Soon, I was dressed in a beautiful green lehenga and wore the golden nath with red gems. My feet and palms were decorated with alta, my arms adorned with golden bangles. I wore my favorite waist chain as well. Even my veil felt exquisite.

When I descended the stairs, Dadi was the first to pull me towards her and lift my veil. Her eyes twinkled as she looked at me. Dadi smiled at me rarely, and this was one of those times.

"Nazar na lage, Thakurain!"

(Touchwood, Thakurain!)

I blushed and touched her feet for blessings. Keshav sat at the front with the driver. My heart was racing as the car sped past the village roads. Many shopkeepers were selling their wares along the roadside. And most of them were toys, sweets, and balloons. Just the sight of them made my heart leap with joy.

There was a little stage set up in the middle of an open ground. Men, women, and children sat on thin rugs laid out on the earth, enjoying the music and dance performance. The play was to be screened thrice. And we were just in time for the second show. There were a lot of games happening on the side.

The driver parked the car and led us through the crowd. Maa Ji and I stayed close while Keshav walked behind us. There were so many people, and many came forward to bow before Maa Ji, "Badi Malkin!" They addressed her with respect, and Maa Ji responded in kind. The men and women addressed me as Thakurain as well. I felt quite proud.

Keshav found us a spot around the back. Maa Ji and I sat down while a few of Bhairav Ji's men stood protectively behind us. "Abhi aaya, Maa..." Keshav told his Mother before disappearing into the crowd. I knew that he was going to see the girl he liked.

(I'll come in a bit, Maa.)

Soon, the play started, and even Keshav returned. Excitement gripped me. I hugged my knees and watched it intently from under my veil. The play was very silly. It was about a princess who was in love with a talking parrot. It was a satire.

The princess made beautiful, long confessions of love to the parrot, and it repeated them back to her. The bird made her believe that it loved her equally. She fought with her Father to marry the parrot. Her father, the king, ordered the parrot to be captured, but the little bird was very clever and tricky. Eventually, the King realised that his short-tempered daughter was finally happy with someone, so he agreed to the marriage.

The story was about how everyone wanted someone to say exactly what they wanted to hear. It was beautiful and hilarious. I couldn't help but chuckle at the scene where the parrot pooped on the King.

By the time the play ended, I felt someone standing behind me. I looked up, only to find my husband. "Aap yaha?!" I gasped and scrambled to my feet. Even Maa was surprised as she looked at her son, "Tum kab aaye beta?"

(You're here?!)

(When did you come, beta?)

"Maa, aap mat uthiye," Bhairav Ji held her hand and knelt to touch her feet, "Kaam abhi abhi khatam hua hai. Isliye socha aapko dekhne au. Dadi nahi aayi?"

(Maa, you don't have to stand up. My work ended just now, so I thought I'd come to see you all. Did Dadi not come?)

"Haan... Amma ka man nahi tha," Maa Ji smiled, "Mere liye woh chatpata aam lekar aana, beta."

(Yes... Amma wasn't interested in watching. Buy me some spicy mango slices, beta.)

"Ji," My husband smiled. Even Keshav jumped to his feet at that time, "Mai bhi chalunga."

(Of course.)

(I'll come as well)

"Chalo, tum bhi," I felt Bhairav Ji's arm around my waist. "M-Mai?"

(Come with us.)

(Me?)

"Haan, chal," he dragged me away towards the stalls after asking two of his men to stay with Maa Ji. As Keshav walked ahead, my husband whispered, "Meri jaan lena chahti ho kya?"

(Yes, come on.)

(You want to kill me?)

"H-huh?" I looked at him, startled.

"Itna khoobsurat dikh rahi ho..." his grip on my waist tightened. It was possessive, ruthless, and I could see his eyes darken as they raked down my body, "Man karta hai ki abhi un pedon ke peeche tumhe lekar jau aur-"

(You look so beautiful... I wish I could just take you behind those trees and-)

"Bas kijiye..." I gulped, staring down, embarrassed. "Aap jo bhi kehna ya karna chahte hai, haveli jaane ke baad kijiye... Koi sun lega."

(Stop it... Whatever you want to say, please do so after reaching the haveli. Someone might hear us.)

He smiled, "Aaj raat ko tumhe mera gulam banaunga. Meri pyaari tawaif."

(I'll make you my slave tonight. My sweet harlot.)

His words sent a burning jolt between my legs. He was clearly enjoying my reactions as he took me towards the chaat and spices stall. Sliced mangoes soaked in chilli water looked quite alluring.

"Bhaiya, mujhe woh pani puri chahiye," Keshav's mouth watered. He had eaten pakoras in the evening already. I didn't know how he was hungry again.

(Bhaiya, I want the pani puri.)

"Meri gilehri ko kya chahiye, bolo?" He asked me, his eyes fixed on the food as well. It made me smile and blush. "Dahi puri badi achi dikh rahi hai..." Keshav licked his lips, and I shot him an annoyed glare.

(What would my little squirrel like?)

(Dahi puri looks really good...)

"Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, Ji. Aap kha lijiye-"

(I don't want anything, Ji. You can eat-)

"Pedon ke peeche le chalu kya?" Bhairav Ji asked nonchalantly.

(Should I take you behind the trees?)

I gasped. The audacity of the man!

"Pedon ke peeche? Waha kya hota hai?" Keshav frowned at us.

(Behind the trees? What's over there?)

"M-Mujhe dahi puri chahiye," I said quickly, changing the topic. Bhairav Ji smiled and paid the vendor. "Mai ise pura nahi kha paungi..." I whispered.

(I- I want dahi puri. I can't eat it entirely though...)

Keshav's face brightened, "Toh phir aap mujhe-"

(Then I can-)

"Door reh!" My husband growled at him, "Mai kha lunga. Tum apne khaane par dhyan rakh."

(Stay away! I'll eat it. You focus on your food.)

Keshav eyed us both. He looked annoyed as he had only requested food, and his brother was behaving like a tyrant yet again. I sighed.

"Thoda khilao mujhe," Bhairav Ji commanded.

(Feed me some.)

I gave him a look, "Abhi?"

"Nahi, kuch mahine baad," he muttered with sarcasm, and Keshav chuckled. My cheeks turned red, "Log dekh rahe hai-"

(No, after a few months)

(People are watching-)

"Sanjana."

"Ji huzoor," I shook my head and fed him by hand. My husband smiled a little, "Achi hai." He was so stubborn. The man wasn't used to hearing 'no' at all.

(Yes, my lord.)

(It's good.)

"Aap toh mauj kar rahe ho, Bhaiya... kya pata, humari biwi bhi kabhi humein aise hi khilaayegi ya nahi!"

(You're enjoying yourself, Bhaiya... I wonder if my wife will ever feed me like this!)

"Zyada muh math chala," Bhairav Ji narrowed his eyes at him, and I giggled. "Jaakar Maa ko aam de do. Hum kuch der baad aayenge. Ise apne doston se milwana hai."

(Don't talk too much. Go give the mangoes to Maa. We'll be back in a bit. I have to introduce her to my friends.)

"Ji huzoor," Keshav imitated me and laughed as he walked away.

(Yes, my lord.)

"Chalo," Bhairav Ji led me through the crowd, his hand on my shoulder. We approached two men, who were delighted to meet my husband. He pulled me closer.

(Come on.)

"Biwi hai, Sanjana Chaudhary," he told them. "Namaste Thakurain Ji," They smiled at me respectfully and bowed even, "Shaadi ke itne saal aapko Bhairav ne chupakar rakha tha!" 

(My wife. Sanjana Chaudhary.)

(Bhairav had kept you hidden despite being married for so long!)

I was surprised that the man addressed my husband by his first name. Bhairav Ji sighed, "Mere vidyalay ke dost hai, Abhishek aur Vinayak." My husband told me, and I nodded politely. "Sirf maine thodi chupayi hai... Maa aur Dadi toh hamesha iske peeche pade hai. Pehle din se beti banakar rakhi hai, bahu nahi."

(These are my friends from school, Abhishek and Vinayak.)

(As if I alone have hid her... Maa and Dadi are always after her. From the first day, they've been treating her like their own daughter.)

They laughed, and I looked away in embarrassment. It wasn't like I had ever done anything to make them upset. Even when they scolded me, I always tried to make it up to them with little gestures. Whenever I behaved like a child, they couldn't stay mad at me for long.

"Bahut kismatwale ho, tum. Humare ghar mai har din khalesh hai... Kya karein," Vinayak sighed.

(You're very lucky. At my place, there's an argument every day...)

After talking for a while, the men returned to their families, and even we went back to Maa and Keshav. Bhairav Ji sat behind me, watching the music and dance for a while. I had to feed him my dahi puri countless times. Maa didn't say anything, but I knew that she was eyeing me with a smile.