Thank you for opening this first chapter and willing to read. I hope the mystery and romance of this novel will attract you to read more. Have a good read :) Please feel free to leave comments and critiques and if you wish please do vote. Thank you :) 

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Flashback

The rain pounded upon the couple as they made their way from a wedding. The dark night was waiting for them. Waiting to envelope them into its embrace.

There were lies and deceit as a car came racing towards them. The husband honked his horn on the narrow, single lane road, but only to meet his death. The wife died too. The stranger who ruined their lives tried to run away, but couldn't and eventually met his fate.

But, there is more to the story than appears to the eye.

Flashback Ends

It was a rainy night and only two swans were in sight. The lovebirds were young. She had thought of him her true love, but she was wrong as he flew away. She had dreamt dreams, but they were too weak to strengthen and cross the barrier from fantasy to reality.

My pen dropped against the journal as I laid my head against the couch as I witnessed the steam of the chai rising into the air and disappearing without a trace. There is a commonality between intangible objects and humans...they disappear without a trace and a reason.

A faint smile appeared on my face as I took the cup of chai and placed it against my lips taking a small sip of it before realizing it was missing the amount of sugar that pleased me. Taking a small scoop of sugar, I threw it into the chai and mixed it. The chai changing its taste as I took a sip of it. Just like how objects change their appearances, so do humans.

My eyes dazed out towards the rain that poured down and splashed on to the cement. Thunder roaring in the background, eager to make its presence known and create fear.

I heard footsteps as I laid still not attempting once to see who it was.

"Elina, darling." I sighed as I looked back at the tall brunette in front of me.

"What Kiara? What do you want?" I mumbled as I fixed my shawl around me and looked at her a bit annoyed by the sense of peace she had destroyed.

Kiara rolled her eyes as she took a seat next to me and grabbed my hand.

"Please Elina. I beg of you. It's been three months and you still have...." She stopped in her tracks as she looked back at me.

"What?" I questioned despite being aware of what topic she was about to talk about.

"You know Elina what I want to say. It's been three months since Mom and Dad...passed away. Look...we have to forget the past and move on," Kiara whispered softly as I took a deep breath and stayed quiet.

I can never say a word on this topic without choking in tears. Playing with my fingers, I sat in silence as Kiara placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I know they met a death that was not justified, but what can we do? I mean the drunk driver got arrested and he's in jail now. Look, I know you are hurting and so am I, but please try to get out of the house and be yourself again," Kiara said consolingly as I shook my head back and forth.

"And that's we're both of us are different Kiara. I cannot just forget...They're my parents," I whispered softly as I felt tears slowly streaming down my cheeks as I quickly wiped them away.

Despite what others say as they attempt to find similarity between us, I cannot find anything in common between us. Despite being fraternal twins and sharing the same space in the womb of our mother for nine months, we still cannot find one common thing we agree upon. She has always been resilient and able to handle herself in stress while I always have succumbed to it.

I remember how my mother always said that when she gave birth to us on a humid August day, my sister born before me was immediately found comfort in her mom's arms and stopped crying, but I couldn't stop crying for hours despite being held my mom against her heart.

Besides personality differences, we both were different in our physical features. She was tall, slim and had beautiful brunette hair while I was short, a size 12, and had dead dry brown hair. Indeed, you could realize the comparisons we both faced and how I was on the negative side of being compared to a star sister.

I wiped away my dried tears as I felt the small golden labradoodle jump into my lap. A faint smile appeared on my face as I snuggled with Apple. The only thing in this world that could console me would be this little dog. I thought as I held her closely to me.

"Oh not again dear. Why are you crying again?" Aunt Sheila questioned as she walked into the living room and sat down with a cup of tea across from us.

Sometimes I wonder if Aunt Sheila is truly living in this house just to get free tea and hoard the food since my parents died. Aunt Shiela was my mom's only sister and was the complete opposite of her just like Kiara and I. Mom was always selfless and a hard worker as she worked as a maid in people's home for years before my father's financial condition improved and was able to build a small dhaba or restaurant as you would call at the corner of the highway in Lucknow. On the other hand, Aunt Shiela was ignorant and egoistic as she married herself off into a rich family without ever turning her back towards her sister.

"Look Aunt Shiela, how long is this going to continue? I mean it's been three months and Elina just cannot get over it," Kiara exclaimed as I threw her a glare.

"It? Really Kiara? Do you even know what you are saying? 'It' is actually a murder that my parents faced at the hands of a drunk driver!" I yelled back at her as her eyes widened a bit taken aback at my explosive statement.

"But, Elina. If mom and dad were here then they too would have wanted you to move on and start living. Ok? I mean how long can I continue dealing with you and your issues? I have been on a leave of absence from work for a month and a half and they are calling me to return, but no I am stuck here dealing with your tantrums!" Kiara yelled as my eyes widened in shock.

"Tantrums?! Wow! Really, Kiara? I am not begging for you to stay here!" I yelled as I looked towards the other side.

"Elina, be practical. How long are you going to stay in this house? For God's sake, you have to move on in life."

"Kiara just stop ok? Please..."I begged as I wiped away tears streaming down my cheeks.

How can Kiara not understand what I am going through? My parents died of an unjustified death at the hands of an irresponsible individual. My parents did not deserve such a brutal and sudden death. I took a deep breath as I tried to calm myself down, but somehow my soul couldn't find peace as it felt suffocated.

"Anyways, Elina...I just want to say that...I cannot leave you alone in this house like this. Alright? So, I have decided that you should move in with Aunt Shiela," Kiara announced as I heard a sudden loud cough.

Turning my head around, I saw Aunt Shiela coughing as I tried to take a sip of tea to down her cookie. Her eyes wide open as if she was caught off guard from Kiara's statement.

"Um...what? What did I hear dear?" She spoke barely pushing words out of her throat as she looked at us completely taken aback.

"Of course, Aunt Shiela, I know you will take Elina with you. I mean I know you are our only support system now. Rest of our relatives have turned their back towards us knowing they might be asked to take Elina's responsibility. You know how dad's brothers and sisters are. They immediately dashed after the funeral and haven't called since because they know I would ask them to take in Elina. Aunt Shiela you're mom's only sister and I know you will not disappoint us. Am I right?"

Aunt Shiela sat tongue tied as she looked at Kiara and back at me before she downed her cookie and shook her head.

"I would...I mean...yes I would take Elina, but...How should I word this? Um...Look, I cannot. Ever since I have gotten married, my in-laws have not been comfortable with me visiting my sister and meeting you all. You know my in-laws are conservative and my mother-in-law is still living and she rules the roost at home. Um...I don't think it will be ideal if I take Elina with me. I'm sorry." Aunt Shiela lowered her head as she acted as an innocent soul.

I stared at the palm lines of my hands. When one faces harsh times then they realize who truly cares and values for them and who doesn't. Aunt Shiela was likely Kiara's last hope and clearly Aunt Shiela did not agree. Where will these lines take me? Am I now going to be an orphan that will go different roads trying to find her place? I shook my head back and forth as I sat cold as a stone. I am used to being rejected. I have always been rejected in life and been throw around like trash. I gained this perspective when...never mind. It's a story I will talk about later.

"I'm going to my room," I mumbled as I picked up Apple and walked out down the hallway to my room.

Turning the door knob slowly, I entered into the darkness of my room. Letting Apple go, I grabbed a seat at my study table and turned on the small black lamp. The light illuminating slowly from the lamp as I got up slightly from my chair and grabbed a small wooden box.

Having a faint smile on my face, my hands trembled slightly as I opened the box and looked at the picture in front of me. Smiling faces of my mother and father as they hugged me tightly at my cousin's wedding reception last year. My mom and I looking like sisters as our dark brown hair matched with each other and our brown eyes glimmered in the light of the camera. Both of us were wearing black sarees that day. That was the first time I wore a saree. Growing up in a Punjabi family, we always tended to wear Indian suits consisting of salwar kameez. However, I remember my mom deciding to kick the norms out of the way and wear a saree herself and make me wear one as well. I remember her helping me plate the saree's foils together and helping me pin the drape to my shoulder. The care and love she showed towards me was not only during that day, but every day. The way she handled my tantrums and always provided me with what I wanted. I remember my dad who always listened to my rants about the failure of politics and what I would do if I was a politician. He always aimed to give me a better life.

Oh God, why me? Why did my parents leave me? Why were they taken so soon? I began to hiccup as I attempted to breath and control my tears, but I couldn't as they continued to stream down from my cheeks and down to neck as they met their end.

I don't remember how long I was sitting in the same spot as I continued to go through photos of my parents and I as I continued to cry and lessen the heavy weight I felt on my chest. A weight representing sadness, anger, and frustration for lives that were gone too soon.

"Elina?" My ears shot up as I quickly wiped my tears and turned around only to see it was Kiara standing in the doorway.

"Why are you sitting in the dark like this? Hm?" She spoke softly as she turned on the room's light and closed the door shut behind her.

"Go away Kiara," I mumbled as I looked back at a photo during my high school graduation as I hugged my mom on whose head I had placed my cap. I smiled faintly as I looked at the silly photo as I attempted to remember the memory of the day.

"Elina...look I am sorry. I overreacted earlier," Kiara said as she placed her hand on my shoulder and looked down towards me. I shook my arm away from her as she wrapped my arms around me and pulled me into a forceful hug.

"I'm sorry Elina. Please forgive me. I know what you are going through. They were my parents as well. Please, forgive me." Kiara pleaded as she hugged me tightly.

I do understand Kiara must be going through the same feelings that I am going through, but she should be more understanding of me. Not everyone can just bounce back from a parent's death. I am not like her who is able to be resilient and bounce back from any negative event.

Kiara let go of me as she wiped away my tears and placed her hands on my shoulder.

"Look Elina, it's only you and me. No one else in this world is ever going to stand behind our backs and support us. I talked to Neil about what had happened and he and I decided, it would be best that you should come and live with us from now on," Kiara announced.

My eyes widening a bit taken aback from her decision as I took a step away from her. What? No way. I cannot go with Kiara. I mean he's there-Neil's brother. God, I cannot even think of his name one bit.

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Thank you for reading :) Please leave a comment of what you think about the story and whether I should continue it. Feel free to live positive and negative feedback and if you wish please do vote :)