I was standing beside the bookshelf in the main office room while Bhairav Ji sat behind his desk. Even though I wanted to leave, he had asked me to find a book for myself and wait while he talked with the barrister.

"Gopal! Bulao us barrister ko!" Bhairav Ji shouted. The door opened again, and the man entered much more calmly this time, clutching a purse in his hand. He glanced at me, and I looked away in an instant, pretending to be interested in some book.

(Gopal! Call that barrister!)

"Thakur Saheb," he stood in front of my husband's table. His voice was determined, and his eyes sharp.

Bhairav Ji didn't say anything. He was quietly glaring at the man. But to my surprise, the barrister joined his hands and kept his head bowed, "Maafi chahta hu. Maine socha aap akele honge. Aapke aur memsaab ke beech-"

(I apologise. I thought that you'd be alone. I didn't want to interfere between you and the miss-)

"Thakurain. Meri patni." My husband corrected him.

The barrister glanced up just a little in surprise. He didn't know that I was Bhairav Ji's wife.

"Aapke aur Thakurain Ji ke beech aane ka mera koi irada nahi tha. Thakurain Ji," he turned to me suddenly, his head bowed low in the same manner, "Aapko sharminda karne ke liye maafi chahta hu." I was stunned, not knowing what to say.

(I never intended to interfere between you and Thakurain Ji.)

(My deepest apologies for embarrassing you, Thakurain Ji.)

"Itni jaldbazi bhi kya thi? Aap barrister hai, isliye mai aapka aadar karta hu par... Barrister Ji humare yaha bhi kuch kanoon hai," Bhairav Ji said, leaning back in his chair and eyeing the man dangerously.

(What was the hurry anyway? You're a Barrister, that's why I respect you... But Mr.Lawyer, we have some rules here as well.)

Gopal and another man who were standing in the other corner of the room cracked their knuckles threateningly. The barrister glanced at them once, but he didn't look terrified at all.

"Mujhe aapse turant milna zaroori tha, isliye aaya hoon. Sirf aap hi hai is pure gaon mei jo meri duvida ja sujhaav de paoge."

(I had to meet you as soon as possible. You're the only one in this entire village who can help me.)

Bhairav Ji scoffed, "Pehle apne pata batao. Kabhi suna nahi aise barrister ke bare mein... Pita Ji ka naam kya hai?"

(First, tell me about yourself. I haven't heard about a barrister in these parts... What's your Father's name?)

The barrister clenched his fist, "Pardh Jitendar. Unka beta hu. Nau saal pehle England gaya tha."

(Pardh Jitendar. I'm his son. I went to England nine years back.)

A small smile appeared on Bhairav Ji's face, "Tumhara Pita Ji... Naam toh bahut suna hai. Woh kisi ladki ke saath jee rahe the na? Tumhare Maa ke marne ke baad. Aur woh ladki saara paisa lekar bhaag gayi..."

(Your Father... I've heard about him a lot. He was living with some girl, wasn't he? After your mother's death. And that girl stole all his money and ran away.)

Bhairav Ji's men snickered in the corner. I didn't like how they were mocking the man. But the barrister held his ground, his eyes still fiery.

"Ji Thakur Saheb. Unka hi beta hu. Maine aapke baare mei bhi bahut kuch suna hai..."

(Yes, Thakur Saheb. I am his son. I've heard a lot about you as well...)

"Acha?" Bhairav Ji chuckled. He took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, "Batao kya suna hai?"

(Oh, really? Tell me what you know about me.)

"Aapko paiso se mohabbat hai."

(You adore money very much.)

(You adore money very much.)

Bhairav Ji clicked his tongue, taking a drag of his cigarette, "Paiso se nahi. Amiri se."

(Not money. Richness.)

The barrister kept the purse down on Bhairav Ji's table, "Isme do hazar hai."

(This has two thousand rupees.)

The men gasped while Bhairav Ji kept staring into the barrister's eyes to check whether he was bluffing. "Gin ke dekho," he asked one of the men, and Gopal came forward to count the money twice.

(Count and check.)

"Do hazar hai, Malik."

(It's two thousand, Boss.)

"Andar lekar jao," he told Gopal, who nodded and went into the other room.

(Take it inside.)

"Ab baithiye, Barrister saheb, Bhairav Chaudhary aapki kaisi madad kar sakta hai?" My husband smiled, "Ah, maaf kijiye, aapne naam nahi bataya."

(Now sit down, Barrister saheb. How can Bhairav Chaudhary help you? Ah, my apologies. You never told me your name.)

"Paramesh Jitendar," the barrister replied coldly and shook my husband's hand. The handshake was firm, vicious, almost as if I was witnessing the birth of an alliance that should have never happened in the first place.

"Meri jaan, Paramesh Ji ke liye chai lana. Andar hi hai," Bhairav Ji told me suddenly. I nodded and went into the other room.

(My darling, bring some tea for Paramesh Ji. It must be inside.)

"Mamla meri behen ke baare mei hai," Paramesh began talking as I poured him a cup of tea. "Shukriya..." He told me in between before turning back to Bhairav Ji.

(The issue is regarding my sister.)

"Meri behen ek ladke se pyar karta hai. Aur mujhe soochna mili hai ki woh kal uske saath bhaag jaane wali hai... Maine us ladke ki puchtach ki hai, Thakur saheb. Woh kuch saal jail mei tha... Aur har din dukaan mei meri behen se chipke milta hai. Iske pehle bhi usne dusre gaon ki ladkiyon ko patayi hai..."

(My sister is in love with a boy. And I found out that they're planning on eloping tomorrow. I've asked around about the boy, Thakur saheb. He was in jail for a while... And he meets my sister in secret every day at a store. Before this, he hadtrapped women from other villages as well...)

Bhairav Ji listened intently as I poured him a glass of chai as well. He pulled a stool from under his table and patted on it, gesturing that I sit.

"Woh jail mei kyu tha?" Bhairav Ji asked.

(Why was he in jail?)

"Chori ke liye..." Paramesh sighed. "Maine apni behen ko samjhane ki bahut koshish ki hai, Thakur saheb... Par woh Maan nahi rahi hai. Woh usi se shaadi karna chahti hai. Mai sirf ek hafte pehle gaon wapas aaya hu, aur maine socha Pita Ji Payal ki dhyan rakh lenge par... Woh apne hi kaam mei vyasth hai."

(For thieving. I tried to make my sister understand, Thakur saheb. But she's not listening to me. She's adamant about marrying him. I returned to the village only last week... And I thought Father would take care of her but... He's busy with his own life.)

"Hmm... Mai kya kar sakta hu aapke liye?"

(Hmm... What can I do for you?)

Paramesh leaned forward, "Us ladke ko pakadiye aur usse boliye ki meri behen se door rahe. Uske baad mai uski shaadi karwa dunga."

(Catch that boy and tell him to stay away from my sister. I'll marry her off to someone else.)

Bhairav Ji chuckled, "Aapki behen manegi shaadi ke liye?"

(Will your sister agree to the marriage?)

"Mujhe farak nahi padta. Kisi gareeb ke saath udas rehne se behtar hai kisi amir ke saath udas rahe."

(I don't care. It's better to live unhappily with a rich man than with a poor man.)

Bhairav Ji nodded in acknowledgement, "Par is kaam ke liye aap kaafi kabil dikhte ho. Khud us ladke ko samjhate kyu nahi?"

(But you seem quite capable of this job yourself. Why don't you handle that boy yourself?)

"Haath ganda karna pasand nahi hai mujhe. Isliye toh aap ke paas aaya hu," he replied a little arrogantly.

(I don't like getting my hands dirty. That's why I came to you.)

"Theek hai, Barrister saheb. Samajh lo ki aapka kaam hogaya...Aur agli baar se darwaze par dastak dekar andar aana." Even I coughed uncomfortably when my husband said this.

(Alright, Barrister saheb. Consider your job done... And next time, knock on the door before coming inside.)

Paramesh lowered his eyes, embarrassed, "Phirse maafi chahta hu."

(I want to apologise again.)

The men stood up. Paramesh joined his hands before my husband, and Bhairav Ji did the same.

"Aap par Bharosa hai," the barrister mumbled before leaving. I watched him go.

(I'm putting my trust in you.)

"Mai bhi chalti hu..." I stood up, and my husband gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

(I'm leaving as well...)

"Druv!" He shouted, and one of the men came rushing inside, "Ji, Malik?"

"Thakurain ko haveli chod kar aao."

(Go drop the Thakurain at the haveli.)

"Ji Malik." He nodded and stepped outside.

I smiled at Bhairav Ji and pecked him on the cheek. "Aap ghar jaldi wapas aaiye aaj..." I ran my hand down his chest.

(Come home soon today...)

He held my chin, staring down into my eyes, "Koshish karunga." I closed my eyes as Bhairav Ji kissed my forehead. He squeezed my ass as I walked to the door, startling and embarrassing me at the same time.

(I'll try.)