"Sanjana!"

I snapped awake. The milk overflowed on the stove. I immediately turned the stove off, but the damage was already done. When I tried to move the katori, I absent-mindedly burned my finger, jerking back in pain. I spilled some more milk on the stove.

Maa Ji stood beside me, her terrifying glare piercing into me, "Dhyan kaha hai tumhara? Kya kar rahi ho?!"

(Why are you so absent-minded? What are you even doing?!)

"M-Maaf kijiye Maa Ji... Abhi saaf karti hu..."

(I-I'm sorry, Maa Ji... I'll clean it now...)

"Jaldi," she warned, and I nodded before quickly wetting a towel and wiping the stove clean. My movements were slow, sluggish, and it was costing time. Maa Ji, Dadi, and the men sat at the table. I served them breakfast quickly.

(Be quick...)

I didn't realise that I was serving Bhairav Ji until he gripped my wrist. My eyes widened. The memories from last night came flooding back, and I began breathing heavily.

"Ghoonghat kaha hai tera?"

(Where is your veil?)

I hadn't noticed when it slipped down. My fingers trembled as I fixed it with one hand, constantly apologizing. I wasn't in my senses anymore. My only fear was that he'd hit me again, but as soon as Bhairav Ji released my wrist, I escaped to the kitchen.

I was panting. My entire body was sore. I began trembling just from his touch. I was running on half an hour of sleep. What had he done to me?

Bhairav Ji wanted to leave for work after breakfast, so he was busy getting ready. I stood in our bedroom, my gaze lowered, still trying to get over last night.

"Thakurain."

His deep, calm voice made me hum involuntarily. I stared at him as he buttoned his kurta, "Der se laut aunga. Intezaar mat karna."

(I'll return late. Don't wait for me.)

"Ji..." I whispered.

"Aur naukaraniyo ke madad se tumhara sara saaman is kamre mei rakh dena. Dadi ke saath nahi, mere saath soyegi har din. Samjhi?" He eyed me.

(And tell the servants to shift all your things to this room. You'll sleep with me every day from now on, not with Dadi. Got it?)

I blushed when he stepped towards me and moved my veil. His hand reached for the back of my neck, pulling me towards him. My eyes were wide. I pressed my hands against his chest.

"D-darvaza... Khula hai..."

(Th-the door... It's open...)

"Pata hai kitna chilla rahi thi kal raat ko?" He said, a small smirk playing on his lips, "Utna bura tho nahi hoga." With that, he latched his mouth to mine. His fingers dug into my chin. My neck was already aching after last night.

(Do you know how much you were screaming last night? It won't be that bad.)

"Kamra band karke atyachar karo!"

(Lock the door and have your way with her!)

I jumped at Keshav's voice. He had walked past our room, and I pulled away from my husband, embarrassment taking over me. "M-mujhe jaana hoga... Chod dijiye..." I whispered. Bhairav Ji didn't say anything as I fixed my veil and rushed out of the room.

(I- I need to go... Leave me...)

Even Keshav left for college with Bhairav Ji. I was busy washing clothes, exhaustion gnawing at my bones. I was washing our sheets from last night. It was stained with my blood and our combined filth.

I scrubbed it with my hands, almost as if I was trying to erase the memory of my virginity being taken. I had been ruined entirely last night. Made to moan and beg his name, and a sick part of me enjoyed it. My legs were aching from not sitting for the entire day. But I knew there would be a different kind of pain if I were to sit down, and that would be unbearable.

Maa Ji and Dadi didn't speak to me much, and I felt hurt. The rest of the day passed in silence and back-breaking chores. After serving dinner for everyone, I went upstairs to the bedroom to lie down. It was the only relief that I experienced the entire day. My muscles were sore, and every spot that he had dug his teeth into was bluish and red. It hurt horribly.

Maa Ji asked me to stay awake until my husband got home, so I went back downstairs and decided to wait on the couch. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, but when I opened them again, the familiar ceiling of the bedroom greeted me.

Bhairav Ji's heavy arm was sprawled across my waist. He was breathing peacefully as he slept. I could see his angelic face as it was turned towards me.

Face of an angel but acts like the devil...

The next morning, I quickly got ready before rushing downstairs to help with breakfast. Maa Ji scolded me for being late than usual, and as punishment, she piled me with more work. I spent the day like that, busy with everything. At night, when my husband returned, he fucked me mercilessly.

Every day was spent like that. Early morning, I'd wake up to finish the chores of the house, serving my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. At night, I'd be trapped in my husband's arms, a beast who didn't let me sleep until at least three in the morning. The new routine of my life was anything but easy. The bruises across my body were anything but kind, love marks.

"Thaali lekar aao, Sanjana." Bhairav Ji told me. I didn't wait for him to repeat. He hated that. So I got my plate and sat next to him. Bhairav Ji's eyes didn't leave me the entire dinner.

(Bring your plate, Sanjana.)

Afterwards, he sat in the hall with his Mother, doing some official work while she talked about her day. I was standing nearby, massaging her shoulders.

"Kal mehman aayenge. Amma ke door wale rishtedar hai... Unhe yaad hai tumhe bahu?" Maa Ji asked me, and I nodded, "Ji."

(Guests are coming tomorrow. They're Amma's distant relatives... Do you remember them, bahu?)

Bhairav looked up, "Kaun hai? Ise kaise pata?"

(Who are they? How does she know?)

Maa Ji told him how Ramesh Ji's family had visited while he was in the city. I was sixteen at that time, and they were the first guests I had met. I remembered the list of instructions that both Maa Ji and Dadi had ingrained into my head. How to wear my veil, how to behave, how to speak... It felt like deja vu.

My husband kept his papers down and pressed his forehead. "Sar dard kar raha hai?" I asked in concern. He hummed, clenching his eyes.

(Does your head hurt?)

"Paani aur davai lekar aao," Maa Ji told me, and I went inside to get the medicine. Bhairav Ji took the glass of water and swallowed the tablet. I felt my hand move involuntarily as I gently took his face in my hands and massaged his forehead. He didn't say anything. His eyes remained closed. It made me smile to see him like that, confiding in me as I took care of him.

(Bring him some water and medicine.)

But what I didn't expect was for him to wrap his arms around my waist, pulling me close. My breath hitched as Bhairav Ji rested his head against my stomach. His Mother was right there, staring at us. My fingers, which were holding his head, froze in place.

"Rukne ki ijaazat kisne di?"

(Who asked you to stop?)

With shaky hands, I resumed massaging his head. Bhairav Ji sighed in satisfaction. His face was brushing the fabric of my Sari. It felt too intimate and shameless, especially since Maa Ji was silently watching us.

"Aapke Bahu me toh bahut hunar hai Maa... Kitni achi se maalish karti hai." He commented, and Maa smiled at us. I didn't have the guts to look at her. My face was scarlet from embarrassment.

(Your daughter-in-law is very talented, Maa... She massages so well.)

"Hunar toh bahut hai... Bas ek poti bhi de de..."

(She certainly has plenty of skill... if only she would give me a granddaughter as well.)

My eyes widened as I glanced at Maa Ji. My husband hummed, "Poti chahiye? Pota kyu nahi?"

(A granddaughter? Why not a grandson?)

I felt my skin burn. Why was this conversation happening in the first place... Why couldn't he just let it go? I was embarrassed beyond words. He was purposefully making it worse.

"Amma ko to ek par pota chahiye... Par mujhe poti," Maa Ji smiled with twinkling eyes.

(Amma wants a great-grandson, but I want a granddaughter)

"Acha..." Bhairav smiled to himself before lifting his head to stare at me, "Meri gilehri ko kya chahiye?"

(I see... What does my little squirrel want?)

"K-kuch bhi..."

(A-anything...)

"Kuch bhi matlab? Sirf beta ya beti de sakta hu," he scoffed, and Maa laughed at this, heightening my embarrassment.

(What do you mean by anything? I can only give you a son or daughter.)

"Beta..."

(A son...)

He hummed, resting his head against my stomach again. His warm breath grazed my skin, making me shiver.