CRIMSON TIES

~Chapter 3~

Word Count :- 1900+

Published on - 23-05-2024

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~ AUTHOR ~

Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, 10 am IST

Avantika hated coming to India. The country and it's people had given her nothing but painful memories and cruel treatment. She would visit only for work purpose and refrain from going to her father's house. Her siblings would come to meet her at the hotel she was staying at. She wouldn't stay longer than a week. Ajmer was a beautiful city but it's beauty could never lure Avantika into forgetting her past.

House is what she called it. A mere building made of cement, bricks and some iron and steel. Home is something she never knew. All her life she lived in that building with people who treated her worse than anything and when she moved out, she kept shifting places. She lacked stability in life but that never stopped her from achieving what she wanted to. She was stubborn like her Grandfather and she was proud of it.

She took a breath as she stepped out of the aircraft to calm herself. It took hell lot of patience and sanity to deal with the people who happen to be her so- called family. Her brother stood at a distance leaning against his car, observing his sister's body language which screamed irritation and annoyance.

"Welcome home, CEO Sahiba", that is what Ansh has been calling her ever since she took over the family business. He so wanted to hug his sister as he was seeing her almost after 2 years but he knew she hated being touched so he maintained distance. She understood her brother's problem so she initiated the physical affection by hugging him lightly. He didn't waste a minute and hugged her back tightly as if she would slip away if he loosen his hold. She let him stay like that for a few minutes but immediately patted his back telling him to make distance.

She saw her Grandmother's men coming towards them. The siblings loved each other but had to maintain the formal relation between them infront of the old lady. The men greeted her as they sat in the car and drove away.

Avantika stiffened when she saw the similar turns and roads, the familiar trees and flowering plants which fell in way to the place she despised the most. She tried her best to maintain her calm and composure when she felt a warm hand covering hers. She turned her head in his direction to get a reassuring smile from the boy and she just gave him a nod. The car slowed down infront of the gigantic gates which were opened and the convo of cars drove in and stopped at the Main entrance. They stepped down from the cars and walked in.

The mansion was called 'Maithili Niketan'. It was built by her Great-Grandfather and named after his mother. It was built at a little isolated place from the city because he wanted to be connected to the nature which is not possible in the city. The mansion was magnificent and a beautiful work of art and architecture. It was no less than a palace with over 52 rooms, a big gigantic hall for functions that included the extended families, more than 2 gardens filled with different yet beautiful varities of flowers. Each pillar was hand carved with precision and none of them had the slightest similarity to the other one.

The rooms belonging to the family members were even more bigger and prettier than the other rooms. The rooms were well furnished with authentic persian carpets, wooden cupboards, walk-in closet that was no less than the size of a regular city side bedroom.

There stood her sister and step-mother with huge smiles on their faces. Her little sister, Mayura ran towards her and jumped on her and leached liked a koala. She immediately hugged her back protectively hold her sister so she doesn't fall. Suddenly everything felt calm and peaceful. She could feel the happiness radiated from the younger one and couldn't hold back the delicate smile.