It’s not about one person taking all the initiatives in a relationship while the other sits idle. Bonds between two people evolve when equal efforts are put into the relationship. Be it any relationship, love and respect are the most important attributes that should be present. If you can’t respect someone, you should not expect them to do the same. Of course, love is unconditional, but expectations always prevail. And if we can’t do any good for someone, we mustn’t do bad either. A relationship can flourish when it’s a mix of understanding, concerns, love, and respect. This is the belief that the Singhania siblings hold onto.

Ronit Singhania, the CEO of Singhania Industries, is happily blessed in his life. He’s married to Ragini, and they’re blessed with a daughter first and a son second. They’re not just happy but proud of their children too. After all, they’ve been doing quite well in their lives. As she reminisces about her children, Ragini feels a warm touch around her shoulders, and she knows that it’s her husband, Ronit.

“Aap itni jaldi kaise laut aaye, Ronit?” she asks, without looking at him.

“Ah, Ragini ji, ab toh bata hi dijiye, itne achche se kaise jaan leti hain mujhe?” Ronit asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Aise hi thodi na 30 saal guzaar liye maine aapke sath! Achche se jaanti hoon main aapko, toh aapka sparsh kaise nahi pehchanungi?” Ragini chides him, a gentle smile tugging on her lips.

“Kya Dad? Itna bhi nahi pata aapko, maa aapki rag rag se waakif hain. Aur aapke chakkar mein meri bhi class lag jaati hai! Maa se koi baat chhupi hai aaj tak, jo aaj chhupegi!? Pata nahi kahan se inko sab pata chal jaata hai!? Huh!” A chirpy, masculine voice cuts through the silence.

Ragini and Ronit turn their heads, only to find their son walking towards them, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His mother narrows her eyes at him as he hugs her gently, settling his chin on her shoulder.

“Maa, aaj bata hi do, kaise sab pata kar leti ho? Aur sirf meri hi class kyun lagati ho? Apni laadli beti ko toh kuch nahi kehti aap!” He makes a face, talking about his sister.

“Kehne ki zarurat tujhe hai, usey nahi,” Ragini rolls her eyes at her son.

“Huh! That’s so unfair, Maa.” He makes an innocent, sad face.

“Isme kya unfair hai? You get what you deserve,” A young girl passes by him, teasing him at the moment.

The young lad makes a face, feigning annoyance, while the girl laughs. These two are siblings – the guy is the younger child of Ronit and Ragini, while the girl is the elder daughter of the couple. Kabir is the notorious one, but he’s very emotional when it comes to his family. On the other hand, Ruhana is a silent soul, and she shows her cheeky side only to her brother and parents.

Ruhana is a fresh business graduate and has joined her father in the business, while Kabir is still studying. These two are two years apart and share a beautiful, unbreakable bond. Kabir might tease her, but he loves her the most. A lone tear in her eyes pains him the most. Today is another day, and both the siblings are in a good mood. Ruhana looks at her brother as she arranges the table for breakfast.

“Kabir, tum yahan wahan kyun ghum rahe ho? Jao, naha ke ready ho jao, college nahi jana?” Ruhana asks, her tone laced with concern.

“Nope, mujhe nahi jana hai. Aur haan, mom se keh do, main naraaz hoon,” Kabir says, maintaining a tough demeanor, though his eyes are twinkling with mischief.

“Arey, mom se gussa ho, mujhse kyun aise bolte ho? Maine kya kiya hai?” Ruhana rolls her eyes at her brother.

“Sab aapne hi kiya hai, aapko koi kuch nahi kehta, mujhe hi sunna padta hai,” Kabir says, his tone serious, yet his eyes betray the emotions.

“Toh bhai ho mere, sunna toh tujhe padega hi. Vo kehte hai na ki waqt aane pe chhota bhai bhi bada hi ho jaata hai, aur tum toh vaise bhi mujhe dant-te rehte ho,” Ruhana gazes at her brother, her tone soft yet radiating a lot of depth.

“Hey, kab danta maine?” Kabir rolls his eyes at his sister, who’s now smiling, for she’s successful in diverting him.

“Bas aise innocently smile karke mujhe chup kara deti ho,” he says as he embraces Ruhana in his arms.

“Han toh mere saamne vaise bhi koi tik nahi sakta, tum bhi nahi,” Ruhana says cheekily.

“Hai ek insaan, jo tumhare saamne tikega, par usey dhundhna padega,” Kabir says jokingly as he parts the hug and looks at her sweetly.

“Aur aisa kaun hai?” Ruhana rolls her eyes at her younger brother.

“Bola toh dhundhna padega, aapka lifepartner! Kaho toh Ma se baat karun? Vo toh vaise bhi tumhari shadi ke liye chintit hai,” he jokes, causing Ruhana to glare at him.

“Shut up, Kabir! Ye kya leke baitha hai tu? Tu jaa, ready hoke aa. Kuch bhi bolte ho,” Ruhana scolds him playfully, only earning his giggle in return.

“Arey, main sahi bolta hoon, chaho toh Maa se puch lo. Wo toh abhi se apna damad dhundh rahi hai. Vaise agar koi hai tumhari life mein, toh bata do, main usey hi apna jeeju banaunga, aur Ma ko convince bhi kar lunga,” Kabir teases her, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

Ruhana glares at him and throws a cushion at him, which he catches in time. He giggles and further begins to tease her. Meanwhile, their mum comes out of the kitchen and gazes at them with a fond smile. Kabir runs to hide behind his mother.

“Ma, aapko apni khoj shuru kar deni chahiye, you know, ‘Mission Dulha Dhundho’!” He giggles, his tone playful.

“Nahi, Ma, pehle aap ek bahu dhundh lo, isko badi jaldi hai mujhe ghar se bhejne ki! Pehle iski shadi kar do, phir sochti hoon main ki mujhe shadi karni bhi hai ki nahi,” Ruhana says, her tone laced with annoyance.

“Arey, aap badi ho, aur vaise bhi maine soch liya hai, jab tak aapki shadi nahi hogi, main shaadi vaadi nahi karunga. Aur phir kya hai na Di, main toh itna charming hoon ki koi bhi ladki pat jayegi,” he says cheekily, a smile playing on his lips.

“Achcha jii! Aisi baat hai? Dekhte hain kispe tera charm work karta hai, I must say, that girl should be hard to please,” she winks at her brother.

“Huh, tum meri side ho ya uski? I mean abhi toh pata hi nahi hai kuch!” He rolls his eyes at her.

“Han, toh pata chal jayega, mere bhai. Aur rahi baat side lene ki, toh of course, mujhe meri hone wali bhabhi ki hi side leni padegi, tumhe sambhal liya na 25 saal,” she says teasingly.

Kabir looks at her with an open mouth and then turns to his mother, who’s still observing them with a fond smile.

“Maa, aap kya dekh rahi ho? Inko samjhao, she should take my side, ye toh abhi se meri hone wali biwi ki side chali gayi hai,” he makes a face.

Ruhana giggles and throws a cushion at him again, affirming that she’s teaming up with his would-be bride, and the chase between the two siblings begins. They run around the house, still teasing each other about the prospect of marriage. However, panting heavily, Ruhana plops on the couch, and so does Kabir beside her. As the two siblings glance at each other, their laughter rings in the room.

Their sweet bond is a testament to the love and promise of togetherness that they’ve instilled between them.

To Be Continued.