CHAPTER-1

Many people walked by, as she was sitting on a bench in the central courtyard of the university campus, enjoying the unclouded sun, peaking through the horizon, ultimately settling down for an automn night rest.These days fall by so briskly, as though it is in divine hasten to reach the winter.

After a toilsome day, she leisurely relished the sight of the courtyard awash with the chromatic foliage and the lifeless trees, unfolded before her eyes .The dominant earthy redolent of fall lingered in her nose, smelling as similar to freshly sharpened pencil. She sucked a deep breath, welcoming the crisp air and the intense aroma of autumnal lilacs. With each breath of the gushing breez, it filled her empty self. The nature's erupted to it's fullest for all who care to see it's beauty .The slanting rays of the sun caressed the amber-scarlet tapestry of leaves beneath her feet and the molten brass evening sky engulfed her in it's calmness.

However, a familiar chirpy voice of the person  standing behind her, broke her serenity.

"Miss Livian, we should head back home if you are done with your assignment work."

Anna, her nanny, who was standing behind her sitting frame, spoke in her regular monotonous yet nourishing tone .Not being able to hide the dissatisfaction, she scrunched her face slightly but the realisation of how long she had been sitting there, made her gasp.

"Oh Yes, I am over with it. We must get going or else mom will-"

"Miss, you shouldn't dwell here until this late or else mistress will be furious!"

Cutting her in the middle,Simon, who was right next to Anna, spoke. His face was evident with reasonable concern and fear.

"Er.. I was going to say 'worried' but 'furious' will also do."

Giggling at her own words she glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see their lifted edges but there was nothing but the same usual empathetic look, which was again fairly out of her reach of comprehension. Disappointed deep down she bluntly ripped her gaze to look down at the notebook on her lap and merely closed it. As usual without Livian saying anything, Anna put all her belongings in her satchel bag and held it for her, as they set off for home.

While sitting in the car and watching the sky drain of colour as it aglowed with the bright city lights , for a fleeting moment the thought of not going back home crossed her mind. However, thinking of her mom, working so hard to give them a superfluously comfortable life made her chase the thoughts away. Why she mused so? Well, according to Livian, her life is not that..exciting. She spend her entire day following her schedule like a robot. Her monotonous life is nothing but waking up, watching the maids doing her work and serving her, studing, meticulously doing her piano practice, sleeping, and then repeat. So far it's quite tedious and unrelieved from every possible ways.

The car brought to halt as Simon opened the door for Livian to climb off it. As she got out of it, her eyes caught the sight of the huge fortified manor-house awashed in golden night light.

The massive mansion made in the centre of the town with lavish interiors, tall glass windows that give the best views and that probably eradicate the need of artificial lightings, an ample sized courtyard, the superfluously expensive artefacts, and modern design of architecture, makes it a fantasized place to live in.

Livian ingressed inside, trailed by Anna who was merely struggling to keep up with her slow pace.

"Livian?!"

Just when she entered the lounge area, a familiar voice chirped out of somewhere. Roaming her eyes around, she tried to find the source of the voice in the huge hall. Sitting over the lounge area , her mom was doing some paperwork when she flashed her a smile.

She, Neith Calvert, a well known and successful buisness woman, a philanthropist, a beautiful lady, Livian's mom and wife of her late father Aleksander Calvert and what not. The word 'perfect' would be an understatement for her personality. She's the role model for almost every millennial in the town. She likes her work to be precisely perfect and that's what aside from her solemnly strict behaviour for which people avoid to go against her will.

"Pardon. I didn't notice you, mom."

She apologized and trudged her way to her mom. Taking her specs off, she gestured Livian to sit.Livian, who was feeling filthy after a tedious day of work, hesitated but however plopped herself on the couch next her and tried to take glance of the files she was working on But, unfortunately couldn't, as her mom closed it before her eyes could fall on them. She had always been curious about what kind stuffs she has to deal with everyday but her mom always shoves it off, saying that that's not something she should be concerned about.

"What took you so long? If I'm not wrong, according to your today's schedule, you ought to be home by three?"

Nieth, who was looking at her with a wrinkled face, asked. Even though she's always drowned with lots of work, she still have a brief knowledge of Livian's routine of all day. According to her, Livian should not be spending her day without being productive.

"Eh, I got an assignment to do. So I stopped by the l-library  to finish it. I thought I might be needing s-some books."

She stuttered, feeling like a small creature under her bored down-turned eyes.

"Don't we have enough books in our library?"

Her brows cocked confusingly or what Livian guessed, doubtfully. Her voice didn't come out as if her throat tighten inside while she struggled to calm down the crazy thumps she felt in her chest. Her mother's gaze even made it difficult to an extent, she found herself squirm.

"Er.. mom, as we were asked to prepare a documentary on 'Analysing the effects of Love on people'  I-I needed some books from the library. We d-don't have t-that kind of books over here."

She again stammered profusely even though she was speaking a matter of fact. And indeed they don't have any novels or books related to love or romance, as Nieth finds them unworthy. She is the one who chooses all the books that they have in their library.

"Love..you say huh?!"

And just like others, she also didn't like the tone her mom was using at that time. Nieth always tends to prefers using a most monotonous voice with an earnest look on her face. Livian really had a urge to rebut back but she couldn't.

"I think you should go,clean up yourself and take rest, darling. You must be exhausted."

She smiled. That kind of reply was even more petrifying. Livian was highly assuming that she will probably ground her for the next couple of days, which she always prefers doing but not this time.

*She let it slide like that?*

"Miss, We should head upstairs!"

Anna spoke out of fear. Even she also knows that her mom isn't in a good mood but what Livian was feeling is not even close to what she was. But the part which she doesn't believe is that her mom didn't say anything, not even a single word! And that's frightening the guts out of her. She merely pursed ger lips as she stood up and climbed upstairs.

Retiring back to her room, she blankly stared at the void while sitting on the bed. Her hands shook vigorously followed by her body breaking into cold sweat. She had never personally liked to provoke her mother or intended to tempt her fury as it makes Nieth turn into a whole different person when she is outraged.

She gulped down the bile raising when she heard the door knob creek after a couple of knocks. Anna came in with a heap of freshly cleaned and crisp-dried clothes to place them in the wardrobe.

Speaking of Anna, she is in her late thirties but far more dynamic and agile as compared to what Livian is and always dedicated to take care of her like her own daughter. And that's what she adores the most in her.

After placing the clothes in their respective place, she prepared a bath for Livian. Just like the way she does everyday. Meanwhile Livian on the other side, struggled with her careening heart and tried to unscramble the hidden motives of Nieth behind her sudden unusual behaviour. She might be too busy with dealing her buisness that she couldn't care less about Livian's métiers, she thought. But that also seemed too good to be true. Being in her trance, Livian didn't notice Anna's voice echoing in the ample sized room.

"Miss?!! Can you here me?"

Anna exclaimed, shaking her shoulder slightly.

"Hmm?"

Livian, who's suddenly dragged out of her train of thoughts, hummed, unable to make up a sentance.

"The bath is ready. You should clean yourself first."

Again not even trying to help herself with word, Livian bobbed her head while staring at the walls aimlessly.

"Don't bother yourself that much. Ma'am is just a bit concerned about your well being."

Looking at her drained out pale face, Anna responded.

"Concerned? How?"

Lifting her gaze to Anna's, she asked. And as a matter of fact, Livian's question made her drop her gaze which made Livian smile wistfully.

"Is the bath ready?"       

She kindly asked even though she's going through a grieving process.

"Oh yes! Do you want me to prepare a change of clothes?" 

"Please do." 

Anna immediately ran across the room to do what she was tasked to do and called Livian as soon as she was done. After placing her clothes , Anna left the bathroom for Livian to clean herself.

Left alone in the bath place, she caught a whiff of subtle aroma of the bubble bath. Striping herself, she ambled her way to the bathtub. A relaxing moan escaped her lips as her body gradually tranquilize in the luke warm water, gently embracing every inch of her fragile figure. The wamth of the water helped her tight muscles to relax. She felt like her blood rush through her viens fastly as if it were froze a moment ago but now melted away to gentle heat of the water.

Soon the room warmed up as it filled with the hot steam escaping from the water-filled tub. The perfect warmth of the water hugged her fragile body making her feel tired and dizzy as she chose to submerge her whole body all the way to her head.

She stayed motionless, resting her head on the edge of the tub. Everything seemed a lot quieter.. just to an extent she slipped into deep slumber.

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