Anvi

******

It's Saturday. Yay! 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 at the big dining table.

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

I am Anvi Shekhar, daughter of the 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 though 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 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.

We did our breakfast while Grandpa and Grandma were teasing each other like kids, just like how Dad used to tease Mom. After breakfast Adhyayan Bhaiya left for his coaching classes, Arpit went out to play with his friends and I decided to watch a movie alone. I would have gone to my friend Sara's house or maybe would have called her here but she has gone to her hometown with her family to celebrate Ramzan with her grandparents.

As I was going through the list of movies someone knocked on the door. "Come in," I said not looking at the person who entered.

"Anvi." I heard my mom.

"Yes, Mom."

"Beta, I am going to meet your Maasi today along with your grandpa and grandma. Don't trouble uncle and aunty ok?" Mom instructed me as if I were a 7-year-old kid.

"Yes Mom, I get it. I won't create any issues." Well, the concern was genuine as I was the naughtiest kid in the house always creating trouble for everyone.

Mom went away but not before giving me a lot of instructions. I closed the door and decided to watch my all-time favorite movie Twilight. I am so in love with Robert Pattinson. I wish I can get someone like him in the future, who is as mysterious as him.

I was watching the movie and dreaming about my future spouse at the same time and after some time, Arpit came to call me for lunch. Uncle, Aunty, Adhyayan Bhaiya, me, and Arpit had our lunch together. Adhyayan Bhaiya was silent as always but Nivedita Aunty and Arpit were trying to lighten the mood with their silly jokes.

After lunch, everyone retired to their rooms. I was feeling so bored so I thought to call Sara. On the third ring, her mother received the call. I greeted her and asked for Sara but to my disappointment, she had gone out with her cousins.

With not many options left, I thought to ask Nivedita Aunty if she will teach me how to play chess. She is the only one in the house who knows how to play chess and is a great player too.

I went towards Uncle's room and was about to knock but stopped after hearing them arguing which was so unusual of them. I have never heard them fighting, not even once.

******

"Nivedita, are you out of your senses?"

"If you think that way, then yes I am."

"Even if you convince Dad and Mom but Rita Bhabhi will never agree."

"That's where she is wrong Shivam. We need to tell our children."

"And then what huh? Will you be able to answer their questions? They are kids Nivi, they won't understand."

"They are not kids anymore. They are teenagers and are smarter than us."

"Nivedita this is stupidity."

"Shivam if you don't want to do it then I will tell Adhyayan, Anvi and Arpit. We need to prepare them for the upcoming danger."

"Don't do this Nivi. Last time when we talked about it Rita Bhabhi almost left the home with the kids." I was shocked to hear about it. Mom was about to leave the home with me and Bhaiya. But when?

"Shivam she was not in her right state that time, she lost her husband but now she is dealing with it fine."

"Nivi, stop it please."

"And just be a spectator of what is happening around?" she raised her voice a bit.

"I won't Shivam. Our children need to know about the Red Journal," she added further.

"Nivi, don't. Don't you dare take the name of it."

I heard Aunty sobbing and in her sobs, she said to Uncle, "How will we protect the kids?"

"We will do it Nivi, together. But promise me please that you will not mention it in front of them or anyone."

"But..."

"Please Nivi."

"Fine."

******

I left when I heard someone coming towards the room. I couldn't understand a word of their conversation. And all I could grasp from the whole conversation was that Nivedita Aunty wants us kids to know something while Uncle doesn't. And what was that thing which they were talking about, the red journal? Whose journal was it?

I thought to tell Arpit but then I thought he might get sad if he will get to know that Uncle and Aunty were arguing over something.

My curiosity was ready to kill me so I thought why not ask Adhyayan Bhaiya? He might know something. I went to his room and knocked on the door and he told me to come in. I went inside and sat on the couch.

"You need any help?"

Fidgeting with my fingers I asked, "Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Have you ever heard of The Red Journal?" The moment he heard about it his expression changed as if I had asked him the most Forbidden Question.