Shadow of Desires

Chapter 1-

Morning Contrasts

It was just past 5 a.m. when Meher Khanna, exhausted from her late-night online gaming session, finally set her laptop aside and snuggled under the covers. Her teddy bear, a loyal companion, was hugged tightly as she drifted into a deep, well-deserved sleep. And here,
Aditya emerged from the washroom, dressed in his jogging gear. The early morning light filtered through the window as he approached Dadi.
.
.

Aditya - "Good morning, Dadi," said warmly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I've brought your medicine."

Shakuntala - "Shukriya, beta," replied, her eyes twinkling. "Apna bhi khayal rakhna. Aur acchi bahu bhi le aao; zindagi set ho jayegi." (Thank you, dear. Take care of yourself too. And find a good daughter-in-law; life will be set.)

Aditya - he chuckled. "Aree yaar, bas karo na Dadi, kar lunga shaadi." (Oh come on, Grandma, I'll get married, don't worry.)

With a light-hearted goodbye, Aditya headed out for his morning jog. After two hours of invigorating exercise, he returned home to find Diya still nestled in bed. He placed a chocolate bar on her bedside table and gently shook her awake.

Aditya - "Diya, uth jao. Ready ho jao," he said softly. (Diya, wake up. Get ready.)

Diya - "Mmm, 5 baje tak soyi thi," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. (I was asleep until 5.)

Aditya's frustration bubbled over.

Aditya - Yaar, Meher aur tum dono video games khel kar raat bhar nahi soti aur phir shikayat karti ho. Mujhe Meher ko theek karna padega, warna tum dono ka routine hi kharab rahega. (You and Meher both stay up all night playing video games and then complain. I have to fix Meher to fix this, or else both your routines will remain messed up.)

He instructed the maid to let Diya sleep in since she was up so late and left for the office.
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Back at Meher's house, the maid was on a mission to wake her up. Meher, barely awake, handed her a 1000-rupee note.

Meher - "Yeh paise lo aur sabko keh do ke main university ke liye nikal gayi hoon,"she said sleepily. (Take this money and tell everyone I've left for university.)

The maid, theatrically accepting the bribe, protested,
Shanta (maid) - "Par Meher di, sabko pata chal jayega!" (But Miss Meher, everyone will find out!)

In the mean time Anjali entered as she was used to this daily drama, and here she
walked into the room, grabbed Meher by the ear, and began scolding her.

Anjali - "Meher, yeh roz-roz ka drama band karo. Kitna tang aagayi hoon main tumse!" (Meher, stop this daily drama. I'm so fed up with you!)

Just then, Arjun entered.

Arjun - "Mom, chhod do. Uski neend poori hone do. Woh thaki hui hai," he said, trying to diffuse the situation. (Mom, let her be. She must be tired.)

Anjali sighed. "Thik hai, jo karna hai karo," she said, leaving the room. (Fine, do whatever you want.)

At breakfast, Rajesh inquired about Isha and Meher.

Rajesh - areyy, where are these girls.?

Neelam - "Isha aur Meher video games khel rahi thi aur abhi so rahi hain," she replied. "Dono thaki hui hain." (Isha and Meher were playing video games and are now asleep. They are both tired.)