That afternoon, it so happened that a burglar broke into the Sarabhai mansion. Robbery in broad daylight was so in and why should the extravagant high class have all the fun?
So this guy dodged the wall and sprang in through the kitchen chimney and the first person to see him was undoubtedly the daughter-in-law of the household, Monisha. But then, she was so absorbed in preparing some not so delectable khakra from the previous month's leftover chapatis that she didn't take note of him until much later. Alas, the poor thing thought he could get away with rendering her unconscious aided by a napkin and a few drops of chloroform and all we can do is to sympathize with him. Back to the story, back to the story. So, when Monisha set her eyes upon this robber, his cinder covered face induced fright that the woman couldn't handle and so came a scream followed by another.
"Bhoot! Mummyji! Sahil, Bhoot!" She shouted and we couldn't help but feel bad for her throat. Thank goodness, it didn't suffer wear and tear.
"Kya hua Monisha? Kyun chilla rahi ho?" Maya walked in tardily, not caring to let go off her typical catwalk "And this Bhoot and all, huh? Can't you just say, a ghost specializing in sorcery and possessing clairvoyant powers? The word bhoot in itself is paranormally middle class!"
The burglar could only stare at this carefree, lavish lady, his eyeballs bulging out in wonder. That's when Maya saw him.
"Sahil! Indu!" Even in difficult times as that, Maya just wouldn't mend her ways as she exclaimed with not much of exertion and nearly fainted.
Sahil came running for help and Indu followed, hoping by all means that he would be able to derive a laugh or two from the fiasco that was to ensue. The last of all came Roshesh, looking worried beyond measure.
"Koun ho tum?" Sahil tried to put on a brave front but noticing the knife in the burglar's hand started to stammer.
Roshesh rushed to his Momma's side (who had this time fainted for real) and started to cry inconsolably, sobs that sounded more like donkey brays than anything else.
"Roshesh, rona band karo varna poora jungle yahan aa jayega tumhe chup karane!" That was very imperative yet honest of Indu "Iss bhoot se darawni toh tumhari awaz hai!"
"Daddyji, Mummyji!" Monisha tried to draw his attention towards Maya who lay on the floor.
"Maya jaye bhaad mein! Pehle iss bhoot se toh nipat lene de!" Indu was quick to reply.
"Kya? Maya bhaad mein jaye? Tumhare liye apni wife se zyada, a bloody ghost is more important?" Maya got up with a start. So she hadn't fallen for real this time around too.
"Momma!" Roshesh started to hop around "Meri momma hai bilkul thik, my happiness is at its peak!"
"Arey ab iss bhoot ka bhi koi kuch karo!" Monisha interrupted "Ye khakre bana lun uske baad vo serial bhi toh dekhna hai mujhe, 'Maa ka pyaar aur saas ka vaar, dekhiye har somvaar!'"
"Ghosh Monisha! How many times will i have to tell you this? Kuch karo nahi say, deal with him, deal with the ghost!'"
"Areyy bhoot nahi hun main..." The burglar exclaimed, jeopardized by both laughter and cries "Chor hun main, chor! Koi bhoot voot nahi hun!" He wept bitterly.
"Kya? Chor? Sahil, jao jakar dekho beta, my precious pieces of diamond jewellery that i bought from France, i hope they are safe!" Monisha looked absolutely tensed.
"Kyun jhoot bolti ho, Maya? Tum toh kabhi France gayi hi nahi ho!" Indu spat.
"Shut your mouth, Indu. Tumhe kuch nahi pata. Chalo accha hai, ye ghost nahi hai, we don't need to summon my lovely daughter Soniya anymore" Pride soon took over the best of Maya.
"Par mummyji, mujhe Soniya se milna tha, bahut mann tha mera!" Monisha frowned.
"Wuhoon..." The cries grew louder and clearer "Arey bas kijiye aap log, main yahan chori karne aaya tha! Maaf kardo mujhe, baksh do!" He whined and whined and wept as he hit himself hard on the head "Arey isse accha toh ye hota ki aap log police ke hawale kar dete mujhe!"
"Arey, accha yaad dilaya! Sahil, call the police!" Indu ordered as though he had been waiting for just this.
And so the police arrived, arrested the burglar and took him along and normalcy was duly returned to the sarabhai household, not that normal people reside therein but let's just pretend that all the farrago that they produce and 'deal with' is pretty much 'normal'. As for the burglar, we opine he was much better off in prison, away from our feisty family and the house that was nothing less than a battlefield.
PS-Not proofread.