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~Five years ago

The traffic in Mumbai was truly the gravest. With thousands of vehicles creeping on the big lanes, it was very difficult for even a cycle to pass through. No doubt, peak hours had a rush, but why this rush in the afternoon, in the blistering month of June?

"Mumbai and its traffic," a lady commented while cradling her four-year-old daughter inside the car, who was getting cranky & frustrated within the locked car for many hours.

"Mumma, when will we reach our house?" a small boy of around ten years, asked his mother, after sipping a few drops of water.

"Soon, baby, here take these biscuits," his mother smiled warmly and gave him a packet of his favourite cookies.

On the other hand, their father and the driver were in the front, sighing frustratingly, over the long queues of vehicles that their eyes could reach and even beyond that. But unlike the others, a girl in the same car, near the window on the rear seat, was busy adoring the stray pups who were playing a little far away from the cars. Although she was a part of this family she was so unlike them.

For her, everything had some positive aspects, even hard times, she was just so optimistic about everything, except for one, and that too had a bad history.

Currently, she was gleaming in joy, watching those stray pups who were now fed by their mother, so lovingly.

"So lucky you all are, for having such an affectionate mother," she whispered, sighing in a little sadness, an unknown sadness surfacing within her. She overlooked her brother deliberately, seeing those cookies which he was having, while she could only eat up her hunger, sighing sadly.

After spending a few more hours in the Mumbai traffic, finally, they had reached their new house. A small bungalow which was on the outskirts of Mumbai. A new place for them to settle, away from their hometown, the majestic Kashi, the city of Lord Shiva, which was no longer their residential place.

****

"Arvika! Arvika! Where are you? Come down. Your luggage is here. Take it to your room," the mother shouted out loudly for her thirteen-year-old daughter, who was currently inside her newly allotted room, enjoying the fresh gust of air which was entering from the nearby window. The mango trees were making the environment chilling and soothing, beating the heat of the sun.

"Coming," Arvika, the thirteen-year-old girl, replied to her mother, boringly.

Before concluding, it was clear that they weren't like the typical mother & daughter duo. They were anything but normal.

Arvika got downstairs and carried that bag which contained some of her thick books. Yes, she was nerdy & she loved being that. She just nodded at her mother in acknowledgement & got up to her new room. That bag was very heavy which she carried. She breathed heavily after finally reaching her room.

Arvika plopped on her bed and relaxed for a bit, but sudden memories started flashing before her eyes which were the reason behind her stoic and serious personality.

"Stop it," she sighed loudly and got up to find her friend inside one of her bags.

After opening the zip of her laptop bag, she could finally relocate her one and only friend, her personal diary.

Arvika took out her personal diary, and after sitting on the bed, she started scribbling about the day's events that happened with her today. Before closing it, her eyes landed on the first page of her diary, from where her journey of 'Diary entry' had started.

~

"11th February 2015,

11:00 pm,

"Hello, Dear diary!"

I know, I know, I started late, as well as realized late that nobody could be your best friend except yourself.

From today onward, I am going to start my diary, in which I will mention what happened to me the whole day because I have no one to share my feelings, thoughts and ideas with and in the later entries, diary, you will come to know why!

Starting from the introduction again, I'm Arvika, Arvika Arya, a cursed child. When I was in the womb of my mother, my mother had already divorced my father because of reasons still unknown and married a new man, on whom she had a crush for so long. I think that was the reason behind her divorcing my biological father. I hadn't even seen him, not even his photo. My mother made sure, that not even one of his photos could be seen by me.

In those times, this 'Divorce thing' was rare in our Indian society but she divorced and married her crush, her lover who loved her back as well.

I think I was loved by both of them till I turned three, yes, because after that my life had taken a complete u-turn, my mother didn't love me anymore, my step-father too had started hating me and my presence in their lives. Because apparently, my brother, Akshit was born who had grabbed their full attention. Their blood, flesh, and whatnot. I was just a burden on them, I realized it long back.

I used to cry for their attention, at even three, I started doing most of the household chores, thinking that now my mother would also hug me, and love me like she loved my brother, but, oh, so wrong was I!

At that time, I didn't know about the concept of the biological father, step-father, blood relations, and all the politics. I had treated Mr. Srivastav as my father only, till I reached seven, when unintentionally, my mother had disclosed all these things to me, without having an ounce of shame about what she was saying to her seven-year-old daughter. From that day onward, I never called him Papa, and I never called my biological mother 'Ma', she was just a mother to me.

'Ma' is the purest word in this whole world, how could I have used that endearment for that lady who thought of me as a burden only, her daughter was I!

Love is blind, I completely agree, that's why she couldn't see her three-year-old daughter's cries, her loneliness. Her cries no longer affected her, all she was worried about was her husband and their newborn baby. I was just an onlooker for them, whom they ignored like she never existed.

Maybe my fate was like that, but I also knew that destiny is in my hand. I had pledged myself, that I'd become so successful, that they would have to acknowledge my presence, my reality in their life.

My own mother ignored me, my childhood was lost in learning many things, a child refrained from, just to impress them but I got only disappointment & resentment in return. Still, I hope that one day they will acknowledge me but that day never came in my life.

When I was eight years old, I had a sister, Akshita. Another reason for their ignorance towards me!

And you know diary, what happened so suddenly that I was compelled to start writing my diary?

I started confining with you, because of what happened to me today.

I felt suicidal because of the way they treated me today. My paternal aunt had come today, with loads of sweets and gifts for my siblings, but I was ignored, I wasn't even given a single piece of sweets just because I was not their blood!

I could still hear the nasty words that she had thrown at me. And currently, my tears are dropping on you, diary, I am writing it with my tears. My ink pen's calligraphy is no longer intact, it's smudged all around your pages.

"You are a bastard's daughter, you don't deserve to have these sweets which I have brought for my niece and nephew," these were her exact words which had pierced my heart. My mother too was there, but just like every time, she ignored all of this, because I was a no one for her, right? No one.

I cannot stop my tears, diary, I cannot.

And that's how I landed on our roof, trying to kill myself, after jumping from this tall building.

But then my mother had come exactly at that time when I was trying to jump down and she slapped me hard on my cheeks.

"What were you trying to do, huh? Like your bastard father, you are also trying to trouble me. What would have happened when you would have injured your body parts? Who would have spent money on the treatment for such a burden like you? Just let us live in peace, already there is so much spent on your studies, and have you counted? You have been a burden on my husband and my family for the past thirteen years since your birth. Huh. You're a burden," no, it was not someone else saying all these things on my face, it was my own, biological mother who said these harsh words to me.

She spat those heart-piercing words on her own daughter's face and walked away from there, nonchalantly.

And just to free me from all these bad emotions, and agony, I started talking with you, diary, because I have no friend with whom I could share my feelings! Tell me, if not you, then who?

I know I am stupid, but today, my tears aren't stopping. I just want to cry loudly, so loudly.

I was grown up in thirteen years of my life only, like a mature person because my childhood was snatched away from me because of my parents.

I cannot write a diary anymore, my puffed, moist eyes aren't even able to see clearly.

Bye Diary!"

~

Reading those old writings, Arvika's eyes were now filled with tears. She couldn't forget that gruesome day which had been imprinted on her soul. How could she forget those brutal and harsh words that her mother had thrown at her? That bitter truth!

The smudged pages of her diary were a constant reminder of that tragic day!

****

As the clock struck seven in the evening, Dev finally emerged from his IIT-JEE coaching classes, his brain buzzing with equations and formulas. He trudged wearily through the front door, his stomach growling loudly in protest after enduring hours of intense studying without a morsel to eat. His mother, Mrs. Devika Kapoor, greeted him with a warm smile, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her son.

"Dev, you're back! How was your day?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. She closed the door and towed behind him.

Dev mustered a weak smile, his hunger overriding his exhaustion. "Long and exhausting, Ma. I think I can hear my stomach rumbling from miles away. Horses are galloping here I guess"

She chuckled affectionately, knowing all too well the effects of her son's rigorous study schedule. "Well, you better come to the kitchen fast before your stomach decides to eat itself!"

Dev's eyes lit up at the prospect of food, and he quickly followed his mother into the kitchen. As she began preparing a meal, Dev couldn't help but poke fun at her culinary skills.

"Ma, I think we need to call the fire department every time you step into the kitchen. Your cooking is so hot, it's practically a fire hazard!" Dev teased, earning himself a playful swat on the arm from his mother.

"Oh, hush, you little rogue! Just wait until you taste this delicious meal I'm preparing. You'll be begging for more in seconds!" she retorted, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

As Dev settled down at the dinner table, his mother couldn't help but inquire about his IIT-JEE coaching classes. "So, Dev, how are your IIT-JEE classes going? Are you understanding everything they're teaching you?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity.

Dev chuckled, knowing his mother's fondness for fretting over his academics. "Don't worry, Ma, I'm doing just fine. The classes are challenging, but I'm managing to keep up," he reassured her with a smile.

His mother nodded, visibly relieved. "That's good to hear, beta. Just remember to ask for help if you ever feel overwhelmed. We're here to support you every step of the way," she reminded him, her maternal instincts kicking into high gear.

As they continued their conversation, she couldn't help but bring up another topic that had been on her mind. "Oh, and Dev, don't forget that your school is starting soon as well. After almost three months of break since your 10th board exam, it's time to get back into the swing of things," she reminded him gently.

Dev groaned playfully, rolling his eyes at the thought of returning to school after the long break. "I know, Ma, I know. But can't we just enjoy the remaining days of freedom before the grind begins again?" he pleaded with a hint of mischief in his voice.

She chuckled indulgently, knowing her son's reluctance to return to the routine of school. "Nice try, Dev, but you can't avoid it forever. Besides, I'm sure you'll be glad to see your friends again and get back into a routine. Sakshi too would love to accompany you, the poor girl has to go to school complaining about how she misses her brother's company," she pointed out with a knowing concern.

Without warning, he blurted out, "Sakshi! That little Chudail! Can you believe what Sakshi said to me last night?"

(Witch)

His mother looked up from her plate, her curiosity piqued. "What happened? What did she say this time?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Dev's frustration spilled out as he recounted the incident with his sister. "Sakshi called me a 'Gainda' just because I spend hours studying for the IIT-JEE exams! Can you believe it?" he exclaimed, his irritation palpable.

His mother chuckled as she listened to her son's complaint. She fondly reminisced about the time when Dev was a fit and lean boy, his boundless energy filling their home with laughter and vitality. However, as she glanced at him now, she couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in his physique. The long hours spent studying had taken their toll, leaving Dev with a slight chubbiness that hadn't been there before. But he looked adorable in this form too, his mother mused amusedly.

"Oh, Dev, I'm sorry to hear that," she replied sympathetically, reaching out to comfort him. "You know, sometimes siblings can say things without thinking. I'm sure Sakshi didn't mean to hurt your feelings," she offered, trying to diffuse the tension.

Dev snorted, not acknowledging his mother's words, as the sting of Sakshi's remark still lingered. "I know, Ma, but it still bothers me. I work so hard to prepare for these exams, and all she can do is make fun of me by calling me Motu, Golu, Mote and almost all the Hindi synonyms of fatso," he muttered, poking at his food with disinterest.

She sighed softly, understanding her son's frustration. "I understand, beta. Just try not to let it get to you. Remember, you're doing your best, and that's all anyone can ask for. Also, take breaks and do some exercises. You'll surely feel more energetic." she reassured him, her motherly affection growing. "Also, I will ask Sakshi not to trouble you," she promised and added more curry to his bowl.

With a sigh, Dev nodded, grateful for his mother's comforting words. As they continued their meal, he made a mental note to teach Sakshi a lesson.

'Chudail Kahin ki'! he mused when a wicked idea trespassed his mind which he could use against his sister. A mischievous grin adorned his face and he happily ate the left food, nodding in between at his mother's gossip about the new neighbours.

(Witch)

****

Dev and Arvika's lives couldn't have been more contrasting. Dev was blessed with a loving and nurturing family who showered him with affection and support, providing him with a stable and caring upbringing. In contrast, Arvika experienced a childhood devoid of maternal love and affection, as her mother was unable to provide the emotional support she needed.

Despite their contrasting upbringings, fate had orchestrated their meeting in the most unexpected and absurd of ways. Destiny had woven their paths together, setting the stage for a journey filled with unforeseen twists and turns.

Little did Dev and Arvika know that their lives would be the witness of the catalyst for a series of events that would forever alter the course of their lives.

****

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