They say that your life is beautiful when you are surrounded by the people whom you love the most. Foremost, it’s family and friends. A perfect family is defined by the amount of love, affection, and trust among its members. Scoldings, arguments, and fights are like cherries on the cake. Obviously, you argue or fight with someone whom you love. Arguments happen because you care for someone, and since no one thinks alike, there’s a clash of thoughts and arguments occur. It’s normal in every household. The Singhania Family is such an example.

The family is headed by two brothers - Ronit and Anoop Singhania. The two brothers have a good name in the business world. They have established a tech company that provides technical services to various companies. Now, handled by their children, they have developed many apps for simple assistance.

Ronit and Anoop are married to Pallavi and Puja respectively, and the ladies complement them well. While the men handle the business, the ladies are busy managing the house and their children.

Today, the Singhaniya Mansion is silent, despite being Sunday. Ronit, Pallavi, and Puja are having their morning tea when he notices the silence and also the absence of his brother.

“Ye Anoop kahan reh gaya subah subah?” He asks.

“Aap bhul gaye, bhaisahab? Anoop toh kal se ghar hi nahi aaye hain. Inke ek dost ki tabiyat kharab ho gayi thi toh ye hospital chale gaye the.” Puja informs while sipping her tea.

“Achcha, main puch leta hoon, kab tak aa raha hain?? Aur waise bachche kahan hai?” He asks, he hasn’t seen any of them since morning.

Well, it’s just eight in the morning, and the children might be sleeping. Pallavi shakes her head at her husband.

“Ronit, aapko na har samay sab log apne saamne chahiye. Time toh dekhiye, subah ke 8 baje hain.” Pallavi glances at him.

Meanwhile, a soft, feminine but crisp voice falls in their ears. The three people turn to see the person, and smiles make their way on their faces.

“I am home!”

A young girl enters the lobby and rushes to hug Ronit. She’s Ruhana Singhania, Pallavi and Ronit’s second-born. She beams at her parents and hugs each one of them. She also asks about her Chachu, Anoop.

“Vo aa jayenge, pehle tu mujhe ye bata, teri meeting kaisi rahi?” Puja asks.

“It was good, Mumma. We have got the deal. Rajat ji Mumbai aayenge, vo keh rahe they ki wo apne office ki ek branch yahin kholna chahte hain, aur pehla project hamara hi hain.” Ruhana informs, while looking at her dad.

“That’s a great work, beta. Lekin kuch zyada hi samay nahi lag gaya tujhe?” Ronit asks.

“Papa, ek din curfew ki wajah se late ho gaya. Rajat ji ne toh kaha tha ki main unke ghar ruk sakti hoon, par maine hotel booking hi extend kar li thi. Anyway, all’s well that ends well.” Ruhana smiles.

Ruhana is an optimistic girl; she sees everything positively. She loves her family immensely, and this is the superpower that she holds. She’s the second-eldest child of the house and the eldest amongst her sisters. She was away in Delhi for a business meeting and a conference. It took her five days to finish her job. But, she feels a void that no one can fill, not even her siblings and parents. Meanwhile, another girl hugs her, breaking her trance. She is Swara, the youngest child of the family, and she’s the third-born to Pallavi and Ronit.

"I missed you, Di."

“I missed you too, Swara. But, I am home now.” Ruhana kisses her head.

“Agar aap hume miss karti toh itne din nahi lagati. 2 din ka kaam tha, 5 din aapne lagaye. Huh, do you know how much we missed you?” It’s Mishti, second born to Puja and Anoop. She’s dearly loved by both sets of parents.

Mishti is very close to Ruhana, and she turns out to be her soulmate too. She knows when Ruhana is upset and when she’s happy. She understands her like no other. On the other hand, Swara is Ruhana’s cast shadow, a complete opposite of her elder sister. Ruhana loves them both immensely. She embraces both the girls in a hug.

“You know what, Di, dono bhaiyon ne hamari ek baat bhi nahi suni. Aur hume sataya alag se. Aapke saamne toh kaise seedhe bante hain, dono.” Mishti complains about their respective brothers.

“Arey, ye kya hai? Tum dono usey shaanti se baithne toh do. Aate hi complaints shuru kardi.” Puja scolds the other two girls who make a face.

"Han Han, aapko toh bas apni Ruhana beti ki chinta rehti hai. Meri aur Swara ki nahi.  Hamari toh bas badimaa Hain." Mishti says and hugs her Pallavi, and so does Swara.

“Arey chhoti Ma, mat daanto na. I am fine.” Ruhana tries to calm her mother.

"Haan, bas tune hi Bulbul aur Mishti ko sar pe chadha rakha hai, Ruhana. Tu dekhna ye dono tera peecha kabhi nahi chhodengi. Har baat mein inhe apni Di jo yaad aati hain." Puja says playfully.

“Ek kaam karo, Ma, in teenon ki ek hi ghar mein shadi kar dena. At least hum toh shaanti se rahenge.” A masculine voice falls in their ears.

It’s Dushyant, Puja and Rishabh’s first born, and Mishti’s elder brother. He’s of the same age as Ruhana. He sends a teasing look towards his sisters.

“Haww! Matlab aap kehna chahte ho ki hum aapko shanti se rehne nahi dete? So mean, Bhaiya.” Swara throws a cushion at him.

“Aur kya? Kitna satate ho tum dono? Har baat mein shaitani. Isliye tum teenon ki shadi ek hi ghar mein karva deni hain humne.” He further teases them.

“That’s so mean, bhai! Jao, ab main tumse baat hi nahi karungi. Ab aana apne problems leke, bilkul help nahi karungi main.” Mishti slaps his arms.

Ruhana laughs watching her siblings fight. Meanwhile, he feels the absence of her elder brother. She looks at her mothers.

“Ma, bhaiya kahan gaye?? Itni subah office chale gaye kya?” Ruhana asks about Sachin, the eldest of the five siblings.

“Sachin bhaiya ki toh baat hi mat karo, Di. Har time kaam karte rehte hain. Bilkul time hi nahi hain unko.” Swara scoffs.

“ Ab teri behen toh Delhi chali gayi thi toh mujhe hi karna hoga na kaam??” Sachin says as he enters the living room and ruffles Swara’s hair.

“Maine kaha tha kya aapse ki Di ko bhejo?? Jaana toh aapko tha. Aapne meri Di ko bhej diya. It's not fair. Okay!!” Swara makes a face, and pokes his arm playfully.

“It is fair, behnaa! Bilkul vaise hi jaise tum aur Mishti humko pareshan karte ho. Aur Ruhana tumko bachati hain.” Dushyant further teases them.

“Ab Ruhana thodi kehti hai isko shaitani karne ko. Fir bhi mujhe aur bhai ko satate ho tum log.” Dushyant continues.

“This is unfair. Aap complaint nahi kar sakte.” Mishti shouts.

“Han han, kya logic hain tumhara? Hum bade hai toh kuch nahi kar sakte. Sab kuch tum dono hi karte ho. Aur tumhare chakkar mein hume dant padti hai. “ Dushyant says teasingly, he’s in a good mood today.

“Haww, so bad. Behnon ki choti si baat nahi maan sakte. I hate you.” Mishti says as she throws cushions on Dushyant and Sachin.

Ruhana is observing everything but then intervenes between her siblings, where Mishti asks her to scold their elder brothers. But Ruhana denies.

“Main kyun samjhaun? Tum dono samajhte ho meri baat?? Jab dekho tab shaitani. Jao khud handle karo.” Ruhana says, making a face and the two men giggle.

“See, she isn’t of any help. Maine toh pehle hi kaha tha. “ Dushyant says teasingly.

Mishti hits Dushyant with a cushion and a Tom and Jerry chase begins between the siblings. Dushyant hides behind Sachin, pushing him to save him. He holds Mishti and Swara’s hands in order to stop them.

“Subah subah kyun ladte ho sab?” Sachin asks.

“Tum logon ke alawa aur kaun ho sakta hai. Mishti aur Swara ko shaitani sujhti hai, Tujhe kaam aur Dushyant aur Ruhana na jaane kya kya plans karte rehte hai. Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aata.” Pallavi says, shrugging her shoulders.

“Didi, inko kaun samajh sakta hai? Alag duniya mein rehte hain paachon. Na jaane kya hoga inka.” Puja says, glancing at the five children.

“We are innocent.” Mishti and Swara say in unison.

“Yeah, we know who’s innocent.” Pallavi says.

“Arey ab bache shaitani nahi karenge toh kaun karega, Mumma??” Swara asks innocently.

“Main akele nahi karti, it’s her plans, always.” Mishti stares at her younger sister.

“Acha hai, tum dono ho toh koi kami nahi khalti hume.” Pallavi says and it grabs Ruhana’s attention.

Ruhana glances at her mom and finds tears glistening with tears. She understands that there’s more to the story that’s being served to them. Upon asking, Pallavi changes the topic and asks her children to freshen up and come for breakfast.

But Ruhana is left thoughtful. She feels a void that can’t be filled. Even being occupied by work, and the love of her sisters, she feels that a part of herself is missing. Her mother’s words echo in her ears. Whenever Ruhana tries to share the feeling of emptiness with her mom, she’s rewarded with silence only. But she knows there’s something hidden.

Meanwhile, she feels a warm touch on her shoulder. She looks up only to find Sachin standing beside her. She wastes no time and hugs him, taking him by surprise. He smears her back.

“Bhaiya, there’s something that I feel missing. Aapko pata hai na?” She asks.

“Ruu, mujhe kya pata hoga? Aur kya hua? Abhi tak toh tera mood thik tha.” Sachin asks.

“Vo Mumma ne bola na kami ke baare mein? Kya kami hai, Bhaiya? Hum 5 log hain, aur sab humse itna pyar karte hain, kyun mujhe iasa lagta hai ki mumma mujhse kuch chhupa rahi hain.” Ruhana asks pulling away from the hug.

“Aisa kuch nahi hai beta, tu yunhi soch rahi hain. Jaa, ek shower le, tujhe achcha lagega.” Sachin says, smearing her hair.

“Bhai, aap baat ko taalo mat. Aapko pata hai na? Mujhe toh aisa lagta hain ki mera hi ek hissa kahin chhoot gaya hain. Aap ho, Dushyant, Mishti (Mishti’s nickname), Swara, sab toh hain, phir bhi ek khalipan sa hain. Kyun? Mujhe mere jawab kabhi nahi milta.” Ruhana says, her eyes glistening with tears.

“I just can’t let go of this feeling. Aap hi batao, main kya karun?” She looks at her elder brother, hoping, he would bring a solution.

Sachin stares at her for some good seconds before pulling her in a hug. Maybe, he knows the truth, but he doesn’t have enough courage to tell it to her. He kisses her head and asks her to freshen up.

Ruhana smiles, she knows, until her brothers are by her side, her life will be happy and joyful.

To Be Continued.

How are the lives of these four families  are entangled?

Stay tuned.