Madari

Prologue

The clouds were thick and the snow, equally as thick. Alia hugged her coat closer to her chest, a shiver emanating throughout her frail body. It was late-November in New York and Alia was speedily on her way back to her university hostel. Born and bred in India, it had taken Alia a while to adapt to the weather in New York; however, she had eventually gotten there. The minus temperatures didn't seem to be as cold anymore ...

The bitter memories of home were still cold.

Alia had left Mumbai with bitter memories at hand. She had fallen out with her best friend, Varun, and her parents and she had barely spoken to the three since then. All she knew was that Varun was on his way to becoming Bollywood's biggest star and Alia - she was determined to become the next upcoming fashion designer. Currently studying at New York's Parson's, Alia was a week away from her graduation. Alia's entrepreneur father and her trophy wife, step-mom, were on their way to the States soon enough. She was dreading it. Mahesh and his fourth, no fifth wife, Patricia, were Alia's worst nightmare. They had kicked her out of their home before she had left for university, insinuating that Alia was simply waiting for the moment before she could pounce and take her share of the Bhatt inheritance. The thought alone made Alia sick. She couldn't believe her own Dad would say such a thing - it made her even more determined to make something of herself.

She wasn't just going to be Mahesh Bhatt's daughter - Alia was ready to be known for being her.

After spending three years away from India, Alia wasn't sure if she was ready to go back once she graduated. She had become accustomed to her friends and her relaxed lifestyle, she was unsure if India could ever feel like home again.

"Al," Alia's only Indian-companion, Siddharth, joined her by her side. Unlike Alia, Sid was Indian by heritage and had been brought up by his grandparents in London; he was in New York studying music direction and composure. "Hey."

Sid and Alia were good, great, friends, actually. Sid was tall, broad and an introvert whereas Alia was short, petite and an extrovert. They were complete opposites yet they seemed to get along pretty well. Alia knew once the two graduated they would have to part ways and the thought alone saddened her.

"Hey." Alia snuggled closer into Siddharth's arm, allowing her body heat to mingle with his. The two let out sighs of relief instantaneously before continuing towards their designated male and female hostels. "God, I can't believe it's been three years already."

"Are you getting senti, Alia?" Sid joked, poking his bony elbow into Alia's side. Due to the fact that she was wearing layer after layer, the blow wasn't as hurtful as it should have been.

"I am! We graduate next week. It feels like yesterday when we first met-"

"Ah! The moment that we first met..." Sid drifted back into thought, his mind conjuring up the image of when him and an eighteen year old Alia Bhatt first met.

"No, Papa, no-" Alia was screaming down the phone. She had just gotten off a twelve hour flight and had awoken to message after message from her step-mom and her dad. Most of which consisted of swear words and threats. "Look, I don't care. I don't want your money or any shares from your company. The money mom left me I will use to fund my tuition and my stay here, I don't need your favours!"

Sid was rolling his own massive suitcase towards his dormitory, a university welcoming fleece tucked under his arm. He was minding his own business, trying to find his way through the raging crowds, until he saw her. It was weird and a little discriminative but Siddharth Malhotra was comforted by the fact that there was another Indian in his radius. It was as if he had formed an instant connection with the girl he could see on the opposite side of the campus. She was gorgeous, he could also tell that immediately. She had gentle features and a childlike glimmer in her eyes; she was obviously turning heads already. But, some weren't staring because of her looks, they were staring because she was shouting. Her delicate voice was growing louder by the minute and Sid couldn't help but laugh at how cute this strange girl sounded. "Tho kya? I'm eighteen! You kicked me out of your house and now you want to worry about me? Keep your worry to yourself and your new step-daughter, I am done with you. I will prove to you that I can make something of myself, by myself." Alia aggressively ended the call. Sid watched her carefully. He watched her anger fade into tears and Sid knew it was his time to intervene.