I startled awake in my bed. Dadi was peacefully sleeping in hers. I pressed my head, trying hard to remember, and then it struck me. Bhairav Ji had carried me to bed in his arms after I fell asleep against his chest. Maa and Dadi would definitely scold me.

Since it was the weekend, I worked tirelessly in the kitchen to make breakfast. And when there was no school, I was the one who cooked everything. Otherwise, my husband made it clear that the maids should help me.

Ma came into the kitchen soon. She frowned, "Itni subah subah kya kar rahi ho? Kal raat ko kya hua?"

(What are you doing here so early? What happened last night?)

I blushed and stared down, "Woh... Maa Ji... Mai zara... So gayi... Aur unhone uthakar Dadi ke kamre mei dal diya..."

(Um... Actually Maa... I fell asleep... And he carried me to Dadi's room...)

Ma's eyes widened, "Kya? Woh ladka theek nahi hai kya?" She muttered to herself before storming outside the kitchen. I could hear her going upstairs to Bhairav Ji's room to question him.

(What? Is that boy crazy?)

The rest of the day passed quietly for some reason. Bhairav Ji was in his Father's armchair, reading the paper. Some villagers came to meet him and Baba Ji, but since his Father was unwell, he dealt with them himself.

I cooked, cleaned, washed clothes, and found some time to study as well. While drying red chillies on the terrace, I spent half an hour there, daydreaming. Bhairav Ji had to come upstairs, looking for me because I never responded when Maa called my name. My husband scolded me for being so absent-minded.

Keshav was being a brat as he followed me around, begging me to do his homework entirely. When Maa found out, she informed Bhairav Ji immediately, and I was scolded again, but Keshav received a nice smack from his older brother, which made me smile.

At dinner, Bhairav Ji revealed that he was returning to the city in the morning. Panic settled inside me. Dadi had asked me to bear a child before the end of the year. But that would be impossible if my husband left tomorrow. Everyone tried to convince him to stay longer, but Bhairav Chaudhary didn't budge. Once he had decided on something, he refused to let his plans falter.

In the kitchen, Maa and Dadi surrounded me. They pushed a glass of saffron milk into my hands. Fixed my sari in a strange way that exposed more skin.

"Pati jo bhi kahe, woh sab maanna hoga. Ek bhi sawal math puchna, samjhi?" Dadi warned me, and I nodded in understanding.

(You'll have to listen to everything your husband says. Don't ask even one question, understood?)

"Bahu," Maa Ji's voice was softer, "Uske dil ko jeet lo. Bas yeh raat hai tumhare paas. Agar woh phir sheher chale gaya toh pata nahi kab wapas aayega... Yaad rakhna."

(Dear, win him over. You only have tonight. If he leaves for the city again, we don't know when he'll be back. Keep that in mind.)

I nodded again, "Ji Maa."

With a pained smile, she caressed my face, "Dard hoga, par use rokna math." I didn't understand, but I nodded anyway.

(It will hurt a little, but don't stop him.)

When I went upstairs to Bhairav Ji's room, he was in the shower. His suitcase was on the bed, half his clothes lying on the side. I kept the saffron milk on the table and folded his clothes.

Bhairav Ji stepped out of the bathroom with only a dhoti tied around him. His hair was damp, and it fell over his forehead. He had trimmed his beard a little, making him look more handsome. He squeezed the towel around his neck while narrowing his eyes at me.

"Chuho se bhi buri hai. Kab ghus gayi mere kamre mein?"

(You're worse than mice. When did you sneak into my room?)

I gulped, unable to focus on his face because of his broad, toned chest, muscular arms, and damp hair. It was extremely distracting. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I felt terribly funny inside me.

"Biwi se baath kar raha hu," His sighed, snapping me out of my trance.

(I'm talking to my wife.)

"Woh... Maa Ji ne... Doodh diya-"

(Because... Maa Ji gave me milk...)

"Phir doodh rakh kar chale jaati..." He grumbled and folded his dhoti upwards. Bhairav Ji came towards me, and I took a step back because of how tall he was. Even if I were to stand on my tiptoes, I wouldn't be able to reach his face completely.

(Then you could have left the glass on the table and left...)

"Kapde modne mai madad karti," I mumbled.

(I could have helped in folding your clothes...)

"Mai rakh lunga. Jaakar so jao," he took his shirt from my hand before pointing at the door, "Nikal."

(I'll do it. Go sleep.)

(Out.)

There were tears in my eyes as I stared down. Bhairav Ji's face softened as he squeezed my jaw, making me look at him. "Ab kya hua?" He sighed in frustration.

(What happened now?)

"Aap mujhe pasand nahi karte?" I sniffed, tears running down my face.

(Do you not like me?)

"Arey..." He brushed his knuckles over my cheek, "Kuch zyada hi pasani, isliye yeh sab kar raha hoon, Sanjana." He sighed and turned to pack his suitcase.

(I like you a bit too much, that's why I'm doing all this, Sanjana.)

"Phir sheher kyu nahi le jaate?"

(Then why won't you take me to the city?)

"Shehar wale ghar mein main sirf sone ke liye hi jaata hoon. Aur woh bhi raat ke baarah baje, aur subah jaldi uththa hoon. Agar tumhe sheher leke gaya to bahut akeli ho jaoge. Maa, Dadi, tumhare devar... Sabse door rehna hai ya phir mere saath rehna hai?"

(I don't go to the house in the city to do anything except sleep. That too, around midnight, and I have to wake up early every day. If I take you with me to the city, you'll feel very alone. Ma, Dadi, your devar... You want to stay away from everyone, or you want to stay with me?)

"Aapke saath," I said without skipping a beat.

(With you.)

"Theen tak ginunga... Agar us samay tak kamre se nahi gai to anjaam bahut bura hoga," he glared at me, "Ek."

(I'll count till three... If you don't leave my room by then, you'll pay the price. One...)

I rushed to the door, terrified, but as soon as I opened it, he called my name, "Sanjana." I turned to look at him in confusion. "Ruk jao, tumhare liye ek taufa laya tha... Dena bhool gaya."

(Wait, I brought a gift for you... I forgot about it.)

"Taufa?" My eyes widened.

(A gift?)

He nodded, "Almirah mei chocolate ka dibba hai. Use kamre mei le jao. Keshav aur Bhargav ko mat dikhana. Sirf tumhare liye khaas laaya hu... Ache number laane ke liye."

(There's a box of chocolate in the almirah. Take it to your room. Don't show it to Keshav or Bhargav. I bought it just for you... For getting good marks.)

My eyes lit up on hearing this. I hurried to the shelf and went through each row. But I realised that the box was at the very top. I squeezed the lower board and leaned up as high as I could, but I couldn't reach it.

Then, almost like a miracle, I was lifted into the air. My waist burned at his touch, but I managed to grab the dibba. Bhairav Ji placed me down, his face stoic as always.

"Shukriya..." I whispered, my gaze lowered. "Kuch khaaya karo, warna hamesha choti reh jaogi," he replied and returned to packing his clothes. His words hurt my pride.

(Thankyou...)

(Eat something, or you'll stay tiny forever.)

Why did he not touch me more or look at me more? Why did he treat me like this?

I kept the chocolate box on the table next to the milk and walked towards him. Bhairav Ji didn't say anything; he didn't even look at me. I climbed onto the bed to look taller than him. My husband frowned at me, but I boldly cupped his face in my hands and kissed him.

His lips were warm, soft, and I felt strange butterflies inside me. His beard tickled me, but I didn't pull away. I was holding my breath, and suddenly it felt like I was flying. But then, I was placed on the floor soon, and Bhairav Ji grabbed my hands before pulling away.

His eyes looked dangerous. He grabbed both my wrists with one hand, and my heart pounded as he raised the other one.

He slapped me. Right across the face.

I was panting. My head felt dizzy. My jaw was hurting. I knew that my cheek would be swollen soon. Tears slipped down my face as my husband pointed his finger in my face.

"Bahut se chetavani di hai, Sanjana!"

(I warned you a lot, Sanjana!)

His voice made me tremble, and I cried even more, trying to pull my hand away from his grip, but he squeezed harder. It was hurting.

"Apni aukat mein raho. Ek baar aur agar aisa kuch kiya, toh aur pachtaogi. Samjhi?"

(Know your place. If you do this again, you'll regret it even more. Got it?)

I nodded hurriedly, begging him to let me go. As soon as he freed my hands, I ran out of the room. I ran to the comfort of my bed. Dadi was asleep, so I wept quietly into the pillow. My eyes felt heavy soon, and I drifted asleep.

But when I woke up the next morning, my cheek was stinging badly. The chocolate box was on my table, next to the books. My husband had left it there before leaving. It made me cry even more.