1 tbsp witty remarks, 2 tbsp humorous face-offs, 1.5 tbsp constant banter, 2 tsp bickering, 1 cup love and 2 cups respect- this is the recipe of their healthy namkeen relationship. However, fourteen years ago the story was quite different.

“They both are dead for me!”Ankita lashed out at her Munty Tai when she asked whether she wanted to talk with Sonu Tai on the phone. Thirteen years old Ankita was filled with rage because Sonu Tai had eloped and got married with the man she liked. The family was in complete shock and despair. It seemed like a fate worse than death for them, especially in the midst of the ensuing struggle they were facing after Ankita’s father passed away just a few years ago.

For Ankita her sister’s husband was no less than a villain who had robbed the happiness of her family. The gloom that loomed over the faces of her mother and elder brother used to fuel her anger for him. “Why on earth in spite of family’s disapproval did Sonu Tai decide to marry that man?”, thought Ankita when she used to witness the grief in her mother’s eyes. Sonu Tai’s husband was not well off and could barely make ends meet, which is why her family disapproved of him. Ankita’s family used to avoid attending functions and her mother’s health was also impacted. All this embedded the hatred towards him in her mind. 

Three years later Ankita’s aunt invited Sonu Tai to her daughter’s wedding. Sonu Tai mustered the courage to seize this opportunity for reconciliation with her family and decided to attend the wedding. Seeing her arrive with her toddler son, the barrages of hate and ego collapsed and a flood of emotions unleashed. Mother, aunts, sisters embraced her with warmth and love and hence began the ironing out of creases.

Embracing her husband was yet a tough crease to even out, however with increased communication with Sonu Tai, her husband’s involvement too increased gradually and things started to change for the better eventually. He was officially invited to Munty Tai’s wedding as the eldest son-in-law of the family. Ankita’s image of her brother-in-law as villain had by then toned down to that of a co-actor! They started having conversations about her career plan when she cleared her 12th grade. Their relationship was now amicable but not yet cordial.

When Ankita enrolled for an undergraduate course of BFA at Aurangabad, it was decided that she would stay at Sonu Tai’s place there. It is from this time that her relationship with her brother-in-law started undergoing a metamorphosis– brother-in-law to a caring guardian to a supportive father figure and to a friendly Jiju! She was finally convinced that Sonu Tai has chosen the right man– one who is hard working and benevolent; who is raising a happy family and providing for them quite well. The grace with which he accepted her family’s resentments all these years and yet continued to be kind towards them, had struck a chord with Ankita. 

The culmination of this friendly and warm bond came about when Ankita’s Jiju assisted and took care of her mother post her spine surgery. He looked after her just as one would do for one’s mother. He forgot all the past admonishments he received from his mother-in-law and selflessly looked after her. Also the fact that Jiju supports Ankita’s brother in all circumstances like an elder brother, is quite heartening for her. The familial ties are well cemented now.

Ankita considers two men as heroes of her life- her elder brother Raman Dada and her Jiju! She admires her Jiju to such an extent now that she is upfront to argue for her Jiju and defend him when such a situation arises. She has faith in his virtues and looks up to him for his perseverance, kindness and generosity. However, this does not mean that their relationship is immune to the classic Jija-Saali nok jhok! Leg-pulling, ribbing and cracking each other up are the obvious rituals that both follow diligently! Otherwise how will a Jija-Saali relationship be complete!