It wasn't even daybreak yet when Paramesh stopped his car outside the gates of my haveli. I had lost a bit of blood. My hands were both swollen and bruised. There was dried blood on my shirt as well, and the cut on my forehead was dark and swollen now.

Paramesh gave me a good look. All he had was a swollen cheek. His nosebleed had stopped.

"Chal paoge, Bhairav? Aur ghaav mei davai lagani hogi."

(Will you be able to walk, Bhairav? You'll have to apply medicine to the wounds.)

It was hard to walk as I still felt oddly off balance. The time was maybe 4 a.m., and Sanjana was definitely fast asleep. Two of the men I had stationed at the gates rushed to help me in surprise.

"Chupchap kisi darvaza khol do... Sabhi so rahe honge," I mumbled. Paramesh held my arm as he helped me walk.

(Be quiet and open any door... Everyone must be asleep.)

One of my men rushed to the back door to wake a maid. And within the next few minutes, the front door opened, revealing my wife. Out of all the people... She had to be the one to see me in this state.

Sanjana was frozen solid for a few seconds. I didn't understand how she had woken up so quickly. She rushed to my side the next instant.

Her doe eyes were wide and trembling, "A-aap... A-aap..." She held the side of my face, and I'd be lying if it hadn't offered any comfort.

(You- You...)

"Jungle se guzarte waqt hum par kuchh gundo ne hamla kar diya tha," my lawyer mumbled. I was grateful to him, and eventually, Sanjana pulled me towards her. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder as she held me steady.

(A few thugs attacked us while passing through the forest.)

I was sure that I reeked of blood and sweat, yet she showed no aversion. In fact, she smelled sweet as always. I didn't want to taint her.

Sanjana thanked Paramesh briefly before leading me inside, one step at a time. It was no joke that I was heavy, especially for a tiny thing like her. But she didn't complain. When one of my men offered help, she still didn't budge. My woman dragged me up the stairs all by herself. But she was panting by the time we reached the bedroom.

"Itni jaldi kaise jaag gayi...?" I mumbled.

(How did you wake up so quickly...?)

"Mai so kaha rahi thi?" She replied and made me sit on the chair. I noticed that the children were wide awake in bed, kicking their arms and legs in the air. She had probably stayed up with them.

(When did I sleep in the first place?)

Sanjana shut the bedroom door and stood before me. "Ji mai Maa ko uthau? Aapke is haalat mei-"

(Ji, shall I wake Maa? In your state-)

"Nahi," I tried to hold her hand, but pulled away immediately as it stung. Both my palms were terribly cut because of the dagger.

(No.)

"Sab so rahe honge. Sabhi jaagne ke baad bol do... Ab sirf... Aaram karna chahta hu," I sighed.

(They must be asleep. Let them wake up... You can break the news then... I just want to rest...)

Sanjana took my hands in her smaller, softer ones and inspected the wounds. She was oddly quiet. But I could tell that she was thinking far too much.

My wife cupped my face softly and lifted my gaze to meet her tearful eyes, "Aap... Bina bataye kaha chale gaye the...? Pata hai mai kitni bechain thi? Agar aapko kuch aur ho jaata toh?"

(Where did you go without telling me? Do you know how worried I was? What if something worse had happened?)

She hugged me and rested her head against the crook of my neck. I swallowed. Her words hadn't felt heavy up until now. She was truly worried for me.

Sanjana sniffed before pulling back. She unbuttoned my shirt slowly, "Aap puri tarah se gande hai... Mai nahati hu."

(You're dirty from head to toe... I'll bathe you.)

"Tum?" I gave her an amused look.

(You?)

"Haa mai. Aapko bukhar bhi hai."

(Yes, me. Besides, you're sick as well.)

Sanjana frowned and removed my shirt entirely. She led me into the bathroom and eventually made me get entirely naked. I sat on a stool as Sanjana poured water all over me. She scrubbed the dirt off my body carefully. The moment she touched my abdomen, the same spot where that bastard had struck me with the rifle, I winced.

"Kya hua pet mein...?" She mumbled in concern and gently ran her hand over the swollen part.

(What happened to your stomach...?)

"Kuch nahi... Jaldi karo," I muttered. My entire body was aching. All I wanted to do was lie down in bed. Picking fights wasn't as easy as they described in movies. That too, I was quite rusty.

(It's nothing... Hurry up.)

Sanjana wiped my face with soap as well, and I kept my eyes closed. After she poured water all over me, my wife cupped my face and kissed my forehead. It made me feel quite warm inside, but I didn't say anything.

I wrapped the dhoti around me after getting out of the bathroom. Sanjana made me sit on the bed as she dried my hair carefully. When she was finally done, I was just relieved to lie down on my soft pillow.

"Haath mei davai daalni hai Ji," She told me before walking over to the drawers. The children were lying right next to me, half asleep. I wrapped an arm around my little ones and inched closer. Janaki nuzzled against my chest, and when I touched Raghu's hand, he gripped my finger even in his sleep.

(I need to apply medicine on your hands.)

Sanjana sat beside us. She wetted a bit of cotton using medicine and took my hand. "Thoda dard lagega..." My wife whispered and dabbed my palm with it. It did sting a little, but I had no complaints. Never in my life did I imagine I'd have a woman who'd take care of me like she did. In fact, considering how I always gave her a hard time, I expected her to be ignorant of my bruises.

(It's going to sting a little...)

Sanjana dabbed the wounds on my other hand as well and instructed that I sit up so that she could do the same on my forehead. I quietly listened to her.

She hesitated a little before inching towards me. My eyes refused to leave her face. I could see the faint blush on her cheeks as she dabbed the cut on my forehead. Sanjana leaned forward and blew on it softly.

"Aap mujhse kitni der tak sach chupakar rakhenge? Yeh sab meri wajah se hua hai na?"

(How much longer will you continue to lie to my face? All of this has happened because of me, right?)

I inched closer, our noses touched briefly, startling my wife, "Kya hua hai?"

(What has happened?)

Sanjana's eyes were a little wide. Her cheeks flushed even more as she desperately tried to maintain composure.

"Y-yeh... Yeh sab... Bhargav bahut... P-pareshan tha-"

(Th-this... A-all... Bhargav was... Quite w-worried-)

I moved closer, my hand slowly circled around her waist, "Acha?"

(Oh?)

Sanjana gulped and pressed her hands against my chest, "Haan... Maine bahut puchne ki koshish ki par... P-par..." She was lost in my eyes for a second.

(Yes... I tried asking him about it a lot... B-but...)

"Par kya?" I smiled a little.

(But what?)

"Par usne kuch bola nahi," she looked away, flustered, "Aap meri wajah se sheher gaye ho. Aur..." Tears brimmed her eyes, "Meri wajah se aapko chot bhi lagi hai-"

(But he didn't say anything. You went to the city because of me and... You got hurt as well-)

"Bahut sundar dikh rahi ho, meri gilehri," I gave her a soft smile.

(You look really beautiful, my little squirrel.)

Sanjana froze as she stared back into my eyes. I could tell that she was frustrated with me, but I honestly didn't hold anything against her anymore. It was true that I had been annoyed and angry, but after witnessing the way she cared for me, I had no complaints.

"Bahut sundar..." I whispered and pressed my face against hers. Even she smelled lovely, like jasmine. I brushed my lips near her ear, and she squirmed, feeling ticklish.

(So beautiful.)

"Kya kar rahe hai ap...!" My wife gasped a little while pulling away and pressing her hand over my mouth.

(What are you doing...!)

"Aap bimar hai, aur subah hote hi mai doctor ko bulaungi aapki ilaaj karne."

(You're sick, and as soon as the sun rises, I'll call the doctor to treat you.)

I pulled her towards me even more until our faces touched, and she desperately tried to fight my arms.

"Ilaaj toh ab bhi kar sakti ho Thakurain. Zara kapde utaro aur-"

(You can treat me even now, Thakurain. Just take off your clothes-)

Sanjana glared at me. She squeezed my bruised palms, and I hissed in pain before moving back. That was cruel.

I watched as she tucked the pallu of her sari in her waist and took Raghu into her arms, "Bahut der se inhe sulane ki koshish kar rahi hu aur aap aa gaye." She rocked him gently in her arms. Raghav was squalling and grinning at us.

(I've been trying to make them sleep for a long time, but then you came.)

I leaned back on the headboard and brushed my knuckles against Janaki's face. Even she seemed quite happy as she stared at me with large eyes.

"Aap mujhse sach kabhi nahi bolenge?" My wife mumbled.

(Will you not tell me the truth?)

"Sabhi ko ek saath bolunga," I replied, "Sabko jaagne do."

(I'll tell everyone together. Let the others wake up.)

Sanjana eyed me but didn't say anything.