I tried to convince myself that I was locked in the bedroom to rest. Bhairav Ji didn't see it as anything more than that. The maids brought the children to me every few hours so that I could feed them. Dadi and Maa had changed my diet entirely so that I could lose weight while being able to feed the children at regular intervals.

At night, the twins never slept. Since the maids, Maa and Dadi, always put them to sleep during the day, the kids were always hyperactive at night. No matter what Bhairav Ji or I tried, they cried their lungs out until early morning hours.

Since my husband had work every day, Dadi instructed that he sleep separately for a while. Even though he tried to protest, the women compelled him and ensured that a few maids would stay with me.

There would be two maids every night who tried to cradle and sing the children to sleep. I'd manage to sleep for a few minutes at that time. But when their cries worsened, I'd have to force myself awake and feed them.

In a way, Bhairav Ji wasn't wrong...

With how sleep-deprived I was, I wouldn't be able to work even in the kitchen. Taking care of kids was the largest chore I had come across in my life.

It felt far too exhausting.

But even then, I still hadn't been able to pay attention to Saarang.

When I asked Maa whether I could see him, she forbade it. Even Dadi and my husband made sure to keep him away. I felt like they had made it clear to him as well that I wasn't supposed to be disturbed.

I wondered how he was...

Was he eating well? Was he lonely?

The last time I felt at ease was when he had hugged me on the day we returned home. I didn't know when I'd be allowed to see him again.

"Maa..." I mumbled as she rocked my daughter gently in her arms. She was smiling and kissing the baby. My son was in my arms, being fed under my pallu.

"Aap sirf ek baar Saarang ko mere paas laiye... Itne dino se usse baat bhi nahi kar paayi..."

(Please bring Saarang to me just once... I haven't talked to him in so long...)

She sighed, "Beta woh theek hai. Tum chinta kyu kar rahe ho? Woh har roz nashta karne ke baad dosto ke saath khelne nikalta hai aur shaam tak bahar rehta hai. Jab Keshav wapas aatha hai, uske saath chipak kar sab kuch kartha hai. Woh bilkul theek hai beta."

(Beta, he's fine. Why are you worrying so much? He goes out to play with his friends after breakfast every day and stays out until evening. When Keshav comes back from college, he stays with him the entire time. He's completely fine.)

I bit my lip, "Par... Mujhe usse milna hai. Aap ek baar-"

(But... I want to meet him once. Please-)

She clicked her tongue, "Tumhare piya ki hukum hai. Jaanti ho na? Aur tumse bhi zaroori baat karni hai. Kuch mahino tak use paas mat aane dena."

(It's your husband's orders. You know that, don't you? And I wanted to discuss something else with you as well. Don't let Bhairav come near you for a few months at least.)

"E-eh...?" My face turned red.

My daughter squealed and giggled in Maa's arms whenever she pretended to bite the baby's chubby cheeks.

"Agar tum phirse ek saal ke andar pet se ho gayi toh badi mushkil hogi," she told me quite seriously. I didn't understand how she could keep a straight face while saying that. My eyes were already wide as I turned away.

(If you get pregnant again within a year, it's going to be difficult.)

"M-mai... Mai samajhti hu... A-aap chinta mat kariye..."

(I- I understand... Don't w-worry, Maa...)

Maa held my chin and made me look at her, a soft smile on her lips, "Tumhe samjha nahi rahi hu, bahu. Chetavni de rahi hu. Apni paas hamesha ek naukarani rakho. Aur phir bhi agar woh tumhein kabhi akela pakad le, to turant mujhe awaaz dena."

(I'm not trying to make you understand. I'm warning you. Keep a maid near you at all times. And if he still manages to catch you alone at times, ask me for help.)

I gulped. My embarrassment was palpable as I nodded, "Ji Maa..."

(Okay Maa...)

She chuckled as she squeezed my cheek next, "Magar mujhe Bhairav par thoda bharosa hai. Mujhe nahin lagta ki mera beta apni gilheri ko utna takleef dega."

(But I trust Bhairav a little. I don't think my son will trouble his little squirrel that much.)

My lips parted in shock and embarrassment. What was she saying?!

It was bad enough that she had told me to abstain from having sex with the insatiable hunk that I had married. And now she was teasing me?!

Maa laughed at my reaction. I had nothing to say as she continued playing with my daughter.

As the days passed, the maids informed me that the auspicious date for the naming ceremony had been fixed by Dadi and the priests. I'd finally be allowed outside the room then.

My daughter was busy tugging at my mangalsutra as I watched the calendar closely. There was one week left. I'd be finally free in one week.

I'd finally get to meet Saarang.

Eventually, after rocking her in my arms for a long time, she fell asleep as well. I gently kept her on the bed, beside her brother, who was already fast asleep. I sat by the windowsill, staring out at the crimson sky and the birds that flew home freely.

Only a few more days left...

At that moment, a paper slid into the room from under the door. I got down from the windowsill to see what it was about.

My heart melted when I saw the adorable drawing that my baby brother had made of our family. He had especially included his niece and nephew. I sat beside the door to admire the drawing. When I turned the paper, I found that Sarang had written to me in his broken Hindi, "Didi mai aapko jaldi bachaunga." It made me chuckle to myself.

(Didi, I'll save you soon.)

"Saarang?" I called softly.

"Didi?!" I heard him whisper in shock.

Hearing his voice helped me be at ease. I whispered back to him, "Yaha kya kar rahe ho, beta? Tum aaj khelne nahi gaye?"

(What are you doing here, beta? Didn't you go out to play today?)

"Didi! Aaj jaldi wapas aa gaya... Aapko itne dino se kamre mei kyu reh rahi ho? Aap kab bahar aaogi? Jiju ne mujhe yaha aane se mana kiya hai, pata hai aapko? Sab hamesha daantthe hai jab mai aapke baare mei puchta hu... Mai jaldi hi aapko yaha se bachaunga, theek hai?"

(Didi! I came home early today... Why haven't you left your room for so many days? When will you come outside? Jiju has prohibited me from coming here. Everyone scolds me when I ask about you... I'll save you very soon, okay?)

His words made me emotional, "Saarang... Tum chinta mat karo, mai ek hafte baad bahar aungi-"

(Saarang... Don't worry. I'll come outside in one week-)

"Mujhe aapko aaj milni hai!" He whined from the other end, gently tapping the door. My poor baby.

(I want to see you now!)

"Shor mat machao beta... Kitni achi tasveer hai yeh. Par isme toh aapke Jija Ji nahi dikh rahe? Baaki sab toh hai."

(Don't make noise, beta... Your drawing is lovely. But I can't see you Jija Ji in this.)

Saarang was quiet for a while until he muttered, "Mai nahi banana chahta unki tasveer. Woh har roz daantthe hai..."

(I don't want to draw him. He scolds me every day.)

I sighed at his words, "Jija Ji sabki bhalai ke liye daantthe hai."

(Jija Ji scolds you for your well-being.)

Even though I sounded like a hypocrite justifying my husband's actions, in my heart, I knew that Bhairav Ji made his rules prioritising my health and safety. He was a tyrant, but he was very selfish when it came to me.

"Didi! Mai aapke liye Jiju ki ek achi tasveer banaunga..." My brother giggled mischievously.

(Didi! I'll draw a lovely portrait of Jiju for you...)

"Theek hai," I smiled to myself and slipped the paper back to him. As long as I could feel his presence on the other side of the door, I didn't mind anything. Minutes passed, and I was almost dozing off against the wall when I heard someone come up the stairs.

(Okay.)

"Saarang? Kya kar rahe ho yaha?" It was my husband's loud voice, and I immediately grew startled, pressing my ear against the door.

(Saarang? What are you doing here?)

"Kya chupa rahe ho?" He asked again, very unkindly. I gulped. Saarang wasn't allowed to come up here. Would Bhairav Ji lash out at him?

(What are you hiding?)

"N-nahi! Na-!" I heard my brother yell and scream. It heightened my worry.

(N-no... No!)

"Mat daantiye use-!" I begged helplessly.

(Please don't scold him-!)

It was suddenly quiet on the other side. I fell back when I heard the key being turned in the door. Bhairav Ji pushed it open; his merciless eyes were looking down at me, staring straight into my soul.

"Neeche kya kar rahi ho?" He muttered.

(What are you doing on the floor?)

"Didi!" Saarang slipped past him and ran straight into my arms. I hugged him back just as tightly, breathing in his sunny scent and kissing his face countless times, "Mera bacha..."

(My darling...)

He held on to me, squealing excitedly. Bhairav Ji dropped the picture in his hand before walking past us. Only then did I see what Saarang had drawn.

My husband was personified as a devil with horns while I was crying in the corner, hugging Saarang.

"Dekho apni bhai ki kala," Bhairav Ji muttered.

(Look at your brother's talent.)

I immediately pulled back and shook the troublemaker, "Kaisi tasveere bana rahe ho!"

(How can you draw something like this!)

He pouted at me, "Par... Par... Jija Ji toh shaitan se bhi daraavne hai. Aapko kamre mei bandkar rakhta hai!"

(But... But... Jija Ji is scarier than the devil. He keeps you locked in the bedroom!)