Paramesh was very silent in the car as he drove us to my husband's office. Aradhya told me in whispers of how the three men had surrounded her.

Baldev had initially brushed his hand over the poor girl's shoulder, startling her. Then they began commenting and teasing her, saying beautiful women shouldn't wander alone. They began saying vile things like her husband wasn't enough of a man and couldn't keep her safe. By then, I had arrived.

After reaching the office, I could hear commotion inside. Paramesh asked Saarang to stay in the car. Bhairav Ji was yelling at someone. Paramesh pushed the door open while we stayed behind him.

The man that my husband had assigned to be our bodyguard was standing before him. I had forgotten about him entirely. He looked like he was on the verge of tears as Bhairav Ji threatened him with something. Bhargav was standing right beside him, equally furious. There were others in the room as well, more of my husband's men. They all looked prepared to go somewhere.

Paramesh stepped to the side, and as soon as Bhargav saw his wife, his face changed entirely.

"Aradhya!"

He hugged her as tight as he could. She squeezed the back of his shirt and cried a little. Bhargav kissed her head and forehead, "Dara diya tumne... Tum theek ho? Koi baat nahi, ab mai yahi hu."

(You scared me... Are you alright? Don't worry. I'm here now.)

They were adorable. A bit too adorable. My chest ached.

When I slowly lifted my eyes to look at Bhairav Ji, his murderous glare greeted me.

"Idhar aao."

(Come here.)

My hands trembled as I quietly stepped towards him.

"B-azaar mein... Bahut... B-bheed thi-"

(I-it... It was... Really crowded in the market.)

"Bheed thi matlab? Isne kaha ki tum aage bhaag gayi Aaradhya ke saath. Maa ne subah bola tha ki tumhe ghar ke bahar akele nahi jaane dena chahiye... Maine pakad thodi dheeli kardi matlab sar par chad jaogi? Bache ro rahe honge ghar par."

(Crowded? He told me that you ran ahead with Aradhya. Maa asked me not to let you go out alone... I gave you a little bit of freedom, and you make a fool out of me? The kids must be crying at home.)

There were tears in my eyes as I stared down. I wanted to protest by saying the children cried all the time. I glared at the man who had ratted me out to him over my shoulder.

"Tumse mai baat kar raha hu," Bhairav Ji squeezed my chin and made me face him again. I didn't want to look at him at all. I wanted to go home and be in the comfort of my children.

(I'm talking to you.)

"Bhairav," Paramesh cleared his throat, "Tumse zaroori baat karni hai. Bazaar mei aur bahut kuch hua hai..."

(Bhairav. I need to tell you something important. A lot more happened in the market...)

My husband glanced at me. Those eyes meant that he knew I was up to no good. Paramesh told him everything that he saw at the market, starting from the point I called Aradhya's name. When he mentioned that I slapped Baldev, one of the men in the room commented aloud, "Aakhir biwi toh Malik ki hai!"

(After all, she's the master's wife!)

Honestly, it made me proud, but my husband glared at the man who said that before asking Paramesh to continue.

"Haath thodunga us saale ka... Kaun hai woh, Bhaiya?!" Bhargav barked. He was still holding Aradhya in his arms.

(I'll break that bastard's hand... Who is he, Bhaiya?!)

A strange feeling of jealousy crept into me. I glanced at my husband. Why didn't he think of hugging me first instead of scolding me?

"Gulzar bahut bada aadmi hai, Bhargav. Shaant ho jao," my husband mumbled, leaning back against his table.

(Gulzar is a big man, Bhargav. Calm down.)

"Phir aap kya kuch karne nahi wale-?! Agar aapki biwi par usne haath uthaya toh? Tab aap jaakar kuch karte!" Bhargav snapped at his brother.

(Then aren't you going to do anything-?! What if he had touched your wife? Only then you'd do something!)

My husband took a deep breath and pressed the bridge of his nose. "Chillana band karo. Aradhya pehle se dari hui hai... Bahar jao."

(Stop yelling. Aradhya is already startled... Go outside.)

Bhargav gritted his teeth, "Agar aap kuch nahi karenge toh mai us saale ko khud dekh lunga!" He snapped before storming outside. Aradhya gave me a helpless look before going behind him.

(If you're not going to do anything, then I'll deal with that bastard myself!)

"Ek baat batao, Sanjana..." Bhairav took both my hands in his before pulling me closer, "Agar tum humari Thakurain na hoti toh kabhi haath utathi?"

(Tell me something, Sanjana... If you hadn't been my Thakurain, would you have raised your hand?)

I hesitated to answer. But the eyes of all men were on me. I wasn't weak or powerless. Maybe a little reckless but... I was one of the most powerful women in the village. There was no reason to act weak and naive about it.

"Usne sabke saamne badtameezi ki hai, Ji... Mard hone ke karan use kaise maaf karu? Izzat ki sawal thi. Mai jhel nahi payi. Maaf kijiye."

(He insulted us before everyone... How could I forgive him just because he's a man? It was a matter of self-respect. I couldn't bear it. I'm sorry.)

A part of me was afraid that he'd hit me for being bold. That was what he had done years back. When I refused to stay within the limits that he had set for me, he slapped me.

Would he do it again?

Before everyone?

Bhairav Ji lifted my veil just a little and held the side of my face. His sharp eyes inspected me thoroughly, "Tumhe chot nahi lagi na?"

(You're not hurt anywhere, are you?)

I blushed a little as I shook my head, "Nahi Ji..."

(No...)

"Baith jao. Humari baat abhi khatam nahi hui hai..." He mumbled and pulled a chair for me. I felt a little grateful and overwhelmed as I sat down.

(Sit down. I'm not done talking to you...)

"Tum jaante ho use? Baldev... Pehle nahi suna hai uske baare mei," Bhairav Ji mumbled. Even Paramesh had no clue as to who he was.

(Do you know that guy? Baldev... I've never heard his name before.)

"Malik, humne mandir mei kal dekha tha. Gulzar ke log use Bhai bulate hai aur paas rakhte hai... Mujhe lagta hai ki woh kal hi gaon mei naya aaya hai. Suna hai sheher ka bada gunda hai..."

(Malik, we saw him in the temple yesterday. Gulzar's men call him Bhai and keep him close... I think he's new to the village and came here only yesterday. I heard he's a thug in the city...)

My husband scoffed, "Waha ki dadagiri kya yaha chelega? Humari auraton ko chedtha hai toh haath toh thodna hi chahiye..."

(They think they can run loose like that here as well? If they harass our women, then their hands must be broken...)

I gulped.

"Par Bhairav... Gaonwalon ko Gulzar se bahut lagaav hai. Usne na jaane kitne logon ko rozgaar diya hai. Aadha gaon agar tumhare saath khada hai, toh baaki aadha uske saath. Aur agar koi usse ulajh gaya, toh baat seedha rajneeti tak pahunch jaayegi."

(But Bhairav... Everyone in the village is dependent on Gulzar. He's given jobs to many. If half the village is on your side, then the other half is on his. And if someone messes with him, it will become a political matter.)

My husband scratched his chin and thought carefully. Slowly, I held onto his dhoti and mumbled, "Agar aadha gao aapke saath hai toh... Aap bhi Sarpanch kyu nahi ban sakte...?"

(If half the village is with you... Then why can't you become the Sarpanch...?)

Bhairav Ji's men chuckled. I felt embarrassed.

Why did I have to say that out loud? Did it even make sense?

"Hasi aa rahi hai?" My husband muttered. The men quietened in an instant. Bhairav Ji placed his hand on my head, caressing me gently.

(You think it's funny?)

"Bhagav tumhe ghar wapas chod dega. Thodi dino ke liye bahar math niklo, jaan. Theek hai?"

(Bhargav will drop you off at home. Don't go outside for a few days, love. Got it?)

I nodded a little.