CHAPTER 1: Journey to Delhi

Hello everyone this is my first novel and it is a indian novel plz like , comment and subscribe.

The train rattled along the tracks, the rhythmic chugging blending with the chatter of passengers. The scent of chai and samosas filled the air, mixing with the occasional shriek of children and the distant calls of vendors. Amidst the chaos of the bustling train compartment, Vanika Kapoor was engaged in a war—a war for a packet of chips.

“Give it back, Ritvik! It’s mine!” Vanika lunged across the seat, her fingers outstretched, desperately trying to snatch the bright yellow packet from her elder brother’s grip.

Ritvik, two years older, smug, and annoyingly stronger, leaned back against the window, holding the packet high above his head. “Finders, keepers, little sister.” He smirked, shaking the bag tauntingly.

Vanika huffed, narrowing her eyes. “I bought it! You stole it from my bag when I went to get water.”

“So? You should’ve hidden it better.”

Vanika growled, then without warning, pounced on him like a wild cat, shaking his arm violently. The train lurched, making her stumble, but she quickly regained balance and clung onto his wrist.

“Mom! Look at Ritvik, he’s stealing my food again!” she yelled dramatically, drawing the attention of their mother, who was busy checking their luggage.

“Stop fighting, both of you!” Mrs. Kapoor sighed, rubbing her temples. “Vanika, sit down. Ritvik, if you don’t give her the chips, I’ll take them myself.”

Ritvik groaned, but before he could protest, Vanika grabbed the opportunity. With all her strength, she yanked his arm and—

CRACK!

The packet burst open mid-air, and chips rained down like confetti.

For a moment, the two siblings just stared. The chips lay scattered on the seat, the floor, and even on a grumpy old uncle sitting nearby.

The uncle—a man in his sixties with thick-rimmed glasses and a scowl that could terrify anyone—glared at them. He slowly picked up a lone chip from his lap, inspecting it as if it were evidence in a crime scene.

Vanika gulped.

Ritvik gulped harder.

Their mother sighed in exhaustion.

“This is why I say behave in public!” she scolded, flicking both of them on their foreheads. “Can you two not act like wild animals for one train journey?”

Ritvik rubbed his forehead, muttering, “She started it…”

Vanika stuck her tongue out at him.

The uncle cleared his throat loudly. “Youngsters these days—no discipline, no manners! Fighting over chips like street kids!” He shook his head, clearly irritated.

Vanika, never one to stay silent, folded her arms. “Uncle, it’s not about chips. It’s about justice.”

The uncle squinted at her. “Justice?”

“Yes,” she nodded, serious. “It was my chips. He stole them. I fought for what was mine. That’s not lack of discipline, that’s fighting for my rights.”

Ritvik snorted. “Yeah, right. Drama queen.”

Their mother facepalmed, muttering something about why did I have two children instead of one?

The uncle let out a long sigh and turned away without another word, clearly deciding it wasn’t worth the argument.

Vanika flopped back on her seat, groaning. “Ugh. Now I don’t even have chips.”

Ritvik grinned and pulled another unopened packet from his bag. “Maybe next time, little sis.”

Vanika gasped. “You had another one? You—” She jumped on him again, and the train continued speeding toward Delhi, their new home, filled with promises of adventure, mischief, and the unknown.

The train screeched to a halt at New Delhi Railway Station, the chaotic blend of voices, honking rickshaws, and hurried footsteps filling the air. Vanika Kapoor, still sulking over her lost chips battle, stepped out onto the platform, taking in the sight of the crowded station, glowing signboards, and endless streams of people rushing past.

“Welcome to Delhi,” her mother sighed, adjusting her dupatta while balancing two heavy bags.

“Feels like a battlefield,” Ritvik muttered, yawning. “And we’re the clueless soldiers.”

“Or explorers,” Vanika corrected, a smirk forming. “Delhi is full of mysteries waiting to be solved.”

Her father, Mr. Kapoor, gave them a strict look. “Before any mysteries, let’s solve the first problem—getting home with all this luggage.”

After what felt like an eternity of dragging suitcases, avoiding auto drivers overcharging them, and almost losing a bag in the crowd, they finally managed to book a cab.

Vanika pressed her nose against the car window as they drove past the historical buildings, vibrant street markets, and busy roads of Delhi.

“Look at this city! It’s alive,” she whispered to herself, excitement bubbling inside her.

Ritvik, unimpressed, scrolled through his phone. “It’s loud, crowded, and smells like pollution.”

Vanika rolled her eyes. “Ugh, you have no sense of adventure.”

As they turned into a quieter residential area, her father pointed ahead. “That’s our new house.”

Vanika’s eyes widened.

The two-story house stood in a peaceful lane, with a small garden at the front and a large balcony on the upper floor. It wasn’t luxurious, but it had a warm, welcoming charm.

“Not bad,” Ritvik admitted, grabbing his backpack.

Mrs. Kapoor was already at the gate, instructing the movers, while their father sorted out the paperwork with the landlord.

Vanika? She was already plotting her escape.

Inside the House –

The moment they stepped inside, the unpacking began. Suitcases opened, furniture was arranged, and chaos filled the rooms.

Vanika threw herself on the soft mattress of her new bed, stretching her arms. “Finally! My own space.”

But her mind was elsewhere.

Delhi. The city of food, history, and endless places to explore.

Her mother’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “Vanika and ritvik help me in the kitchen!”

“Coming!” called, already forming a plan in their head.

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To be continue

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