For now, I've decided on slightly short chapters, but I may change the chapter breaks once the entire story's been edited. Anyways, here's the first chapter, enjoy!
Definitions:
Bhabhi- sister-in-law; Bhabhs- a nickname for Bhabhi
Bhai- brother
Didi- older sister
Jiju- brother-in-law/sister's husband
Chacha- paternal uncle/dad's younger brother
Chachi- wife of paternal uncle
Nani- maternal grandmother
Dadi- paternal grandmother
Biwi- wife
Beta/baccha/bacche- child, dear
Gudiya- doll (an endearment)
Meri jaan/jaan/jaana- my life/life (an endearment)
Arey- like saying 'oh', a type of exclamatory word
Yaar- like dude, or bro
Haan- yes/yeah
Nahi- no
It had been six months since Vaidehi Srivastav had become Vaidehi Malhotra, wife of business mogul Raghuveer Malhotra, and daughter-in-law of the powerful and revered Malhotra family. "Bhabhi, yaar, please! You didn't let us celebrate any of your monthiversaries until now, but six months is a milestone. We have to celebrate! Please, don't become a sadu like Bhai." (sadu- boring) "Arey, there's no need to go that far!" "No, beta, Akshu is absolutely right. We must celebrate!" Vaidehi looked pleadingly at her father-in-law, Ranvijay. "Papa, aap hi bataiye na." (Papa, you only tell them.)
Instead of supporting her, he wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders and gave a thumbs up to his daughter. "Nope, sorry beta. I'm with my wife and daughter on this one." "Acha, theek hai, if you all insist. But not a large party, just a close one with only family members." (Ok, fine, if you all insist...) Akanksha, her sister-in-law who was more often called Akshu, and her mother-in-law, Chandrika, had identical pouts on their faces hearing her words.
"Cool, a party! What are we having a party for?" Yagnik, the younger son and happy-go-lucky middle child of the family, came downstairs after freshening up and plopped down on the sofa, laying his head in his mother's lap. Chandrika lightly slapped his head at his stupid question, then began running her fingers soothingly through his hair. He had returned from work just in time for afternoon tea, and everyone began discussing the idea of a party while sipping their chai. Vaidehi gestured for Yagnik to sit up and handed him his cup of chai.
"Yaar Bhabhi, your chai is the solution to all my problems. Waise, konse party ke baare mein baatein chal rahe hain?" (By the way, what party are you guys talking about?) "Nikki yaar, thoda dhyan diya karo! Kaam mein toh tu fattu hain, khoya khoya rehta hain, aur uske piche waja koi girlfriend bhi nahi hain. Kam se kam family pe toh dhyan do. Hum Bhai aur Bhabhi ka sixth monthiversary ke baare mein baat kar rahe hain." (Nikki dude, pay some attention! You're useless atwork, you're always lost somewhere, and the reason behind that isn't even agirlfriend. At least pay some attention to your family. We're talking aboutBhai and Bhabhi's sixth monthiversary.) "Oye Kanku, izzat se bulaiya kar apne bade bhai ko. Nikki nahi, Yagnik Bhai bulaiya kar mujhe. Aur tum konsa Forbes Under 30 mein ho ki tum mera zindagi ka mazaak udaye." (Oye Kanku, call me your older brother with respect.You should call me Yagnik bhai, not Nikki. And you're not in the Forbes under30 list to be able to make fun of me.) "Haaw, tumne mujhe Kanku bulaya, chodunga nahi tumhe, saale! Ab tu gaya mere haathon mein, Maggi! Aur tere bachpan ke nange pictures mein viral kardungi!" (Haaw, you called me Kanku, I won't leave you! Nowyou're finished in my hands, Maggi! And I'll make your childhood naked picturesviral!)
Akshu picked up the couch pillow with her left hand, her chai ready to be dunked over her brother in her other hand. Yagnik, on the same train of thought, mirrored her movements. "Bas!" (Enough!) Before the impending disaster could occur, a stern voice rang out in the air. "Yagnik, Akanksha, agar tum dono ne ek dusre ke upar chai gira diya, toh mein tum dono ke liye phir se nahi banaungi. And you both will be responsible for cleaning every drop of chai that stains the couch." (Yagnik, Akanksha, if you both dump chai on eachother, then I won't make it again for both of you.) Both of them grumbled but set down the pillows and resumed sipping their chai. "You guys can fight as much as you want later, but not while drinking chai." "Sorry, Bhabhi." Two voices sounded simultaneously.
Akanksha walked over and squeezed into the space between Yagnik and the arm of the couch. "Sorry, ladne ke liye. We shouldn't waste chai na, not being able to drink it would be too big of a sazaa." (Sorry, for fighting. We shouldn't waste chai right,not being able to drink it would be too big of a punishment.) "Main bhi sorry, bas josh mein aakar pata nahi ghor paap karne wala tha." (I'm sorry too, I was about to make a huge mistakecaught up in my enthusiasm.) "Thanks yaar!" Yagnik wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder, then narrowed his eyes as she said 'yaar'. "Bhai bol." (Call me bhai.) "Thanks yaar Bhai!" He chuckled and ruffled her hair, kissing her forehead. "Tum kabhi nahi sudhrogi." "Tum bhi mat sudhro, bore ho jaungi main."
Vaidehi smiled at the siblings' banter and mood swings. They weren't exactly like her and her brother, but close enough to miss him and his constant presence. "Ho gaya tum dono ka rootna manane?" (Are you guys done fighting and making up?) Chandrika sarcastically questioned her children. "Jab manane ki baat chal hi raha hain, Yagnik, pata hai humne kitni mushkil se manaiya hai tumhari Bhabhi ko? Warna toh zidd pakad kar baithi thi, 'kyun karna hai celebration'?" (Since we're talking about convincing people, Yagnik,do you know how hard it was to convince your Bhabhi? Otherwise, she was beingso stubborn, saying 'why do we need to celebrate'.) "No way Bhabhi, karna toh padega. Main kitne dinon se wait kar raha tha ek mazedaar party ke liye." (No way Bhabhi, we have to. I've been waiting for solong for a fun party.)
"Arey, main toh maan gayi, na? Bas ek sharth hai ki chota sa party honi chahiye, sirf family ke saath. Aur aap sab ko pata toh hain ki Raghuveer-ji ko bhi parties pasand nahi hain." (Arey, but I agreed, right? My only condition is thatit should be a small party, with only family. And you all know thatRaghuveer-ji doesn't like parties either.) "Tum uske intimidation mein mat aana beta, agar tumhe bada party chahiye, toh wohi hoga. Uss khadoos ko main dekhlunga." (Don't get intimidated by him beta, if you want agrand party, then that's what'll happen. I'll handle that grump.) "Nahi, Papa, aisa koi baat nahi hai. Hum dono ko parties zyaada pasand nahi hai, aur aap itne zidd kar rahe hi, sirf issiliye main maangayi." (No Papa, it's not like that. We both don't likeparties that much, but you guys were being so insist, that's why I agreed.) Akanksha leaned forward and propped her chin on her hands. "Haan haan, party toh hona hai, par Bhabhi, aap Bhai ko abhi bhi Raghuveer-ji kyun bulate hain? Kuch alag sa nickname rakhna chahiye, na?" (Yeah yeah, the party's gonna happen, but Bhabhi, whydo you still call Bhai Raghuveer-ji. You should have another nickname for him,right?)
"Kabhi kabhi Akshu, teri dimaag ka lightbulb aisa switch on ho jata hain na, ki kamaal hain." (Sometimes Akshu, the lightbulb in your brainmiraculously switches on.) Yagnik ruffled her hair again while teasing her, and she leaned away squinting, unable to decide whether he was complimenting or insulting her. He got up and plopped down next to Vaidehi, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Theek keh rahi hain Akshu. Itni mushkil se baki sab ko Ji bulane ki aadat chudwaaya aapse, lekin abhi bhi Bhai ko Ji kehke bulate hain aap?" (Akshu is right. After so much effort we convinced youto stop addressing everyone as Ji, but you still call Bhai as Ji?)
Akshara tapped her lips thinking hard. "Raghuveer se kya rhyme hota hain? Haan! Namak ka kheer!" (What rhymes with Raghuveer? Yes! Salt Pudding/Namakka kheer!) Everyone scrunched their faces in confusion, looking at Akshu as if she had lost her mind. She jumped on the couch, clapping her hands. "Exactly, wahi reaction! If you're expected super delicious shakkar ya gud ka kheer and you're given namak ka kheer, won't your mood be ruined? Waise hi, jab hum Bhai ke stoic expressions dekhte hain, hamara mood bhi kharab hi hona hain." (Exactly, that reaction! If you're expecting superdelicious sugar or jaggery rice pudding and you're given salt pudding, won't yourmood be ruined? And, when we see Bhai's stoic expressions, our mood is bound tobe ruined.) Ranvijay shrugged, "Baat toh sahi hain." (She'sright.) Chandrika glared at him for a moment before grinning in agreement. Yagnik didn't look too pleased, but shrugged as well. "Acha theek hain, yeh pehla option hain, lekin kuch do naam wala hona chahiye." (Ok fine, this is the first option, but there shouldbe one with two names.)
Vaidehi cleared her throat. "Yeh toh mera bai haath ka khel hain." (This is a left-handed game for me.) She ticked off her fingers as she listed names. "Serious Sadu, Khadoos Kumar, Moody Malhotra, yah phir Raghuveer se Sadu-Veer." (Serious Sadu, Khadoos Kumar, Moody Malhotra, orSadu-veer instead of Raghuveer.) "Akhri wala toh sabse best hai," Chandrika proclaimed. (The last one is the best.) "Wah, Mata-sri, aap toh chah gaye!" (Wow, Mom, you're great!) Yagnik winked in approval at his mother, and everyone laughed, trying to come up with more creative nicknames. Vaidehi clapped and got everyone's attention. "Ok ok, it's fine right now because it's all fun and games, but after this, nobody is going to call Raghuveer-ji by any of these nicknames. Agar mujhe unhe nickname se bulana zaroori hain, toh aap sab ke saamne Veer bulaungi, par kuch aur nahi." (If it's necessary for me to call him by a nickname, then in front of everyone I'll call him Veer, but nothing else.)