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The morning sun filters through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the Singhania mansion in Juhu, reflecting off the polished marble floors. The house is a beautiful blend of ultra-modern luxury and traditional warmth. The air smells faintly of fresh mogra flowers from the living room mandir, mixed with the irresistible aroma of hot, crisp aloo paranthas, poha, and fresh filter coffee wafting from the kitchen.
At the massive 12-seater teakwood dining table, the morning chaos is in full swing.
Dadaji sits at the head of the table, reading the economic times, while Dadi is carefully counting her morning medicines. Chachi (Meenakshi) is bustling around, instructing the house help, while Chacha (Nitin) is trying to steal a parantha before the official prayer is done. Ananya is furiously typing on her phone, and Kabir is yawning, holding an empty coffee mug.
Renuka (Advait’s mother) walks out of the kitchen with a fresh batch of paranthas. She looks at the empty chair next to her husband, Yash, and sighs.
Renuka: (Setting the plate down, shaking her head) "Nitin, haath peeche karo pehle! Bhagwan ko bhog lag gaya hai, par abhi tak ghar ke bade bete ne nashta nahi shuru kiya."
Yash Singhania: (Looking up from his iPad with a smile) "Tumhara laadla CEO raat ke do baje tak London office ke saath call par tha, Renuka. Thoda sone do bechare ko."
Dadi: (Sternly, but with love) "Business apni jagah hai Yash, par sehat apni jagah. Advait ko bolo neeche aaye. Subah ka nashta saath me hona chahiye, humara parivaar ka niyam hai."
Right on cue, heavy, disciplined footsteps echo on the grand staircase.
Advait walks in. Even at 8:30 AM at home, he looks commanding. He’s wearing a crisp white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms and dark trousers. His hair is perfectly styled, his jawline sharp, and his expression completely neutral—the classic, intimidating CEO face.
But the moment his eyes land on his family, the tension in his shoulders visibly drops. A soft, genuine smile breaks across his face. He walks up to Dadaji and Dadi first, bending down to touch their feet.
Advait: "Pranam, Dadaji. Pranam, Dadi."
Dadaji: (Patting his shoulder proudly) "Jeete raho, beta. Business ke samundar me chahe jitni unchi lahre ho, parivaar ke aage hamesha jhookna seekho. Khush raho."
Dadi: (Touching his cheek) "Kitna dubla ho gaya hai mera bachha! Raat bhar jaagta rehta hai. Meenakshi, isko makhan daal ke do paranthe do pehle."
Advait chuckles, sitting down in his usual chair next to his father. Immediately, Chachi places a hot parantha on his plate, while his mother pours him fresh black coffee just the way he likes it.
Advait: "Mummy, Chachi, please... ek hi parantha kaafi hai. Aaj Arvind uncle ke saath 10 baje bohot badi meeting hai Boardroom me."
Yash: (Nodding seriously) "Haan, Advait. Aaj Sharma Ventures aur humara naya tech project finalise hone wala hai. Arvind hamesha bohot thos aur clear baatein karta hai. Taiyaari poori hai na?"
Before Advait can answer with his usual professional precision, Ananya chimes in, waving her fork.
Ananya: "Oh ho, Papa! Bhai hamesha taiyar rehte hain. Waise... Arvind uncle aa rahe hain toh kya Drishya di bhi aayengi? Unhone hamesha se kaha hai ki unhe humara ghar ka kitchen garden dekhna hai."
Hearing the name, Kabir smirks, nudging Advait with his elbow.
Kabir: "Haan Bhai, Sharma ji ki beti. Woh jo abhi psychology padh rahi hai. Suna hai bado-bado ka dimaag padh leti hai ek minute me. Aapke gusse ka toh do minute me ilaaj kar degi!"
The table bursts into soft laughter. Advait pauses, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. He fixes Kabir with a mock-stern glare—the same glare that makes international clients nervous—but his tone is relaxed.
Advait: "Kabir, agar tumhara dimaag padhne ka shauk poora ho gaya ho, toh nashta jaldi khatam karo. Office me 50 files tumhara intezar kar rahi hain. Ek bhi galti hui toh agle teen Sunday ki chutti cancel."
Kabir: (Gulping, raising his hands in surrender) "Dekha Dadi? Aapka pota ghar me bhi CEO ban jata hai! Chachi, please mujhe ek aur parantha do, jail jaane se pehle aakhri khwahish!"
Everyone laughs heartily. Renuka leans over and gently places her hand over Advait's.
Renuka: "Advait, kaam apni jagah hai beta. Par Arvind bhai saab ka parivaar humare liye sirf business partner nahi hai. Drishya bohot pyaari bachhi hai. Agar aaj woh aayi, toh use bohot aaram se milna, apna yeh 'Strict Officer' wala chehra office me hi chhod kar aana, samjhe?"
Advait looks at his mother’s warm, hopeful eyes. He sighs softly, smiling.
Advait: "Aap jaisa kahein, Mummy. Waise bhi, main sirf un logo par chillata hoon jo apna kaam thik se nahi karte. Woh toh bas ek college student hai. Mujhe usse kya pareshani hogi?"
He takes a sip of his coffee, completely unaware that the "college student" he is dismissing is about to completely turn his structured, controlled life upside down in just a few hours.
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The scene shifts from the sprawling luxury of Juhu to a beautiful, sunlit apartment in a premium residential tower in Bandra. The Sharma household doesn't have the chaotic army of the Singhanias, but it has a deep, rhythmic warmth. The living room is lined with bookshelves, indoor plants, and large abstract paintings.
The dining table is set elegantly for three. The aroma of freshly brewed South Indian filter coffee and warm, steamed idlis with coconut chutney fills the air.
Arvind Sharma is sitting peacefully in his crisp, tailored navy-blue formal suit, looking every bit the sophisticated, seasoned businessman. He is reading the morning news on his tablet, occasionally taking a sip of his coffee.
From the hallway, the sound of hurried, frantic footsteps echoes.
Drishya comes rushing out of her room, struggling to wear her silver hoop earrings while balancing a thick, heavy psychology textbook ("Tests, Measurements and Research Methods in Behavioural Sciences") under her arm. Her long hair is half-tied, and she’s wearing a simple yet chic pastel pink kurti over white trousers—effortless, beautiful, but completely chaotic right now.
Drishya: (Panic in her voice) "Arey yaar! Mummy, meri watch kahaan hai? Aur please meri gadi ki chabi... nahi nahi, aaj toh Papa chhod rahe hain na? Late ho gayi main, solid late!"
Nisha Sharma (Her mother) walks out of the kitchen holding a tiffin box, fixing her daughter with a sharp, classic maternal glare.
Nisha: "Watch tumhari table par hi hai, Drishya. Aur late nahi hui ho, tum deliberate late hui ho! Agar raat ke do-do baje tak laptop khol kar baithogi, toh subah yahi hoga."
Drishya: (Pouting, quickly sliding into a dining chair) "Mummy, please na! Woh case study khatam karni thi. Kal class me clinical psychology ka presentation hai. Agar main so jaati toh mera poora behaviour change model adhoora reh jata!"
Nisha: (Setting the tiffin down firmly) "Mujhe yeh psychology ki baatein mat sikhao. Itna dimaag padhti ho sabka, apna sleep cycle kyun nahi padha jata tumse? Arvind ji, aap kuch bolte kyun nahi apni laadli ko? Bigad ke rakh diya hai aapne."
Arvind looks up from his tablet, a thoroughly amused, warm smile spreading across his face. He loves this morning banter; it’s his favorite part of the day before entering the ruthless corporate world.
Arvind: (Winking at Drishya) "Nisha, tum toh jaanti ho... humari beti direct approach me believe karti hai. Brain over sleep. Kyun, Drishya?"
Nisha: (Shaking her head, pouring coffee) "Aap dono baap-beti milkar mujhe pagal kar doge ek din. Chalo, jaldi se do idli khao pehle. Khali pet college nahi jaogi."
Drishya quickly tears a piece of idli, dips it in chutney, and stuffs it in her mouth, her eyes darting to the wall clock.
Drishya: (Muffled, chewing) "Mmm, yummy Mummy! Waise Papa, aaj aap itne zyada tip-top lag rahe ho? Kuch special hai kya? Any big deal?"
Arvind: (Adjusting his watch, his tone shifting to pride) "Haan beta. Aaj Yash aur Advait ke saath final meeting hai. Singhania Group aur humara naya tech-infrastructure collaboration aaj finalise ho jayega. It’s a massive day for us."
Hearing the name, Drishya stops chewing. She looks at her father, her psychological radar instantly picking up on the subtle tone change.
Drishya: "Advait... woh Yash uncle ka bada beta na? The one who returned from London last year? Ananya hamesha batati rehti hai ki unke Bhai kitne gusse wale hain."
Arvind: (Laughing heartily) "Gusse wala nahi hai woh, beta. He is just extremely disciplined. Business ki duniya me use log 'Ruthless CEO' kehte hain, par main use bachpan se jaanta hoon. Apne kaam ko lekar bohot strict hai, par dil ka saaf hai. Bilkul Yash par gaya hai."
Drishya: (Resting her chin on her hand, a thoughtful smirk on her face) "Interesting... 'Ruthless CEO' huh? Papa, psychology kehta hai ki jo log bahar se itne strict aur cold hote hain na, actually andar se woh utne hi overworked aur high-stress levels se deal kar rahe hote hain. He probably forgets to even smile."
Nisha: (Gently tapping Drishya’s head with a napkin) "Chalo, apni free-of-cost counseling band karo aur jaldi se apni idli khatam karo. Tumhare Papa ko pehle tumhe St. Xavier's chhodna hai, phir Juhu jaana hai meeting ke liye."
Drishya: (Gulping down her water, grabbing her bag) "Done! Ho gaya nashta. Papa, let's go, varna aapki meeting se pehle mera lecture miss ho jayega!"
Arvind stands up, picking up his briefcase and car keys, looking at his daughter with absolute adoration.
Arvind: "Chalo beta. Aaj toh tumhe drop kar raha hoon, par yaad rakhna, shaam ko hum sabko Singhania mansion jaana hai dinner ke liye. Yash aur Renuka ne bohot pyaar se bulaya hai project celebrate karne."
Drishya pauses at the door, tying her hair into a neat ponytail. A playful, curious glint flashes in her eyes.
Drishya: "Singhania house? Matlab aaj hum us Strict CEO se milne wale hain? Sahi hai Papa... let's see ki unka discipline meri psychology ke aage kitna tikta hai!"
Nisha: (Calling out from behind) "Drishya! Wahaan jaakar unke baare me notes mat banana shuru kar dena, thik hai?"
Drishya laughs, waving goodbye to her mother as she and Arvind walk out toward the elevator. She has no idea that the "disciplined, unsmiling CEO" her father praised is going to become the central subject of her life very soon..
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