New Beginnings

By Kinal Hariya

Trisha's life takes a new turn when she has to move in with her estranged aunt after the death of her whole family due to an unexpected fire.

Trisha has always lived in a city, that's all she has ever known; What will happen when she has to leave her city life and move in with her aunt who resides in a small town?

Facing an aunt who looks just like her mother, adjusting into a new space while still mourning over her parents death, making her own place in the hearts of the new people; Trisha surely has an adventurous life ahead.

Dive into the story to know about the changes Trisha has to face and about the new relations she welcomes in her life.

A new place, new bonds, new friendships, new family and of course NEW BEGINNINGS.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BUUK PALACE
• Release date: May 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201580070

Book preview

Prologue

STUPID! ANNOYING FEVER !!!

While my parents were busy enjoying a wedding, I was stuck in this huge mansion alone because of this stupid sickness.

Living in a mansion was great, not having to attend a wedding was even greater but not when the wedding was of my favourite cousin. And definitely not when this home felt like a haunted house because of the creepy sounds I kept hearing, courtesy of the horror movie I saw last night.

To divert my mind, I video-called my other cousin, so that I could see the wedding from here itself.

The second she picked up, I regretted calling her. She had a plate of yummy food in her hand. Not bothering to even hide her amusement, she kept eating in front of me making me jealous.

They were enjoying there and I was here eating this yuck food made for patients.

Take that plate away from my sight. My mouth is watering, just by seeing it, I whined while the annoying girl at the other end laughed her lungs out.

Fortunately, after her laughing session, she did move the plate away and started the tour of the wedding.

Look at the stage, it's so beautiful. Hey guys! Trisha is on the video-call, come and say hello, she called our other cousins who were gathered near the stage to greet me.

After hii's and hello's, she moved further and showed me all the decorations.

While talking to her, I noticed a spark nearby. Before I could warn her, the fire started spreading and her call was cut off. The last thing I heard was her scream.

Tension filled my body. I stood up from the bed and tried calling her again, but to no avail.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I clutched my head tightly and tried calling my parents. I punched the nearby wall in frustration as their phones were switched off.

I needed to reach there. Taking my wallet, I started to move but my head started spinning.

Not now. My fever just had to decide this moment to show its effects.

I gripped my room's door tightly to get a grip. Sweat was gathered on my forehead and I was having difficulty in breathing.

Gathering my strength, I made a last call to my dad's best friend who lived near our home.

'Pick up, pick the damn phone,' I mumbled in tension as the phone kept ringing.

Before he could pick up the call, I fainted.

1- Losing Everything

Pranking others was fun. Being pranked on wasn't. I detested being pranked yet I hoped this was just that. A cruel prank played by my parents. I prayed with all my might that they would turn up and shout 'Fooled You' on my face. And everything would go back to normal after I shouted at them for being so insensitive.

However nothing of that sort happened. It's been three days since my parents went to attend that wedding; three days since I saw the video of the wedding hall blazing with fire; three days since I fainted from shock; three days since Uncle gave me the news of their death.

Even though I had fainted near my room's door, I woke up on my bed.

Remembering the situation at hand, I tried to hastily get up but had to sit down when dizziness hit me hard.

Trisha!! Oh dear, you shouldn't have tried to get up. Please lay down dear, your health is still weak, Lawyer Uncle said rushing towards me along with the doctor.

That's when I noticed people in my room. Two of our house maids were present along with doctor and lawyer uncle.

Lawyer uncle was dad's childhood best friend as well as our lawyer. As long as I could remember, I had always called him Lawyer uncle.

Uncle, did you call Dad? Mom and Dad are okay, right? They weren't picking my calls. Did you manage to contact them? I asked wearily.

Dear, you should take rest. Your health is not good. We will talk later, okay, Uncle said avoiding my eyes.

What is wrong with you? My health isn't important right now. Please tell me, they are okay, I screamed in frustration, which resulted in coughing.

I told you to take rest, he said while rubbing my back.

Turning towards our workers, he shouted, What are you waiting for? Bring water.

After calming down from my coughing fit, I asked him the same question again.

The fire got spread quickly and before help could arrive, it took down the entire wedding hall, Uncle answered with tears in his eyes.

My eyes widen upon hearing him.

Where are my parents? In which hospital are they getting treated? I asked still being positive that they were okay.

Uncle shook his head with a remorseful face. His silence was my answer. They didn't survive.

Tears started rolling down while my scream got stuck in my throat.

This couldn't happen. They would come soon and gloat about their enjoyment at the function. No no no, I was not ready to part with them so soon.

There must be a mistake. We should go and check the area. They must be waiting for help. They need me, I muttered while trying to get up from the bed.

Uncle stopped me by my shoulders, making me sit back again and cried, No one survived...no one...

He soon hugged me. Still crying, he spoke in a low voice now, No one present in that wedding hall survived. Not even a single person. We can't even see their bodies as they all are burned. No one is recognizable. I know this is hard but you need to accept this.

I didn't accept their death. I still waited near the main door for their return. But one day turned in two and two into three. And here I was performing the last rituals, losing all the hope that they would ever return.

Most of the funeral arrangements were done by Lawyer Uncle. Firstly, because I had no idea about these things and secondly because of my declining health. I already had fever. Crying continuously and standing near the main door in the cold just added to its effect.

I blew my nose, before standing up to join Uncle, who had just finished sorting out the last requirements.

We began walking towards his car, when he spoke up.

I was looking for your extended family and found out that your Aunt is alive, he spoke all of a sudden.

Why...why were you looking for my extended family? And didn't you say that they all died in the wedding? I asked in scratchy voice, as dread filled inside me.

All the people who attended the wedding died. But I was hoping that there would be someone who didn't attend the wedding and found out about your Aunt, he replied.

But why? I asked in a hopeless tone.

You are a minor. You need a guardian. Sorry kid but I was just following the law, Uncle apologized, though it didn't seem sincere to me.

Yeah, the law, I scoffed. Oh please. You just don't want the additional burden. And I understand. You don't have any responsibility towards me. But how can you send me to a stranger? I asked in an incredulous tone.

I am not just sending you to her. I made all the required findings. She is your Aunt from your Mother's side. You probably don't know about her because she was thrown out of the family before your parents married, he spoke in a calm, collected tone, making me more furious.

You are giving my responsibility to someone who was thrown out of the house. What the hell is wrong with you? I screamed with fury, which resulted in a coughing fit.

I patted my chest until the coughs stopped, before turning to glare at Uncle.

"I don't the reason behind her fallout with your family. But she has no criminal background and lives the life of a respected citizen. As she is your last living blood relative, you have no choice but to go with her.

I have called her. She will reach by tomorrow. So get ready to go with her, Uncle asserted, before getting inside the car.

'What kind of person he was? He didn't even give me enough time to mourn. My parents just died. And now I had to leave the house, which held so many memories of them,' I cried.

Get inside the car. And stop crying. You will worsen your health, he shouted from inside.

Leave. I will take a cab to go home, I spoke, before walking away from his car.

In a span of few days, my whole life had turned upside down.

2- When She Arrives

Regardless of getting constantly scolded by the maids, I still roamed around the mansion instead of taking rest.

I couldn't waste my time resting, knowing that I was going to leave this place anytime soon.

Every nook and corner reminded me of our memories.

The dining room: where we discussed about day while having dinner while sitting in an extra long dining table. Dad hated its extravagance but Mom loved those things and if Mom wanted that then it was going to stay.

The living room: where we would fight for our favourite T.V shows as it was Dad's rule to enjoy some moments together.

The Balcony: where Mom and I would have heart to heart talks, while looking at the beautiful flowers planted at our garden. There wasn't a single place where I didn't have any memory with my parents.

This mansion was my happy bubble. The place who had seen me grown up. My parents were gone but at least I had their memories here which would soon be collecting dust in my absence.

The doorbell rang. As I was near the main door, I opened it instead of the maids who regularly opened it.

My eyes widened looking at the person standing on the door. I rubbed my eyes and saw again, yet Mom was standing there.

How was this possible? Mom wasn't alive. Looks like fever had got into my head. I had now started getting hallucinations.

Hitting the side of my head, I looked at her again to see Mom standing there, looking at me with a confused expression.

Umm...dear. I am your Aunt Meera. Your lawyer must have told you about me? she said in a questioning tone, stupefied by my behaviour.

Oh yes! Please come in. Don't know, what has gotten into me. Instead of you, I am seeing my Mom's face, I welcomed her inside along with giving the explanation for my actions.

Looks like your mother never told you about me, she said chuckling but her eyes looked sad.

I shook my head lightly in response not understanding a thing.

Your mother and I are identical twins...sorry were, she explained in a sad voice.

To say I was dumbfounded was an understatement. When lawyer uncle told me about a maternal Aunt, I was expecting a distant relative, not this. Why didn't Mom ever told me about her sister? Weren't twins supposed to be super close?

I had many questions in my mind but thought better to not ask her anything, seeing we just met.

Oh dear! Why did you open the door? I would have come. Sorry, I was at the terrace, so it took time to come down. You go and take rest. I will take care of the guest, one of our old maids said worriedly.

I nodded and left for my room, not before giving my estranged Aunt an awkward smile.

A WEEK HAS PASSED BY and I had succeeded in avoiding my Aunt. She did try to come and talk with me but looking at her was enough for me to burst into tears.

Her face was a constant reminder of what I had lost. I would never forget my parents, but my Aunt's face was like a salt to my wound.

So I holed up in my room, spending my time by talking to the pictures of Mom and Dad.

There was a knock on my door. I thought it must me a maid so I asked her to come in.

It wasn't maid at door but my Aunt. I instantly turned my face to the other side, not wanting to look at her and asked her to leave my room.

I know you have been avoiding me and I didn't say anything because I understand your pain but how long will it continue? Plus I have come here to ask you to start packing. Your fever has gone down and we need to leave soon, she said giving me a shock.

I turned but looked at the wall behind her and asked in a broken voice, So soon?

Yeah, I know this is difficult but we need to leave. Umm...do you need to gather any transfer paper from your school/ college? Sorry, I don't know your age. Your lawyer just gave me your name, she asked in a sheepish voice.

I rolled my eyes at that. It was same situation here; I was also informed about her name and nothing else.

"I am fifteen and there's no need for transfer papers as I finished school last month and vacations are going on, right now. Next year, I will be attending junior college.

Don't worry, I won't make a fuss and will start packing. You can start the preparations for leaving, I answered still looking behind her, not having courage to look at her face.

Ok, let me know if you need my help, saying this she left my room.

The moment she closed the door behind her, my tears started rolling down. It was hard to fake composure but I didn't want her to see me as a fragile girl.

I knew she was going to take my responsibility from now onwards. And so I had to try my very best to not become a burden on her, more than I already was.

No one was going to see my pain. This pain was something I had to bury deep inside.

3- My Aunt's family

It was time to leave . Packing was done and workers were taking the entire luggage from my room to the living room.

Begrudgingly, I too went downstairs after sending a message to my friends about the situation. They were good friends but weren't too close for us to meet before leaving.

Upon reaching the living room, I saw Lawyer Uncle conversing with Aunt. They turned their attention towards me when they saw me coming.

What is all this? How many bags are you going to take with you? Uncle asked in an incredulous tone, raising his eyebrows.

I am not going for a vacation that I will pack only few things, I replied in an annoyed voice.

Okay, okay, my fault. Sorry, he said with a light laugh, raising his hands in a surrendering position.

I sighed but nodded at him.

You go without any worries, yeah? I have settled the salaries of all workers. This mansion and all other properties of your parents will be taken care by me until you become 18 years of age. In short, you will be receiving everything after 3 years, Uncle said in a reassuring tone.

Was that supposed to make me happy? I asked in a disgusted tone.

How could he think that I was concerned about my parent’s money when I just wanted them back?

Enough now. Don't get angry on him. He is just doing his duty as your family lawyer, Aunt interjected and I muttered a small sorry to Uncle in response.

Alright, now give your uncle a hug, Uncle said spreading his arms.

I was still mad at him but didn't refuse the hug. Who knows when we would meet again or if we would ever meet in this lifetime? So putting my anger on the back of my mind, I returned the hug.

This

Reviews for New Beginnings

[Diya Hariya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's and amazing book. You all must try it. Book is worth reading. I promise you it won't disappoint