After returning home, Maa and Dadi were eager to talk to my husband.

"Baat kya hai?" He asked as he sat down at the dining table. When I was about to go back to the kitchen, he grabbed my wrist in front of everyone and pointed at the chair beside him.

(What's the matter though?)

"Thaali leni hai..."

(I need to get my plate...)

"Phir thaali lekar jaldi aa jao," he let me go.

(Then get your plate quickly and sit down.)

When I returned, I heard Maa telling him about a girl for Bhargav. "Shashankan kal milne aaya tha. Bola ki ab dusre Thakur ki umar baaess ho chuki hai toh shaadi kyu nahi karvaate."

(Shashankan came to meet us yesterday. He was saying, the younger Thakur is now twenty-four, then why don't you get him married?)

"Umar baaes hai Maa, par harkate bacho jaisi hai," Bhairav Ji replied.

(He might be twenty-four Maa, but his antics are still childish.)

Maa squeezed his hand, "Shaadi karvane ke baad woh sudhar jaega beta."

(He'll straighten himself after getting married.)

He frowned at his mother, "Shaadi koi davai thodi hai ki sudharvane ke liye ki jaye? Agar uski shaadi hum abhi kare toh kisi aur ki zindagi bhi barbaad hogi."

(Marriage isn't some kind of medicine to fix him. He'll ruin someone else's life if we take hasty decisions.)

Keshav chuckled from the other end of the table. Both Maa and Dadi glared at him to be quiet.

"Bhairav, mera umar badta jaa raha hai. Tumhare bache dekhne ka sapna toh tumne nibha liya, par mujhe guzarne se pehle Bhargav ki shaadi bhi dekhni hai."

(Bhairav, I'm getting old. You fulfilled my dream of getting to see your children, but I need to see Bhargav married before I die as well.)

My husband was quiet. He couldn't talk against Dadi when she used emotional blackmail. Bhairav Ji took a deep breath and kept his attention on the food while mumbling, "Ladki ki umar kitni hai?"

(How old is the girl?)

"Unnees. Dasvi thak padhi hai," Maa replied. My husband only hummed. I could tell that he wasn't very happy.

(19. She's studied till 10th grade.)

"Aur yeh Shashankan ki bhanji hai... Mangalpur mei rehti hai parivar ke saath. Uska ek bada bhai hai. Tum jaante hoge, sheher mei dukaan chala raha hai."

(And she's the neice of Shashankan... Lives in Halari with her family. She has an older brother as well. He runs a store in the city, you'll probably know him.)

"Mai nahi jaanta," Bhairav Ji muttered, "Par agar aap dono ne phaisla ki hai toh theek hai."

(I don't know him... But if you both have decided, then it's fine by me.)

Maa's face brightened immediately. "Ham agle hafte hi unke ghar jaate hai beta... Ladki dekhne."

(We should go to their house next week to meet the girl.)

Bhairav Ji sighed, "Theek hai."

(Alright.)

I was watching him quietly the whole time. His irritation was clear from the way his hands tensed. Even though he was the head of the household, he couldn't go against his Mother or Grandmother. And marital decisions were always meant to be taken by the women.

As the days passed, my morning sickness only worsened. Maa and Dadi didn't allow me to do any chores besides cooking. I figured that my husband had a hand in it too.

Bhairav Ji was busy with work almost all the time. Either he'd be talking to villagers who came to meet him in the haveli, or he'd be at his office, barking orders at the men who worked in his fields. Otherwise, he'd be on the phone, yelling at Bhargav or his other men in the factory. Usually, he had to multitask between everything, and by the time he returned late at night, he'd be quite tired.

My husband would pour himself half a glass of whiskey and sip it slowly on the balcony while listening to songs on the radio. I realised that it was his favorite pastime.

While I sat on the bed and stitched handkerchiefs, he'd be humming songs in his melodious voice. It was always nice to hear him sing like that.

"Agle do theen dino ki davai hai tumhara paas?" He appeared at the balcony door suddenly. The music was still running on the radio outside.

(Will your medicines last for the next few days?)

"Maine dekha nahi-"

(I haven't checked-)

He moved to the drawers, inspecting my medicines with practiced care. Lately, it had become a ritual for him. He always ensured there was enough to last me through the week.

"Yaad kiya dilne kaha ho tum... Jhoomti bahar hai kaha ho tum... Pyar se pukar lo jaha ho tum... Pyar se pukar lo jaha ho tum."

He hummed again while counting my medicines. "Aap ache se gaate ho..." I smiled.

(You sing well...)

"Tumne aaj ki davai kha li?" He asked instead, and I nodded.

(Did you take your medicines today?)

"Idhar mere paas aakar baithiye. Radio bhi lekar aiye," I squeezed his hand when he was about to go back outside. Bhairav Ji sighed and eventually came back into the bedroom with the radio. He kept it on the bedside table before lying down next to me.

(Come sit beside me. Bring the radio as well.)

My husband's arm was sprawled on my lap as he hugged me.

"Silai kar rahi ho?" He asked.

(Are you embroidering?)

I hummed, "Koi aur kaam toh ab karne hi nahi dete... Phool sil raha hu rumal mei. Achi hai?" I showed him.

(You don't let me do any other chore anyway... I'm embroidering a flower on the handkerchief. Is it nice?)

"Par phool kidhar hai?"

(But where's the flower?)

I glared at him, "Aapke aankhe kamzor hai, isliye nahi dikh rahi phool. Kitni ache se banayi hai..."

(Your eyes are weak, that's why you can't see the flower. I've stitched it so beautifully...)

"Jhadu jaise dikh raha hai," he scoffed.

(It looks like a broom.)

"Aapko andar bulane se maine galti ki hai," I muttered. He hummed and hugged me tighter. Before I knew it, the man slipped his hand under my pallu and loosened the pleats. He pushed down my sari, just enough so that the tattoo was visible.

(I made a mistake by calling you inside.)

My face heated up. Every time I had to undress, I was reminded of it. 'Thakur Bhairav Chaudhary' - the words were carved elegantly on my skin, and my husband took pride in it as he leaned closer and pressed a kiss to my hip. He had branded me both body and soul now.

"Kal dopahar ko Bhargav ghar aa raha hai, aur shaam ko hum Maa ke saath Halari nikal rahe hai."

(Tomorrow afternoon Bhargav is returning home, and in the evening we'll be on our way to Halari with Maa.)

I paused, "Kal...?"

(Tomorrow...?)

"Haa... Rishtedar ke ghar par rahenge raat ko. Aur agle din raat tak wapas aa jayenge."

(Yes... We'll stay the night at a relative's place. And by the next evening, we should be back home.)

I only hummed, staring down at my tiny flower. Maybe it did look like a broom.

Bhairav Ji suddenly raised himself and laid his head on my lap comfortably. He nuzzled against my stomach while muttering something.

"Ji?" I mumbled in confusion.

He snatched the handkerchief out of my hands, "Mai kal ise le jaunga."

(I'll be taking this with me tomorrow.)

My eyes widened a little in amusement, "Par aap sahi keh rahe hai... Phool toh jhaado jaisa dikh raha hai. Mai nayi rumal dungi aapko."

(But you were right... The flower is shaped like a broom. I'll give you a better handkerchief.)

"Mujhe sirf yeh chahiye," he closed his eyes, pretending to sleep, "Kaun jaane? Duniya ke kisi kone mein aise khubsurat phool bhi ho sakte hain jo jhaadu jaise dikhte hon."

(This is the one I want. Who knows? In some corner of the world, there could be pretty flowers shaped like brooms.)

His words gave me butterflies. The man whose harshness and violence were well known throughout the village was being so sweet with me. I ran my hand through his hair. "Phir mai aapke liye aur ache se silai karke deti hu," I bent down and kissed his cheek.

(Then I'll stitch it a little better for you.)

He agreed with a hum and handed the handkerchief back to me before falling asleep on my lap.

***

After Bhargav had arrived in the afternoon, he was impatient about leaving immediately. I didn't like the way he was pushing everyone to get ready faster. Bhairav Ji was especially annoyed by it. Even if they were to leave now, they'd meet the girl's family only tomorrow morning.

"Woh kaadha peena jo maine tumhe banana sikhaya hai. Usse baccha sehatmand rahega, samjhi? Aur agar tumhein mantra bhool jaayein, toh unki likhawat mere mez mein rakhi hai. Har shaam unhe padhna zaroori hai. Maine naukaron ko tumhari dekhbhaal ke baare mein bhi samjha diya hai," Maa held my chin gently, "Agar koi dikkat ho toh Dadi se puch lena, beta. Theek hai?"

(Drink the decoction I taught you to make. It will keep the child healthy, understood? And if you forget the chants, their written copies are on my table. You must recite them every evening. I've also instructed the servants about your care. If you face some kind of trouble, make sure to ask Dadi. Okay dear?)

"Ji Maa," I gave her a soft smile and bent down to touch her feet.

When it was time for them to leave, I lowered my veil and helped Dadi move towards the verandah. "Bhabhi ko thang mat karna," Bhairav Ji warned Keshav, who rolled his eyes. I smiled at this.

(Don't annoy your Bhabhi.)

"Aur tum," he turned to me, "Zyada bhaari kaam karne ki mat sochna. Agar yeh kuch bhi kare toh mujhe turant bata dena." His last words were aimed at Keshav, who grinned wickedly. I glared at him, then at my husband.

(And you... Don't try to do any heavy chores. If she does something, tell me immediately.)

"Acha ab bahut der ho rahi hai!" Bhargav announced while checking his watch for the nth time. "Dadi ashirvaad dijiye!" He was grinning like a child while taking blessings from his grandmother who laughed and kissed his cheek, "Mujhe umeed hai tumhe ek achhi, sanskaari ladki milegi, beta... aur tum sudhar jaoge."

(Oh, it's getting really late now! Dadi, please shower me with blessings!)

(I'm sure you'll find a lovely cultured girl, beta... She'll fix all your shortcomings.)

Bhargav smirked, "Mujhme aakhir kya kami hai, Dadi?"

(I'm not missing anything anyway, Dadi.)

"Dimaag," Keshav muttered under his breath, making me giggle.

(Your brain.)

Bhargav grabbed him by the collar, shooting daggers, "Kya kaha tumne?"

(What did you say?)

"Aap behre bhi ho gaye, Bhaiya?"

(Have you gone deaf too, Bhaiya?)

"Tumhe toh-!"

(You-!)

Bhairav Ji cleared his throat before walking towards the Jeep, "Chaliye Maa. Hum chalte hai. Jo bhi aana chahe, aa sakte hai."

(Come on, Maa. Let's leave. Whoever wants to accompany us can do so.)

Bhargav was forced to pull away from Keshav and follow his big brother. The driver ignited the engine, and right before they could drive off, Bhairav Ji touched the handkerchief in his pocket while looking my way. He tucked it further inside, making me smile.

A/N - The song that Bhairav was humming: 

It's one of my favorites :)