The Red Journal

Forbidden Question

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

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14 August 2010

Anvi's POV

It's Saturday. Yayyy! Weekends are the best days of my life. No school, no studies and you can sleep for as many hours as you want.

"Anvi, wake up. It's 7'0 clock." came the voice of my angry Mom.

Sorry, guys ignore the last part when I said I can sleep for as many hours. That's a lie, but I do manage to sleep in the afternoon.

Sssshhhh! Please don't tell my Mom.

"Anvi, you want me to come over."

I need to go, otherwise, my furious mother will wake up the whole town.

"I am already up, Mom."

"Good, now you better be at the breakfast table in 15 minutes."

Shit! I cursed under my breath, if my mom will listen to me using these cuss words, I am so dead.

I completed my morning routine and ran down the stairs but bumped into my elder brother in the process.

"So, the princess finally got up huh?" my brother mocked me but I just smiled at him. Everyone was already seated on the big dining table.

Let me give you all a quick introduction about me and my family first.

I am Anvi Shekhar, daughter of Late Mr. Rohit Shekhar and Rita Shekhar. I have one elder brother Adhyayan Shekhar.

That's not it, there are more members of the family. My grandfather Ranjit Shekhar and grandmother Sadhna Shekhar and my uncle Shivam Shikhar, his wife Nivedita Shekhar, and their son Arpit Shekhar.

Ours is a joint family and we do almost each and everything together. We have our breakfast and dinner together, though lunch is not possible as we kids used to be at school at that time and others at work.

Our family is happy but used to be happier before. Everything changed ever since dad left us 2 years ago. Adhyayan Bhai has become distant, I don't remember when was the last time we spent some time together maybe when dad was alive. He talks less now and the only topic we are left with is his teasing and taunts and that's why I don't mind it at all.

Mom had become strict, the total opposite of what she used to be, maybe because the burden of our Textile Industries fell on her completely after dad as Uncle is a professor and he does not have any interest in our 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 my younger cousin, even he is 2 years younger than me but acts all protective and never leaves me alone if he senses that I am in trouble. Adhyayan Bhai is in 12 and will be leaving India soon for his higher studies.

There is one more family member but we are not supposed to talk about that person. We are restricted to. Although my curious self always wants to know Why? But never dared to ask anyone.

Arpit and I wanted to know the reason and asked Adhyayan Bhaiya once, but he scolded us saying that we should listen to our elders. I don't know what is it that everyone is hiding.