The convoy of luxurious cars came to a halt at the grand entrance of the Sehgal ancestral haveli, an architectural masterpiece nestled amidst lush greenery. The haveli stood as a timeless reminder of the Sehgal dynasty, with its royal arches, intricately carved wooden doors, and sprawling courtyards bathed in golden sunlight.
As the cars came to a halt, the doors opened one by one. Out stepped the family members, stretching and soaking in the fresh air. Siara, however, didn't emerge from the Passenger seat like the others. Instead, she got out from the driver's seat of Mahir's car, dusting off her saree and fixing her pallu with a practiced indifference.
Then came the reaction everyone dreaded. Bua. She had arrived earlier and was already stationed at the entrance, ready to cast judgment. Her sharp eyes took in the sight of Siara emerging like a queen from the car while Mahir remained oblivious in the passenger seat.
"Oh, my stars! Siara, driving? What's next? Are we going to see her smiling?" Mahir's Bua said
The younger clan froze for a second, exchanged looks, and then pounced.
Kabir smirked "Bua, you know, times have changed. Women can drive now. Revolutionary, isn't it?"
"Wait, does this mean Bua doesn't drive? Oh no, the world is collapsing!" Shivay pretending to be horrified
Divya innocently said "Maybe she's scared of the steering wheel. It can be intimidating."
The group burst out laughing while Bua's face flushed in embarrassment. She muttered something incoherent and stomped inside the haveli, followed closely by the elders who were too tired to intervene.
With the elders heading inside, Siara walked around to the passenger side of the car and opened Mahir's door. His head was tilted against the seat, his arms crossed, and a soft calmness on his face that contrasted with his usual rigid demeanor.
With a blank look she tried to wake him."Wake up,"
But before she could, Kabir appeared out of nowhere, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kabir mocking innocence "Oh, sorry, Bhabhi. Didn't see you there."
Before she could register what was happening, Kabir gave her a gentle nudge, sending her off balance. She stumbled forward, landing directly on Mahir's chest.
For a split second, the world seemed to pause.
Mahir woke with a start, his sharp instincts kicking in, only to find Siara sprawled over him. His groggy gaze met her stunned one. Her face was mere inches from his, her soft, expressive eyes locking with his own.
Mahir froze.
For the first time, he noticed the subtle amber flecks in her otherwise dark eyes, the way they carried a storm of emotions she never let out. He couldn't tear his gaze away, a thought slipping into his mind unbidden: How can someone so cold have eyes that are so... warm?
Siara tried to straighten up, her hands pressing against his chest to push herself away.
Siara coldly said "Move."
Her voice snapped Mahir out of his daze. He leaned back slightly to give her space, his usual stoic mask slipping back into place.
But before the moment could fully dissipate, the younger clan struck again.
Shivay whispers loudly "Are they going to kiss? Should we cover our eyes?"
"No way! I want front-row seats for this drama." Myra giggled
Kabir pretending to be scandalized "How bold, right in the car! This is a family event, after all."
The laughter erupted again, forcing Siara to straighten up and step out of the car.
Mahir climbed out next, his eyes narrowing at the boys.
He sternly told them "One more word, and I'll rearrange your noses right here."
The threat had the desired effect. The laughter subsided, though Shivay couldn't resist muttering under his breath.
"Bhabhi, next time, try not to swoon so obviously. Poor Bhai needs time to adjust." shivay said
"Do you ever stop talking?" siara coldly asked
Shivay was stunned,"That day you replied back to kabir bhai, today me ...what is happening bhabhi. Can the Ice- queen melt??"
Mahir shot them a warning look, but they just smirked and dispersed into the haveli.
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The Sehgal family's arrival at their ancestral haveli was nothing short of a royal procession. As they entered the grand arched doorway, the hall came into full view-a magnificent space with marble floors gleaming under the light of crystal chandeliers, rich tapestries adorning the walls, and intricately carved wooden furniture that exuded timeless elegance.
The elders were already seated, basking in the nostalgia of their youth. Rajeshwari Sehgal, the matriarch, sat on a plush velvet armchair like a queen surveying her kingdom. Her calm yet authoritative presence filled the room. Mahir's parents, Advitya and Shivani, were seated beside her, quietly murmuring about the upkeep of the haveli. Abhimanyu and Shalini, ever the lively pair, exchanged jokes, their laughter mingling with the echoes of the past.
When the younger generation entered, their energy shifted the atmosphere from solemnity to chaos. Shivay, and Divya and Myra were the first to dart in, their eyes alight with curiosity.
Divya spinning around dramatically "Whenever we come here it feels like we've stepped into a period drama! Someone cue the royal music."
"Your Highness, please grace us with your modern wit and sarcasm." Kabir pretending to bow
Shivay pointing to a portrait of an old Sehgal ancestors said "Kabir, you look just like this guy. Maybe it's your past life and that lady beside you is my beautiful mahi bhabhi"
The laughter that followed was contagious, even drawing a faint smile from Shivani, who rarely indulged in their antics.
Mahir and Siara entered last, their arrival drawing attention. Mahir's expression remained stoic, his stride purposeful as he scanned the room, assessing everything out of habit. Siara followed steps besides him, her face a mask of calm indifference. Yet, her eyes wandered briefly, taking in the grandeur of the space.
Rajeshwari's gaze landed on Siara, a flicker of approval crossing her face. Despite her cold demeanor, Siara carried herself with an elegance that Rajeshwari could appreciate.
Rajeshwari gesturing to an empty seat "Siara, sit here. It's been a long journey."
Siara nodded and gracefully took her seat beside Shivani.
Shivay whispering loudly to Kabir "Look at that posture. Bhabhi could teach royalty a thing or two."
"True. If there's ever a competition for 'Best Sitting Posture,' she will win hands down." Avya nodded seriously
Mahir shot them an angry glare, but they just smirked and turned away, whispering among themselves.
"All of you, hurry go settle down and come downstairs in an hour for dinner" ordered dadi
As the family dispersed to their allocated rooms, the haveli seemed to quieten, though traces of laughter and footsteps echoed faintly through its grand corridors. Each room was steeped in tradition, a blend of old-world charm and subtle modernity, with antique furniture, intricately carved wooden beds, and windows draped with heavy silk curtains.
Mahir and Siara were assigned a spacious room at the far end of the haveli, away from the younger clan's likely antics. The room had an air of understated luxury-soft gold wallpaper adorned the walls, and the massive bed in the center was covered with an intricately embroidered quilt. A private balcony overlooked the sprawling gardens and distant hills, offering a serene view.
As they entered the room, their bags were already placed inside by staff Mahir glanced around. His expression was neutral, his face unreadable as he walked toward the balcony and pushed open the heavy wooden doors. A cool breeze swept in, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden below.
Siara, ever composed, placed her bag neatly in a corner and began organizing her things. She worked methodically, her movements precise, as though she were in her hospital office rather than a room shared with her husband. Her face betrayed no emotion, that's what she is. If you think one trip will change her to what she used to be then you're wrong.
The silence in the room was heavy but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence both of them had grown accustomed to-neither intrusive nor particularly warm.
Mahir turned back from the balcony, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her.
"You can take the bed. I'll use the couch." He calmly said
Siara looked up from where she was unpacking, her face devoid of any reaction.
Siara evenly said "sure"
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Later, when Siara finished unpacking, she noticed Mahir was still by the balcony, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He seemed lost in thought, the lines on his face sharper in the dim light of the room.
Siara didn't pry-she never did. Instead, she moved to the opposite side of the bed and sat down, leaning slightly against the headboard as she pulled out her phone to check her emails.
The quiet stretched between them once again, broken only by the faint chirping of crickets outside.
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After dinner-
"The Ice Queen and the Ghostly Failures"
It was a night full of possibilities-or so the youngsters thought. The grand corridors of the haveli, dimly lit and shadowy, seemed like the perfect setting for their mischievous plan. The younger Sehgals, with Shivay leading the charge, decided to prank Siara, their ever-composed ice queen, and see if she could finally crack under pressure.
Setting the Scene
In a dark corner of the haveli, the younger clan huddled, whispering their strategy. Kabir had donned an old, tattered white sheet, Shivay carried a flashlight to create "spooky effects," and Myra added fake ghostly wails.
Shivay whispering "Okay, Kabir, you're the ghost. Myra, you're the creepy background score. Divya, you distract her if she catches on."
Divya rolling her eyes"Why am I always the distraction?"
Kabir adjusting the sheet "Because you're the smallest. Now, hush. Tonight, we make history. Ice Queen Siara will scream!"
Myra snickering "Or, she'll just stare at you until you scream."
"Not happening. Let's go." Kabir confidently said
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The Execution:
The group sneaked up to Siara's room, the old wooden floorboards creaking beneath their feet. Siara was alone Inside as mahir was in the garden attending finishing some office work.
Inside, Siara was calmly reading a medical journal, her expression as stoic as ever. The room was quiet, the dim light casting their shadows on the walls-perfect for their "haunting."
Suddenly, a low, guttural moaning sound filled the hallway.
Myra outside, in her best ghost voice"Ooooo... whooo's theeeeere?"
Siara didn't even look up.
Siara deadpan, to herself "The wind must have a sore throat."
Undeterred, Kabir slowly pushed the door open, his white-sheeted figure illuminated by Shivay's flashlight. He swayed dramatically, attempting to look like a floating specter.
Kabir in a deep, shaky voice "I am the ghost of the haveli! Leave this place, or face my wrath!"
Siara turned a page in her journal.
Siara calmly, not looking up "If you're the ghost, you need to work on your cardio. That heavy breathing is concerning."
Kabir faltered, but Shivay whispered urgently from behind the door. "Don't back down! Intensify!"
Kabir stepped closer, wailing louder. Myra joined in from outside with more ghostly sobs.
Siara finally looking up, unimpressed "Did someone forget their inhaler, or is this an audition for the worst horror performance of the year?"
At this point, Shivay, frustrated by the lack of reaction, barged in, waving the flashlight under his face.
Shivay dramatically added "Beware, mortal! We are the spirits of this haveli, and we demand your soul!"
Siara slowly closed her journal, set it aside, and folded her hands in her lap and dryly replied "And if you don't want some cracked bones, Care to compromise?"
Realizing their prank was failing, Myra decided to ramp it up. She threw a bunch of marbles into the room, hoping to create chaos. Instead, Kabir tripped over them, his white-sheet disguise tangling around his legs.
"I'm down! The ghost is down!" Kabir yelped
Siara stood up, her expression cold and unreadable, and walked toward the fallen "ghost."
She just looked at him without any expressions.
Meanwhile, Shivay panicked, trying to pull Kabir out of the room.
"Abort mission! She's not human! Ice- Queen cannot melt"
As they scrambled to leave, Siara casually flipped off the light, plunging the room into darkness and drifting to sleep.
The Aftermath
Later, in the living room , the younger clan gathered, sulking. Their dadi and the elders, curious about the commotion, asked what had happened.
Rajeshwari amusingly asked "Why do you all look like you've seen a real ghost?"
"Because we tried to scare Siara bhabhi, and she scared us instead! by acting like a Glacier queen." Divya pouted
"She's not an ice queen. She's a stone-cold terminator!" Kabir grinned
"Kabir do you always forget that you are married and still do all these actics with them. Mahi don't scold you for doing so?" Asked devansh
The family burst into laughter, except for the clan , who were too busy planning their next (hopefully better) prank.
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