In the morning hours, everyone in the family was gathered at the dining table for breakfast. Bhairav Ji sat at the head of the table, reading his newspaper with one hand and sipping chai with the other. Maa and Dadi were talking about the rituals to be done in the temple. Raghav was with them, watching everyone with wide eyes.

Aradhya was blushing at something Bhargav whispered to her. Saarang sat eagerly in his chair, and Keshav gave him half a cup of chai to taste. My little brother pushed it away, saying it's too bitter, and Keshav laughed.

"Jaldi kha lijiye, kuch der mei garmi jaegi," I told my husband while skillfully pouring curry on his plate and balancing Janaki in one arm. He hummed, eyes still glued to the paper. My daughter was screaming her lungs out, and it hurt my ears because of how loud she was.

(Eat it quickly, it won't be warm after a while.)

"Tum bhi baith jao," Bhairav Ji told me without looking away from the paper. At least he noticed.

(You should sit down as well.)

"Ise doodh dekar aati hu," I replied.

(I'll be back after feeding her.)

Just as I was about to leave the table, two of Bhairav Ji's men rushed into the house.

"Malik! Aag lagi hai!"

(Malik! There's been a fire!)

Everyone froze. Heads turned slowly towards the men who were trying to catch their breath.

"Aag lagi hai?" My husband frowned.

(A fire?)

"Maalik... anaj ghar jala diya gaya hai. Deewaron par laal rang se kuch likha diya gaya hai," they panted.

(Malik... They've burnt the granary. There's something written on the walls in red paint.)

I froze. The only sound in the haveli was my daughter crying now.

"Chup karao use!" Dadi snapped at me.

(Make her quiet!)

I immediately retired to the kitchen. "Shh... Shh Janu... Chup ho jao... Abhi doodh dungi... Thodi der ke liye shaant ho jao..." I rocked her in my arms. Even in the kitchen, I stayed near the door. Everyone was panicked.

(Shh... Shh Janu... Please be quiet... I'll feed you in some time... Be calm for a bit...)

"Anaaj ghar? Naresh ki?" I could hear Bhairav Ji's chair creaking as he stood up.

(The granary? The one under Naresh?)

"Laal rang mei likha gaya hai... Sultan se panga mat lo..." The men gulped.

(They've written in red paint to not mess with the Sultan...)

My heart hammered in my chest. I clutched onto Janaki tightly.

It had happened because of me.

They burned down a granary because I dared to hit a man.

"Bhairav!"

Dadi raised her voice, catching everyone's attention, "Abhi isi waqt nikalo tumhare us aurat ko yaha se! Bachi hai kehkar bahut kuch maaf kiya hai. Magar aisi aurat jo parivar ko sirf nuksaan pahuncha sakti hai... Use nikal do yaha se!"

(Bhairav! Kick that woman of yours out of this house right now! We forgave her for everything, saying she's a child. But a woman like this who brings only harm to the family... Kick her out this instant!)

Nobody spoke. And no matter how much I tried to make Janaki calm, her cries kept getting worse and worse.

"Ch-chup ho jao beta... Haath jodti hu..." I was on the verge of tears as I pressed my face to hers.

(Pl-please... Please be quiet, beta... I'm begging you...)

I could hear footsteps approaching me. It was Bhairav Ji's. Was he really going to throw me out now? Was I going to be separated from my children?

I'd die if that happened.

"Sanjana," his voice was icy as he grabbed my arm, trying to drag me out of the kitchen, "Chalo-"

(Sanjana. Come here-)

"Ji- Nahi-! Maaf kijiye...! Galti ho gayi! Ab kabhi nahi karungi! Thakur Ji, mujhe ghar se bahar math nikaliye-!"

(Ji- No- Please! I'm sorry...! I made a mistake...! I'll never do it again! Thakur Ji, please don't kick me out of the house-!)

His last thread of patience snapped.

"Chup!"

(Shut up!)

He yelled at me in front of everyone, and I flinched. Even Janaki was quiet for a few seconds after his outburst.

"Itni der se yeh ro rahi hai. Upar kamre mei jaakar khilao use," he muttered and pushed me forward. I was trembling as I went up the stairs. All eyes were on me.

(She's been crying for so long. Go upstairs and feed her.)

As soon as I reached the comfort of my room, I shut the door and fed my daughter. She calmed down but my heart was restless. I could hear Bhairav Ji talking roughly with someone. Even Maa and Dadi were yelling at one point. Eventually, everything fell quiet.

What had I done?

Almost an hour passed when there was a knock on the door.

"S-Sanjana...?"

It was Aradhya's voice. She pushed the door open a little. Raghu was in her arms, and she came into the room quietly.

"Janaki so gayi...?" She whispered, seeing my baby sleeping beside me. I nodded and took Raghu from her arms. He was smiling as soon as I took him. The innocence on his face made me smile painfully as well.

(Did Janaki sleep...?)

"Mujhe maaf kardo, Bhabhi..." Aradhya mumbled. There were tears in her eyes as she squeezed my hand, "Sab meri wajah se ho rahi hai... Agar main kal bhatak kar door na gayi hoti, toh aap musibat mein nahi padte. Maa aur Dadi meri baat sun hi nahi rahe hain... woh har baat ke liye aapko dosh de rahe hain. Mujhe maaf kijiye."

(Forgive me, Bhabhi... Everything is because of me... If I had not wandered off, then you wouldn't be in so much trouble. Maa and Dadi are not listening to me. No matter what I say, they're blaming you alone. I'm sorry...)

She began sobbing in guilt. I sighed and leaned forward to hug her.

"Bura mat mano... Mai theek hu. Jab thak Thakur Ji sahara na chode... Mai theek hu."

(Don't feel so guilty... I'm fine. As long as Thakur Ji doesn't give up on me... I'm fine.)

It almost sounded like I was trying to convince myself.

Aradhya hugged me tighter, "Aap mujhse ek saal choti ho par maine kabhi aapke jaisa bahadur ladki se nahi mila hai. Thakur Ji bhi yeh jaante hai. Isliye aap chinta math kijiye... Mujhe us din bachane ke liye aapka bahut shukriya, Sanjana."

(You're one year younger than me, but I've never met a girl as brave as you. Thakur Ji knows it as well, so don't worry... I'm really grateful to you for saving me that day.)

I smiled at her words. Even though everyone scolded me for what I had done, at least someone was there to thank me. It was a relief to have her in such a suffocating household.

"Neeche kya baat ho rahi thi...?" I mumbled, not able to hide my anxiousness anymore.

(What are they discussing downstairs...?)

"Woh us Sultan ke baare mei baat kar rahe the. Mai nahi jaanti thi ki is gao ka Sarpanch woh hai... Pichle das saalo se aisa hai. Uske bahut se dukano ke karan bahut logo ko naukri mili hai..." She told me.

(They're talking about that Sultan. I didn't know that he was the Sarpanch of this village... It's been like that for the past ten years. Many people have gotten jobs here because of his stores in the village...)

"Kya?" My eyes widened, "Das saal se?"

(What? Ten years?)

"Haan... Par woh sheher mei rehta hai. Uske aadmi yaha hai. Aur Baldev uska bai haath ka aadmi hai. Thakur Ji aur aapke devar kuch der pehle gaye hai woh anaj ghar dekhne..."

(Yes... But he lives in the city. His men are here. And Baldev is his right-hand man. Thakur Ji and your devars have gone to investigate the granary.)

I gulped. We had truly messed with the wrong people.

"Ab yeh sab chodiye. Aapne subah se kuch khaaya nahi hai. Saarang neeche baitha hai... Keh raha hai ki jab tak aap nahi khayenge, woh bhi nahi khayega."

(Now forget everything. You haven't eaten anything all morning. Saarang is sitting downstairs... He's saying he won't eat till you've eaten.)

My heart melted at her words. My little brother was the sweetest boy on the planet. I left Janaki in the cradle and went downstairs with Raghu. Saarang was playing with his monkey near the dining table. He looked up with a bright smile when he saw me. Maa was on the couch, reading prayers. I was relieved that Dadi had gone to her room.

"Bacho ke saath khel chuki ho toh kapde dho lena," Maa gave me a sharp command as soon as she saw me.

(If you're done playing with the children, go do the laundry.)

"Ji Maa..."

I hadn't done any kind of heavy work after becoming pregnant with the children. Aradhya nudged me quietly, "Mai madad karungi." I gave her a grateful smile.

(I'll help you.)

While she played with Raghu, I ate my breakfast with Saarang. It felt nice to feed him by hand after a long time. Even he was very happy as he showed me the different things his toy monkey could do.

Afterwards, I gave him books to read while Aradhya helped me with the laundry. She talked for a long time about her home and family. I knew she was trying hard to distract me, but my mind was always stuck on the granary that had been burnt down.

What would Bhairav Ji do now?