"Ji... Yeh kiska hai?"

(Ji... Whose is this?)

Bhairav Ji paused for a second. I watched him exhale sharply before knocking on the door, "Achha hua hum bina bataye aa gaye." The tone he used never meant any good. He was suppressing his anger. Someone was definitely going to feel his wrath.

(I'm glad that we came uninformed.)

Bhargav didn't open the door initially. Bhairav Ji had to bang a second time.

"Arey aa raha hu! Aadhi raat ko itna shor kaun macha raha hai?!" My devar groaned from inside before finally opening the door.

(Arey, I'm coming! Who's causing such a racket in the middle of the night?)

He was shirtless. There were clear lipstick stains on his face and neck. I looked away as it was highly indecent for a man to appear like this.

"Bh-Bhaiya-?" Bhargav's eyes widened in fear, "A-aap yaha kya kar rahe hai...? Aur Sanjana-"

(Bhaiya... What are you doing here? And Sanjana-)

"Bhabhi." My husband warned before forcing his way inside.

"Bhabhi..." The poor guy gulped. I could see his knees tremble just at the sight of his older brother.

"Aapne phone kyu nahi kiya...? M- Mai station thak aa jaata...!" He immediately grabbed the shirt from the floor before putting it on.

(Why didn't you phone me? I would have come till the station...!)

The house was a mess. There were cobwebs in every corner, and the stench almost made me gag. Was this how men lived? Did they have no sense of cleanliness?

Bhairav Ji smiled as he squeezed Bhargav's shoulder, "Tumhe dekhne ka bahut man kar raha tha, isliye jaldi aa gaye. Woh kya hai?" He pointed at a woman's purse lying on the kitchen table.

(I was yearning to see you, so I came here quickly. What's that?)

Bhargav was breathing heavily now, but he mustered a smile, "Bhaiya woh... Woh maine... Maa ke liye khareeda hai. Haan... Maa ke liye."

(Bhaiya, that... That I... I bought it for Maa, yes... It's for Maa.)

"Maa ke liye?" My husband smiled.

(It's for Maa?)

"Ji Bhaiya-"

(Yes Bhaiya-)

I flinched when my husband slapped him right across the cheek. Bhargav spat blood as he fell back on the couch, cradling his cheek.

"Badtameezi karta hai aur upar se Maa ka naam leta hai?!"

(You fool around behind everyone's back and drag our mother's name into it as well?!)

A woman appeared from one of the rooms. Her attire made me gasp. A low-cut choli that I wouldn't dare to wear even in front of my husband was nearly slipping down her shoulder. She was busy tying her hair when she walked into the living room.

Bhairav Ji grabbed his brother by the collar before lifting him up, "Yeh kaun hai beta? Tumhare kamre se kyu aa rahi hai?"

(Who is this, beta? Why is she coming out of your room?)

Even though his actions were immoral, I felt sorry for Bhargav as he had to face his older brother's wrath.

"D-dost hai Bhaiya- AH!"

(A- a friend Bhaiya... AH!)

He yelled in pain when Bhairav Ji smacked his face again. This time Bhargav hit his forehead on the edge of the sofa. Blood trickled down his forehead.

"Kaise dost hair tumhare saale?! Kisi randi ko dekha aur seedha ghar le aaya? Upar se Maa ka naam ghaseetha hai? Abhi batata hu-!"

(What kind of friends do you have, fucker? You saw some whore and brought her straight home? On top of it you use Maa's name? I'll teach you a lesson right now-!)

"Ruk jaiye!" I hugged him with all my might. Bhairav Ji could easily knock me aside, but he glared at me inside, "Haath chodo, Sanjana."

(Stop please!)

(Let go of my hand, Sanjana.)

"Aur math mariye, Thakur Ji..." I begged him, "Use chot lagi hai."

(Please don't hit him anymore, Thakur Ji... He's already injured.)

Bhairav Ji tried to pull his hand away from me, but I immediately placed it on my stomach, "Bache ke saamne math kijiye..."

(Please don't do it in front of the child...)

He froze. The wild rage in his eyes softened just a little. Bhairav Ji pulled away from me before glaring at the other woman, "Nikal jao ghar se. Phir kabhi yaha dikhni nahi chahiye."

(Get out of my house. Don't show your face here again.)

The woman promptly came forward and grabbed her purse. She stared at poor Bhargav, who was wimpering against the couch before turning to my husband, "Gadi ke paise do saab."

(Give me the bus fare, sir.)

My husband muttered a curse under his breath before taking money out of his pocket and handing it to the woman. She smiled at him. It wasn't a kind smile.

In fact, it was the kind of smile that made me want to rip off her lips.

Added to that, she had the fucking audacity to look at him in that sleazy way while stuffing the money in her choli.

On instinct, I almost lunged forward to slap her, but Bhairav Ji grabbed me, "Kya kar rahi ho...?" He muttered in confusion.

(What are you doing...?)

"Isi waqt nikal jao warna tumhara bhi khoon yahi girega-!" I snapped at her.

(Get out of here this instant or I'll spill your blood as well-!)

"Shh..." Bhairav Ji pressed his hand over my mouth, holding me back as the startled woman hurried out of the door. I pushed his hand away, "Aap chup kyu the?! Kaise aapke or dekh rahi thi woh! Agar mere haath lagi toh-"

(Why were you quiet?! Didn't you see how she was eyeing you! If I had caught her-)

"Shaant ho jao," he sighed. I realised that his anger had evaporated entirely.

(Calm down.)

Everything was all because of Bhargav, and I glared at him. He looked helpless as he slowly lifted himself off the floor. The bleeding on his forehead had stopped, but his lips were cut and swollen. He had a black eye as well.

"Jaakar kamra taiyar karo. Hum kuch dino ke liye yahi rahenge," Bhairav Ji instructed him, and Bhargav quietly limped towards his bedroom.

(Go fix the bedroom. We'll be staying here for a few days.)

"Neend aa rahi thi na pehle? Jaakar naha lo aur jaldo so jao. Mujhe Bhargav se baat karni hai."

(You were feeling sleepy earlier, right? Take a shower and go to bed. I need to talk to Bhargav.)

I sat on the couch and hugged myself. The whore's face was still in my head. How dare she? That too with a married man right before his wife!

"Mujhe neend nahi aa rahi ab. Aap Bhargav ke saath kya baate karne wale ho? Us ladki ke bare mei?"

(I'm not feeling sleepy. What will you tell Bhargav? Is it about that girl?)

He sighed and knelt before me to match my height.

"Us ladki ka kaam hi yeh sab karna hai... Tum ab bhi us par itna udaas kyu ho?"

(It's her job to pull stunts like this... Why are you still upset over her?)

I glared at him, "Aapko woh pasand aayi? Jab usne paise lekar apne choli mei rakhi?"

(Do you like her? The way she stuffed the money in her blouse?)

He stared into my eyes quietly, "Jalte waqt bahut pyari dikhti ho, meri gilehri."

(You look quite adorable when jealous, my darling.)

"Sawaal ka jawaab dijiye," I gritted my teeth.

(Answer my question.)

"Mujhe sawaal hi samajh mei nahi aayi," he smiled innocently.

(I don't even understand your question.)

I grabbed the collar of his kurta and pulled him closer. Bhairav Ji continued staring into my eyes as I took a hundred-rupee note out of his pocket. I kissed it gently before grazing it down my neck and pushing it inside my choli.

"Ab samajh aayi sawaal? Aapko yeh sau rupey ab kabhi wapas nahi milenge."

(Do you understand the question now? You're never getting this money back.)

He grinned at me just a little, "Mera pura dil cheen liya hai tumne... Ab thoda paisa cheen lene se kya kheth hai?"

(You've already stolen my heart... I have nothing to lose if you steal a little money as well.)

I froze. My entire face reddened as I quickly fished the money out of my choli and pressed it to his chest, "Aap hi rakhiye aapke paise!"

(Keep your money with you!)

He smiled and kissed the note before leaning forward to raise my veil. He kissed my forehead as well and let his lips linger over there, "Tumhare siva kisi aur ki taraf mai kaise dekh sakta hu, jaan?"

(How can I look at someone else but you, my dear?)

I glanced up at him, my cheeks still red, but I was pouting at him, "Mere bache par wada karo."

(Swear on my baby.)

He smiled a little more before caressing my stomach, "Humare bache par wada karta hu..."

(I swear on our baby.)