Hello! This is like a bonus chapter. Not really a cannon event, but I hope you like it :)

"Raghav!"

I snapped when he put the leaded end of a pencil in his mouth. I immediately snatched it out of his little hands and inspected the insides of his mouth. With the end of my pallu, I wiped the traces of carbon on his tongue while he fussed and kicked in my arms.

"Kitni baar bola hai aisi cheezo ko bacho se door rakhne ke liye," I muttered, glaring at Saarang, who was sitting next to me, reading a textbook that I bought for him.

(How many times have I told you to keep such things away from him?)

My little brother pouted at me, "Maine kya kiya, Didi? Isne hi toh lekar muh me daala tha."

(What did I do, Didi? He's the one who put it in his mouth.)

That very moment, Janaki burst out crying as she had pulled her own hair. I sighed and rubbed that spot on her head. The children were only seven months old. Seven months of desperately trying to keep them alive, clean, and fed while the brats constantly found ways to make me lose my mind.

"Bhaiya padhai kar rahe hai, chup ho jao..." I kissed my baby girl's face many times. Eventually, I pretended to bite and tickle her. Janu giggled and squealed, making me sigh in relief.

(Bhaiya is studying, be quiet now...)

"Tumne kavita padh li?" I asked, taking the book out of Saarang's hands. Janaki stared on curiously as I flipped through the pages.

(Did you learn the poem?)

"Haan, puri padhi hai."

(Yes, entirely.)

I eyed him, "Viplav ka arth kya hai?"

(What is the meaning of 'viplav'?)

Saarang's face changed. He looked around nervously. I heard the Jeep's engine outside, but the timing was unusual. I lifted both Janaki and Raghu in my arms and asked Saarang to open the door.

"Ba!" My children squealed, trying to reach forward with their arms. The only two things that they said were Ba and Ma. It was a miracle at seven months old, but my husband was quite proud about it. The children squirmed around too much, and I was forced to place Raghu on the verandah floor.

"Aradhya Didi ko jaakar bulao," I told my brother, who nodded and rushed inside. She had been busy cooking for a long time.

(Go fetch Aradhya Didi.)

"Aap itne jaldi aa gaye?" I asked in surprise. It was barely four in the evening. Bhairav Ji scooped Raghav into his arms and kissed his face. My son was delighted as he patted and squeezed his father's cheeks.

(How come you came early today?)

"Ba!"

Bhairav Ji smiled, "Tum in dono ko ek saath kyu utha rahi thi? Haath dard nahi karenge?"

(Why were you holding them both at the same time? Won't your arms hurt?)

"Phir ek ko kaise akele chodu?" I rolled my eyes, "Rone lagte hai ya phir kuch na kuch muh mei daal dete hai... Pata nahi kab kya karne wale hai."

(Then how can I leave one alone? They either start crying or put something in their mouths... They're unpredictable.)

My husband hummed and slipped his arm around my shoulder. I froze. What did he think he was doing in broad daylight?

"Aradhya kaha hai, Bhabhi?" Bhargav asked me impatiently.

(Where's Aradhya, Bhabhi?)

"Rasoi mei. Subah se waha se nikli nahi."

(In the kitchen. She's been there since morning.)

His eyes grew sad, "Ab bhi... Naaraz hai?"

(Is she... still mad?)

I shot him a glare. Who wouldn't be angry after what he had done? Aradhya was telling me something about farming rice when Bhargav mocked her, saying how would she know anything about farming while spending her time mostly indoors or in the kitchen.

"Hataiye haath!" I huffed when Bhargav went into the kitchen.

(Move your hand!)

"Kya kar legi?" My husband taunted, wrapping his arm around my neck and pulling me closer this time. His lips brushed my ear. It was highly inappropriate. I struggled to free myself.

(What will you do?)

Maa and Dadi had gone to a distant village for a wedding. And in their absence, all three brothers had been as reckless as possible.

"Mai zaroor Maa ko bataungi!"

(I'll definitely tell Maa!)

He smiled at me, "Kya bataogi, hm? Yeh?" He kissed my neck. I gasped because two maids had just passed by with their eyes lowered. Of course, they had seen it!

(What will you tell Maa? Will you tell this?)

I struggled harder this time and finally broke away from his grasp, panting. Janaki impatiently reached for her Father, who was happy to carry her.

"Aapke bacho ko ab aap hi sambhaliye," I muttered and went near Saarang. My little brother, who had been scribbling on the textbook, suddenly flipped pages and pretended to read. Children were terribly difficult to manage.

(Take care of the kids by yourself.)

"Didi... Mai ab khelne jaa sakta hu?" He eyed me.

(Didi... Can I go outside and play?)

"Viplav ka arth pata kiya tumne?" I raised a brow.

(Did you find the meaning of 'viplav'?)

"Woh... Woh Mai... Wapas aane ke baad karunga, haan..."

(That... I'll find it after coming back, yes...)

I sighed and sat beside him, "Baad mei nahi. Abhi karo, jaldi."

(Not later. Do it right now, quickly.)

Bhairav Ji sat on the chair right behind mine, the children still on his lap. Before I could protest, he snatched the book out of my hands and flipped through it.

"Tum khelne jaa sakte ho, Saarang. Bahut padh li tumne aaj."

(You can go out to play, Saarang. You've studied a lot for today.)

"Ji, nahi-!"

(Ji, no-!)

He smacked the book on my head, "Chup."

(Shush.)

Saarang was giddy with happiness as he thanked his Jiju and sprinted outside.

"Jab adhyapika banogi toh bacho ko khelne nahi dogi kya?"

(When you become a teacher, you won't let the kids play, or what?)

I glared at him this time, rubbing the spot he had hit me, "Mai nahi bannewali aapki vidyalay mei adhyapika. Din mei toh aap daftar jaate hai, tab jaakar mujhe thodi sukoon milti hai. Par ab aap mujhe adhyapika banakar din raat thang karna chahte hai!"

(I'm not going to be a teacher in your school. You're at the office for most of the day, and only then do I have some kind of peace of mind. You only want to bother me day and night by making me a teacher!)

Bhairav squeezed my chin with a smile. His thumb brushed over my lips as I glared at him.

"Bahut samajhdar ban gyi ho, meri gilehri. Tumhe chedne mei maza hi kuch aur hai."

(You've gotten so smart, my little squirrel. I can never get enough of teasing you.)

I nearly bit his fingers, except he retrieved his hand just in time. "Badtameez..." I whispered under my breath while standing up. "Kuch kaha, jaan?" He grabbed my pallu, and I shook it out of his hands, even more annoyed than before, and stormed towards the kitchen. My husband was such a nuisance.

(You're rude.)

(Did you say something, dear?)

The sight before me made me freeze. Aradhya was whimepring very softly as Bhargav hugged her from behind. He was running his hands up and down her arms while kissing her ear and face.

"N-nahi..." My devrani mumbled, a futile attempt at pushing him away.

(N-no...)

"Kal raat toh haan keh rahi thi," He whispered back, not stepping away at all.

(Last night you were saying yes.)

I wanted to smack him. Smack them both. The haveli was far better when Maa and Dadi were around. Hot-blooded males couldn't be left alone like this.

I cleared my throat loudly, and Bhargav jerked to the side. His face was red, and his eyes were wide as he looked at me. Aradhya didn't even turn. I knew she was far more embarrassed than he was.

"Um... Bhabhi... Aap? Aap kyu aa gaye?" He mumbled.

(Um... Bhabhi... You? Why did you come here?)

"Aap rasoi mei kya kar rahe ho, Devar Ji? Jab khaana taiyar hoga, hum bulayenge aapko," I sneered.

(What are you doing in the kitchen, Devar Ji? When the food gets ready, we'll call you.)

Bhargav glanced at Aradhya once before straightening himself and pretending to walk out of the kitchen as though nothing had happened. He coughed near me, "Bhaiya ko math batana."

(Don't tell Bhaiya.)

I glared at him, "Mai tum teeno bhaiyo ko dekhna tak nahi chahti."

(I don't even want to see you three brothers, let alone speak to any of you.)

Bhargav laughed at this before walking out of the kitchen. Aradhya glanced over her shoulder at me. When I caught her looking, she turned away immediately.

"Maine socha ki tum udaas hogi..." I muttered.

(I thought you'd be upset...)

"Kis baat pe udaas...?" She mumbled, keeping her eyes on the vegetables.

(Upset over what...?)

"Baat bhi bhool gayi?" I gasped.

(You forgot the reason as well?)

Aradhya's face reddened even more, "Oh... H-haan... Mai... Maine unhe maaf kar diya."

(Oh... Y-yes... I... I forgave him.)

I crossed my arms, "Dikh rahi thi."

(Clearly.)

She smiled to herself, "Ek dusre se naraaz rehne se kya faida hai, Sanjana?"

(What's the use in being mad at each other, Sanjana?)

"Meri faida hoti. Mujhe woh sab nahi dekhna padta," I rolled my eyes.

(It would have benefitted me. I wouldn't have had to see all that.)

Aradhya gave me a teasing smile, "Tum yeh sab kehti ho, par sabhi jaante hai ki Jeth Ji tumhare saath kaisa vyavahar karta hai."

(You may say this, but everyone knows how Jeth Ji behaves with you.)

"K-kya kehna chahti ho?" I glared. There was no way she knew of the things we did behind closed doors.

(Wh-what are you trying to say?)

"Meri gilehri..." Aradhya began chuckling to herself.

(My little squirrel...)

My face turned red instantly. I squeezed and shook her arm, "Chup ho jao!"

(Be quiet!)

Aradhya laughed even more, "Theek hai, chup hu." I sighed and rested my head against her shoulder.

(Okay, okay, I'm shut.)

Damn him.