Chapter 1:
Akshara looked around the bustling house, filled with people going in and out and boxes stacked high. She couldn't help but feel excitement bubble inside her. Her family had just moved from India to the United States, and they were finally settling into their new home in Forks, Washington.
Her gaze shifted to her brothers, Kairav and Vansh, who were overseeing the work being done. Kairav, with his glasses and serious demeanor, was focused on making sure everything was going according to plan. Meanwhile, Vansh, with his jovial personality and round figure, added a lightheartedness to the work.
Akshara couldn't wait to complete her own room and make it feel like her own. She made her way downstairs to see if her luggage had been delivered yet, eager to start organising her new space.
As she stepped out of the house, a gentle breeze blew, and her long, silky, wavy hair flowed behind her. Her brown, expressive eyes twinkled with excitement as she made her way to the front doorstep. "Kairav bhaiya," she called out, "Please get my luggage. My room is ready. How long do you need?"
Kairav turned towards her and smiled fondly at his beloved sister, chuckling at her eagerness. "Akshara, had you not packed so much, it would have been in your room long gone. With the amount of luggage you brought, one would think we are moving here permanently."
Vansh chimed in, teasingly suggesting, "Maybe, after her studies we can get her married here. What do you say, kairav?. That way we won't have to take her with us." Akshara rolled her eyes at her brothers' jokes. "Bhaiya! Stop teasing me. And I only brought the necessary stuff with me."
With a laugh, she hurried back inside, her mind filled with anticipation. She made her way to her room, which had been painted a welcoming peach colour and furnished with elegant white furniture. Her eyes scanned the room with satisfaction, admiring the Indian cabinet on the right and the large bay window that allowed her to see into the house downstairs. White and pink curtains covered it, and soft, pastel-coloured pillows adorned the window bay. On the opposite wall, there was a dressing table with a large mirror adorned with flowers, and a wooden cabinet next to it. A big window on the same wall showed the front of the house and was covered with the same curtains as the bay window. Between the two walls, the middle wall had a double white bed and Letter "A" shaped shelves on each side.
The wall stopped, and the next one began, with a white study table positioned in front of it. The desk was placed near the window so I could admire the view while I read. Coming after the study table was a white wardrobe, with silver handles on the doors.
She smiled at the two peach-coloured single bean bag sofas sitting across from each other with a wooden coffee table in between. They were perfect for when she needed to unwind after a long day at school.
Akshara sat on the bed, waiting for the rest of her family to finish up their work around the house. After a while she stood up and walked slowly to the window, the polished wooden floors creaking beneath her feet. She opened the window and gazed out of the window at the rolling hills in the distance.
She breathed in deeply, letting the salt-sweet forest air fill her nostrils. The smell of wet moss and pine needles mixed with the scent of wet dirt and fresh water from a nearby stream. The smell of the forest immediately invigorated her, washing away any traces of exhaustion.
She glanced over the edge and was met with a breathtaking sight; the courtyard was lined with centuries-old cobblestones, lovingly placed in intricate patterns.
An imposing, neoclassical iron gate stood as a sentinel against one wall, a barrier to an unknown world beyond. A single sprig of dandelion had snuck up through one of the cracks between the stones, its bright yellow petals a reminder that life continues even in forgotten places.
She smiled fondly as her gaze took in the lush flower beds and manicured hedges of the garden. Memories of her Udaipur home flooded her mind—of planting flowers with her parents, of enjoying snacks together under the dappled shade of a sprawling mango tree, and of sharing laughter over shared stories, her mothers lively laugh as she narrated a funny stories and her fathers loving embrace as her comforted after a bad day.
As she gazed at the barren earth, an idea sparked in her mind. She could envision rows of vibrant flowers, tall trees that would dance with the breeze, and a lush garden bursting with life. Just beyond the empty soil lay a shaded space, where she could picture herself lounging on a cushioned swing, sipping her morning coffee and just listening to the infamous rain of Forks. The balcony above provided just enough cover to make it cosy without feeling closed off from nature.
She smiled at herself, feeling a surge of excitement as she stumbled upon her latest project. With a sense of purpose, she hurriedly made her way to the cabinet near the door, where her trusted stationary awaited. Retrieving her sketching tools, she eagerly set about creating a rough draft of her vision, visualizing how she wanted it to come to life. Pouring her creativity onto the blank canvas, she meticulously detailed every aspect, shaping the design into something truly remarkable. However, she knew that a mere sketch could only do so much justice to her grand vision. Determined to bring her creation to life in the most accurate way possible, she decided to take it a step further.
With determination in her eyes, she resolved she would create a 3D model of her masterpiece, which would allow her to assess every angle and detail from different perspectives. This would serve as her blueprint, guiding her throughout the entire process. Only when she would be satisfied with the accuracy of her model would she embark on transforming the actual space into a real-life manifestation of her artistic vision.
She wasn't a professional or anything, she was still in school and would be starting her junior year at Forks High School on Monday, but her mother always said that creativity was always a second nature to her.
She was putting some final touches on the sketch of her garden when her great-grandmother, whom she and her siblings fondly called Mimi, came.
"Akshara, beta, it's time for dinner," Mimi said with a smile.
Akshara looked up and grinned, delighted to see her beloved great-grandmother. "Come in, Mimi!" Akshara said, gesturing to her to come and sit next to her on bed. Mimi entered the room and took a seat, eyeing Akshara's sketches with interest. Akshara eagerly explained her vision for the empty courtyard, her hands gesturing enthusiastically as she spoke.
Mimi listened intently, nodding and smiling approvingly as Akshara described her plans. "That sounds wonderful, Akshara," Mimi said when Akshara had finished. "You are so creative, my dear. I think it will be a great addition to the house." Akshara beamed with pride at her great-grandmother's praise.
"And we can also add a few statues in the courtyard. In my time when I was your age we went to the park for a picnic and it had a beautiful marble peacock. Maybe we can put that in the middle? What do you say?" Mimi said while looking over the sketch and pointing in the middle where the statue would look nice. Akshara's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Of course! That's a great idea, Mimi," Akshara exclaimed. "I'll definitely include it in the design." Mimi smiled indulgently at Akshara's enthusiasm and then turned her attention to her great-granddaughter.
"But first, you must take care of yourself, Akshara," she said gently. "We had a long journey last night travelling from Udaipur to Forks, and we've been unpacking all day today. You need to rest." Akshara nodded in agreement, knowing that her great-grandmother was right. She leaned her head on Mimi's shoulder, feeling comforted by her presence. "I will, Mimi," Akshara promised.
"Can I sleep in your room tonight? You know I don't like sleeping alone and even Aarohi isn't here with me" Mimi hesitated for a moment, and Akshara felt a pang of worry. But then Mimi smiled and placed a comforting hand on Akshara's back. "Of course, my dear," she said lovingly. "But only for tonight, okay? The rest of the family will be here tomorrow anyway."
Akshara breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Mimi tightly. Mimi returned the embrace, tenderly kissing Akshara's head. As she pulled away, Mimi instructed Akshara to clean up and come downstairs for dinner. But before she left, she turned back to Akshara. "Oh, and one more thing," she said while gesturing towards the door. " The worker put a box outside the room for you. I think your brother forgot to bring it. Get it and clean up and come straight for dinner." Akshara smiled nodding her head.
After Mimi had left her room, Akshara began tidying up the scattered papers and art supplies that were strewn across her desk. She then made her way to the door, but before leaving, she remembered Mimi's instructions about the box left outside. She stepped outside, blinking in the soft light from the hallway, and made her way to the box.
Akshara's eyes widened as she opened the box, revealing the photo frames she had packed in Udaipur. She lovingly picked up a photo of her parents, feeling a wave of emotion wash over her, she hugged it before putting it on the bed side table.
Akshara felt a sense of completeness as she gazed at the photos of her family. She picked up a few more pictures and arranged them on her shelves and wall. As she stood back, surveying her work, Akshara felt a sense of pride and contentment. Her room had finally come together, and it felt like a reflection of her true self.
Just then, Akshara heard Mimi calling her from downstairs. Akshara quickly grabbed the box so she could put it in the store room for later use, and made her way to the door. She called out to her brothers Kairav and Vansh, asking "Brother do you want to play carrom after dinner?"
As Akshara left her room, the window blew open due to strong gusts of wind. The family picture frame that she had placed on the wall near the window fell and crashed to the ground, shattering into a million pieces.
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