I stirred awake when I felt Bhairav Ji's arm pulled away from my body. The telephone in our room rang, so he sat up to answer it. I squinted my eyes in the dark to make out the time; it was maybe one or two in the morning.

"Unko pakad liya?" Bhairav Ji sat up in bed slowly.

(Did you catch them?)

"Ji Malik," the man answered from the other end, "Hume inke saath kya karna chahiye?"

(Yes, Boss. What should we do with them?)

"Ladki kitni saal ki hai?" Bhairav Ji asked as he crossed his arms. I sat up in bed as well, my heart pounding in curiosity. What was going to happen to them?

(How old is the girl?)

"Solah bol rahi hai," the man replied.

(She's saying 16.)

Bhairav Ji sighed, "Woh Paramesh ki behen hai. Uspar hath math lagana. Dara sakte ho, par chhot math pahuchana. Ladke ki ek do haddi thod do. Woh ladki sahi salamat ghar pahunchna chahiye... Aur haan, us barrister ko bolna, mujhe subah aakar mile."

(She's Paramesh's sister. Don't lay a finger on her. You can scare her, but don't harm her. Break a few bones of the boy, and drop the girl home safely. Tell the barrister to meet me tomorrow morning.)

"Ji Malik."

He hung up and turned to me. "Tum jaag gayi?" He murmured as he lay back down in bed. I was hugging my knees. "Agar woh ek dusre se pyar karte hai... toh aap unhe kyu alag karna chahte hai?"

(You woke up?)

(If they love each other... Then why do you want to separate them?)

Bhairav Ji closed his eyes. His arms were tucked under his head as he slept. "Is gaon ke bahut se log mujh par bharosa rakhte hain. Woh barrister bhi unhi mein se ek hai. Mujhe is baat se koi sarokaar nahi ke woh bachhe ek-dusre se mohabbat karte hain ya nahi... lekin aise aadmi ko haath se jaane dena siyaasat ki sabse badi ghalti hoti hai."

(A lot of people in this village trust me, Sanjana. That Barrister is one of them. It doesn't matter to me if those kids love each other or not... But letting a man like him slip through your hands would be a great mistake.)

I didn't understand what he meant entirely, but I just hoped that he wouldn't cause any trouble for himself. The next morning, everyone was at the breakfast table. Saarang sat next to me, happily devouring his parathas while smearing oil on both his hands. When he told me that he wanted water, I helped him drink it because his hands were dirty.

One of the servants walked over to Bhairav Ji and leaned towards his ear, "Woh barrister aaye hai, Malik. Aapko milne."

(The Barrister has come to meet you, Boss.)

"Andar bhejo," Bhairav Ji replied while sipping his chai. He turned to me next, "Naukaraniyo se ek aur thaali laane ke liye bolo."

(Send him inside. Tell the maids to prepare another plate.)

"Ji," I got up and went to the kitchen.

Paramesh Jitendar made a very respectful appearance again. He greeted Maa and Dadi and finally sat down in one corner of the dining table when my husband insisted. The maids served him breakfast, and the men mainly talked about Paramesh's education and work. 

After breakfast, the maids cleared the plates, and I sat with Saarang in Dadi's room to teach him. Bhairav Ji was talking with Paramesh in the living room. My little brother was quite distracted as he played with his pencil.

"Didi, woh kaun hai?" he asked me.

(Didi, who is that?)

"Koi nahi, apna kaam karo," I replied and pointed at the sum I had written before him.

(Nobody. Do your work.)

He hummed and leaned against my arm, pretending to focus on the question because I knew his mind was elsewhere. "Didi kya mai bahar khelne ja sakta hu?" he looked up, his young eyes twinkling.

(Didi, can I go outside and play?)

"Kiske saath kheloge?" I frowned.

(Who will you play with?)

"Dusre bache khelte hai haveli ke bahar... har roz... mujhe bhi khelna hai, Didi. Mai ja sakta hu?"

(I've seen the other kids play outside... Everyday... Even I want to play, Didi. Can I go?)

I sighed, "Padhai ke baad jaana."

(Go after studying.)

When I went to the living room, I found my husband in his chair, listening to the news on the radio that sat on a little table next to him. He had some papers in his hand, and I massaged his shoulders softly.

"Woh barrister ne kya kaha?" I asked curiously.

(What did the Barrister say?)

"Ek mahine baad uski behen, Payal, ki shaadi hai. Hum sabko davaat di hai," he replied nonchalantly.

(It's his sister's wedding in one month. He has invited all of us.)

"Itni jaldi?" I asked in surprise.

(This soon?)

He hummed, "Yahi pados mei ho rahi hai shaadi. Jagdish ke saath."

(It's happening in our neighborhood. She's marrying Jagdish.)

"Par woh toh... Keshav ke saath college jaata hai..."

(But doesn't he... Go to college with Keshav...?)

Bhairav Ji hummed again. I went to sit on the swing in the courtyard. Almost all our neighbors were old couples. I had talked to them a lot, but it wasn't the same as being with someone my own age. And that girl, Payal, was sixteen. Two years younger than me. Jagdish's residence was just one house away from ours. I wondered how she was feeling.

***

The evening sun had a red glow, and I could hear the cawing of birds returning to their homes. I was busy stitching flowers on a handkerchief since I didn't have anything better to do. Saarang was still outside playing. My mind was occupied with how difficult it was to teach him the basics. He was interested in studies, but he quickly got distracted. I also felt like he was quite weak in all the subjects.

Keshav was lying on one of the cots, happily munching on some snacks that I had made while reading a book. The cushion on my side dipped, and I glanced up to find Bhairav Ji. He exhaled sharply after an exhausting day of mostly sleeping in. I wondered why he hadn't gone to work today.

He scooted an inch closer, and I gave him a look. Keshav glanced at us from his book, but Bhairav Ji ignored him, sliding his arm behind me. I tried to move away, glaring at him, but he held my shoulder firmly.

"Bahut der se yahi baithi ho," he remarked quietly.

(You've been sitting here for a long time.)

"Kuch kaam hi nahi hai karne ko... Raat ka khaana bhi ban chuka hai," I replied without looking at him.

(I'm done with all chores... Even dinner is ready.)

"Kamre mei thoda kaam tha, upar aa jao." His eyes didn't leave my face, and I felt my cheeks slowly tinting pink.

(There's some work in the bedroom. Come upstairs.)

"Woh kaam baad mei karungi..." I muttered.

(I'll do it later...)

"Baad mei phirse kar lena," he whispered, leaning close to my ear. My eyes were a little wide as I glanced at him. His brother was sitting right there, probably listening to everything. How could he act so bluntly on purpose?

(Later, you can do it a second time.)

Keshav coughed at least three times loudly to let us know clearly that he was also in the room. "Kitni garmi hai, baapre..." he said aloud, sighing in his dramatic fashion.

(It feels so hot, gosh...)

"Saarang ko bahar se bulakar lao, Keshav," my husband muttered coldly.

(Bring Saarang inside, Keshav.)

"Us chotu ko mai kyu bulao? Aap uski Didi se boliye."

(Why should I fetch the kid? Tell his sister.)

"Keshav."

My devar sighed and got up from the cot, "Chain se kitaab bhi nahi pad sakta is ghar mei..." he muttered and went towards the door. The moment his back turned towards us, Bhairav Ji placed his hand on my thigh, squeezing me, his hot breath fanned my neck, "Dohrana pasand nahi hai. Upar aa jao."

(I can't even read peacefully in this house...)

(I don't like to repeat myself. Come upstairs.)

Keshav gasped when he reached the door, and we heard the whirring of a car engine. "Bhaiya aaye hain!" He shouted, and Bhairav Ji stood up at that time, frowning, "Bhargav?"

A car drove in through the gates, and even I went to the doorway to see what it was about. Maa and Dadi came out of their rooms as well. Bhargav stepped out of the car, and two of the servants rushed to get his things. He hadn't told us that he'd be coming.

Maa told me to do his aarti, and I watched as Bhargav bent down to touch Maa and Dadi's feet. Bhairav Ji didn't say anything as Bhargav stood before him. The tension was still there between them, and I feared whether he'd do something disrespectful to annoy his big brother further. But Bhargav bent down and touched my husband's feet, surprising all of us. He didn't hesitate to bless Bhargav.

Everyone smiled at this. I noticed how Saarang was peeking at us from behind the car, curious to meet the new guest.

"Waha kya kar rahe ho chotu? Idhar aao," Keshav beckoned to him, and he sprinted towards us. He held onto Keshav's hand, observing Bhargav with large eyes.

(What are you doing there, kiddo? Come here.)

"Yeh hai Saarang?" Bhargav asked in surprise, and Keshav ruffled my brother's head, "Haan."

(Is this Saarang?)

(Yes.)

Maa was overjoyed as she led Bhargav into the haveli. She told me to set the table for him. Bhargav tried to protest, saying he had already eaten.

"Kaha se kha kar aaye ho?" Dadi frowned.

(From where did you eat?)

Bhargav was quiet for a while as he sat down at the table. He seemed hesitant to answer, and I noticed his red ears, "Mai woh... Paas hi..."

(Um... Nearby...)

"Paas hi matlab?" Bhairav Ji raised a brow.

(Nearby?)

"Aradhya ke ghar se."

(From Aradhya's home.)

Everyone gasped, and even my husband was shocked to hear this.

"Aradhya ke ghar?" Dadi asked, her eyes wide, "Waha kyu gaye?"

(Aradhya's home? Why did you go there?)

"Er... Thode phal, khajoor, kaju wagera khareede the Bhabhi ke liye, par... uh... Socha Aradhya ke gharwalo ko bhi kuch de du."

(Er... I bought some fruits, dates, and cashews and such for Bhabhi, but... uh... I thought I should take something for Aradhya's family as well.)

The first person he looked at was Bhairav Ji, who was trying to hold back a teasing smile. Keshav sighed dramatically, "Maa yeh sahi nahi hai. Mujhe bhi shaadi karni hai-"

(Maa, this isn't right. Even I want to marry-)

"Chup ho jao, Keshav."

(Shut up, Keshav.)

Both brothers snapped at him in unison, and Maa chuckled at this; even I couldn't help but giggle. "Train se hokar aaye ho?" Bhairav Ji asked as I served food for Bhargav, "Haan Bhaiya... Isliye jaldi yaha pahunch gaya. Mai kal subah wapas sheher jaa raha hu."

(Did you come via train?

(Yes, Bhaiya, that's why I managed to reach early. I'll be going back to the city tomorrow.)

Maa tried convincing him to stay longer, and I could see that Bhargav was slowly giving in since the tension had worn off. I was happy that he had thought of me as well.

A/N - Bhairav is a pretty morally grey character because that's how most people are realistically :')

If you have more thoughts, suggestions etc on the story, do leave a comment. It really motivates me to keep writing <3