Anu-Raj [Estd. 1993]

0 - Shahs & Joshis

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Shah House - Krishna Kunj.

Bhairav Pratap Shah was known for many things. But the thing he was known for most was his temper.

The Shahs had never dreamt of taking a step out of the line in his presence.
Once the owner of land worth crores, the blood of royalty, yet now, he sat in an average middle class house.

It had been his scheming cousins.
They had snatched everything from him in the name of family well being. He had to leave Rajasthan and come down to this city in Gujrat which was his wife's hometown.

Maithili Bhairav Shah sat beside him as he read today's newspaper.
She had been her husband's sole support. It was before the partition, and she had a young son in her arms when they had been thrown out.

Today, the calendar struck 1993.
They had found themselves a new home, and started living a new life.

Their son, Hasmukh, had never been the son Bhairav had expected or wanted. He was plain unambitious. Bhairav had often said in disappointment that the boy didn't seem to inherit even a drop of the royal ruthless blood of his.

Maithili had defended her son several times but to no avail. Hasmukh had learnt to bend and live under the shadow of his father first and then his wife.
Leela, Hasmukh's wife, had been Bhairav's choice. The woman wasn't evil but extremely dominating. Hasmukh anyways never had the guts to speak up, and with her around him, he had completely gone mute with his opinions unless extremely necessary.

Now, Bhairav's stakes lay on their grandson.
Vanraj Shah, was the name.
Bhairav himself had named him, claiming his eyes spoke of their ruthless forefathers. And indeed, he seemed to have carried his grandfather's ambitions in his genes. A stark contrast to his calm father, Vanraj was a storm.

His mother had never taught him any better than arrogance, and his grandfather had refused to let him know that he could ever be wrong.

Maithili had been extremely skeptical of the way he was brought up but had refrained from any comments. After all, she loved her husband and knew he wouldn't like her opinion.

Her grandson had been working for his family since he was fifteen, owing to the declining finances. Hasmukh, as said, was never any good. And Bhairav had insisted on letting the "best son" take the responsibility of the family just at the dawn of his teenage years.

Leela had agreed wholeheartedly because her son was after all a piece of diamond.
Maithili had been shocked at her blindness. What was this love? To pressurise her young son in the name of family responsibilities?
Hasmukh had tried to stop, but had been insulted by his father in return.

Vanraj had hence, become the bedrock of the Shah House. The man was the only one who could take forth the lineage that their bloodline held.
The sole heir to the genes of great warriors.

Everyone had appreciated Vanraj, but Maithili had just watched the boy in silence. He had grown to become everything that a man shouldn't, in the name of family.
Just like his mother, he was dominating. Just like his grandfather, he was ruthless.

He was the best son, best brother, best grandson and best in everything he ever participated in.
But Maithili had realised icyly, that he would never make a good partner.

•

Joshi Bhavan

Kanta Suresh Joshi sat at the stairs of the courtyard sewing her torn saree.

The house that had once been rich and wealthy, was now adorned with shabby walls.
Suresh Joshi had been a man of calibre. He ran a huge business with his best friend while he was alive. It had been that unfortunate winter night when his car mysteriously crashed by the road.

They had found him dead.
Kanta's life had been snatched from that day. They had to sell off all the costly diamond jewellery her husband had brought her, their car that he had gifted her on her birthday, every beautiful thing she had cherished - leaving behind just the walls and lower middle class lifestyle.

She had wished for the return of their former glory, but her younger son Bhavesh just did not possess the spark. He was too ordinary to do anything big.

And well, her elder daughter was a daughter. Daughters were meant to be wedded and sent off. She could expect nothing from her.

Anupamaa, was the name.
Her father had kept it.
Incomparable to anyone, it had meant.
She was as peaceful as the waters of Ganges.

And indeed she was.
She was beautiful, a wonderful dancer, had skills of leadership and even business. She was humble and empathetic. She couldn't bear to see even her enemy in pain. The ideal daughter, Suresh would say with pride.
But she was a daughter.

Kanta knew Anupamaa could be many things.
But all she was required to be was a good daughter in law.
A good partner.

It was strange how the two characters were so similar yet so distinct.

Both were selfless lovers of their families, willing to sacrifice it all to see their loved ones smile. Fashioned to be the way they were.
Yet, one was burdened with the responsibilities that made him ruthless, while the other burdened with the requirement to do just the bare minimum.

How shall a partnership between two such people last?
A relationship between fire and ice, it was.
Someone had to lose, for someone to win.

That is a tale to remember.

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This was an introductory chapter.
Would love your reviews on it!
The story begins from the next chapter.

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This is an original work of fiction.
This is not a fan fiction neither does it pertain to be one.
It shall have references, events or incidents that co relate with a show, but refrain from being a direct commentary on it.

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