Page 2 of Twisted Bonds

Chitra’s heart melted because their first meeting and the subsequent events that led to them falling in love would be forever etched into their memories and hearts.

CHAPTER 2

(Past)

California,

United States of America.

It was late morning,yet it was gloomy, cold, and raining heavily. Mihir Thakvar was standing inside a phone booth at the university. He was on a long-distance call talking to his older brother, which was pretty late in the night in India.

“I’m doing fine, bhai. And yes, everything is good here at the dorm.”

However, his brother didn’t seem convinced.

“You should let me ship the luggage to your place, Mihir. You’ll feel at home having your personal things in a foreign country.” His brother was insistent like the other times they had spoken.

Mihir smiled with a shake of his head. The luggage that his older brother was planning to send consisted of an antique four-poster bed, matching nightstands, a dresser, a study table, and trunks full of his personal items and books. All of those didn’t seem much in his bedroom suite in the Thakvar mansion. But his current room was smaller than the closet space of the mansion.

“Bhai, the furniture is not going to fit in the university dorm room, which I’m sharing with someone.”

There was a pause.

“I know you told me you want to mix with other students and form friendships by living like them, but I am worried you will feel homesick.”

Mihir didn’t want to tell his brother he was already homesick. But it wasn’t due to material things. He missed his family and people. He especially missed his older brother and sister, with whom he shared a close bond.

“I’ll be fine, bhai,” Mihir repeated. “Is Nandini di there?”

“She’s sleeping,” Mihir’s brother said.

“Is Nandini di not well?” Mihir was worried as it was unlike his sister not to talk to him from the time he left home.”

“She’s fine,”Mihir’s brother said. “I’ve told her to rest because she has been up since early morning, making your favorite snacks and sweets. Since I was busy at a clan meeting today, she insisted on going to the city to pack them carefully and mail them to you. Also, Tomorrow morning, we are traveling to the holy land to oversee an important event at the Singoor temple.”

Mihir smiled. Nandini Thakvar was Mihir’s older sister. Although plenty of cooks were in the Thakvar mansion, his sister always ensured that she personally made his favorite sweets and snacks. She had even gone to the city to mail them, which must have taken her nearly all day to travel.

“It’s good that she is resting,” said Mihir.

“Yes, but Nandini did ask me to wake her up if you call.”

“Please don’t disturb her, bhai,” Mihir said, even though he missed speaking with his sister. If only the calls had gone through sooner when he tried to call.

“It is late at night for you too, bhai,” Mihir said. “It will be a long travel to the holy land. Please go to sleep. I’ll speak with you anddinext week.”

Mihir knew his brother and sister worked hard to develop the Thakvar region. After he finished his studies, he couldn’t wait tojoin them and help further prosper their region.

His sister Nandini suggested that he study abroad because she felt he was a bright student and would learn more from the world outside.

Although he missed his family and people, he was determined to make them proud. Mihir ended the call after telling his brother he was doing fine again. He slowly exited the phone booth, pushing away his homesickness from not talking to his sister.

As the rain continued to pour, he opened his umbrella and went into the nearest building, the university library. Closing the umbrella, he walked inside.

The library and the campus weren’t crowded that day as it was a Saturday. It would fill up with students once classes resumed on Monday.

As he walked by, he could feel several curious eyes on him, followed by whispers. He greeted them with a nod when he saw a few familiar faces. He had yet to form friendships as it had only been a few weeks since he had arrived from Singoor. Apart from greeting his roommates and some of his fellow students, he didn’t get the chance to talk much to any of them.

The whispers continued along with curious gazes.

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