SHARMA HOUSE

"Table itna shant kyun hai? Bacche kahan hain?" Mr. Sharma asked his wife, who was busy in the kitchen.

[Why is the table so silent? Where are the children?]

"Abhi tak so rahe hain aapke laadle..." she replied, not looking up from the stove.

[Your beloved children are still sleeping...]

"Time dekha hai? Raat ko der tak jagna aur subah waqt par na uthna... baap aur bacche saare ek jaise alsi hain." Mr. Sharma, who had been reviewing some files, set them aside and walked toward the kitchen.

[Have you seen the time? Staying up late and then failing to wake up on schedule... the father and the children are all equally lazy.]

"Lao ji, main thodi madad kar deta hoon aapki," Mr. Sharma said, reaching out to help his wife with the chores.

[Come, let me help you with this.]

"Nahi, aap rehne dijiye. Madad ke chakkar mein aap mera kaam aur badha denge," Mrs. Sharma teased, deftly moving a pan.

[No, let it be. In the name of helping, you’ll just create more work for me.]

"Kirti, tum bhul rahi ho... shaadi ke baad tumhe ye parathe aur bahut si cheezein maine hi sikhayi thi." Hearing her husband’s reminder, Mrs. Sharma couldn't help but blush.

[Kirti, you’re forgetting... after our wedding, I was the one who taught you how to make these parathas and many other things.]

"Sharm karlo thodi, Sharma sahab! Do-do bacche hain aapke," she whispered, her face turning red. Mr. Sharma laughed at her reaction, then headed back to the table to finish his breakfast.

[Have some shame, Mr. Sharma! You are the father of two children now.]

It was early afternoon when the second floor of the Sharma house echoed with Aarav Sharma’s voice. He was attempting the impossible: waking up Mihika Sharma.

"Miku, uth ja yaar! Pehle hi bahut late ho chuka hai. Dekh, Mumma aa rahi hain upar," Aarav warned.

[Miku, wake up, man! It’s already very late. Look, Mom is coming upstairs.]

At the mention of "Mumma," Mihika sat up with a jolt, her eyes wide with worry.

"Mumma, main bahut thak gayi thi... is wajah se thodi der aur so gayi," she mumbled in a panicked, sleep-laden tone.

[Mom, I was so tired... that’s why I overslept a little.]

Aarav burst out laughing at her predictable drama. She used the same excuse every morning, yet it never got old.

"Chalo, kiddo, jaldi se taiyaar ho jao aur breakfast ke liye neeche aao," Aarav said, patting her head affectionately before heading out.

[Come on, kiddo, get ready quickly and come downstairs for breakfast.]

Mihika rushed through her routine and scrambled downstairs. By the time she reached the kitchen, the sun was high in the sky.

"Mumma, kya banaya hai?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her mother in a back hug.

[Mumma, what did you make?]

"Aloo parathe. Chal, jaldi kar aur naashta khatam kar. Dopahar hone wali hai," Mrs. Sharma scolded gently.

[Aloo parathas. Come on, hurry up and finish your breakfast. It’s almost afternoon.]

"Mumma, main aur Tania aaj shopping ja rahe hain," Mihika announced between bites of the delicious parathas.

[Mumma, Tania and I are going shopping today.]

"Theek hai, jao. Par dinner se pehle ghar aa jaana," Mrs. Sharma insisted, her tone firm about the curfew.

[Okay, go. But make sure you’re home before dinner.]

"Okay, Mumma!" Mihika chirped, already dialing her best friend, Tania Varma.

"Tania, tum kabhi waqt par nahi aa sakti! Aadha din toh ghar pe hi nikal gaya, ab kya khaak shopping karenge hum?" Mihika lectured into the phone, ignoring the fact that Tania was already parked outside.

[Tania, you can never be on time! Half the day is wasted at home, what kind of shopping are we going to do now?]

"Miku, are you done with your nonsense? Bahar aao jaldi!" Tania snapped before hanging up.

"Kitni rude hai ye," Mihika grumbled to herself.

[She is so rude.]

"Mumma, main ja rahi hoon!" She kissed her mother’s cheek and bolted out the door. Outside, Tania sat in her car, but her gaze wasn't on the door. She was staring furiously at the second-floor balcony, where Aarav stood talking on his phone. She muttered something under her breath, her eyes locked on him.

RANAWAT MANSION

The sun’s first rays spilled across the sprawling Ranawat Mansion, a beacon of royalty and tradition. Everything here screamed opulence—from the gleaming fleet of luxury cars to the plush, custom-made furniture. This was a world where people didn’t just live; they thrived in absolute luxury.

Inside, Aruna Ranawat walked through the halls with traditional grace, carrying a silver puja thali. She entered the private marble temple, lit a diya, and prayed for her family's prosperity. After the rituals, she moved through the mansion, offering aarti to the household.

On the third floor, in the west wing, the silence was broken by rhythmic, disciplined movement. Inside the private gym, a tall, muscular man was finishing an intense workout. Ekansh Ranawat wiped the sweat from his torso and sat on a bench, his expression unreadable and cold.

His phone buzzed. He answered immediately, his voice a low baritone.

"Sir, they are asking to reschedule the meeting again," his secretary, Mr. Kumar, reported hesitantly.

Ekansh’s jaw tightened. "Reason?"

"They claim they haven't been able to make preparations that meet your standards yet, sir," Kumar explained.

A cold smirk touched Ekansh’s lips. "Cancel the deal." He hung up, leaving a sighing Mr. Kumar to handle the fallout of his uncompromising nature.

As Ekansh turned toward the shower, he spotted two figures hovering at the gym doorway. His sisters, Kriti and Saavi, were wearing their most "innocent" expressions. He knew that look well.

"Bhaiya!" they chirped in unison.

[Brother!]

"Yes?"

"Kya hum aaj mall ja sakte hain? Shopping ke liye? Please?" Kriti pleaded, her voice sweetening.

[Can we go to the mall today? For shopping? Please?]

Ekansh raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"Vo jo naya mall khula hai na... humein wahan jaana hai," Saavi added excitedly before catching herself and regaining her composure.

[The new one that just opened... we want to go there.]

"Hmm. Apne bodyguards ko saath le jaana, aur apne phones hamesha on rakhna," he commanded, ending the conversation as he strode toward his suite.

[Hmm. Take your bodyguards with you, and keep your phones on at all times.]

A short while later, Ekansh descended for breakfast, fastening his watch. The family was already seated, with the exception of Dadi Sa. He offered a curt "Good morning" and took his place at the head of the long dining table.

"Ekansh, meeting ki saari taiyari ho gayi hai?" his father, Samarth, asked.

[Ekansh, is everything prepared for the meeting?]

"Unhe reschedule karna tha, isliye maine deal cancel kar di," Ekansh replied calmly while eating. "If they want to work with me, tell them I don’t tolerate laziness."

[They wanted to reschedule, so I cancelled the deal.]

Samarth nodded, knowing better than to argue with his son's business ethics. "Theek hai, beta. Main aaj Raghav Sharma se mil raha hoon. Kuch zaroori maamlon par baat karni hai."

[Alright, son. I am meeting Raghav Sharma today. We have some important matters to discuss.]

"Ji bade papa. Aap Sharma Enterprises waale project ko guide kijiye, baaki paperwork Taksh handle kar lega," Ekansh said, glancing at his younger brother.

[Yes, Uncle. You guide the Sharma Enterprises project, and Taksh will handle the paperwork.]

Taksh, however, looked far more interested in his omelet than the family business.

"Ji, aap bhi na!" Aruna chided her husband. "Naashte ke waqt bacchon ko office ki baaton mein kyun uljha rahe ho? Saara din toh wahin rehte hain, tab kar lena ye sab discussion." She couldn't stand anyone bothering her favorite son during his meal.

[Really, now! Why are you involving the children in office talk during breakfast? They are there all day; discuss the important things then.]

"Aap sirf Bhaiya se hi pyaar karti hain," Taksh joked, trying to tease his mother. "Humein toh aap hospital ke dustbin se utha kar laayi thi na?"

[You only love big brother. You picked the rest of us up from the hospital dustbin, didn't you?]

The sisters giggled, but the laughter died instantly when Ekansh looked up. He shot a sharp glare at his siblings.

Taking the hint, Taksh immediately fell silent and nudged his sisters to do the same. The dining hall fell into a heavy, respectful silence. They all knew the golden rule of the Ranawat Mansion: nobody speaks when Ekansh is eating.