ARMY QUARTERS, GUJARAT.

Dressed in a simple knee-length frock, embellished with tears and loose threads, her entire being, save for her face, was covered in dirt. Her long hair was unruly and fell on her face, blocking her vision.

With her little, dusty hands, she pushed the hair away from her face and looked at Samrat, her hands held behind her back.

Samrat just couldn't take his eyes off her. An awe-struck smile appeared on his lips, a tinkle of excitement glowing in his eyes as he kneeled down to her level. Her cheeks, chubby and soft, began to turn red out of shyness.

"Baba," he called softly, unable to look away from her, "is she really my sister?"

Raghav nodded, a smile appearing on his watched his son bond with the little girl. Taking off his heavy boots by the door, he strode in and immediately took his wife, Mansi, into his embrace.

"I missed you," they whispered to each other. Mansi sniffled, trying to hold back her tears and Raghav pulled away, cupping his darling wife's face.

"It's okay, Mansi. I'm here now." He consoled, wiping away her tears. Mansi smiled weakly, her eyes conveying gratitude. They embraced each other tightly, pulling apart when the little girl giggled.

"Thank you so much," he smiled, kissing the side of her head. "I know it must have been a difficult decision for you to make, but you still chose to take her in. I'll work harder in the camp, so that I can earn more money. Your expenses and responsibilities will increase now."

"Samrat was over the moon when he heard that you were adopting the girl. Infact, he was so happy, that he read all the letters that had something written about her so that he could find something she liked."

Mansi, then, held his hand and led him into the room they had prepared for the child. She pointed towards the books and teddies lying everywhere.

"Samrat has, all by himself, decorated the entire room." She opened the cupboards to show a variety of frocks, hairbands, pants, shirts and shoes. "He even chose these. All by himself."

Raghav stepped closer, his heart fluttering in pride. His amusement and pride was cut short when Mansi clasped his hands and made him look at her.

"All I'm saying is, the child is a responsibility. But she is not a responsibility I will handle alone. She has her older brother," she led him to the door and gestured towards the siblings, "who will look after her in my absence. Yes, our expenses will increase, but that is okay with me. I will do anything and everything to cherish and love this girl, just as I do for Samrat."

Raghav nodded, understanding the depth of her words. Just as he was about to leave, she added, "Ever since you mentioned her coming, the strained relationship between Samrat and I improved dramatically.

If this isn't a sign that she belongs here, what is?"

────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

"Aai," Samrat called impatiently, a pout forming on his lips as he strode along the doorway.

"Ek minute," she replied calmly, preparing the thali. Raghav had gone to wash up. Frustrated, Samrat walked in and complained, "Aai, Adrija aapka kabse wait kar rahi hai. Jaldi karo na! Bechari ke pairon mein dard ho raha hoga."

Mansi was amused. She looked at her son after lighting the Diya. "Tumne uska naam bhi rakh diya."

"Haan! Aaj se uska naam hai Adrija. Adrija Shinde." He stated proudly.

"Nahi, bilkul nahi. Uska naam Myra hoga." Raghav stumbled outside his room, the wet towel thrown over his shoulder.

"Adrija hoga." Samrat argued. "Woh meri behen hai."

"Myra hoga." Raghav refuted. "Haan toh? Beti toh meri hai."

"Accha, accha bas. Laddo mat tum dono." Mansi pacified them. "Bacchi ko pehle ghar mein aane do phir usse poochna usse kaunsa naam accha lagta hai."

The men nodded, watching as Mansi approached her with the thali.

The girl gazed in awe at the thali and Mansi. Before she had arrived, she spent every moment wondering if she would be welcomed into the family. But now, seeing her excited elder brother and enthusiastic mother, she began to feel safe.

Her big black eyes followed the Diya as Mansi performed the welcoming. Pressing her finger on the red paste and rice, she was about to put it on the child's forehead when the latter moved back and covered her forehead.

"Kya hua?" She asked, perplexed. It was then that Mansi noticed the dirt on the girl. She shook her head in pity, slightly angry at her husband.

"Mein... Mein gandi hoon." The child muttered, "Dekho, mitti laga hai." She held out her arms, showing the layers of dirt on her skin.

"Koi nahi. Hum sab gande hi hote hai." She pacified the child and put the teeka on her head. The child gasped, then looked at Mansi. She held a sweet in her hand, ready to feed the child when the latter shook her head. "Brush nahi kiya." She said, embarrassed.

"Thoda sa chalta hai." She said, feeding a bit of the sweet. Shifting the thali to her right hand, she held her left hand for the child and guided her inside.

"Adrija!"

"Myra!"

The men shouted as she made her entrance. The child flinched, holding Mansi's hand tightly in reflex.

"Bas karo, tum dono." Mansi, putting away the thali, picked the child in her arms. "Bechari ko darao mat."

"Samrat, help your baba with his unpacking. Tab tak mein apni gudiya ko tyaar kar aati hoon."

"And yes, turn off the stove after two whistles."

Saying so, she shut the door to the girl's room.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

Samrat tapped his finger against the receiver. Each ring felt like eternity to an enthusiastic Samrat who felt his world changing every second.

Finally, there was a click!

Samrat inhaled deeply, trying to keep his excitement under control.

"Hello?" A feminine voice answered.

"Hello, badi mami." He greeted.

"Arre, Samrat bada. Has your baba returned home? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes badi mami. Sab theek hai."

"Accha, waise, tumhare Ninad mama bol rahe the ki tumhare baba ne ek bacchi ko god liya hai."

"Haan, haan." He nodded in excitement. "You know, she is so cute. I feel like hugging her and not letting go of her at all. Her cheeks are so chubby and soft."

Flowing with the excitement, Samrat continued to praise his little sister for the next twenty minutes. Bhavani, the receiver, could feel his adoration and love for the newcomer just from his words.

"Accha, ruko. Virat se baat karo." She said, passing the receiver to him.

"Shiva!"

"Jiva!"

The brothers greeted each other.

"Kaisa hai tu?" Virat asked, his tone expressing his concerns. "Fufa aur Bua kaise hai?"

"Mein theek hoon. Aai aur baba bhi theek hai."

Samrat could hear some muffled voices coming from behind Virat.

"Tai aur Mohit bhi wahi hai?" He asked.

"Haan, hai." Devyani spoke, taking the receiver from Virat. The siblings squabbled, and taking advantage of it, Mohit held the receiver.

"Hello, Samrat Dada!"

"Arre, Mohit! Mere pyaare Bhai."

"Wah, dada! Aaj aapko apne chote Bhai par bada pyaar aaraha hai."

"Aayega na."

"Haan, kyunki mein toh hoon hi sabse zyada pyaara. Waise bhi ghar ke sabse chote aur pyaare bacche se kaun pyaar nahi karega?" He teased, flipping his hair dramatically.

"Arre, phir toh abh tumhe koi pyaar nahi karega."

"Kya! Kyun nahi, dada?" A surprised Mohit asked.

"Kyunki abh tum ghar ke sabse chote aur pyaare bacche nahi rahe." He teased. "Abh tum bhi bade bhai ban gaye ho."

"Sach mein?" Mohit confirmed, his lips spreading into a delightful smile.

"Haan, sach mein. Abh, hum sabki ek choti si pyaari si behen hai."

Mohit squealed loudly, forcing Samrat to cover his ears.

"Virat dada, mein bada bhai ban gaya hoon!" He shook Virat in happiness.

"Tai, abh humari ek choti behen bhi hai." He shrieked, his excitement getting the better of him.

Ninad smiled, watching the children get excited over the news.

"Dada, kya hua? Yeh sab itna shor kyun kar rahe hai?" Omkar, accompanied by his wife, Sonali, asked.

"Inhe ek khush khabri mili hai, Omi. Khush toh honge na." He chuckled. Turning towards his brother and sister-in-law, he informed, "Raghav Ji and Tai have adopted a young girl. They are all happy because they now have a little sister."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

I don't remember Mansi's husband's name or their surname as in the show, so I made it up.