I was sweeping the courtyard early in the morning. My mind was clouded with thoughts from last night. What did Bhairav Ji even want from me? Why was he behaving so aggressively?

When I was younger, he had been very kind. But after the slap, it felt like he didn't love me at all. There were no more kind words, no more smiles. Bhairav Ji barely came home in the past two years... Almost like he avoided me on purpose. He never gave me the time of day. Our phone calls had also been very brief. He had nothing to ask me about except my studies. I didn't have anything new to tell him either because I was scared.

Sometimes, when I thought back to the times he allowed me to sit beside him or on his lap freely, I felt embarrassed. I had been so innocent back then, and he probably allowed everything and remained kind because he realised it too.

The one kiss ruined everything.

There was a knock on the gate, and I looked up in amusement. My breath hitched. The woman had a small boy standing next to her. His eyes were just like mine, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Sanjana..." My mother said my name, a smile appearing on her lips.

"Kaun hai?"

(Who is it?)

I grew startled at the voice and looked up at the balcony. My husband was there, smoking a cigarette as he stared down. Had he been watching me all this time?

"Namaste, Damaad Ji." She raised her joined hands at him. The little boy stood quietly, gazing out at the garden and the small birds that flew around.

"Neeche aata hoon," My husband replied and disappeared inside. Ma now looked at me, her eyes warm and almost lovable. I felt my stomach churn as I stared back.

(I'll come downstairs.)

"A-aap... kya kar rahi ho yahan?" I whispered, and her smile immediately disappeared, "Andar nahi bulaogi? Kaisi svikar hai ye?!" I flinched.

(Wh-what are you doing here?)

(You won't ask me to come inside? What kind of a welcome is this?!)

"Kaun hai, Sanjana?" Maa Ji came to the door, hearing the commotion. Bhairav Ji appeared behind her, buttoning his kurta. "Iske mayke se hai," he told his mother while I stood there, trying to digest her arrival. "Andar aiye. Ma, zara naukaron se chai lane ko bata dijiye," Bhairav Ji told his mother.

(Who is it, Sanjana?)

(It's from her parents' place.)

(Come inside. Ma, ask the maids to bring some tea.)

My throat felt constricted as Mother walked past me. There were unshed tears in my eyes. My mother was here. The woman who had raised me with disgust was here to visit me. And she had brought my little brother as well... The baby she conceived with another man.

From the courtyard, I watched as Bhairav Ji sat on the Thakur's chair. My mother hesitated to sit, seeing how distant he behaved. She sat down on the couch with the boy beside her. Both Maa Ji and Dadi were present, and a maid served tea. I stood by the doorway, squeezing the broomstick and watching the conversation unfold.

"Humne Thakur Ji ki khabar suna hai... Eeshwar divangith aathma ko shaanti dey," she bowed her head respectfully.

(We heard about Thakur Ji's passing... Our condolences...)

My husband hummed nonchalantly. "Aap humari biwi se milne aaye the?" He glanced at me, and I felt my goosebumps on my skin. Mother's smile faltered slightly, "H-haan... Wo bhi hai... Kya mai usse akele baat kar sakti hu?"

(Did you come to meet my wife?)

(Y-yes... That as well... Can I talk to her alone?)

I shook my head at Bhairav Ji. He spared me just one glance before agreeing to my mother's request. The monster!

We went into Dadi's room. My half-brother was kept occupied by the butterflies in the garden. Maa Ji sat on the bed while I sat next to her. "Kaise ho beta? Sab kaisa hai?" She asked. The formality in her tone was gnawing at my heart painfully.

(How are you, my dear? How is everything?)

"Sab theek hai... aur aap...?"

(Everything is fine... And you, Ma?)

"Mai bilkul theek nahi hoon," She gave me a pained smile, "Tumhare Baba ko bahut bukhar hai... Unke ilaaj ke liye paise chahiye. Tum zara Damaad Ji se maang lo. Das hazar... Woh de denge," she squeezed my hand, her eyes were pleading, but I gasped at the amount of money.

(I'm not fine at all. Your Baba is very sick. I need money for his treatment. I want you to ask ten thousand from Damaad Ji... He'll give it.)

"Das hazar... W-woh kuch... zyada hai Ma..." I gulped.

(Ten thousand... That's a lot, Ma.)

Her brows furrowed, "To apne pita ke marne se tumhe koi parvah nahi hai...? Aur yaha apne sasural ke budhe ka khayal tha tujhe?"

(Then it doesn't bother you if your father dies? You were only concerned about your father-in-law?)

I clenched my fist, staring down, "Woh... Mere pita nahi hai..."

(That man... Is not my father...)

She slapped me, gritting her teeth, "Besharam! Apni maa se kaise baath karti ho?" But it was the truth. My Father had died long ago. The woman had poisoned him to death with her lover, and now she wanted me to save the life of the man who had accidentally sent me to a better place.

(Shameless! How dare you talk to your Mother like that?)

"Damaad Ji se tum jaakar paise mangogi. Unhe bache diye hai na tumne? Kuch paise mangne mei koi burai nahi hai. Mar khalo, kuch be khalo, bas unse jaakar paise maango," she warned.

(You will ask for money from my son-in-law. You've given him children, right? There's nothing wrong with asking for a little money. I don't care if you get slapped for it, I don't care about anything, just go and ask him for money.)

I wiped my tears, "Main unse paise nahi mang sakti... aur... Humare bache nahi hai..."

(I can't ask him for money... and... We don't have kids...)

"Nahi hai matlab...?" Her eyes widened, "Panch saal ho chuke hai na shaadi karke?"

(What do you mean...? Hasn't it been five years since you got married?)

I stayed quiet while staring down. Disgust coursed in her eyes. "Hay Bhagwan, upar se ladki ko janam di hai, aur woh bhi baanjh nikli. Toh phir kis kaam ki layak hai tu? Naukrani toh koi bhi ban sakti hai..." She scoffed, "Aaj tumhe wapas lekar jaungi. Chote Thakur Ji ke toh koi kaam hi nahi. Kothe mei kaam aayega."

(Oh god! I had the misfortune of having a daughter, and on top of that, she's barren. Then what are you even good for? It isn't so hard to be a maid. I'm going to take you back today. You're of no use to the Chote Thakur Ji. A brothel is the best place for you.)

I gasped, "Nahi... Ma... Wapas math le jaiye... Mai nahi jaunga!"

(No... Ma... Please don't take me back... I won't go!)

"Damaad Ji ghar se nikal denge," she smiled and got up to leave the room. I watched as she approached my husband and the women of the family. Mother joined her hands before them, "Maaf kijiye... Meri ladki toh aapke sar par bojh reh gayi. Itne saal ke baad bhi aapko beta nahi diya. Aap bas thoda paise dijiye aur mai use wapas lekar jaungi."

(My son-in-law will kick you out of the house.)

(My apologies... My daughter has become a burden to you. After all these years, she hasn't given you a son. Just give me a little bit of money, and I'll take her back with me.)

"Paise?" Dadi raised a brow, "Kitne paise?"

(Money? How much money?)

"Das hazar."

(Ten thousand.)

I fell at Dadi's feet, crying and begging, "Daya kijiye, Dadi... Mujhe yahan se math nikaliye... Aap jo bhi kahenge, sab kar lungi... Bas... Ghar se math nikaliye...!"

(Please have mercy, Dadi... Please don't kick me out... I'll do whatever you say... Just please... Don't send me away.)

"Band kar rona."

(Stop crying.)

Bhairav Ji's voice cut through the air, silencing me instantly. I whimpered and joined my hands, facing him. If he had even a little bit of humanity, he wouldn't send me away. I looked at Maa Ji for some sympathy, but she was staring at my mother in disbelief.

"Amma, aap jante ho, aapke pote ke liye, Chote Thakur ke liye, Sanjana se behtar bahut saare ladkiya hain. Ise mai le jaunga... Aur apko kisi cheez ki chinta nahi hogi-"

(Amma, you know that for the Chote Thakur, you can find a lot of better girls than Sanjana. I'll take her with me... You won't have to worry about me.)

"Tum bhool rahi ho ki is ghar ka mukhya kaun hai," Dadi said solemnly while resting her hand on my head. Her touch was gentle and understanding. It rekindled hope inside me.

"Bhairav ab Thakur hai. Jo bhi use sahi lagta hai, mai uske saath rahunga. Aur Sanjana ki zimmedari sirf uski hai."

(You're forgetting who's the head of this house. Bhairav is the Thakur now. I'll stay by his choices, whatever he deems fit. And only he's responsible for Sanjana.)

"Ji," My mother lowered her gaze politely before turning to my husband, "Thakur saheb?"

My husband leaned back in his chair. He looked at my mother, really looked at her. "Aap agar Sanjana ki Ma na hoti toh kabse haveli ke bahar phek deta..." he said softly. My mother's smile vanished.

(If you hadn't been Sanjana's mother, then I would have thrown you out of my haveli long ago...)

"Isse shaadi karne ke liye, aapne mujhe theen hazar di thi. Yani ki Sanjana ko bechne ke liye. Baaki ke theen hazar toh reh gaye hai, par chodiye use. Ab mere ghar me aakar itna natak macha diya? Sab paiso ke liye? Behra nahi hu. Suna hai apke pati ke bare me. Use jail se nikalne ke liye chahiye paise. Apko jab darwaze ke bahar dekha, tabse pata tha ki koi paison ka chakkar hoga... Shukriya, asli rang dikhane ke liye. Aur dikhawe ke liye tumne us bache ko saath laya."

(For marrying her, you gave me three thousand. That is, to sell Sanjana to me. There are still three thousand pending, but let's forget that. Now you come into my house and cause such a scene? Everything for money? I'm not deaf. I've heard about your husband. To get him out of jail, you need money. The moment I saw you outside the gate, I knew that you had come here for money. Thank you for showing your true colors. And for gaining our pity, you brought that boy along as well...)

Bhairav Ji took a deep breath, "Marne thak Sanjana meri patni rahegi. Kuch bhi ho jaaye. Nikal jao mere ghar se." His tone dripped with disgust. Mother was frozen on the couch, but she stood up the next instant. She looked at me, eyes filled with hatred, and walked outside without another word.

(Until I die, Sanjana is going to remain my wife. Get the hell out of my house.)

"Is ghar ka satyanaash hoga!" she cursed as she stormed out of the haveli.

(This house will end in hell!)

The silence was deafening, and the air thickened with tension. I didn't move or breathe. Nobody did.

"Ab toh Bhabhi humare saath phas gayi!"

(Now Bhabhi is stuck with us forever!)

It was Keshav who shouted that from the stairs. He and Bhargav were listening from there, and even Bhargav couldn't help but laugh. Maa Ji smiled, "Uth gaye sabhi shaitan... Jaakar haath muh dhokar aao. Nashta lagati hu. Jadhoo pocha khatam ho gaya toh Bhairav ke kapde dhona mat bhoolna."

(My devils woke up... Go wash up. I'll bring breakfast. And if you're done sweeping, then wash Bhairav's clothes.)

"Ji, Maa Ji..." I mumbled and got up, wiping my tears.