#Fun fact  -A chef's hat has exactly 100 pleats meant to represent the 100 ways to cook an egg.

Deceased Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi and his wife Kalyani Oberoi were the founders of Oberoi Industries, one of the most admirable on the national work front. As the years passed, their eldest son Tej S Oberoi, took over the groups and reached many heights. Tej was born a leader, with a perfect amount of arrogance filled but his office qualities were never shown at home.  While his younger brother, Shakthi S Oberoi, was more silent with deep observation skills and was always ready in following his brother's footsteps. Well, surprisingly he was a more gullible and prime believer in spirituality.

Kalyani didn't want anything but her family to be united and stayed happier with all her grandchildren.

Shivaay S Oberoi, the only son of Shakti and his wife Pinky was the firstborn in the third generation and was designated to rule the business world. However, having no interest in it, he went on to finish off his bachelor's in culinary arts in Italy. Much to Tej's displeasure, he wished Shivaay to train under himself, and take over the entire empire. Regardless of that, Tej loved him like his own son, restraining all the common behaviour with him.

But that wasn't fated.

Omkara S Oberoi, eldest son of Tej and his wife Jhanvi, and second-born was a sculpture artist in the process. Om as all called him so, was like his uncle much to Tej's amusement. He was silent, poetic and everything his father wasn't.

Rudra S Oberoi, youngest of all. Immature, naive and flirty son of Tej and Jhanvi. His family members expected him to be a baby girl at the time of his birth. Nevertheless, they never predicted him to be this carefree, lazy going boy.

In short, the Oberoi family is the craziest of all. Being deprived of a daughter both Tej and Shakthi carved for a well-behaved daughter-in-law at least.

•••••

Pinky Oberoi pushed her phone aside, in which she was commenting on each culinary video by her son a few minutes back and wondered about him. It has been nearly a month since his phone call or text. Her anxious heart thumped hard for him, she searched the online annals of his social media accounts and surprisingly he was away from there too.

No traces of him.

"Mala coffee dena. A strong one." She cupped her head with a bubbling headache. When the maid appeared with a cup of hot sizzling coffee, she stayed mum not reacting to her for a good few minutes.

[Trans- Mala prepare me a cup of coffee.]

Pinky just gripped her coffee mug and started relishing it and appreciated Mala for it. The other family members arrived at the hall and slumped down reliving their Sunday, the only free day 8n the week.

"Didn't my charming lad reach you out? He is unpredictable like his father, Shakti these days. He forgot me! His baade papa." Tej walked into the scene grumpily, glaring at Pinky. He scowled at not finding his other pair of socks.

"Bhai saab aap bhi na?" Shakti pouted hearing his elder brother and stretched the aarti taal he was holding. Tej shook his head at his usual behaviour and swivelled his palms on the burning flame as a blessing.

[Trans- You too brother.]

"I don't know jeeth Ji. He isn't receiving any of our calls. Kaisa hein mera heera beta?" Pinky tensed up, massaging her head.

[Trans- brother in law. Don't how my precious son is]

"I will send a search party. Khanna?" He yelled calling the head of security officers, Naman Khanna.

"Tej get out fast. Don't create a nuisance." Jhanvi yelled watching him dumping all the laundry clothes only to find missing socks. He turned to her and passed a sheepish smile and continued digging the basket yet he didn't find any.

"From socks, I remember a joke." Tej stood up straight and cleared his throat with anticipation that all would like listen to him. However it wasn't the situation he expected, Pinky widened her eyes trying to move out, Shakthi seemed least interested, Jhanvi sighed at him and continued flipping her fashion magazine. Only Interested was his younger son Rudra, whose eyes twinkled with happiness.

"As many are interested in my 'daddy jokes' , I will continue." Tej bend over his body and rubbed his chest for preparation.

"Why do fathers take an extra pair of socks when they go golfing?" He looked around everyone expecting them to answer, but when none answered he began. "In case they get a hole in one!" He laughed clutching his stomach, only to be stopped by seeing others' serious faces. And he understood that none found it funny, as he did.

Omkara his eldest son, rolled his eyes at his lame jokes and took a seat beside his mother. Elsewhere Rudra was deep in thoughts guessing the joke his father recited.

"Papa? How is golf-related to socks? Well, at least hole?" Rudra question gesturing with his infamous logic sign, his index finger tapping on his chin while his thumb rested on the other side.

"Rudra? You are impossible. You have such an intellectual father and you are a dumb ass." Tej scowled.

"Tej behave. Use your language properly" Jhanvi roared at her husband for using foul terminology.

"It's not like he doesn't know. He is eighteen." Tej argued back.

"Yes, Mummy. I know many. For example, asshole, dickheaded and many more." Rudra narrated like a suspense horror thriller film.

"Rudy?" Om turned toward his younger brother and passed on a blank expression.

"Yes O." Rudra gave a full blow smile at him and waited for his response. Only to receive a slight hard smack. He immediately changed his happy complexity to one of crying.

"SHUT UP Rudra."

"Mummy no one loves me. Shivaay bhaiya, you only greet me well. With O' I feel adopted. Ahhh. Mummy. No one loves me." Rudra went on with his dramatic moves hugging his mother. He wailed pointing at Omkara for not loving him like Shivaay.

[Trans- elder brother]

"What are you? 5. You behave like one though." Tej furiously clapped as Om hit back with words.

"Choti Mummy, at least you ask him to stop." Rudra walked slipping down the couch and crawled to Pinky. She sighed at him and patted him trying to stop his drama.

[Trans- preferably to an Aunt.]

The hall fell into intense silence as all were involved in their thoughts. However, Omkara wasn't in his thoughts but incessantly started ringing a phone call to his cousin's brother.

It was unreachable.

"Guys try calling from your phone. Don't you think it's fishy? Like he isn't attending only family members' calls, as I met his friend Sid. And he said he stayed over in Jaipur after the destination wedding he was working on." Om tried explaining his view.

On the click, Tej prevailed in his opinions and all others did.

"Mala di can you give me your phone? I hope bhaiya doesn't have your number." Rudra ran to the maid Mala and snatched her phone without even letting her speak.

[Trans- to an elder sister or as respect]

Getting on the phone he passed it to his father.

"Maa, it's ringing. Let him come home after a year of challenge, I'm going to kick his butts." Tej whispered to his mother, Kalyani who was rocking on the chair with a smirk on her chapped lips.

[Trans- mother]

"Hello? Who is this?" Tej whipped his head hearing his nephew's voice over the speaker of the phone. Clearing his throat he began.

"Shivaay!"

"Baade papa...I... how? How are others at home? Are you fine?" Shivaay shuttered at the start and later on composed himself. He tried diverting the topic but little did he knows his family was more gifted than him.

[Trans- father's elder brother.]

"Ohh you remember your family lad? I thought you might have run away without facing the challenge I threw on you." Tej answered back with sarcasm dripping.

Shakti held his wife tight seeing her move to speak to her beloved son.

"No way I'm stepping out from it. But I have stuck into a problem." Shivaay whispered the last part with almost caution.

On the other hand, the family members furrowed their brows at his remark and began thinking over it.

"Kya hua billu? You tell your dadi, I will fix it." Kalyani stepped forward sensing his fears.

[Trans- What happened billu. Paternal grandmother]

"I got married a month ago." All rubbed their ears after Shivaay blurted out with speed, thinking of having hearing problems.

Unable with hope with the news Rudra and Shakthi collapsed on the spot with a thud sound. While others stood rooted to their spot analysing his words. Omkara sensible of all composed himself faster and grabbed the phone from Tej.

"Shivaay you are joking, right? Chote papa and Rudra are unconscious." Om asks impatiently.

"Ha..haa I was joking." Tej calmed down hearing Shivaay's laugh over the phone.

*****

*Shivaay is joking*
No words from my side.

It was high time to change Tej for good. I hope the character is loved.

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