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The afternoon summer sun was glimmering on the ivory haveli that stood proudly in the middle of a large estate. On the right of the three-story house was a cluster of trees while on the left was a small cottage. A long straight driveway ended at the foot of the house and here started the architecturally exquisite palace like building. The ivory beauty had been standing proudly at the outskirts of Alamnagar for more than twenty years. And it still remained the symbol of perfection to the residents of Alamnagar.

The swift breeze found itself halting at one of the windows on the ground floor as it heard the soft clatter of plates and cups. It peeked inside only to find the young ladies of The Shah Gharana preparing the usual snacks.

"Saman can you get the cookies out?" A voice called making Saman look around and nod. It was another quite chaotic afternoon. Saman, Mansha, Sara and Mahi were busy preparing tea and snacks for everyone as it was a daily habit of the people of Shah Gharana.

"Bhabi...is everything ready?" Saman asked, plating the warm cookies. [Sister-in-law]

"Almost. Sara go call Ahad." Mahi spoke, making Sara move out of the kitchen. Carefully lining the delicacies and teas on some trays they took them out in the living room where elder ladies. They entered the room along with Ahad.

"What's up ladies?" He asked nearing them only to stop by the tray of tea that was pushed towards him.

"Devar ji, take this to the front room." Mahi spoke, grinning. Ahad groaned, he didn't like being around the rest of the men of the house as the only thing they discussed was politics. And he hated politics. But as he had no other option, he silently followed his sister-in-law's order.[Brother-in-law]

"I can never understand him and his antics." Munazza spoke, shaking her head, but the hint of adoration in her voice for her youngest son wasn't missed by anyone.

"Ammi... I think none of us can understand him." Mahi said, making the rest of the ladies chuckle.[Mom]

"Girls, Ramadan is going to start soon, and I want all of your Eid's preparation done before the fasting starts." Turning towards the young girls, Munazza begum spoke.

"Hmm, I agree bhabi. It'll be better that way." Nausheen begum said.

"But Tayi Ammi Ramadan is still a month away." Saman spoke.

"As if it will not take you girls less than a month to complete your shopping." Rameesha Begum said, chuckling lightly.

"Ab aisa bhi to nahi hai Chachi." [It's not like that aunty]. Saman complained.

"Saman we know you three. Poor Ahad had to go out in heat daily." Nausheen grinned.

"Fine. Anyways we will get extra time for preparing." Saman said with a satisfied smile making Sara and Mansha nod in agreement.

They fell into comfortable talks, the elder ones in discussing topics of all kinds will the three young girls along with their Mahi bhabi were busy in planning their Eid outfits and jewelry. A never ending topic.

"Everything's fine, but I have one request." Saman spoke, interrupting Sara who frowned first then looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"Can any of you get my clothes and jewelry and shoes and everything. I will not face the shops this time, I don't know why but when so many things come in front of me I lose the ability to choose." Saman said with exasperation.

"Come on Saman it's not that big of a deal. We will help you." Mansha said, hitting her arm playfully.

"As if you guys are experts in this field." Mahi added, rolling her eyes.

"Last time I barely escaped Ahad's wrath. He was ready to bury me six feet deep." Saman sure was annoyed, but that was nothing new.

"Do I hear my name?" And here came the devil. With his signature cheeky smile, Ahad entered and made his way towards them.

"I didn't know you can't hear." Saman said, rolling her eyes, making Ahad frown.

"Why are you here?" Immediately Mahi changed the topic knowing very well what came next.

"Politics, Politics and politics. I swear our family cannot speak of anything else." Slumping on an empty sofa, Ahad spoke, making Mahi shake her head.

"Anyways why was my name taken here?" He again asked.

"Why do you think the world only revolves around you? Nobody took your name." Saman remarked glaring in his eyes.

"Oh Allah! Don't you two start again." Sara exclaimed, making the two angry birds look away from each other with a huff.

_______

Zalkernain Shah, a man of his principles and morals, had once courageously established a complete new business in the small town of Alamnagar. He was a young man in his early twenties and a resident of quite remote area of Bihar. But the confidence he possessed at that time when he had nothing was impeccable, he had believed in himself, he had played with his luck, something very few had power to do.

With his wife Ruqaiya, a small son and barely enough money he had started his journey for Alamnagar and now after decades he owned an expanding furniture business and a well deserved recognition.

Zalkernain Shah had four sons and two daughters. Each of them were well qualified in their lives and had their own families yet they never got separated. The daughters had happy families with their husbands and the sons lived together in The Shah Haveli. The grand house that their beloved father had constructed, a building that had memories of years of togetherness.

Anwar Shah was the eldest son of the family followed by Amjad Shah and Laraib Shah. Mazhar Shah was the third son while Ihsan the last one. And Laiba Shah the youngest daughter.

Anwar was married to Munazza and had Fahad, Ahad and Sara as their children. Amjad and Nausheen had Armaan and Noor. Mazhar and Rameesha had a son Zeeshan and two daughters Farha and Mansha while Ihsan had Saman.

And in all the youngest ones, there was Saman Shah...the most adored one. She was barely a few years old when her mother died. Being motherless had rarely affected her...maybe because she was never aware about her mother. For her, it was always her aunts that were no less than a mother...the reason why she was most of the time found around any of them, if not with cousins. . Saman's mother and Ahad's mother were sisters and so after her sister's death Munazza had raised Saman like her own child.

Saman entered her badi ammi's room and smiled seeing her laying calmly on her bed with her one arm covering her eyes.

"Badi ammi...are you awake?" She asked in a soft voice. Munazza removed her hand from her eyes and squinting her eyes looked at her. Saman walked to her and adjusted near her legs on the bed. Munazza sat up and leaned on the headboard. A faint grin adorned her aged yet beautiful face. Sitting on the bed with her legs folded, she started pressing her badi ammi's legs slowly. Sensing her unusual silence Munazza frowned.

"What happened gudia?" [Doll]

"Nothing badi ammi. Should I apply oil too?" She asked shrugging off the topic.

"No it's fine. Why are you so silent?" Munazza asked calmly.

"Ahad and I fought." Saman murmured, making Munazza smile in acknowledgement.

"That's nothing new."

"Now he will not take me for Eid's shopping." She added.

"Oh! So this is the matter." Munazza said thoughtfully, making Saman nod.

"We have plenty of time Saman. Don't worry. He will calm down till then."

"I wish he does." Saman exhaled.

"It's getting late, don't you have classes tomorrow?" Munazza asked, making her nod.

"I was just going to sleep." Saman said getting down and wearing her slippers. Throwing a last glance to her badi ammi she made her way outside.

Walking leisurely in the corridor she peeked down the railing only to find the living hall silent. The moon's light was lightening the silent haveli as it peeked from behind the curtains. It was giving a sense of serenity as she looked at the dancing curtains which danced along the wind which was colder than every day.

Her slow steps were now taking her towards her room that was on the second floor of the haveli. The haveli was enchanting in its a own way and even if she had spent her entire twenty-four years here, the haveli never failed to mesmerize her. Indeed, her Dada Jaan [grandpa] had put a lot of effort into making this place a home. Every corner of The Shah Haveli screamed elegance and warmth.

The younger ones of the family had their rooms on the third and second floors of the haveli. The girls on the second and boys occupied the third one. She shared her room with Mansha while Sara and Noor, her other cousins, had separate rooms and so did her male cousins. She was offered a separate room, but she was never in favor of being alone in a room. It was her childhood fear of Jinns that still lasted.

Jinns were worth being scared!

Shaking her head at her own stupid yet valid thought, she smiled. Reaching the last step she stumbled a little but got hold of herself and sighed. She looked down and seeing nothing raised her head only to shriek seeing a silhouette standing in front of her.

"Saman!" The shock of finding someone in the dark hadn't subsided, and then she heard the person's startled voice, giving more shock to her. Her hand was placed on her chest, a failed attempt to calm her erratically beating heart.

"What are you doing here?" She couldn't stop herself from asking.

"Why are you roaming in the dark?" Instead, came the question, making her frown.

"I was going to my room." She said. Seeing him nod and step aside making her walk past him. Making her way towards her room she thought about Armaan, the man was no less than a ghost with his silence. Appearing anywhere anytime was surely his favorite thing.

Entering her room she immediately switched on the lights and found Mansha sleeping soundly. Shaking her head she removed dupatta from her head and proceeded to do her night routine and then after offering her Isha salah got in the bed. Snuggling into Mansha's back, she wrapped her hand around her cousin and closed her eyes. She was glad Mansha had no problem with snuggling or cuddling unlike her other cousins who refused to stay in her room because of her habit of cuddling.

Saman had always wondered how she and all her cousins were so different in so many ways, yet the bond they shared was beautiful. The same was with everyone in the family. Their differences and their uniqueness were something that had never come in between their bonds. They had their tough times with each other, but altogether they would come back as one again. After all, families always stay together, distances never matter, differences never matter.

Family is family, a blessing of the Almighty

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Glossary.

Devar-ji - abbreviation used in India
for addressing younger
brother of husband.

Begum- Mrs

Ammi - Mom

Badi Ammi- Aunty( here they adress
the eldest aunt Munazza as Badi ammi)

Tay Ammi - Aunty (the youngest adress Rameesha)

Chachi - Aunty (the youngest adress Nausheen)

Dada Jaan- Grandpa

Dupatta - long scarf used by girls to cover head and chest

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Assalamualaikum everyone.

How are you all?

So, how was the chapter...I guess kinda confusing and boring but trust me everything will clear out in few more chapters.

And one more thing,you don't have to memorize every character, just few are the main ones. That too will be cleared in further chapters

I have a lot of hopes from this story.

Hope everyone will like it.

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