14 August 2010
Anvi
It’s Saturday. Yayyy! Weekends are best; no school, no studies and you can sleep for as many hours as you want.
“Anvi, wake up. It’s 7 in the morning.” Mom shouted.
Ok!! You can ignore the last part of what I said. It is just an illusion that you can sleep according to your wish. But somehow I will manage to sleep in the afternoon.
Sssshhhh! Please don’t tell Mom.
“Anvi, you want me to come over.”
Mom shouted.
I need to go, otherwise, my furious mother will wake up the whole town.
“I am already up, Mom.”
“Good, now better be at the breakfast table in 15 minutes.”
'Shit!' I cursed under my breath, if mom could listen to these curse words, I am so dead.
I completed the morning routine and ran down the stairs but bumped into my elder brother.
“So, the princess finally got up..huh..?” my brother mocked, but I passed a fake smile to him.
Everyone has settled at the dining table.
So, Let me give you a quick introduction about me and my family. I Live in a joint family where we laugh and cry together.
I am Anvi Shekhar, daughter of Late Mr Rohit Shekhar and Rita Shekhar. The eldest member of the family is My grandfather Ranjit Shekhar and grandmother Suhana Shekhar. I have one elder brother Adhyan Shekhar. And my uncle Shivam Shikhar, his wife Nivedita Shekhar, and their son Arpit Shekhar also live with us.
It's like a ritual in our family to have breakfast and dinner together, though lunch is not possible as everyone is not at home.
We live happily but used to be happier before. Everything changed after dad left, 2 years ago.
Adhyan Bhai has become distant, I don’t remember when was the last time he spent quality time with family. He talks often and when he does either he teases me or taunts me so I don’t mind it at all.
Mom had become strict, the total opposite of her older self. Maybe, because after dad, the burden of the Textile Industry is on her shoulders.
Uncle is a professor thus he does not have any interest in the family business.
Grandfather, grandma, and Nivedita Aunty always try to light up the atmosphere but deep down everyone knows that our family is not the same anymore.
Arpit is my younger cousin, even though he is 2 years younger, but acts all protective and never leaves me alone. Adhyan Bhai is in 12th and he will leave India for his higher studies.
We have one more member in our family but we are not supposed to talk about that person. Although my curious self always wants to know Why? But never dared to ask.
Arpit and I were always curious to know the reason thus we asked Bhaiya once, but he scolded and told us to listen to the elders. I don’t know what everyone hides.
We had our breakfast while grandpa and grandma teased each other like kids, just like how dad used to tease mom. After breakfast Bhaiya left for coaching classes, Arpit went out to play and I decided to watch a movie. I would have gone to my friend Sara's house or would have called her home, but she has gone to her hometown to celebrate Ramzan with her grandparents.
As I was shuffling the list of movies someone knocked at the door. “Come in,” I said, not looking at the person who entered.
“Anvi.” Mom said
“Yes, mom.”
“Beta, I am going to your Maasi’s place with grandpa and grandma. Don’t trouble uncle and aunty?” She instructed as if I am a 7-year-old kid.
“Yes, mom. I won’t create any trouble.” Her concern was genuine, I am the naughtiest kid in the house and always creates troubles for everyone.
Mom bids bye, listing me a bundle of instructions. Nodding, I closed the door and decided to watch my favourite movie ‘Twilight’. I am so in love with Robert Pattinson. I hope to get someone like him in the future, who is mysterious as him.
I watched the movie and dreamed about my future partner. After some time, Arpit came to call me for lunch. We had lunch together. Bhaiya was silent but Aunty and Arpit tried hard to lighten the mood with their silly jokes.
After lunch, everyone retired to their rooms. I was so bored that I called Sara. To my dismay, her mother received the call. I greeted her and she informed, that Sara had gone out with cousins.
With not many options left, I thought to ask Aunt if she could teach me how to play chess. She is the only one who plays chess and is a great player.
I moved to Uncle’s room and was about to knock but listened to uncle and aunty arguing which was so unusual of them. I have never heard them fighting.
“Nivedita, are you out of your senses?”
“If you think that way, then yes I am.”
“Even if you convince dad and mom, Rita Bhabhi will never agree.”
“That’s where she is wrong. We need to tell our children.”
“And then what huh? Will you be able to answer their questions? They are kids, they can't understand.”
“They are not kids anymore. They are teenagers and are smarter than us.”
“Nivedita, this is stupidity.”
“Shivam if you don’t want to, then I will tell Adhyan, Anvi, and Arpit. We need to prepare them for the upcoming danger.”
“Don’t do this Nivi. The Last time when we talked about it Rita bhabhi almost left the house.” I was shocked to hear about it. Mom was about to leave the home, but when?
“Shivam she was not in her right state, At that time she had lost her husband but now she is fine.”
“Nivi, stop it please.”
“And just be a spectator of what is happening around?” She raised her voice a bit.
“I won’t Shivam. Our children need to know about the Red Journal,” she added further.
“Nivi, Don’t you dare take the name of it?”
I heard aunty sobbing and she said to uncle, “How will we protect the kids?”
“We will do it Nivi, together. But promise me, you will not mention it in front of them or anyone.”
“But...”
“Please Nivi.”
“Fine.”
I left when I heard someone coming outside the room. I couldn’t understand their conversation. But all I could grasp from the conversation was Nivedita Aunty wants us to know something while Uncle doesn’t. And what was the Red Journal they were talking about? Whose journal was it?
I thought to tell Arpit, but he might get upset if he gets to know that uncle and aunty were arguing over something.
My curiosity was ready to kill me so I thought why not ask Bhaiya, He might know. I went to his room and knocked. He told me to come in. I went inside and sat on the couch.
“Do you need any help?”
Fidgeting with my fingers I questioned, “Can I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“Have you heard of The Red Journal?” The moment he heard about it his expression changed as if I had asked him the most forbidden question.
******
Translations of the words used in the chapter:-
Bhai- Brother
Bhaiya- Elder Brother
Beta - Son in English and in India we use it as an endearment for girls as well by the elders.
Maasi - Mom's sister
16 August 2010Anvi******“Anvi, don’t forget to invite Sara to Arpit’s birthday.”“Okay, Aunty,” I replied and sat in the car. Arpit was sitting at the front seat, while Bhaiya sat beside me. Oh! I forgot to tell you, we are going to school and I will meet Sara, She came back yesterday.Adhyan Bhaiya was busy in studies even in the car while I looked out of the window to enjoy the lovely weather and my sweet little brother was busy solving Rubik's cube. My mind dragged me to the conversation I had with Bhaiya two days ago about The Red Journal.He said he doesn’t know anything about it but his expressions gave in. It was evident that he lied but I didn’t dare to ask him as he clearly warned me not to talk about it and also not to eavesdrop, but that was just unintentional.Anyways, Bhaiya has been acting very weird since
21 August 2010Anvi******“The Red Journal”‘Just Be You,And The One You Adore So Much will Come To See You.’Ah! Why can’t I decipher the meaning of it?It was so frustrating to solve the riddle. I pulled my hair in frustration and the passer-by gave me weird looks. Composing myself, I behaved normally and smiled at them which only made them look at me with pity, as if I am insane. Of course, they will think of me like that, otherwise which sane person pulls his/her hair in a public park.I have read The Red Journal and to be honest, I didn’t find anything to be worried about, but it feels like jumbled words to me and I hate solving riddles.If I get the chance then I will go back in time to stop the person from inventing this weird thing.Who plays with words?Anyways, I got to know that this journal bel
23 August 2010Anvi******“And then she listened to everything. I wish things would remain the same.” I said to my cousin, I meant Annapurna Maasi’s daughter Vidya. She is the one I adore the most.Oh! Did I forget to tell you that the riddle was solved?'Just Be YouAnd The One You Adore So Much Will Come To See You.'I didn’t get what it meant until I was asked to participate in a drama competition at school.I had been given two choices, either to play the role of my friend or myself. And that’s when it struck, I chose to be myself and when I came home I found Vidya who had come to stay with us for a few days as Maasi had gone to Mumbai for work.Is this Red Journal mystical? Who cares, I was happy that I got to meet my favourite cousin after so long.“Di,” Vidya called me.“Yes?”
25 August 2010Anvi******“Oh come on, Anvi. I know you very well and don’t forget that I am your best friend.”“I know Ms. Sara Ahmed.”“If you know then tell me what’s bothering you. It’s written all over your face that you are not fine.”Sara pestered me with her questions but I didn’t want to tell her what happened. I will tell her after all she is my best friend, but not now when I am not sure if I have completely got rid of the journal or not.“You again zoned out. See if you will not tell me then I will ask your Mom.”No, that’s not happening. Mom will surely get to know about the journal and what if something happens to her. So, I decided to lie as I knew my best friend won’t stop till she gets an answer.“Vidya got into an accident.”“Vidya
29 August 2010Anvi******That’s it. I can’t take it anymore. I need to tell everyone what’s going on with me. I can’t keep things to myself, at least not now when my best friend got punished. Yes, the second punishment was given to Sara. She had an accident while cycling and the irony is she is a district-level cycling champion.I had cried when I saw her lying in the hospital bed. Her injuries were way more serious than Vidya’s. The doctors are not sure whether she will be able to walk anytime soon or not. Her parents had decided not to let her become an athlete, which was her dream and this was all because of me.“Will you stop crying or should I smack you on your head?” Sara asked angrily. I had been crying ever since I had come to the hospital.“Damn girl! I am alive and yet you are crying as if I have died.” I hugged her tightly th
Author's Note: The second part of the book starts from this chapter onwards, that's why I had started the serial number from 1 instead of continuing after 6.******Anvi******The hairdresser was busy doing my hair while the beautician was dolling me up for something I was not ready for. After they were done all of them left saying I was looking like a princess.I chuckled thinking a princess is never treated as a slave. Standing in front of the mirror I looked at my reflection.Indeed, I was looking like a princess. I couldn't even recognize myself. Is that really me I thought.My fingers touched the mirror to check if it was my reflection or just another illusion.I wish it was. I wish it was all an illusion, a dreadful nightmare, but it wasn't. To my satisfaction, I tried closing and opening my eyes numerous times thinking I might wake up but it only brought disappointment.
Nikhil*******I was standing on the stage like a dummy waiting for my bride. I was getting married and was made aware of this fact just a few minutes ago.Isn't it quite astonishing?I guess the decision of attending my friend's wedding was the worst I have made till now.I didn't come back to India for this. If I would have known I would be tangled in someone's mess without any fault of mine I would have never come back. I had no idea my decision of coming back will cost me my life, my freedom.I wish I would have not picked up that call that day.****FLASHBACK SEQUENCE STARTS******Such lovely weather it is I thought. Wearing my leather jacket I drove towards my cafe. I am Nikhil Arora owner of the chain of Keepers Cafe in London.Life has been very grateful to me but not always. There was a time when everyone thought I was useless and
Anvi******"It's time, Anvi." I heard Adhyayan Bhaiya as he extended his hand towards me smiling sadly at the pathetic state of his sister.Holding his hand I made my way out with him where Arpit was waiting for us. My two brothers were escorting me to the stage where someone who decided to show some mercy on a pathetic, useless soul like me was already waiting.My grip on Adhyayan Bhaiya's hand tightened when the distance between me and that decorated stage lessened. My heart beats fastened up its pace and the sensations in my body due to anxiety were not helping at all.I thought I would faint anytime but I don't know how I was holding up myself.Bhaiya and Arpit had stopped in their tracks, and when I noticed, I found we reached the starting point of my doom.I was not ready to leave their hands and with the utmost difficulty, Bhaiya took out his hand from the iron grip hold of mine.Lookin