Gauri Tridevi, age: 35 and Omkara Singh Oberoi, age: 37

Kairav Omkara Singh Oberoi, age: 16, Kanishka Omkara Singh Oberoi, age: 15, Kabir Omkara Singh Oberoi, age: 12. Kaila Omkara Singh Oberoi, age: 3

Kanishka: dad, i just fucked up big time!

Om: don't swear in front of Kaila.

He said as he finished braiding his youngest daughter's hair. Kaila looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Clearly she didn't seem to be affected by her older sister swearing as she was more focused on herself and how cute she looked.

Om: now what happened?

Kanishka: I left my memory stick at mum's place. How else am I supposed to complete my assignment if I don't have my memory stick?

Om: just wait till Sunday when you get back to your mum's place and do your assignment then.

Kanishka: dad, I am not going to do my assignment the night before it's due!

Om rolled his eyes at Kanishka before looking down at Kaila, who was still admiring herself in the mirror.

Clearly that girl was her mother's mini twin in both attitude and looks.

Om: how far along are you on that assignment?

Kanishka: like half way through.

Om: can't you just rewrite the assignment on my laptop instead? Do you really need the memory stick?

Kanishka: dad! I am not rewriting the whole assignment when it's literally due in three days! Please can we go to mum's place so I can get my memory stick?

Om: do we have to?

Kanishka: please dad, I will be really nice to your stupid girlfriend if you take me to mum's place right now! Dad, it's literally a life or death situation!

Now and then it would come as a surprise to Om that Kanishka could be dramatic like her mother. She was a lot like him in terms of her attitude and looks - she wasn't like her mother at all, except when it came to getting her way.

Om: fine! Tell Kairav and Kabir that they are in charge of looking after Kaila and that if someone happens to come into the apartment, they need to relax because it's just Pranati.

Kanishka: of course dad, I'll let them know right now. Thank you, you are the best!

She went out of her dad's room to quickly inform her brothers of what her dad had just told her. Om looked back at Kaila and sighed.

Om: okay princess, enough admiring yourself. You have to be a good girl for your brothers and Pranati..

Kaila: chi Pruneti.

Om: her name is Pranati and you have to be nice to her.

Kaila: I don't want to.

Om: please princess, for me.

Kaila: no!

Om: will you be nice if I buy you a new dress?

Kaila: your choice is not good in dresses.

Since when were three year olds brutally honest? Om sighed and thought about how he could bribe his three year old into being nice to his girlfriend.

Om: will you be nice if I get you ice cream?

Kaila: no.

Om: pizza?

Kaila shook her head.

Om: a dollhouse?

Kaila: I have one at mummy's.

Om: of course you do. A new doll for your dollhouse?

Kaila: okay.

Om: really?

Kaila nodded. Om sighed in relief. He had successfully bribed his youngest into being nice.

Om didn't hear the doorbell ring as he was too busy mentally praising himself for bribing his daughter. However, he did hear his eldest son say something.

Kairav: hey mum, missed us already?

What was his ex wife doing at his apartment? He better go check. He didn't want to see her right now, but he had to since he had to see what she wanted.

Kaila: mummy is here!

She squealed, running out of the room to the living room.

Om: Kaila, careful baccha!

He said, coming out of his room to the living room where his three other kids were with his ex wife, who was standing at the front door. Even though they were divorced, he had to admit she did look quite pretty with her hair all fluffed out and dressed in her simple baby blue jumper and dark blue jeans.

Kanishka: dad, no need to go to mum's place, she brought my memory stick for me.

Kabir: and I was going to ask you if we could get my English textbook from her place but she brought it for me!

Kaila: and mummy got my princess pyjamas!

She said happily as her mother gave her the bag containing her favourite pyjamas in.

Om: thanks Gauri I guess for taking the time to come here and give the kids their things.

Gauri looked at Om as she said: no worries, I saw they left their stuff at my place so I came to give it to them. Anyway I am just going to leave now.

Kairav: do you want a drink or anything mum before you go?

Gauri: nahi beta, I'm fine thank you. Your Anika chachi is coming to my place so I have to cook dinner.

Kanishka: is Aneesa and Neela coming with Anika chachi?

Gauri was about to answer when everyone heard someone else speak.

Voice: hey guys!

The kids all groaned, whilst Gauri remained neutral and Om gave a small smile to the owner of the voice.

Om: hey Pranati.

Pranati: hey baby. I didn't know your ex wife was here.

Gauri: I am just about to leave.

Kanishka: and mum was about to say something before you rudely interrupted.

Pranati: wow I am so sorry, I didn't know.

Om: Kanishka, you said you were going to be nice.

Kanishka: I said I was going to be nice if you drove me to mum's place but mum came here so I can't really keep my end of a deal if you didn't do your bit.

Kairav: she has a point.

Om: don't encourage her! Sorry Pranati, the kids had a long day at school, after all it is Friday.

Pranati: fair enough. I understand completely.

The three older children rolled their eyes whilst Kaila was more focused on her princess pyjamas to care about Pranati.

Gauri: to answer your question Kani, Neela and Aneesa will not be coming along with Anika this time.

Kanishka leaned towards Gauri and quietly whispered but loud enough for Pranati to hear: mum please convince Anika chachi to bring Neela and Aneesa. I don't want to be stuck with this witch.

Pranati: errr rude!

Gauri: Kanishka....

Kanishka: Pranati, why were you eavesdropping on my private conversation with my mother?

Pranati: you weren't being very discreet about it.

Kanishka: sorry I thought I was. You see, my whole family knows and anyone who knows me in general knows when I whisper to someone, you all have to mind your own business for a couple of minutes since I am not a good whisperer.

Kairav: trust me, we all know how shit of a whisperer you are.

Om: can we not swear please?

Kairav: sorry dad.

Gauri: okay look, Kanishka you only get to spend a lot more time with your dad on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I don't think you should waste any time you get with your dad, even if he has a guest over.

Pranati: girlfriend actually.

Gauri: same thing. Point is spend a lot of time with your dad this weekend because remember I am taking you four to Shimla next weekend so you won't get dad time.

Om: I'm sorry what? You're taking the kids to Shimla next weekend?

Gauri: I am and I thought I told you last weekend.

Om: this is the first time I'm hearing about it.

Gauri: well I did tell you last weekend but like always, you didn't listen.

Om: what is that supposed to mean?

Gauri: that you don't listen when I tell you important information. You are meant to listen whenever I tell you important information regarding the kids. You never listened when I told you important information about me, but you could at least listen when it comes to the kids.

Om: Gauri, I do listen and I am telling you that you never told me about this Shimla trip. Am I right kids?

Kabir: actually mum did tell you that we were going to go to Shimla soon.

Om: she did?

Kairav: yeah she did....

Kanishka nodded and of course there was no response from Kaila as she was too busy looking at a magazine that Om kept on his coffee table.

Gauri: see what I mean?

Om: okay fine, maybe you did tell me but Gauri, you can't just take the kids away on the days that I am meant to have them. They're my kids.

Gauri: I can because in case you have forgotten, they are my kids too and if they can see your side of the family all the time, they can see mine as well who just so happen to live in Shimla.

Pranati: guys maybe we should take a very calm approach to this. Deep breathes in and out.

Kairav: Pranati, this is none of your business so shut up please!

Om: Kairav don't be rude and all four of you and Pranati, go to another room and let me talk to your mum.

Kairav: but...

Om: now!

The kids sighed and went, taking Kaila with them. Pranati went into the apartment with a smile and said: I am just going to get the kids some drinks.

Om: okay.

Pranati left before Om and Gauri focused their attention back on one another.

Om: why on my weekend with them did you have to plan this stupid trip for?

Gauri: because I can't just take them on school days can I? I don't want their attendance and studies to suffer. Kanishka and Kairav were already behind because you took them to Agra on the days that I normally have them. At least I am taking them on the weekend.

Om: of course, I forgot that you were mother of the year. Look, the point is I won't get to see them all of next week then.

Gauri: you could just come and meet them, you know that right? Besides every time you have the kids, you always have to brign your girlfriend over. Weekends are the kids' times with their dad, not with their dad and their dad's girlfriend.

Om and Gauri continued to bicker whilst the kids overheard this petty argument in Kanishka and Kaila's second bedroom. Being children of divorced parents meant two bedrooms, two birthdays, two Christmasses, two Diwalis etc.Two of everything.

Pranati: hey kids, I got you all juice.

Kanishka: fuck off!

Pranati: you are so rude, honestly just like your mum.

Kairav: look you don't know us that well nor do you know our mum that well so kindly shut the fuck up! In case it isn't obvious, we don't like you as it is so stop making us hate you more and stop trying to act like we're all friends here because we're not.

Pranati: wow never knew kids could be rude.

Kanishka: get lost!

Pranati: fine, I'll go to your dad's room and chill there.

She was about to leave when she saw Kaila playing with Kabir.

Pranati: hey Kai Kai!

Kaila: don't call me that!

She said since she only liked it when her loved ones called her that nickname. Pranati was not a loved one.

Pranati: all you kids are rude. Bye!

She left the room and all four kids looked at each other as they heard their parents bicker from a distance.

Kanishka: dad is always like this, he never listens to important information that mum tells him.

Kabir: I know, he's a good guy but mum also sometimes reacts a little bit quickly.

Kairav: it's only when it comes to dad though because I know she is still struggling with the divorce pain. Dad and mum used to be able to handle each other really well. Why did it all get fucked up two years ago?

Kabir: stop swearing, Kaila is here.

Kanishka: Kaila is more focused on how she looks than on this conversation!

She said, pointing at her baby sister who was applying Kanishka's lipgloss before kissing the mirror.

Kairav: Kaila, no.

Kaila: Kai bhaiya, yes.

Kairav rolled his eyes.

Kanishka: I miss mum and dad before they divorced. I wish we didn't complain whenever they showed their PDA.

Kairav: they were basically each other's best friends before they divorced.

Kabir: it sucks having divorced parents. All my friends' parents are married and they all look so happy with each other.

Kairav: I hate having divorced parents, especially when you have no one to talk to about it. The teachers are like 'oh we understand, we really do understand' but they don't.

Kanishka: they said that they might want me to get counselling but I don't want that.

Kairav: trust me, they won't make you get it since I think mum and dad have to consent to it.

Kanishka was about to say something when Om came into the room.

Om: your mum is about to leave, say bye to her. Kaila, stop kissing your reflection in the mirror.

Kaila: urgh fine, I'm going to mummy.

She said, toddling out of the room to Gauri.

Kaila: mummy!

Gauri smiled, picking up Kaila.

Gauri: be good for daddy okay?

Kaila: okay mummy.

The other three children came to their mum and hugged her.

Kanishka: sooo you're not going to take me to your place to meet Neela and Aneesa?

Gauri: sorry baby, it's just me and your Anika chachi today.

Kanishka: how could you do this to me?

Gauri: sorry meri jaan. Anika chachi will come by tomorrow to drop off your school uniform and extra stuff.

Kairav: why?

Gauri: due to our Shimla trip, you four will be staying with your dad for Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday then Thursday is when you come back to me.

Kabir: will you come and meet us during that time?

Gauri: of course baba. Now I sadly have to go because Anika will be here in any moment, I really don't want to go but have an amazing time with your dad.

Kanishka: we will when Pranati isn't here.

Gauri: just be nice to her for once.

Kanishka: dad paid you to say that, didn't he?

Om: no I didn't.

Kairav: yeah right....see you later mum.

Gauri: see you kids.

She gave her kids one last hug before putting Kaila down and waving bye to them before exiting the apartment. Once she was gone, the children looked at Om.

Om: what did I do now?

Kairav: nothing, we're just gonna go to our rooms.

Om: okay....dinner will be ready in a bit.

Kabir, Kanishka, Kairav and Kaila: okay!

All four of them left to their shared bedrooms, Kanishka-Kaila and Kairav-Kabir. Sometimes the weekends with their dads made them miss their own bedrooms at their mum's place. Then again their mum got their childhood home during the divorce and their dad brought an apartment.

...

Later on that night, Om and Pranati were in the living room, watching a movie. The children decided to not socialise with Om and his girlfriend and stayed in their rooms.

Pranati: Om, how long have we been dating for?

Om: three months.

Pranati: and we haven't even kissed once nor have I even met your parents and the rest of your family.

Om: it's a platonic relationship....I think.

Pranati: look I don't want it to be platonic.

Om: Pranati, I've been divorced for two years, I've just gotten back to dating, can we not rush things please?

Pranati: is that because you rushed things with your ex wife and made her pregnant within just one month of knowing her and now that relationship ended up in divorce?

Om: Pranati...let's not talk about mine and Gauri's relationship right now.

Pranati: I am not her biggest fan, does she need to be in our lives?

Om: she gave birth to my children so yes.

Pranati: do you still have some feelings for her?

Om: no, we would have been together if I did and stop asking too many questions about Gauri.

Pranati: fine, I'm leaving anyway.

Om: Pranati, don't go already.

Pranati: no I am. I got work in the morning. I will come back tomorrow, bye baby.

She smiled at Om before letting herself out. Om sighed once she left. Pranati was always like this - getting insecure over Gauri. She had to accept that Gauri was a part of their lives because of the kids. Was it that hard to understand? Also could she respect his wishes from their relationship? He didn't want to rush into things right now and she had to respect that. She wanted to meet his kids and he allowed her to, so couldn't Pranati respect his other wishes from this relationship?

Sometimes, maybe he did think about his relationship with Gauri. Gauri never forced him to rush things. She said that he didn't have to introduce her to his family right away just because she got pregnant. But he did - with her, he was always ready to take the next step. She was simply always patient and respected his wishes from the relationship and he respected hers.

Sometimes, maybe he did miss that relationship.

Precap: big news and a big shock

How did love turn into a mess of emotions?

How did love turn into divorce?

Will the kids get their parents to love each other again?