bhalobashi,* *Ei sure kachhe dure,* *Jole sthole bajay bashi,* *Bhalobashi, bhalobashi..."*
The familiar melody drifted through the kitchen.
Anaya couldn't help smiling.
Her aunt always sang that song whenever she was upset.
A song about love finding its way through every distance.
A song that somehow made difficult mornings feel lighter.
By the time breakfast was finished, the dark clouds over Anaya's mood had begun to disappear.
"See?" Mira said proudly.
"My cooking healed you."
"Your cooking was average."
"My heart is shattered."
"It survived."
Mira pressed a hand dramatically to her chest.
"One day you'll appreciate me."
"Impossible."
"Heartless child."
Anaya grabbed her bag and headed toward the door.
Before she could leave, Mira stopped her.
"What?"
Instead of answering, Mira leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
A simple gesture.
A daily tradition.
One that never changed.
"Have a good day."
"You too."
"Don't get into trouble."
"I'm literally going to college."
"Exactly. Don't get into trouble."
Anaya laughed and finally disappeared down the stairs.
The apartment fell silent.
For several moments, Mira remained standing by the doorway.
Listening.
Waiting until the sound of footsteps faded away.
Only then did her smile soften.
She walked into the kitchen and began washing dishes.
For a moment, her eyes drifted toward a particular section of the floor.
Thoughtful.
Almost nostalgic.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"She's definitely grown up."
The plate in her hands stopped moving.
"In just a few days..."
Her birthday.
The date she had been waiting for.
The date she had postponed again and again.
The date when secrets would finally have to be told.
Mira looked out the kitchen window.
Far away, memories stirred.
The world had never been kind enough to replace what was lost.
The younger had followed the elder.
Lessons of survival.
Discipline.
Strength.
Sacrifice.
Mira smiled faintly.
Soon.
Soon Anaya would understand everything.
Soon she would be taken to the place where it had all begun.
The place where their story truly started.
And where Anaya's story was about to begin.
Meanwhile, several streets away, Anaya adjusted her glasses and continued walking toward college.
She had absolutely no idea that her aunt was planning to change her life forever.
Just walking normally down the streets a thud came from the lane by her left side. A dazzling whoosh came when the most adorable, magnificent, hairy but muddy creature came rolling upon Anaya, jumping in the air. For a moment she was shocked the next second she realised it was no other than Max, the dog she had loved since the day she moved in the congested but charming lanes of Delhi.
Woof! Woof! Max barked wagging his tail as if he was a helicopter, ready to take off any second. Anaya was delighted to see Max she took out a treat from her bag and gave it to Max. Max's sparkling eyes made her forget all her anger from the morning and she wanted to just keep sitting at the exact spot not wanting the time to pass.
Nor did she know that at the exact moment , she would meet someone who would unknowingly become tangled in every secret she had yet to discover.
Just as she was thinking not any force in the universe could ruin the beautiful moment, a long luxurious car paved the way right beside her.
Anaya wasn't paying attention until Max suddenly sprinted away from her.
"Max!"
The dog stopped beside a sleek black car.
Expensive.
Polished.
The type of car that looked completely out of place in her neighborhood.
The rear door opened.
A pair of polished shoes touched the pavement.
Then a tall figure stepped out. Anaya froze.
She recognized him immediately. Adrian Knight.
Max seemed delighted to see Adrian and launched himself at him with all the enthusiasm his furry body could manage.
Adrian's expression was mysterious.. Not a trace of disgust like the other models or rich people Anaya ever saw.
Adrian expected another girl to squeal for a photograph.
Instead, she was crouched beside a muddy dog.
Her hair was tied into what looked like a hurried, collapsing bun.
A pair of oversized glasses hid half her face.
Yet somehow they couldn't hide the spark in her warm hazel eyes.
She looked annoyed. Tired.
Probably having a terrible morning.
And somehow completely unconcerned with the fact that one of the country's most recognizable faces was standing in front of her.
Although,just as the warm Hazel eyes of Anaya met the clear Blue eyes of Adrian the driver interrupted the scene
"Urri Baba!! Hey girl don't you understand who he is!? Take your filthy dog away! "
Anaya's expression dropped. She just quickly picked up Max at the moment Adrian's rage filled gaze was enough to shut the driver up.
"I'm extremely sorry for his mischievous act.. He doesn't normally do such.. " Anaya apologized
"You don't have to! I love dogs. This four pawed baby just made my day better! By the way, what's your name?"
But before he could finish, Anaya had already grabbed Max's leash.
"Come on, Max. We're late." And just like that, she disappeared into the crowd.
Adrian stood there for several seconds.
The driver cleared his throat.
"Sir?"
Adrian ignored him.
For the first time in years, somebody had walked away from him without asking for a photograph. Strange. Very strange.
Again the street was filled with screams of fangirls "Hey!! Look there's the famous model let's get a selfie!! "
Adrian quickly got into the car as a crowd of fangirls rushed toward him.
"Sir?" the driver asked as the car pulled away.
Adrian remained silent.
Outside the window, the city blurred into streaks of color.
Yet his thoughts stayed behind. With a girl he didn't even know. A girl who had looked at him the same way she looked at everyone else.
Nothing more. Nothing less. Strange.
His gaze drifted toward the muddy paw print Max had left on the car door. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Find out who she is."
The driver nearly choked.
"Sir?"
"The girl."
For the first time in years, curiosity finally took root in his mind. And such curiosity had always been dangerous.
- Writer
