Children bringing together estranged parents might be Hollywood's favorite plot, but this time, it is playing in a hamlet in distant Bihar. Caught in the middle are the Araria police - who have been asked to play peacemaker by two sisters, aged 12 and 13.

Mahangi Devi, 32, had deserted Bande Lal, 38 -- her husband of 14 years -- and her six children after falling in love with neighbour Ranjan Mandal.

"Six months ago, she started living with Mandal," said the 12-year-old. "We felt sorry for our papa and approached the SP sahib (Araria superintendent of police SW Lande) on Saturday with the hope that he will convince our mother to return home," said the elder sister.

While they often do dabble in sorting out domestic disputes, here, the police find themselves out of their depth.

"The problem is that the woman has stated publicly she wants to live with her new love," the SP said. But having assured the children that the police would do their best, Lande has asked a woman officer to talk to the mother.

But Mahangi Devi is bent on scripting her own Bollywood romance, declaring that she would "go to any extent" for love. "Ranjan and I are living like a married couple and will continue to do so," she said.