CRIMSON TIES (Crimson Bonds #1)

~Chapter 2~

                                                       ✨A Very Happy New Year to everyone✨

"Hello, Avantika.", her brother's disinterested voice came through.

"Yes boy, tell me", She responded in an equally indifferent tone, skipping any pleasantries.

Ansh Singhania and Anaya Singhania were her half siblings. They were 8 years younger than her, but to god's grace, they did not share any bitterness among themselves. Despite their complicated family dynamics and the fact that they had different mothers, Avantika loved her siblings immensely. Her twin siblings, too, shared the same inseparable bond and affection for her.

They had always idolized their elder sister, admiring her incredible amount of resilience and strength. They had witnessed every struggle she ever went through even if they couldn't help her because of their grandmother, still, all three of them stuck to each other and felt the warmth of Avantika's sacrifices.

She even came to their aid without their grandmother and father's knowledge, shielding them and taking the blame for their actions to protect them from facing their elders' wrath. She endured all the punishments, not wanting her siblings to feel even an ounce of the pain she had grown used to.

The elders hated how the younger ones adored and admired their sister so they often tried to brainwash them, poison their innocent minds against their sister but had always failed.

The siblings were smart enough to understand what their elders were trying to do, they pretended to be under the influence of their elders but their true loyalty always remained with their sister.

"When are you coming back?"

"Not any time soon, why?"

"It is Dadu's Death Anniversary after tomorrow. Dadi has ordered you to come back."

Noticing the increasing hostility between the elders and their sister, they promised to not let anything manipulate their trust and love for their sister, but maintain a resentful relationship for the world.

Ansh knew, how much his sister loved their Dadu and how much it hurts her, every time she is reminded of this day. He hated reminding her but their Dadi forced him into doing it. God, he hated that woman for inflicting so much pain on his sister.

"I'll try to come, but can't say for sure.", She said, feeling a pang in her heart at the mention of her favourite man.

"I am not asking you. I want you in the house before the pooja starts, the day after tomorrow.", her Dadi said and hung up without listening to her, making her clench her jaw and not snap back at the old witch.

She inhaled deeply, calming herself as a wave of emotions threatened to rise. Her hatred for her grandmother ran deeper than the damn oceans, fuelled by years of inexplicable disdain from the older woman. Her father wasn't any better; he had never truly cared for her. After her mother's passing, the only source of genuine love and compassion she had was her Dadu.

Her phone pinged. It was a message from her brother.

Sorry di, but I didn't really have a choice😞.

Her father had always kept his distance, offering nothing more than cold indifference, and her stepmother was of little to no help, silenced by a single sharp glare from her grandmother or father. Her Dadu, the peacemaker, had tried countless times to bridge the gap between father and daughter, but his efforts were in vain. Things had only worsened after her father remarried; he grew even colder, and when her Dadu passed away, it felt like she had lost her father for good.