Luv and Kush must be on the other side of the room,” remarked a family member.

On the other side of the city would have been more appropriate as Sonakshi Sinha’s robust celebrations last Sunday were followed by question marks on the absence of her twin brothers. Luv-Kush missing from the wedding album was bound to draw attention, making it that much more difficult for the parents who are always under scrutiny. It was tough for the brothers too, as they couldn’t openly air their perspective, sensitive to the fact that what they say shouldn’t hurt dad Shatrughan, a public figure.

The red-carpet absence of the bride’s brothers apparently had two reasons. One was the suddenness of her announcement, the feeling of being left out of participating in how, when and where she’d wed her beau. Kush had gone through a diametrically different wedding in 2015, with Promi as the central wedding planner (right down to the sari she sent out to select invitees) and Shatrughan ensuring the VIP presence of the Prime Minister and other high-profile guests like Yashwant Sinha.

But Sona and Zaheer had their own plans, like wanting to wed on the same day that they met seven years ago. Sona also sent caring personal invites to uncles, aunts and cousins. While the passing disappointment of her own family could be understood, a 37-year-old career woman planning how she wanted to get married had to be equally acceptable. Which was how her parents saw it when they accepted her decisions.

Apparently, one reason for anxiety was a rumour about the groom’s antecedents. With carefully curated news stories about his family business, nobody tread grey areas like the groom’s father’s proximity to a politician whose ED enquiries had vanished in the “washing machine”. Nor was there a whiff of the groom’s father’s stint in Dubai, which was rumoured to have ended rather abruptly. Was there the hand of a superstar who had connections at the highest level in the UAE?

On the other hand, there has been no subterfuge in Sona’s relationship with Zaheer. She’s been a regular at Otters Club where he’s a member. And the whole world has been privy to her Insta reels and posts. After Zaheer and she had gone scuba diving at Havelock Island, she had posted, “Say hello to @paditv’s newest Ambassadivers!!! Our love for the ocean took us to the beautiful Andaman Islands to do our Advanced Open Water course... As Ambassadivers our mission is to introduce more people to the ocean and its preservation all while discovering new depths ourselves!” The “we” and “our” were unmissable, they were out there swimming together.

So, other than feeling left out of her plans, there was no room for shock or surprise that Sona and Zaheer were officially a couple. Seven years is long enough for investigations and interventions, and for anxieties to be expressed.

Miffed moods between siblings are not unique to any family. Shatru himself has had his moments of tension with his three older brothers, much after he’d gained fame in films and in politics. He and his siblings were mature men with families of their own when they had their little “katti” parties. But they made up too, and all of this is in the public domain.

After a recent visit to India, US-based brother Ram Sinha had just returned home when Sona disclosed her plans, so he couldn’t come back. But Dr Bharat Sinha and son were there last Sunday. Lakhan bhaiya was indisposed but wife Geeta and daughter Preeta (who flew back from the US) attended all the celebrations. Kush too turned up briefly for the civil marriage earlier in the day while wife Taruna with her family partied the night away with the bridal couple.

Undeniably, Sona is radiantly happy and everybody will come around. After all, concern over a sibling’s moves comes from a place of caring. Besides, blood is thicker than water.