Dadi's room wasn't so bad. There was a spare bed in a corner, which seemed nice enough for me. I loved the smell of incense sticks in her room. The Bhagavad Gita sat on the table, along with her glasses. There were some other prayer books as well, and of course, her medicines lined the table.

"Aaj se Amma ke dawai ka dhyan tumhe rakhna hoga," Maa Ji smiled at me a little as she picked the bedsheets from the almirah.

(From today onwards, you have to take care of Amma's medicines)

"Ji," I replied. It was my first task. I had to handle it diligently.

Dadi was glaring at us from the doorway. I quietly helped Maa with the bedsheets when Dadi snapped at her, "Tum itne khush kyu ho? Aavare ladki ko ghar laya hai bete ne! Agar iski pati hai toh kamre mein kyu nahi le jaata ise? Sab tumhare wajah se hai!" She yelled.

(Why are you so happy? Your son has brought home a stranger! If he's her husband, then why can't he take her to his room? Everything is because of you!)

Maa gulped, looking at Dadi helplessly, "Sanjana abhi bachi hai, Maa... Aur Bhairav ko bhi pata hai ki-"

(Sanjana is a child, Maa... And Bhairav knows that-)

"Rishta dekhte hi maine mana kar diya tha na! Par woh ladka kisi ki baat hi nahi maanta." She glowered, "Pura apne baap par gaya hai. Usne bhi mere khilaaf jaakar tumhe is ghar mein laaya tha. Haan, itna zaroor hai ki tumhare parivaar ka haal-chaal achchha tha, aur dahej bhi poora diya gaya tha. Aur ab mera pota bhi apne baap ki tarah apni man-marzi par utar aaya hai!"

(Before going to meet her, I had opposed this alliance. But that boy... He doesn't listen to anyone. He's exactly like his father. Even he had gone against me to marry you. But at least you came from a respectable family, and your parents had paid the dowry properly. And now my grandson is doing as he wishes, just like his father!)

Maa Ji didn't say anything. Dadi kept muttering under her breath that nobody listened to her in the house anymore and that my Father-in-law couldn't even straighten out his own son.

"Doodh lekar aao," she commanded suddenly, and Maa Ji nodded. "Rasoi mei chalte hai," she instructed me, and I followed her without a word. In the entire haveli, I just wanted to stay near my mother-in-law because she was very sweet.

(Go bring milk.)

(Come, let's go to the kitchen.)

"Beta, ghabrao math... Dadi dil se bahut achi hai, kuch dino mein unka gussa utar jayega. Har subah sade chaar baje ko uthkar mandir mei puja karni hai. Hamare ghar ki badi bahu ho ab, toh saare kaam ache se karna," she instructed softly, and I nodded.

(Dear, don't worry... Dadi has a kind heart. Her anger will wear off in a few days. Every morning, wake up at four thirty and perform rituals in the temple. You are the badi bahu of our haveli, so do everything properly.)

I fidgeted with my fingers, wanting to ask the question that had been stuck in my throat for a long time.

"Maa Ji, aap... er.... Aap mujhe sach mei vidyalay bhejenge?" I whispered. She hummed, without glancing at me. I felt like she didn't approve of that idea, but since it was my husband's command, there was no one to go against him.

(Maa Ji... Will you really send me to school?)

"Yeh lekar jao," she handed me a warm glass of milk and told me where Bhairav Ji's room was. I was quite nervous to take the milk up to him, but I kept reminding myself that I had to win everyone's affection, especially my husband's.

(Take this.)

His bedroom door was left ajar, and I stood before it to find him at the table, cigarette between his fingers as he read some papers. He turned to look at me, and I stood there frozen.

"D-doodh..."

(M-milk...)

He nodded, and I went towards him cautiously. It seemed like he was doing some official work and kept trying to understand the numbers and words. He sipped the milk, eyeing me, "Padhna likhna aata nahi hai na?"

(You don't know how to read and write?)

I hummed, clutching my sari. "Koi baat nahi. Tumhare devar sikha denge," he replied and handed me the glass, "Aadha doodh tum pee lo." He told me and turned his attention to the papers.

(Don't worry. Your brothers-in-law will teach you.)

(Drink the remaining milk.)

"Aapka... Shukriya..." I gave him a little smile. Bhairav Ji didn't react much, "Pee lo jaldi." He said again.

(Thankyou.)

(Drink it quickly.)