Dusk came sooner than expected, the last of the sun's rays cosseted behind soft grey cloud. The street takes on the look of an old photograph, every familiar thing a shade of grey. Slowly the view fades to blackness and the night begins.

There she was at the balcony of her room, sat on the recliner waiting for the night to turn morning. The hard part of being at home for two months of semester break is coming to an end. An end of enduring her parent's daily arguments.

Her only friend, her pet dog, Shark who have been with her through thick and thin jumped up on the recliner and sat next to her. Patting the ever soft furry head, she removed the headphones she was wearing for the only reason.

To avoid overhearing her own mother speak ill about her.

Being born and brought up in a modernised society, something about her mother's mentally towards the daughter of the family never changed. Kavitha Ray still had the backward thinking about the heir of the family. Though being the eldest of the family Anuradha had been dispensable for her mother after the birth of her brother, Ajay.

Probably her stars did lean to her side a little, she had her father's love for her. It wasn't an unconditional love but he had care for her for she was said to be the lucky charm for Kamlesh Ray's business to prosper.

Anuradha Ray, the princess of the Ray family and the business heir of Ray Group of Companies lived in an 'almost' controlled lifestyle.

The Heir.

A word that Anuradha hates the most. A word that ties and limits her boundaries of being who she is. A word that prisons her in a golden cage. A word that turns her into a puppet that's attached with a string called RAY.

When a person is restricted to be herself, there isn't any more life and that's how the life of Anuradha Ray is. Confined.

Confined, her mother was afraid she would be the reason to tarnish her family name. The reason; she was a girl child. Kamlesh would adore her as the most loved child before the media and society yet leaves her out when she needs him the most. 

But again, if it was between Anuradha or her brother Ajay, Kamlesh would choose her, in that way she lived her life happily knowing that her father will be there for her to stop Kavitha from slamming her with sharp words.

Though she is living a life of a caged bird in her own house, none of these stopped her from loving her family. Anuradha loved her family and she wish to turn her crack-filled family to a prefect happy family. One day.

"Why does she gets extra pocket money when Ajay don't?" Kavitha stopped Kamlesh right in front of Anuradha's room in the most condescending attitude.

Even though Kavitha herself is a business woman, she always finds her way to get into Anuradha's matter when the matter benefits Anuradha and not Ajay.

Partiality runs in Kavitha's blood.

"Ajay isn't that careless in spending money, Kamlesh"

"Haven't we talked about this already. It's my money and I decide who should get more and who gets less." Kamlesh shot back.

"Why does she always have to get the privilege of spending more than Ajay. He is the son of this house and he should be the one to get the priviledge."

Kamlesh ran fingers through his hair, exasperated a sigh.

"You better n_"

"Dad!" Anuradha interjected before their argument aggravates.

"Dad, you don't have to argue with mom about this. I don't want to be the cause of your fight. Again." Anuradha gave a stern glare to Kavitha before handing the money back to Kamlesh.

This had been a frequent scenario in her house ever since she started her higher education in college.

Kavitha could easily overlook the issue of her children's pocket money but she isn't the woman who tolerates when the money was from her husband's pocket. She wouldn't bother if Anuradha gets less but her son shouldn't.

"Anuradha, you may need it. Keep it." Kamlesh told her authoritatively.

"So, she might need it but not Ajay?" Kavitha huffed glaring at Anuradha before shifting her gaze back to Kamlesh. "Isn't he your son, your blood?"

"Enough Kavitha!" raising his tone, he turned to Anuradha who's eyes swam in tears. "Go in Anuradha, it's late. Keep that money with you." Kamlesh's voice mellowed, he waited till he heard Anuradha's door locked before turning back to Kavitha.

"If you are done with your daily drama, I have an important web-conference to make. So, please... I don't have time for your absurdity." Kamlesh pivoted on his heel and headed to his office.

An everyday situation as such made her quite a rebellious daughter towards her mother. Anuradha stood behind her door and waited for Kamlesh to leave the hallway.

"Mrs. Kavitha Ray!" she called.

"What!?" raged Kavitha.

"Don't you think you are spoiling your son? Anyway, you better get a hold of him. He is going off the track."

"What do you mean?"

"I meant what I just said. He, your son is going off track doing all nonsense."

Kavitha was well aware of her son's inappropriate activity that he is been into lately and yet stays silent instead of advising him not to do so. Many a time, Anuradha had caught Kavitha covering up his mess silently by lashing a few hundred pounds to those Ajay had issues with.

Anuradha's several attempts of trying to amend her brother went complete failure as Ajay never respected her as an elder sister. So, she dropped the total idea of fixing him back and left the responsibility to her mother.

Anuradha dropped herself on the bed burring her face in her pillow, she let the tears to flow. No matter how many times she had encountered this scenario, somehow, she blames herself for her parent's imbalanced relationship.

"Shark, do I look like an ever-ready subject for her to start arguing with dad?" she hiccuped a laugh. "uhh... what did I do to deserve this?" Anuradha mumbled for the nth number of time as Shark jumped up on the bed and snuggled next to her.

-*-*-*-*-

"So, someone is finally going to join his class after eight long months of holiday," Uday walked in to the kitchen spotting his mother, Roopa in a video call with Karthik.

"Yeah, thanks to you, bhai for helping me skip a semester" Karthik replied from the other end.

"It wasn't my fault, bhai. Who asked you to run into the car when I was reversing?" standing next to his mother he gave a light peck on her head. "Good morning, ma"

"Good morning, Uday," Roopa greeted him and left to prepare breakfast for her eldest son while the two brothers continue to debate on the accident that happened eight months ago.

"Stop saying the same thing, bhai. I knew you did it on purpose!" Karthik shouted to make sure Uday could hear him while he packed his bag.

"No one is going to believe you that I purposely did it, Karthik." Uday whispered close to the tabloid while making sure his mother doesn't hear it.

Though Uday loved Karthik, deep down envy had taken a hold on Uday ever since Karthik started getting praises for his talent in music when he was ten while the latter was seven years old.

Uday was no exceptional as he is an excellent business minded person with great leadership skills, a competitive spirit and ambitious yet the attention that Karthik gets from his parents envied him most.

Sibling jealousy isn't that of a new topic in a family like Chauhans when both the sons are equally talented and skilled in their own field.

"I know that" Karthik came back into the frame with his keytar hanging on his shoulder.

"You know what, today was the day I woke up without any noise and it was amazing," Uday said, sipping his coffee.

"Well I can't help if you have bad brain. It's kind of difficult to explain to a person like you about the magic of music." Karthik spat back in the politest way possible since his mother is around.

"Yeah just like you who don't understand what's business all about."

Born in a family that is known for their excellency in business, Karthik was brought up to be a businessman as well but his passion towards music had led him to take diversion from the boring businessman life that he sees everyday.

"Stop it you two. Karthik you better get going now and don't forget to have your breakfast." Roopa came in between the bickering brothers setting down a plate of freshly fried Pori and potato gravy for Uday.

"You too, don't run away skipping your breakfast," Roopa turned to Uday, who was checking his phone on incoming mails.

"Yes, ma. Feed that pig, he needs more energy to run the company and to pump in more money for my food expenses here," Karthik jested biting a mouthful of the simple bread and butter breakfast he managed to do as he eyed the breakfast Roopa set in front of the tabloid.

"Bye, Karthik. Have fun luring ladies with your magic while I have good food here." Uday bid good bye with a hand wave while showing the plate in another before Karthik ended the video call.

'I wish the girls had forgotten me since I have been missing for a semester now' Karthik sighed as he headed out of his room. 

************

New Author's note

Welcome! Welcome! I'm so glad you are reading this story and I hope you will enjoy it. I'll try to update the whole book soon so you'll can read it at a go. 

And if you are rereading, can you do an inline comment here. 🙋‍♀️

Also this story is taking place in London!