As the Himachal sun slowly peered from the clouds spreading its yellow hue and warmth over the picturesque village. The bulbul birds proudly singing and announcing the morning's arrival. Loud bells and repeated chanting of hymns from the temples echoing in the sleepy stillness of the village.

A dull, hissing sound rang in the kitchen of the Awasthy house or 'Swarg' as the name board outside the home, written with 3D golden calligraphy indicated. Another sound followed the sound, but this time it was a louder shrill. 

An old lady in her late sixties sat in front of a beautiful shrine with her hands folded and eyes closed. Her thinning white hair sat on top of her head in a neat and tidy bun. She rocked back and forth as she chanted a shlok from her memory. 

"Maaji, how many more whistles?" Manoj, their house help, asked as he came and stood beside her with a spatula in his hand. 

Chandani Awasthy opened her eyes and looked up at him in irritation. Picking up the bell, she rang it to indicate she was doing something if her position and non-stop chanting weren't a giveaway.

"Then you'll get angry at me if it burns," Manoj complained over another whistle from the pressure cooker.

Her face scrunched in annoyance and anger, but she held up her two fingers without stopping her daily morning prayers. Manoj nodded at Chandni and sauntered over to the kitchen. She turned her attention back towards the idols and continued her prayers.

Just as Chandni stood up after her prayer and was rolling up the chattai she used for her prayers, a Bollywood "item song" began blasting from upstairs. 

"Dhara!" Chandni yelled as she tucked the chattai away and trotted towards the courtyard in the house so that she could scream at her younger granddaughter. "Turn that thing off. Why do you have to play these wretched songs this early in the morning? Play some bhajans. Start off your day with some positivity." She screamed on top of her voice, but it was no match for the song being played upstairs. "Shiva! Shiva! This girl never listens to anyone." She grumbled and limped her way back to the kitchen. 

In the living room, she saw that her husband, Haripraksh Awasthy, was twirling the corner of his mustache with one hand while his other palm held five different coloured and shaped pills. He studied each one of the pills with intense attention. She hit her forehead with her hand and shook her head. "What crimes did I do in my past life to be surrounded by all these crazy people?" She asked out loud, but as usual, no one reacted.

When she entered the kitchen, Manoj was singing and dancing to the same song Dhara was playing in her bedroom.

"Manoj!" She yelled as she grabbed the cooker that still hadn't been shut off at the time she had instructed. Placing the almost burnt pressure cooker under the cold stream of water from the sink. She turned around, with her hands on her hips, and glared at her house help, who scratched the back of his neck and managed to look at her sheepishly. "Can you do one thing correctly?" She demanded.

"Sorry, Maaji. I was doing something else, so my attention was diverted." He replied as he followed Chandni like a lost puppy as she clanked the pots and pans, getting ready to start her work. 

"I saw what you were doing." She said as she placed a pot of water to boil. "I can't even fire you because I gave my word to your dying mother that I'll let you take her place as the house help and always keep you here."

"Maaji, You just wait. When I become a hero, you'll also have to stand in queue to get my autograph. Then you'll know my worth." He spoke dramatically and loudly when Dhara's playlist began playing death metal. 

"Yes, Of course. All the directors are waiting for a middle-aged man to play their romantic lead." She said sardonically. "Go feed, Gopika and Gauri." She said, referring to their cow and it's calf.

"Me?" Manoj threw the napkin he was using to dry the vessels on the counter. "The future superstar? Okay...Okay...Okay...I am going." He said the last part when Chandni held up a belan. 

"Come back within 15 minutes. You still have to pack the girl's lunches." She yelled behind his retreating figure.

"Oh, Thank God!" She sighed in relief when Dhara's blaring music turned down a notch. Since last week, Dhara and her Bluetooth speakers had created havoc in the Awasthy house and the neighbourhood. Luckily no one had complained about it because it was Dhara after all. No one wanted to be in the bad books of Dhara Awasthy.

"Chandni." Haripraksh came rushing into the kitchen with a file in his hand. The creases on his forehead and the panic and hysteria in his walk and talk implied that the file was Haripraksh's latest blood test report. "Just look at this. My sugar level has gone up." He said, pointing at something on the file.

Chandni shook her head in irritation and pushed her husband away when he stood in her path toward the fridge. "Soumya already told you that there is nothing wrong. In this age, things like this happen." She scolded as she took out the yogurt from the fridge.

"What?" Haripraksh huffed and waved his hand in the air in annoyance. "I am telling you that I need to go to the city and undertake more tests."

"You just need to relax. There is nothing wrong with you, Dadaji." Soumya explained as she appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Placing her white coat and cross-body purse on the dining table chair, she quickly pinned back her black waist length hair with a small butterfly clip before entering the kitchen.

"Are you listening to me, Chandni?" Haripraksh asked as he waved the file in front of his face.

Soumya and Chandni sighed before Soumya stepped in front of her grandfather and grabbed his hearing aid that was hanging around his neck. "How many times do I have to tell you to wear this?" She gently placed the machine in his ear.

"Aah! Soumya, good you are here." Haripraksh said as he grabbed her hand and guided her towards the small table and chair inside the kitchen. "Just recheck the reports. Maybe you missed something last night." He requested and held out the file.

Soumya grabbed the file and shut it with a snap. "Dadaji, there is nothinggggg wrong with you. You are absolutely fit. Just continue taking your regular medications." She said, shaking her head at his still concerned face. "It is all in your head." She tapped her grandfather's forehead. "Understand?"

"But still. We should get another doctor's opinion. Don't you think?" Haripraksh asked as he peered over his glasses and nervously twirling his mustache.

"Dadaji, trust me. You are going to live for a long time." She reassured and pulled her grandfather's mustache.

"Did you hear?" Chandni asked, pointing a spoon at him. "I won't be able to live my final years in peace because you are going to be dancing on my head." 

Haripraksh got up in annoyance. "And what about you, huh?" He placed his hands on his hips and began bobbing his head. A common stance of a lot of older men when they fought with their wives. "Yelling all the time. There is not one moment of peace in this house. You are always nagging everyone and breathing down our necks. It is good that I married you; otherwise, no one would have been able to put up with you."

"Really?" Chandni dropped the spoon on the counter with a clink and assumed her position for the fight. "Aree, you should be thankful that I decided to marry you. I had gotten proposals from such esteemed individuals, but it was my bad karma that I chose you." 

Haripraksh let out a dry laugh and lightly hit Soumya on her arm. "Are you hearing this?" He asked. "They might have been all crazy. But it is not too late. You can go now. Go marry who you want." Raising his arms in the air, he continued. "I won't stop you. No one will stop you. You leave."

"After giving 55 years, this is exactly what I want to hear," Chandni said, tearing up.

"Dadaji! Dadi!" Soumya finally spoke loud enough for them to stop and hear her. "Why do you both have to fight like this every morning?" She asked in exasperation.

"She started it!" Haripraksh accused his wife by raising a finger at her.

"Ohhh! As if you-"

"Enough!" Soumya snapped. "Dadaji, go for your morning walk." She ordered and pointed at the door.

"But-"

"Dadaji, now! Otherwise, your BP will go up." 

Haripraksh gave his wife a dirty look and straightened the wrinkles of his t-shirt. "Huh!" He scoffed.

Soumya grabbed the file and hid it behind her back when he tried to reach for it.

When her grandfather left the kitchen, Soumya placed the file on the table and hugged her grandmother, who was wiping her nose with the pallu of her saree. "Dadi, why do you have to bug Dadaji?" 

"You all are on one team. I am the only one who is all alone." Chandni sniffled and pushed Soumya away.

"Dadi, stop watching those stupid TV shows." Soumya chuckled before she remembered something. "And what are you doing in the kitchen. I told you not to stand for too long. Your knee pain has just gotten better, and you are walking around like a model. Where is Manoj?"

"I told him to feed the cows, and he still hasn't come back." Chandni shook her head. "He is utterly useless."

"Acha. Okay. You sit down." Soumya demanded. "I'll make breakfast." 

Chandni cleaned and sorted the mint leaves as Soumya went about the kitchen, making the aloo parathas that her grandmother had decided to make.

"I almost forgot!" Chandni dropped the stalk in her hand and twisted her body to focus all her attention on Soumya. "Preetika is going to Vaishno devi next week."

"Really? That's nice." Soumya smiled and used the back of her hand to push her hair away from her face.

"I have given her 500 Rupees to place in Mata Rani's feet," Chandni informed with a broad grin. "And also told her to pray on our behalf that by next year you'll be married." She said as she folded her hands and sent a small silent prayer to the Goddess.

Soumya's stomach fell at the mention of her marriage. Composing herself, she began rolling out the parathas at twice the speed. 

"Soumya," her grandmother placed her hand on her shoulder. "I know that we haven't had the best luck so far, but that's only because a prince is waiting for you, my princess."

Soumya couldn't help laugh. "Dadi, you really need to stop watching these dramas." She said, walked around Chandi to place the casserole filled with parathas on the dining table.

"Prince and Princess aren't found in the real world we live in." Dusting her hands, she passed her grandmother another smile. "I'll go call Dhara."

Chandni sighed, feeling as dejected as Soumya. Why couldn't Shivji send the man who would love Soumya without any conditions any sooner? 

Just as Soumya reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Dhara descending the step, still dressed in her light purple and grey nightdress and Bluetooth speaker in her hand.

"You are still not ready? Don't you have college?" Soumya asked as she followed her sister to the dining table.

"I'll go in the afternoon." She declared and plopped herself into "her" chair.

As soon as Dhara saw Chandani, she turned up the volume of her Bluetooth speaker and played another sleazy and unnecessary song that was placed in the movie for no reason at all.

"Turn that thing off. Otherwise.... Otherwise... I'll throw it in the lake." Chandni warned her younger granddaughter.

"Go ahead." Dhara shrugged and served herself a paratha. "It is waterproof. In fact, it plays better and louder when submerged in water." 

Chandni shook her head in frustration. Limping towards the photo of her deceased son and daughter-in-law, she asked. "Just look this daughter of yours. I am just worried about her safety. One week in the mountains. No mobile signal. No way of communicating with us. All alone. How can I let her go?"

"Dadi, for the thousandth time. I am not going to be alone. There are five other girls and seven guys plus two instructors who are going to be on this trekking trip with me. Why are you so stubborn?"

"Dhara!" Soumya tsk'ed at the tone Dhara was using.

"Fine! Then I'll be stubborn too. This is my protest." Dhara announced and turned the volume on the speakers a notch.

Chandni looked at Soumya for help, but the later shook her head and went about eating her breakfast silently. 

"Alright!" Chandni stomped her foot in annoyance. "Go on that stupid recking trip."

Dhara's face lightened up, and she leaped towards her grandmother. "It is a trekking trip. And thank you, Dadi! I love you sooooo much." Dhara screamed as she hugged her grandmother. Soumya reached for the speakers and turned down the volume on it. At last! There was peace again.

"But you are to call or message at any chance you get. Okay? After this one trip, you are not going anywhere till Soumya gets married. You know that Sucharita. Aree my cousin Leena's granddaughter." She looked at her grand-daughters, expecting them to know who Leena was, so they just nodded even though they had no idea.  "Sucharita went on one few many trips like these, and now she is a hippie. Roams around with her head half-shaved off and tattoos and piercings all over her body. I won't allow that for you." Chandni announced and both the girls laughed.

"Times are changing, Dadi," Soumya said as she stood up. "If we don't keep, then we'll be left behind."

"That's okay. I don't mind at all." Chandni scoffed. "I don't understand your children's culture."

Before anyone could say anything, they heard the main gate opening and the sound of a car entering their premises. Not any car, it was their aunt, Deepti Thakur's car. 

"Great! The rest of our day is going to be ruined now." Dhara groaned as she watched her grandmother walk as fast as she could with her knee pain to greet her precious daughter.

"Why does she have to come here all the time?" Dhara whispered to her sister when Soumya came back.

"Technically, it's her house too." Soumya reminded playfully nudging her sister's arm and both the sisters feigned happiness by smiling at their aunt and cousin, Subham. 

As usual, their aunt was dressed in her neon coloured salwar kameez and her trademark bright lipstick and sunglasses on top of her head while their cousin looked like he had been dragged here right out of bed as per usual.

"This is the only time I will accept the whole 'mayka and Sasural' thing,"  Dhara whispered again.

"Have a seat both of you," Chandni said and ushered her daughter and grandson to the dining table. "Did you both have breakfast?" She asked, and before she got a reply, she turned to Soumya. "Beta, go make some parathas for your Bua and Subham."

Soumya nodded and turned to go into the kitchen. 

"Soumya, don't put too much butter on my paratha," Deepti instructed as she dropped her sunglasses into their case. "My dietitian has told me to detox for the next two weeks after all the wedding treats I had this week."

"Of course, Bua." Soumya pressed her lips together and went into the kitchen. "Detox." She mouthed playfully to Dhara who also bit back her laugh.

"Where is Papaji?" Deepti asked as she looked around the house.

"He has just gone for a morning walk, and you know him. He probably met his friends, and they are sitting around and drinking tea." Chandni huffed. "Leave all that. How was the wedding?"

Deepti grinned gleefully and placed her elbows on the table. "Maa, it was such a GRAND wedding. And my Shubhu was the DJ." She announced as she squeezed her son's cheeks. "They spent two crores just on the wedding alone. Can you believe it? Plus, a BMW car for the bride and groom."

"And you didn't call the police?" Dhara asked incredulously. "That's dowry."

"Shhhhh. Keep quiet!" Deepti shot her down with a hand gesture. "It is their love that they have for their daughter and son-in-law." She said as she shrugged.

Dhara and Soumya exchanged a knowing smile. Their Bua had been trying to get their grandfather to sell some of his lands and give that money to their Uncle to aid in his failing business. However, their grandfather was a staunch believer of self-preservation, so he refused every time, which is why their Uncle hadn't visited them in a long time.

"So, the proposal from last week also refused?" Deepti asked as she was gobbling the breakfast.

"No! No! They didn't refuse." Chandni said frantically. "Your Papaji refused. They were asking for dowry."

"Leh!" Deepti rolled her eyes. "Then how is she going to get married? Who will agree to marry her without a dowry?" 

Dhara was about to stand up and tell Deepti what type of man her sister deserved, but as usual, Soumya placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. 'It isn't worth it!' Dhara imagined her sister say. 

"Back then, also, I told you all that this problem will arise, but who listens to me?" 

The other three ladies sat quietly as they watched Deepti and Subham devour the parathas.

"I am getting late," Soumya said to her grandmother when the mother-son duo went to wash their hands.

"Just wait. She has come back from a wedding. I am sure she has brought some nice proposals for you." 

Soumya shook her head but sat back down. 

"What nice proposals? Soumya di is too good for all of the guys that Bua has recommended." Dhara snapped but mercifully kept her volume low.

"Keep quiet," Chandni instructed when she saw them returning.

"The salt was a little less," Deepti complained as she sat back down on the chair. "Right, Subham?"

"It was fine, mom." He replied in his usual nonchalant tone.

"You don't know anything!" Deepti scolded, but Subham paid no heed to her and went and sat on the couch before turning on the TV.

Quiet sounds of a WWE match filled the room.

"Maybe that's why you ate three parathas to be sure, right?" Dhara said sarcastically as she picked up her phone and pretended to be texting someone.

"Look at how she is talking to me, Maa!" Deepti complained. 

"Deepti," Chandni cajoled. "She is just a child. She doesn't know anything. You forget her and tell me.... Were there any eligible boys at the wedding?"

"I know these girls don't like me, but I am their aunt and have responsibilities towards them," Deepti said in her high pitched voice. "All I did was scout for good boys at the wedding." Pulling out her cellphone from her purse, she swiped through pictures trying to find the image of the potential groom. "This boy, we were looking at for my husband's sister's daughter, but she is born and raised in Delhi, so she has high standards, so I told Raja that I'd bring it here."

Dhara's anger flared, but she managed to keep mum. 

"Here, look!" Deepti showed her mother the picture. Dhara hurriedly stood up and grabbed the cellphone to get a closer look. 

Dhara returned the cellphone to Chandni, and they looked at each other in confusion.

"Deepti. Beta, he looks good, but he seems very young." Chandni said.

"Aree no!" Deepti laughed. "He is 25. He just completed his MBA and has taken over his father's dry fruit business. One and only son too."

Soumya, Dhara and Chandi looked a little uncomfortable. "But, Deepti. Soumya is going to turn 27 soon. He will-"

"This alliance is for Dhara. Such a handsome and rich boy, why would he want to marry Soumya. Don't feel bad, huh, beta. I am just speaking the truth." Deepti said as she reached over and squeezed Soumya's arm. "And you," she pointed at Dhara. "You don't take too long in picking and choosing otherwise both of you will stay here only all your lives. And maa we have to make sure that we explain to them that Dhara is not-" 

"So what?" Dhara snapped. "This is our house. We'll stay here all our lives if we want and even after we die, we'll come back as ghosts and stay here. What is the problem?"

"Dhara!" Both Chandni and Soumya said at the same time, but she couldn't be contained anymore.

"You see," Deepti said as she began crying. "Raja and I think that Chalo these girls don't have parents, so we will take care of them. But this rudeness is what I have to endure." 

"Oh, please!" Dhara said, snatching the phone from her grandmother's hand and slapping it on the table in front of her aunt. "Please don't worry about my sister or me. My sister is one a million, and she will find a guy who treats her like that." She retorted.

"Dhara!" Soumya called out, but her younger sister just stormed out of the house. 

Author's note: So you met the Awasthy Sisters in this chapter. Hope you enjoyed their introductions. Please don't forget to vote and comment!!😃