Bhairav's POV:

I smoked a cigarette while staring at Naresh. He was crying for the past two hours, and it was already dusk. Ever since I had yelled at Sanjana in the morning, I had a sharp headache. It only worsened over time.

My men were all restless. They had their sticks and swords ready to chop down Gulzar's men. The granary was something I had assigned to Naresh and his friends. It had been quite profitable as he was a humble, hardworking young man. But I hated the way he was bawling before me.

Gulzar's men had ransacked the place at night and set fire to everything. It was a major loss on my account, but if we were to escalate this any further, people could die.

"Bhaiya," Bhargav turned to me, unable to keep his hot-bloodedness in control anymore, "Mai kehta hu, hum abhi us Baldev ke bache ko uske ghar mei jaakar jalate hai-!"

(Bhaiya, I'm serious. We should go right now to Baldev's place and burn that son of a bitch-!)

I had been itching to slap someone the whole day, and this time I did. Everyone gasped as Bhargav fell to the floor.

"Ghar jao toh waha ki auratein chillate rehti hai, biwi bache sab rote hai... Aur yaha shaanti se baithu toh tu aata hai dimag khaane!" I yelled at him and threw my cigarette on the floor.

(If I go home, the women keep screaming, my wife, kids, everyone is crying... And here, when I'm sitting peacefully, you decide to fuck with my head?!)

"Aur agar hum use jala bhi daale, phir kya hoga? Woh hamare aadmi jalaenge. Phir hum uske das aadmi ka khoon karenge aur woh pachas! Aur usme agar tumhari biwi bhi toh toh?! Toh kya?! Uske biwi ko jaakar jalaoge?"

(And what happens after we burn him? He'll burn one of our men. Then we'll go kill ten of his men, and he'll kill fifty! And what if your wife is part of it?! Then what?! Will you go and burn his wife as well?!)

Bhargav's face changed the moment I mentioned Aradhya. He was soft when it came to her. In one week, the boy was head over heels for his wife. Fuck, I couldn't blame him at all. Everyone was vulnerable when it came to their family.

"Isliye shaadi nahi karni chahiye..." Paramesh chuckled to himself while pouring another glass of whiskey for us.

(This is why you shouldn't get married...)

I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. There was only one way to end this immediately. And it was a way I hated very much.

Bhairav Chaudhary never bowed before anyone. But for the sake of peace in his family, for the sake of his disobedient, irresponsible headache of a wife... He was compelled to.

"Jaakar gaadi taiyar karo," I told one of my men while sipping the glass of whiskey.

(Go get the Jeep ready.)

"Kaha?" Paramesh asked in surprise.

(To where?)

"Sultan ko milne. Tum mere saath aa rahe ho. Sirf hum dono jayenge-"

(To meet the Sultan. You're coming with me. Only we both-)

"Par Bhaiya-!"

(But Bhaiya-!)

"Chup ho jao, Naalayak!" I snapped at him, "Tum ghar jao. Sabko bolna ki zaroori kaam se sheher jaa raha hu. Keshav ke sivay kisi aur ko asliyat pata nahi chalni chahiye." He had concern and confusion written all over his face.

(Shut the fuck up, Bhargav! Go home. Tell everyone that I've gone to the city for some important work. Nobody besides Keshav should know the truth.)

"Malik, hume bhi lekar jaiye... Akele jaana surakshit nahi hai," one of my men stepped forward.

(Malik, take us with you as well... It's not safe to go alone.)

"Haan, tumhare chakker mein kisi ne maar daala toh?" Paramesh muttered, shaking his head.

(Yes, what if someone kills me because of you?)

"Abhi nikalte hai, chalo," I grabbed his collar and lifted him. Paramesh glared at me. He emptied his glass of whisky, "Shayad aakhri hogi yeh." I rolled my eyes.

(Let's leave right now. Come on.)

(This might be my last glass.)

Bhargav was very hesitant to let us go. In fact, a part of me wondered whether it was wise to even do this, but I had always been a straightforward man. Burning properties behind someone's back wasn't my style.

In case we didn't return alive, I told Bhargav to slit the throat of any man who tried to get close to Sanjana or the children. She was meant to be only mine in this lifetime. I'd make sure of that even if I went to hell.

"Aadhi raat tak pahunch jayenge," Paramesh mumbled while driving. I hummed, leaning back on the seat.

(We'll reach by midnight.)

"Bhabhi se nahi bologe?" He smiled to himself. I didn't reply.

(Will you not tell Bhabhi?)

"Payal kaisi hai?"

(How is Payal?)

He ran a hand through his hair, "Chup hai. Pichle din milne gaya tha par... Baath hi nahi karti. Mujhe kuch sahi nahi lagta. Jagdish ab dusre ladkiyon ke chakkar mei hai."

(She's quiet. I went to meet her the last day... She's not even talking to me. Something's not right. Jagdish now frequents other women.)

I glanced at him, "Tumhe kaise pata?"

(How do you know?)

"Har raat uski bike gayab hoti hai ghar se. Maine kai baar dekha hai..."

(Every night his bike disappears. I've seen it so many times...)

I hummed, "Philhaal toh acha hua na? Ladki ko tang nahi karega kuch salo tak. Maine pehle hi kaha tha ki bacho ke beech shaadi kabhi karwani nahi chahiye."

(But in a way, it's good, right? He won't harm the girl for a few years. I've said it already, you should never get children married.)

He glared at me, "Aur tumne bachi se shaadi ki hai na? Uska kya?"

(And what about the child you married?)

"Mere karan alag the."

(My reasons were different.)

Paramesh rolled his eyes. I turned to look at him this time, "Apni behen ki chodo... Tumne kabhi shaadi kyu nahi ki?"

(Forget about your sister... Why have you not married yet?)

"Humne kanoon se shaadi ki hai, Thakur Ji. Uske beech koi ladki kaise ayegi?"

(I've already married the law, Thakur Ji. How can a girl come in between that?)

I scoffed and took out a cigarette, "Phir bhi kanoon aur tumhare beech koi ladki har raat ko aata rehta hai. Uska kya?"

(But a different girl keeps coming between you and the law every night. What about that?)

"Agar mere jaise aadmi kothon par na jaayen, toh unka dhanda kaise chalega?" He raised a brow at me.

(If men like me don't go to brothels, then how will they survive?)

"Ah, toh aap samaj seva karne nikle ho?" I smiled. He shrugged.

(Ah, so you're doing social service?)

"Par shaadi sirf bistar garam karne ke liye thodi karte hai... Kisi ko apna bulane ke liye bhi milta hai."

(But marriage isn't just about sex... You get to call someone your own.)

He whistled, "Tumhara kismat acha hai, isliye Sanjana jaisi ladki mili. Har kisi ke saath aisa nahi hota."

(Only because you're very lucky, you found a girl like Sanjana. It doesn't happen with everyone.)

I hummed. That was also true. Sanjana was probably worried sick about me back at home. But it felt nice to think that there was someone back there waiting for me. I wondered if she'd sleep tonight.

A/N - Please vote and comment if u like the developments guysss