I waited in the bedroom, adjusting the pleats of my sari as I watched myself in the mirror. My only thought was that he should like it. The bruise Dadi had left on my arm was dark and unmistakable, a punishment for my carelessness and a silent reminder of the duty I was expected to fulfill. It had been two years since our marriage, and Bhairav Ji's coming home was a rare occurrence. Sometimes I wondered why he had married me at all if he wished to stay away so much.

Dadi and Maa had given me strict instructions to remain in his bedroom tonight. I was not to leave under any circumstances. When I tried to tell Dadi that I had a test at school the next day and hadn't prepared yet, she only shouted at me and twisted my wrist. Now my greatest fear was not the test itself, but that Bhairav Ji would be even angrier with me if I performed poorly tomorrow.

Think of the devil.

My husband entered the room, a letter in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He raised a brow upon seeing me in his room, but I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say.

My husband ignored me before walking over to the balcony. He sat down on the armchair, crossed one leg over the other as he read through the contents of the letter, which was probably related to his business. I stood by the door, waiting for him to look at me, but even then, I didn't know what I was supposed to do.

Bhairav Ji looked up at that time, "Ek glass daru lekar aao." I was startled to hear the command. I had never touched the whiskey bottle before, but I knew where it was. A forbidden corner of the kitchen. Ma had asked me to never reveal its location to Keshav and Bhargav.

(Go bring me a glass of whiskey)

I filled the glass with what he asked for. When I returned upstairs, Bhairav Ji asked me to keep the letter in his drawer. I did as told and returned to the balcony, leaning against the doorway.

"Maa ne dekha nahi kya?" He asked.

(Maa didn't see you?)

"Ji?" I was confused.

"Daru ko pani ke saath milakar khate hai. Warna nasha bad jayega..." He informed and I didn't know what to do. Was he upset with me? Did he want me to change the drink?

(You drink whiskey by mixing it with water, or else you'll get too drunk...)

But Bhairav Ji drank half the glass raw and smoked his cigarette as well.

"Ashtray." He commanded again, and I returned inside to fetch it. Now that he was seeing my wrist closely, he grabbed my hand, furious, "Kya hua hath ko?"

(What happened to your hand?)

"Woh... Woh... K-kuch nahi..."

(I-It's nothing...)

"Kuch nahi matlab?" He frowned at me. I shook my head again, refusing, but that snapped his patience.

(What do you mean, nothing?)

"Baith!"

(Sit!)

He pulled me onto his lap with one swift tug, and I grew startled at our sudden closeness.

"Kisne kiya yeh?"

(Who did this?)

His question was firm, and I finally made an excuse, "Woh... vidyalay mei khelte samay... Gir gai thi..."

(Um... It happened while playing at school... I fell down.)

"Kamal hai," he scoffed, "Bas pandrah saal ke ho aur itni hoshiyari se jhoot bolti ho. Maar khaani hai kya?"

(Wow, incredible. You're only fifteen, and you manage to lie so smoothly. You want my hand to do the talking?)

I gasped, shaking my head. He crushed his cigarette in the ashtray and took a sip of the drink before speaking in a more dangerous tone, "Toh phir sach sach bata. Kisne aur kyu kiya?"

(Then tell me truthfully. Who did this and why?)

"D-dadi Ji..." I squeezed my sari while staring down at my hands.

"Dadi Ji?" His brows furrowed, "Aur kyu?"

(And why?)

"Gandi plate rasoi mei gira di..." I whispered and sniffed. There were tears in my eyes as I remembered her outburst. But my sorrow wasn't entirely because of her. My husband was terrifying.

(I dropped a dirty plate in the kitchen)

"Acha... Davai laga li?" He softened a little and took my hand in his. I nodded as Bhairav Ji caressed his thumb over my wrist and soon lifted my hand before kissing it gently. I retrieved it in horror, and he raised a brow, "Kya hua?"

(I see... Did you apply medicine?)

(What happened?)

"K-kuch nahi..." I mumbled and tried to get up, but he wrapped both his arms around my waist, making the task impossible.

(N-nothing...)

"Kaha bhaag rahi ho? Daro mat. Bas baath karna chahta hu... Phone pe bhi baath nahi kar sakte kyunki har samay koi sunta rehta hai. Ab toh baath karu," he sipped his drink, his eyes not leaving me for a second.

(Why are you running away? Don't be scared. I just want to talk... Even on the phone, I barely get to talk to you because someone is always listening. Let me talk at least now.)

"Theek hai..." I whispered, my cheeks flushing slightly, but I was happy that he didn't want to let me go.

(Okay...)

"Batao, school kaise chal rahi hai? Class mai ab bhi sabse aage ho na?" He asked. His other hand, which was placed over mine, was playing with my fingers.

(Tell me, how's school going? Even now you're the first in your class, right?)

"Ji... Achi chal rahi hai... Aur ha, ab bhi first hu," I smiled at him. My husband nodded, his eyes were still cold and distant. I wondered when that would change. He took a sip of his drink again.

(Yes... It's going good... and yes, I'm the first in my class.)

"Varshik utsav aa rahi hai na? Kya kar rahe ho uske liye?"

(The annual fest is coming up, right? What are you doing for that?)

"Ji, nritya. Sabhi ko karna hoga... Warna nahi karti..."

(Yes, dance. Everyone has to do it... Otherwise I wouldn't have...)

"Kyu nahi karti?" He frowned.

(Why wouldn't you?)

"Mujhe nahi aata..." I grew flustered.

(I don't know how to dance...)

Bhairav Ji took a deep breath. I felt goosebumps on my skin when he rested his scratchy beard on my shoulder. It was ticklish, and I shifted uncomfortably in his lap. His warm breathing against my neck was more than enough to make me a complete mess. All my thoughts were scattered. There were too many butterflies in my stomach. My palms were sweating.

"Bade hone ke baad aise mauke thodi milenge? Ab unhe ache se istamal karo, Sanjana."

(After you grow up, there won't be any opportunities like this. Use it wisely now, Sanjana.)

I gave a shaky nod. We stayed like that for a while. His nose in the crook of my neck, his fingers tangled with mine. The beating of his heart was so calm that it relaxed me as well.

"Apne mayke jaane ki zidd tumne kabhi nahi ki," He said out of the blue. The butterflies died in a snap. I looked away, "Mujhe nahi jaana."

(You never insisted on going to your Mother's place.)

(I don't want to go.)

"Kyu?"

(Why not?)

"Aapki Maa meri Ma se bahut achi hai... Mujhe unhe chod kar nahi jaana."

(Your mother is much nicer than mine... I don't want to leave her and go)

Bhairav Ji sighed, "Pehli baar aisa sun raha hu. Biwi ko ghar nahi jaana."

(I'm hearing something like this for the first time. My wife doesn't want to go home.)

I pouted at him, "Mai akhir kaunse ghar jau? Un logo ne toh mere Baba ki ghar bej di hai... Mujhe nahi jaana unke paas. Aapke paas rahunga. Aap chahe toh sheher leke jao mujhe. Waha saath rehenge."

(Which home do I even go to? My mother sold my Baba's house... I don't want to be near her. I'll stay with you. If you like, take me to the city. We can live over there together.)

Bhairav Ji smiled. It made heat rise to my cheeks, and I looked away. "Bado jaise baath karti ho lekin ek baar muskura liya to sharma gayi?" He said in my ear, but I turned my face away completely, "Nahi sharmati."

(You talk like adults, but if I smile at you once, you start blushing.)

(I'm not blushing.)

"Ha meri jaan, dikh rahi hai."

(Yes, my dear, I can see that.)

I couldn't help but giggle. Slowly, I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow as I leaned towards his face. "Kya kar rahi ho?" He asked.

(What are you doing?)

The smell of alcohol was unbearable, so I put my head on his chest, hoping not to smell it as much. "Acha lagta hai..." I whispered, running my other hand down his chest.

(This feels nice...)

"Filhal tum mujhse mehfooz ho... Yaad rakhna." His tone was a warning... But I liked it for some reason. I liked that I could tease him unknowingly.

(For now, you're safe from me... Remember that.)