Hey....I am the author of course! It's my second work and my first novel! English isn't my first language so I am sure I would make many mistakes while writing....I am sorry for that in advance.

My story is completely based on my imagination. If you don't like it...I would kindly suggest not reading it , because everyone has their own likes and dislikes, obviously. Opinions on the characters are welcomed, but no hate would be either welcome or tolerated on the work or on me.

The idea and lines completely belong to me...but the pictures used are not mine so credits go to the rightful owners. I would be grateful if there is no usage of my story or storyline whatsoever and wherever.

All right! Enough of yapping! Let's go to the story! (;

...°✦~~~~~~✦°...

FMC\= 𝑨𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒂 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆

MMC\= 𝑨𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒗 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒍

Trope:-

❥𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲

❥𝗖𝗘𝗢

❥𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗫𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲

❥𝗠𝗟 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿

❥𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲

❥𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲

❥𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀

❥𝗥𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻

...`•~~~~~~~•`...

A girl stood infront of the window looking down at the boy waving at her.

Her face lacked any signs of emotions she turned back to find the door of her room open as she ran outside to bid a final farewell to her brother, a step-brother more specifically, and the only person who treated her as a human in the whole house.

"You are leaving me?" she whispered as she ran towards him

"I will come back for you di...I will come back for you please wait for me..." the little boy hugged her. (di\= elder sister)

He broke the hug and looked at her with a reassuring smile

"but till I come back" he looked back and another boy around his age popped his head out of nowhere , with a bright smile on his face. "he will play with you di!"

The girl took a glance at the boy and nudged her brother. "Oh...he is ill? Poor boy"

That boy's face became sour ,he kept his hands on his waist ready to throw hand.

"Umesh, you said your sister doesn't talk much. How come she is insulting me as soon as she saw me huh?"

"You are not ill? I am sorry... seeing your face I thought you are ill..." she looked down embarrassed.

The boy's face became red as he gasped and glowered dramatically. "You ..You....how can you say this! I am such a handsome boy! I think you are just jealous"

Umesh smacked the boy's head.

 "Talk respectfully! She is my elder sister which makes her your elder sister too. Now listen to me. Look after my sister while I am away and you better protect her! I will teach you a lesson if you don't do it" he says showing his fist

That boy rolled his eyes off

"Fine! But she's just three years older!"

 the boy pouted and crossed his arm only to get a glare by Umesh.

Suddenly a yell from the back made all of them startled.

"Umesh why are you not off yet! Stop talking to insignificant kids and get in the car now! Otherwise, you will miss your flight!"

the girl stared at the car while it slowly faded out of her sight till a remark from the woman standing brought her back to reality

"Gayi to gayi! Is musibat ko bojh banakar chali gayi!" (While she went away she left this girl as a burden!)

She stormed off.

The boy looked at the girl "So you are Umesh's sister, huh?" he circled around her.

The girl nodded "and you are?"

"I am his friend! What's your name?"

"Ananya....Ananya Rathore."

"I am Aarav Agarwal. Anyway as you are a bit dull in the head I am forgiving you for the comment earlier" the boy uncrossed his arms.

"By the way is that scary lady your mom?" he asked making faces

"she...she is Mrs.Rathore" she said while lowering her still staring at the road.

He looked at her as if he saw an idiot

"That makes her your mother!"

"I was always told to call her, Mrs.Rathore...and she said she was not my mother"

"So what about your mother?"

Her face darkened as soon as she heard this...her straight face and emotionless eyes were hiding too many things...too many incidents she was forced to witness and too many scars that the world had given her.

"I don't know...why are you trying to pry so much? Let's go and play"

"Alright let's go!" he shrugged his shoulders without giving it much thought.

After sometime that woman came out in the garden while scorning at Aarav and Ananya.

"Ananya! You useless thing! You were supposed to make me tea half an hour earlier right! Why are you playing here huh! Before you were just useless now you have started hanging out with dirty poor brats!"

Aarav looked at Anaya.

"I am sorry... please go back today" Anaya said lowering her head.

Aarav stood infront of her as if trying to shield her from the witch, at least he saw the woman as a witch already.

"You can't hurt her!"

She came and pushed Aarav aside

"Do you even have any idea where you are now!? This is the Rathore mansion! Not any hillbilly can just enter! Get out!"

"Umesh called me here!" Aarav got up from the ground

Ananya noticed the clear red bruise on Aarav's delicate skin. She went and stood between the woman and Aarav.

"Go home now.I won't play anymore.

Mrs.Hiya I am sorry I will go and make tea for you right away"

"She got big hands and legs why should you make tea for her? Pangu h kya?" (Is she a cripple?)

Hiya looked at Aarav as her nose flared with anger. He face turned red as hatred and rage filled her eyes

"You illiterate poor bastard!" she turned to Anaya and slapped her cheek as her pink lips got stained in red.

"And how dare you call me by my name! Haven't I already told you it's Mrs.Rathore you little bitch! Tu ghar me ghus ekbar!" (Enter the house once!)

Aarav's POV

I saw Anaya getting pulled away by that witch woman as I stood there. Ananya slightly smiled at me and mouthed "Go back"

I went home thinking about what I witnessed today

Umesh's sister is the eldest daughter of the so-called Rathore family, and she is treated this way?

I thought...but the scene of her getting slapped by that woman and the way she smiled with the bruised lips and red cheek didn't leave my mind no matter how hard I tried.

...`•~~~~~~~•`...

How was the first chapter? Don't forget to share your opinion (;

I••| . (....) \= end of POV

           (------) \= after a good period of time

...`•~~~~~•`...

Ananya's POV

I slightly smiled at the new boy and mouthed him to go back. Soon I was dragged inside the living room and the door was closed.

She threw me to the floor and sat on the couch as if she owned the house. It was clear that she was exasperated,or she just loathed me to the core.

I slowly stood up and went to the kitchen.

I came back with tea in my hand and handed it over to her.

"If you had given me tea by time...none of this would have happened. Mmh! My leg is a bit sore... message it"

She wasn't asking she was telling...she was ordering. I sat down and started to message her leg.

Soon the man who is my dad in the name came inside and looked at my mother. He came back from a trip after nearly a week and smiled at my mother.

"Look what I brought for you"

He didn't look at me not even a brief glance, but it was nothing new.

...........

She stood up smiling at him while the hot cup of tea fell on Ananya's hand , burning it immediately. Her wrist became red.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry! Why didn't you move away huh? Why do you die for attention so much huh? Sympathy seeker!"

She rolled her eyes and went towards the man.

Ananya looked up at the man who was meant to be the man whom she felt safe with. Her eyes lacked even a bit of hope....

The hope that was meant to be there in her eyes had already been dead five years ago when she saw her father hugging another woman and smiling while her mother was on the deathbed.

While on the verge of death her mother asked her father for some water. Standing outside the hospital ward as she was not allowed to enter she heard the vigorous laughing of his father and that another woman...they were busy naming all of her mother's assets in their name.

Standing outside the ward with shattered pieces of heart Ananya the little girl who was of the age where she was meant to be loved , cared and cherished, felt her world falling apart. The memories of her mother were drifting through her mind as the silent vow of revenge was planted in her heart like a seed.

The memories which were meant to be forgotten, Ananya never let them fade...

She looked at the so-called kind and virtuous couple infront of her.

Hiya was clinging onto her father's arm as she smiled pretentiously

"Ayank I missed you so much! And why did you bring so many gifts ah!"

Her reluctant words and greedy eyes were forming a stark contrast. Amazing!

Fate is indeed sardonic...the woman , who left a rim of abhor in her heart turned out to be her new step mother just after a few days of her mother's death and the man whom she loved and looked up to as a loving father became the wretch of her eyes.

"Ananya come here, I brought you a cosmetics set and some Tandoori Shrimps... it's your favorite isn't it!?"

Ananya looked at , she was too exhausted to smile. Ignoring her burnt hand as she was about to say something, Hiya suddenly blurted out viciously

"Areee Ayank vo to bachhi h vo kya karegi itni sari cosmetic cheezo se aur zyada make up baccho ke skin ke lie achha nhi hota ha"

(Oh Ayank! What she , a kid, will do with this cosmetic set? And too much make up is also not good for children's skin)

"So let me keep it for now....once she grows up and will want to make herself up, I will give it to her"

Ayank nodded

"Yeah....I never thought about it...so Ananya for now you can have the dish I brought for you!"

Ananya shook her head.

"It's okay....I am full now"

"Just because your mother didn't let you have the cosmetics set...you are lashing your anger on food now! How insolent! Is this what you are learning from us!?"

Ayank yelled

" Dad..what should I have learnedd from you? Betraying? Deceit? Selfishness? Or Cheating!"

Ayank's eyes became red as he flew into rage

"How dare you!"

His chest was moving up and down in anger

"No Ananya how can you say something like this to your father! You are grounded!"

She added up to the fire as she dragged Ananya by hand and threw her inside her room and locked the door from outside.

Ananya's elbows got bruised as she slowly stood up and went towards a drawer. She opened it and took out a picture of a beautiful woman, wearing a gray saree smiling confidently.

Anaya stroked the picture tenderly as a drop of tear fell on the picture. She smiled slightly and held the letter closer to her chest

"Maa...can you come back once again? Please maa...I am all alone here...You see right? I am not yet strong enough maa...I disappointed you...can you come and punish me? Maa can you hear me?"

She broke down in tears as the memories of her mother swept through her mind

~~

"Ananya always remember, no matter what the situation is...who is standing against you, I will always be on your side alright? Even if there is a day you can't see me near you anymore...just remember I am watching over you"

Little Ananya giggled shrugging off the heavy words

"what are you saying maa? Where will you go huh? I won't you leave me so easily hm!"

....

"This world is very harsh...but never let it affect you hm? Always smile never show that you are scared.."

Aradhya, Ananya's mother said while treating the wound she got while running away being chased by a dog.

"Maa that dog is very bad! That dog always bothers me! Bad dog!Why do you only tell me? Why don't you scold that dog too? Do you love him more than me?"

Aradhya chuckled

"Nahi meri choti si jaan! I always love you the most...see that dog is also pitiful isn't it? Everybody behaves rudely with it...but you see

he actually lunged at you because he thought you were going to hurt him.He was actually scared. You should never show anyone that you are scared...your weakness... because if you do people will push you to the brink more and more" (No my little sweetheart!)

...

while thinking of these memories, Ananya suddenly came back to senses when she saw that her surroundings became dark.

By now she became quite afraid of dark. Hiya often used to lock her up in the dark room. No matter how much she cried no matter how much she begged... everyone in the house turned an blind eye to her.

She slinked back to a corner while holding her mother's picture tightly as she lowered her head.

She tried her best to stay strong but after all she was still a child.

Soon the sound of little sobs could be heard that died in the dark room itself.

...-------------------------...

...`•~~~~~•`...

"So who is there in your family?" Ananya asked.

"Me and my grandmother" Aarav said while swinging his legs from the tree branch.

"What about your parents?" She said looking down.

"Well my mother died while giving birth to me...and my father looked after me for two years but after that my father died in an accident..."

"Accident?" she asked tilting her head.

He nodded . "Yeah...I never saw my mom and don't remember much about dad...so my grandma is the closest to me..."

"Ohhh..."

"Hey let's do something" he put up an evil smirk on his face.

She squinted her eyes in suspicion.

"And what is that? You better not plot something mischievous"

"Oh c'mon! Don't be so boring!"

"and.....done!" Aarav rubbed his hands dramatically pretending to dust his hand.

"I don't think we should do this Aarav... listen to me"

"I am listening to your heart" Aarav made a peace sign with his hands

Ananya obviously looked unsure

Aarav nudged Ananya

"Hey what's up with that pensive look? You are Umesh's ELDER sister...be a little brave alright!And I know you want this"

She crankily looked at him.

"You finally remember I am older huh? You should pay respect to me! And-"

"sh sh sh!!! You granny...just listen wait and watch"

Aarav rusted his hands and clothes and stood up. He turned to Ananya only to find her looking at him with narrow eyes.

"It's spontaneous Aarav...she will be really really angry"

"As if we care" Aarav shrugged his shoulder and rolled his eyes.

Looking at Aarav's carefree self Ananya started to miss the times when she used to be so carefree and careless because she knew she had her mother's back. She was the person under whose shadow Ananya felt safe, felt cherished and felt loved.

--

"You are sure that Umesh's mom will come out at this time right?" Aarav asked Ananya while hiding behind a bush.

"She should...I heard her talking yesterday that she will go out today during this time"

Ananya reassured

In no time a black car entered the house.

"Will she go out in this?" Aarav asked

Ananya was confused

"This shouldn't be...I have never seen this car before"

"Doesn't matter as long as she comes out"

A man stepped out of the car with a smug look on his face. His hair was dyed in bright red colour, and had sunglasses on his head along with a headset .

"wait...I-I know him...he is Hiya's younger brother"

A servant stood beside him and welcomed him to the mansion.

"Why are standing idle huh? Don't you who I am?! I can get you fired and end up on the street! Take my luggage!"

The servant panicked "I-I am sorry Sir. I will help you right away"

 He walked inside leaving the servant behind when he suddenly stopped seeing a large plastic washing tub out of the blue covered with paper.

"How are the people even working in this mansion!? I have to go and tell didi about this! " (didi- elder sister)

"Oh no..." Ananya said covering her eyes

That guy walked past the tub and was about to step up the stairs when he slipped and fell right into the tub.The paper teared making him land on the tub of mud.

"Yes!" Aarav exclaimed

"Why are you celebrating!? He is not Hiya...he is her brother" Ananya blurted out in disappointment.

"Who cares anyway! You should know that birds of a feather flock together" Aarav said in a victorious tone.

The man was crying and screaming in frustration as his newly dyed hair got covered in red and his clothes got soaked.

"No! No! No! My new clothes! This cost an arm and a leg!" He cried trying to stand up but failing miserably only to make his headset fall in the tub too.

"My headset!"

Hiya came out hearing the commotion.

"What is-oh my god Tushar what happened!?"

Hiya exclaimed in disbelief.

"Help me up first!"

Hiya tried to help him up, but her hand slipped making Tushar fall into the tub once again

"Oh my god! What is wrong with you!? Ahh"

He said vulnerably while holding his waist.

"pffft! Haha" Aarav laughed aloud failing to resist.

"Who laughed! Didi! I came to your house after so many days and this is how you welcome me!?"

Hiya looked towards the bush and went to it only to find Ananya and Aarav there.

"It's you again!?" Hiya pulled Ananya by her arm harshly making the area turn red.

Aarav stood up and went between the two.

"Why are you telling her? It was my plan! I did all these!"

Hiya's eyes turned red in anger. The latter slapped Ananya across her face making her fall on the ground. She dragged her to the area where her brother was present and curled Ananya on the floor.

Aarav ran towards them and looked at Hiya

"I said I did it! Are you trying to take my credits"

...`•~~~~~•`...