chapter 6

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon.Pragya and Anika were engrossed in their gardening chores, the sun casting a warm glow over their lush green plants.Meanwhile, in the study room, the Malhotra brothers, engaged in an animated discussion about a new project they were planning to undertake.

Downstairs, in the cosy kitchen, Anaya and Ranya were busy preparing a delicious meal, their laughter filling the room as they shared stories and secrets.

"Anika, Pragya," Prakash's voice echoed through the house, calling them both inside.

They entered the room to find Prakash holding something in his hands. "Look, as I said, the first copies of your books," he said, excitement evident in his voice.Ranya's eyes widened in amazement as Prakash showed her the books.

"Wow," she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face, and Anika couldn't help but share in her joy.

"Anika, this cover looks fantastic. Who designed it?" Anaya inquired, her eyes gleaming with admiration as she examined the book in Anika's hand."Rohan, my friend," replied Anika, a proud smile gracing her lips. Advik, standing nearby, coughed discreetly, drawing attention to himself.

Siddharth, sensing his brother's discomfort, swiftly passed him a glass of water, his eyes twinkling with mischief."What happened, bhaiya?" Siddharth asked, a playful smirk dancing on his face as he teased his elder brother.

"Anaya, I care for you, but I will break your husband's teeth right now," Advik quipped, his tone laced with mock seriousness, eliciting laughter from the group gathered in the room. "Show me Pragya's work?" asked Ishan, his curiosity piqued, while the others regarded him with bemusement, as if he were an alien.

"What?" Ishan queried, puzzled by their reactions. "Di, don't you think he hit his head somewhere? He's been behaving oddly these days," Pragya whispered to Anika, unable to contain her amusement.

"What are you going to show me, or not?" Ishan pressed Pragya impatiently."You can't read it; it takes heart to understand," Pragya muttered cryptically, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Did you say anything?" Ishan asked, glaring at Pragya, his tone filled with suspicion.

"Yeah, she said only human beings can read this, not animals," Siddharth interjected instead, attempting to ease the tension with a light-hearted remark.

"i am sorry, Anaya. Don't worry, after your husband, we will marry you off to some sensible person because I might just have to kill him," Ishan declared, his words carrying a mix of seriousness and jest.

"Sensible bro, I am the only soft boy kind of person in the Malhotra family. Everyone likes me, right, my love and bhabhis?" Siddharth questioned with a playful grin.

"Right, Siddharth," Anika replied with a chuckle."Yes, yes, I wish I had marri..." Pragya's words trailed off as she locked eyes with Ishan, who dared her to finish her sentence with a challenging look.

"Yes, yes, you are sweet, so sweet," Pragya amended her statement, her tone teasing.

"Mumma, today Aayush bhaiya and Gulki bhabhi are coming," Anika informed Ranya with excitement.

"Oh, dear brother-in-law is coming! Nice, we will take care of him very well, right, Advik bhaiya?" Ishan exclaimed, looking towards Advik, who nodded in agreement.

"Of course, my dear brother-in-law is coming; it's my duty," Advik affirmed.

"No thanks, I and Di will take care of our bhaiya and bhabhi," Pragya retorted with a fake smile, her eyes betraying her true feelings Pragya then went over to Anika, leaving the others to discuss the upcoming visit.

"You know, when Dibba and those heartless persons are around, I feel like i am standing on the India-Pakistan border, always glaring at each other,

" Pragya remarked with a sigh."Yeah, they are ready to kill each other and don't lose any chance to mock each other," Anika replied, her tone tinged with frustration.

They both became engrossed in cooking, as usual, preparing food for their favourite bhaiya and bhabhi, trying to create a warm atmosphere despite the tension in the air.

The doorbell rang, its chime breaking the serene atmosphere of the house.

"I guess Aayush and bhabhi came," Anika remarked, her voice carrying a hint of excitement as she glanced towards the door."I am going to open the door," Pragya declared eagerly, abandoning her cooking duties and swiftly making her way out of the kitchen.

As Pragya hurried towards the door, her anticipation mounting with each step, she suddenly halted in her tracks upon seeing Ishan already grasping the doorknob, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Unperturbed by Pragya's presence, Ishan swung the door open with a flourish, revealing Aayush and his wife standing on the doorstep, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement at Ishan's dramatic greeting.

"Hello, dear brother-in-law, what do you want?" Ishan greeted Aayush with exaggerated formality, a playful smirk playing on his lips.Aayush looked taken aback by the unexpected question, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"What?" he asked, unsure of how to respond.

"Actually, the ladies of our house don't meet with any men, I mean any," Ishan continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he recalled a humorous incident from the past, causing a ripple of laughter to echo through the hallway.

Pragya clenched her fists, ready to throw something at Ishan, but before she could act, Aayush intervened.

"Oh, that's why my sister and you have less interaction. I guessed it," Aayush remarked with a chuckle, his comment diffusing the tension as he made his way inside, leaving no chance for Ishan to retort.As the atmosphere lightened with Aayush's remark, Gulki took the opportunity to break the ice.

"Hello, Advik. How are you?" she asked, her tone warm and friendly, an attempt to ease the lingering tension between them.

"Hello, bhabhi. Please, welcome," Advik replied with a genuine smile, his gesture signalling an openness to mend the strained relationship. Gulki returned his smile, relieved to see a glimmer of reconciliation in Advik's demeanour.

"The doors of my house are always open for everybody," Advik stated warmly, his words carrying a sense of hospitality, to which Gulki nodded in appreciation.

"Bhabhi! Bhaiya!" They heard Pragya's voice, and she came forward to greet them with open arms, enveloping them in a warm hug.

"How's my sweet sister? Did anybody cause you any problems?" Aayush inquired, his gaze shifting towards Ishan with a hint of concern.

"No, bhaiya, I am totally fine," Pragya reassured him with a smile, and Aayush nodded, visibly relieved by her response.

"Please come inside," Pragya invited them, gesturing towards the welcoming interior of the house, and they entered, leaving the tension of the moment behind them.

Anika and Pragya soon emerged, carrying a tray laden with steaming cups of tea and a plate of snacks.

"Here you go, some tea and snacks for everyone," Anika said cheerfully, placing the tray on the table and inviting their guests to help themselves.Pragya nodded in agreement, her eyes twinkling as she gestured for everyone to enjoy the treats.

"How's my lil sister?" Aayush inquired affectionately, directing his question to Anika.

"Amazing, bhaiya," Anika replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling with fondness.

"It's my first time visiting your house... Oops, sorry, mansion. It's amazing and so big," Gulki exclaimed in awe, her admiration evident in her tone, to which Anika nodded in agreement.

"Even the electricity bill will be higher than a middle-class person's salary. “ Gulki remarked to Aayush, her observation tinged with humour and a hint of astonishment.

"Well, Gulki, the bigger the bills, the smaller the heart," Aayush remarked, his words carrying a subtle hint of mockery directed towards Advik and Ishan.

Advik and Ishan exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions revealing a hint of amusement mixed with a touch of rivalry.

"As I said, India-Pakistan border," Pragya whispered to Anika, drawing a comparison between the tension in the room and the historical animosity between the two nations.

"You guys can go to the wrestling ring or boxing ring," Gulki suggested with a wry smile, attempting to diffuse the tension with a dose of humour.

"Honey, it's just teasing. Now, who will tease my brother-in-laws if I don't?" Aayush joked, trying to lighten the mood, but Gulki shot him a playful glare, indicating that she wasn't entirely amused by his remarks.

"Ishan, let's go to the study room. We need to work on Tripathi's project," Advik said, prompting Ishan to nod in agreement.

"You guys carry on," Advik remarked to the others as he and Ishan made their way towards the study room."Aren't they jerks?" Aayush questioned, his frustration evident in his tone.

"Aayush, I don't know about them, but for sure, you are," Gulki replied with a teasing smile, earning a playful glare from Aayush."Wow, paneer pakoda, my favourite," Aayush exclaimed, his attention diverted by the delicious snack, ignoring Gulki's remark.After some time, Aayush and Gulki bid their farewells and left the gathering.

Advik and Ishan emerged from the study room shortly after. "They left?" Advik inquired, seeking confirmation from Pragya, who simply nodded in response.