As the days passed, I found out from the girls in the neighborhood that there was a play happening in our village- A love story between a parrot and a princess. I truly wanted to go. But Maa and Dadi were against the idea. However, I figured they'd let me go as long as Bhairav Ji allowed it.

"Naatak?" He asked as I kept the glass of milk on his table.

(A play?)

"Ji... Sabhi jaa rahe hai... Toh um... Mai bhi...?" I fidgeted with the edge of my pallu.

(Yes... Everyone is going... So um... Can I too...?)

"Kal raat mai vyast rahunga magar. Daftar mei kaam hai. Akele kaise jaane de sakta hu?" He mumbled, distracted by the papers in his hand.

(But tomorrow night I'll be busy at the office. How can I let you go alone?)

"Ji woh akele nahi hu... Maa Ji, Dadi aur Keshav bhi ayenge."

(I won't be alone... Maa Ji, Dadi and Keshav will also be there.)

"Toh mai jab wapas ghar aunga toh yaha koi nahi rahega. Mat jao," he replied.

(But when I return home tomorrow, there will be no one here. Don't go.)

I felt disheartened immediately. He was so cruel and selfish. How could he restrict me like this? All I wanted was to go out a little... Have a little more freedom...

Ever since I got married, he had kept me locked in a golden cage.

"Maine toh hamesha aapki har baat maani hai... Aap meri is choti si baat ko nahi maan sakte?" There were tears in my eyes as I mumbled. Bhairav Ji kept his papers down and raised his brow at me.

(I've always listened to everything you said... You can't listen to this little wish of mine?)

"Sanjana, samajhne ki koshish karo. Waha bahut bheed hogi. Maa aur Dadi budhe hai... Aur Keshav kabhi tum par dhyan nahi de payega. Agar tumhe kuch hogaya toh?"

(Sanjana, try to understand. It will be really crowded. Maa and Dadi are getting old... And Keshav won't pay much attention to you. What if something happens?)

I pouted and turned to leave, muttering u der my breath, "Mujhe apne aap ka khayal rakhna aata hai-"

(I know to take care of myself-)

His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back, "Ruk jao."

(Stop.)

"Sirf ek ghante ke liye. Usse zyada nahi. Maa aur Dadi ke paas rehna aur suraksha ke liye mere do aadmi bhejunga... Theek hai?"

(Just for one hour. Not more than that. Stay near Maa and Dadi. I'll send two of my men to ensure your safety... alright?)

I squealed and hugged him tightly. "Do ghante!" I nuzzled against his cheek and kissed him. Bhairav Ji rolled his eyes, "Ek ghante baad wapas laut aana chahiye." When I made a face again, he threatened to not let me go at all.

(Two hours!)

(You'd better come home in one hour.)

"Pathar dil."

(Stone-hearted.)

I muttered before leaving the room. Bhairav Ji heard it but didn't respond. I had never met someone as insensitive as him.

Even though Bhairav Ji allowed, the elders were still against the idea of letting me go with them. But I didn't give up. Every chore that Maa Ji gave me, I did it with extra diligence.

"Sanjana, Bhaiya toh nahi aa rahe hai... Phir woh zaroor tumhe jaane nahi denge. Itni mehnat kyu kar rahi ho?" Keshav asked as I cleaned his room.

(Sanjana, Bhaiya isn't coming... Then they won't let you come along. Why are you working so hard?)

"Tum chupchap padhai karo, mai dekh lungi."

(You be quiet and study, I'll take care of it.)

He rolled his eyes, "Acha mai soch raha tha agar tum nahi aa paogi toh wapas aakar kahani bataunga. Thik hai, ab nahi karunga."

(Okay, I was thinking if you can't make it, then I'd come back and tell you the story. I won't do it now.)

I glared at him, "Acha? Agar kahani nahi bataoge toh tumhare Bhaiya Ji ko sab kuch bata dungi." I gave him a mischievous smile.

(Really? If you don't tell me the story, then I'll tell your Bhaiya everything.)

Keshav's brows furrowed, "Kya bataogi?"

(What will you tell him?)

"Woh ladki ke baare mai... Jise dekhne ke liye tum jaa rahe ho aaj. Mai Thakurain hu. Mujha sab pata hai."

(About that girl... You're going today mainly to see her. I'm the Thakurain. I know everything.)

Keshav's face paled like he had seen a ghost. He immediately joined his hands, pleading, "Kisi ko bhi batao, Bhabhi Ji... Par Bhaiya ko mat batana. Zinda nahi chodenge!"

(You can tell anyone you like, Bhabhi Ji... But please don't tell Bhaiya. He won't spare me!)

I giggled. There was not one person who wasn't afraid of my husband. It made me happy that I could use his name.

"Vada karo ki kahani bataoge."

(Promise me that you'll tell me the story.)

"Maa kasam, Bhabhi," he pinched his throat.

(I swear, Bhabhi.)

"Kyu darte ho unse itna?" I asked curiously while wiping the windows clean.

(Why are you so terrified of him?)

"Woh... Darasal... Aapko kisi ne bataya nahi?" He asked in surprise.

(Well... Because... Nobody has told you?)

"Kya? Kuch hua kya?"

(Told me what?)

Keshav hesitated but said it anyway, "Baba ke Jija ji bahut bure aadmi the. Woh unke shaadi ke baad hamesha Maa ko chedte the. Par us samay toh Maa Baba se kuch keh nahi paye, dar ki wajah se. Jab Bhaiya 22 saal ka hua, unke aankho ke samne Baba ke Jija ne Maa ke saath baizzati ki. Bade bhaiya ne unko poore gaon ke samne jala dala. Baba bhi dar gaye the us din. Uske baad unke behen ne kabhi humse ya Dadi se baath nahi ki. Woh kahi door reh rahe hai."

(Baba's brother-in-law was a very bad man. After getting married, he always used to harass Maa. But at that time, Maa used to be very scared of Baba, so she couldn't tell him anything. When Bhaiya was 22, he saw Baba's brother-in-law abusing Maa. Big Brother burned him down in front of the entire village. Even Baba got scared that day. After that, his younger sister never talked to Dadi or us. She lives somewhere far away.)

My eyes widened, "Jala diya matlab...?!"

(What do you mean, burned him?!)

"Sab dekhte hi reh gaya. Baba ke Jija toh jalte jalte kaala ho gaya!"

(Everyone was left staring. Baba's brother-in-law turned black after being burnt!)

I ran out of the room, unable to hear his descriptions anymore. But I nearly bumped into Dadi. She scolded me, as usual, and I apologised and went about the rest of my day. Whatever Keshav said kept replaying in my head.

My husband had killed someone. He tortured and burned a man. I couldn't blame him for being fiercely protective of Maa Ji, but I never expected him to orchestrate murder. The fear I held for him only grew.

By evening, Maa Ji seemed content with the chores, but I suddenly wasn't as interested in watching the play. What if Bhairav Ji suddenly got angry? Would he burn me alive, too?

"Mujhe jaane ka man nahi hai, yeh bacho ki cheez hai..." Dadi dismissed Keshav when he went to ask her about the play. I was standing quietly. Maa Ji was eyeing me and seeing my demeanor, she turned to Dadi, "Iske pati ne kaha hai ise humaare saath le chalne ko. Leke chalein kya, Amma?"

(I'm not interested in going, this is a children's thing...)

(Her husband has asked us to take her as well. Shall we, Amma?)

My cheeks burned as Dadi eyed me, "Jaana hai tujhe? Aur raat ka khaana kaun banayega?"

(You want to go? What about dinner?)

"S-sab bana liya hai Dadi... Bas garam karni hai," I fidgeted with my fingers.

(I've cooked everything, Dadi... I just have to warm it.)

"Aur dopahar ke bartan? Dho liye?"

(What about the dishes? Did you wash them?)

"Ji."

(Yes.)

Maa Ji smiled, "Natak dekhne ke liye saare kaam jaldi se ki hai."

(She's done with everything so that she can come to the play.)

"Theek hai, agar tumhare Thakur saheb ne han keh di toh ja sakti ho."

(Alright, if your Thakur saheb has said yes, then you can go.)

I grinned happily, "Shukriya, Dadi Ji!"

(Thank you, Dadi Ji!)

"Jaake taiyar ho jao. Woh sone ke chudi pehen lena."

(Go get ready. Wear those golden bangles.)

"Ji Maa," I smiled and went to the bedroom to get ready.