We sat near the temple pond as it was far too hot to return home. Besides, neither of us really wanted to leave.

"Tumne Jagdish Ji ke liye puja ki intezam ki?" Aradhya asked Payal who was watching the turtles swim.

(Did you make arrangements for the puja for Jagdish Ji?)

"Nahi, mai bhool gayi," she replied without looking up.

(No, I forgot.)

"Ab bhi samay hai-"

(There's still time-)

"Mai bhul gayi." Payal said with finality, glaring at us. She didn't want to do anything for Jagdish, which was quite understandable.

(I forgot.)

"Par... Tumhe daant milegi na-" I tried reasoning with her, but she ignored me and dipped her hand lightly in the water. A few fish swam towards her and kissed her fingers, making her smile.

(But... You'll be scolded.)

I sighed. How could we possibly save Payal from that house?

"Thakurain Ji," she mumbled, her eyes fixed on the fish.

"Hmm?"

"Aap railgaadi se kai baar sheher gaye hai na?"

(You've gone to the city many times via train right?)

I didn't understand the point of the question, but I nodded anyway, "Sirf do baar gayi hu... Kya hua?"

(I've only gone twice to the city... Why?)

"Kitne ka ticket hai?"

(How much is the ticket?)

I immediately understood what she was planning. My hand reached for her, "Pagal ho gayi ho? Akele sheher bhaagna chahti ho?"

(Are you insane? You're planning on running away to the city alone?)

She pulled her hand out of my grasp, glaring at me, "Mai ya toh sheher jaogi ya paralok. Aap hi chun lijiye."

(Either I'll go to the city, or I'll go to hell. You can choose.)

"Payal..." Aradhya was startled, and she tried to reason with her, saying marriages are rocky. It would take time for Jagdish to understand his mistakes and love her. But Payal wasn't having any of it.

"Aapki shaadi itni achi parivar mei hua hai... Isliye aap nahi samajh sakte," she turned away, with tears in her eyes.

(You got married into such a nice family... So you won't understand.)

I sighed, "Payal... Hum tumhari madad karne keliye taiyar hai par... Aise nahi-"

(Payal... We want to help you but... Not like this-)

"Woh kutta kabhi nahi badlega!" She hissed, "Aur mai uske paas rehna bhi nahi chahti! Agar meri madad kar sakte hai toh is tarah se kijie... Mai phir kabhi aapse kuch aur nahi puchungi, Thakurain Ji."

(That dog is never going to change! And I don't want to stay near him at all! This is the only help I ask of you... Please, I'll never ask anything more from you Thakurain Ji.)

She joined her hands before me. This girl was born to get me into trouble. I didn't know what to say.

"Arey... Banno..."

(Arey... My dear sister...)

The three of us froze when we heard the familiar voice. Payal was the first to glare at Paramesh as he stood at the top of the stairs leading to the pond. Aradhya and I fixed her veil as he came down with a bright smile on his face.

"Namaste, namaste Thakurain Ji, Bhabhi..." He joined his hands respectfully, his eyes lingering on Payal, who refused to look at him.

"Aap theeno saath mei mandir aa gaye..." He chuckled before turning to Payal alone, "Achi baat hai. Yeh kabhi ghar se bahar nahi nikalti."

(The three of you came to the temple together... That's great. She never comes out of the house.)

"Saas nikalne dega?" She muttered, glaring at him.

(Will my mother-in-law let me?)

Paramesh laughed it off before turning to us. He talked about my husband and the school he was building. I didn't like the way he ignored Payal's statement entirely. Well... What more could you expect from men?

"Hume chalni chahiye," Payal interjected immediately. I was grateful to her because even though Paramesh was my husband's close friend, he was a famous playboy, and I honestly never liked him. Added to that, he was very cunning at everything he did.

(We should leave.)

"A-ah... Phir... Hum chalte hai Paramesh Ji," Aradhya tried to be polite as Payal attempted to pull me away by hand.

(O-okay... We'll be going now, Paramesh Ji.)

His ego was hurt. Paramesh gripped Payal's arm in the blink of a second and pulled her closer, muttering viciously, "Tumhe itne dino ke baad mil raha hu... Bade bhai hu... Aise badtameezi karke jaoge? Kya tumhe yahi sikhaya gaya hai? Isliye Jagdish tum par haath utatha hai."

(I'm meeting you after so long... I'm your older brother... You're being so disrespectful. Is this what you've been taught? No wonder Jagdish lays his hand on you.)

I froze. Had he really said that to his sister?

Payal trembled a little as tears pricked her eyes. I watched her grit her teeth and push him away with all her might. Paramesh lost his balance and yelped as he fell into the water. I gasped.

"B-bachao-! Mujhe therna nahi aata! Bachao!" He shouted for help. A few young men who heard his cries immediately jumped into the water. A small crowd was forming around the pool, but Payal walked past it.

(S-save me! I don't know how to swim! Someone please!)

"Mera koi bhai nahi hai."

(I don't have a brother.)

I heard her whisper and followed her before someone recognised us. Even Aradhya held my pallu like a frightened cat until the moment we reached the car.

"Woh... Woh sach mei doob jaata toh...?" Aradhya gulped.

(What if... What if he had really drowned...?)

"Marne do," Payal muttered, clenching her fist. There was so much pent-up rage in the girl. She was only eighteen now... That too a woman... I thought that I was worse when it came to keeping my temper in check, but Payal surpassed me in every way.

(Let him die.)

But I couldn't blame her entirely. Life was unfair to her in every way. The poor thing was still grieving the loss of her baby...

I squeezed her shoulder, "Agar mai madad bhi karu... Toh sheher jaakar kya karogi? Bahut paise chahiye..."

(Even if I help you... What will you do in the city? You'll need a lot of money...)

"Sanjana!" Aradhya gasped because I was even considering it.

Payal turned to face me slowly, her cheeks red and puffy and tears rolling down her face, "A-aap... A-aap... Sach keh rahi hai...?"

(Y-you... W-will you really?)

I sighed, "Maine ab tak kuch kaha nahi, Payal. Iske baare mein achhe se sochna chahiye... Phir jaakar hum tumhe bhaagne ki madad kar sakte hai."

(I haven't confirmed anything, Payal. You need to plan about this well... Only then can we help you run away.)

"Hum?!" Aradhya shook my hand,"P-par... H-hume daant milegi... Jeth Ji aur aapke devar... Bahut daantenge... Bahut khatarnaak kaam hai, Sanjana!"

(We?! B-but... We'll be yelled at... Jeth Ji and your Devar... They'll scold us a lot... This is very dangerous, Sanjana!)

God, she truly was a coward.

"Kuch nahi hoga," I assured her, "Daant milegi toh sirf mujhe milegi... Aur Bhargav ne kabhi tum par gussa nahi kiya hai, phir kyu itni darti ho?"

(Don't worry. Only I'll be scolded... And Bhargav has never gotten angry at you. Why are you so scared?)

Aradhya was still very hesitant. I could see her anxiety in the way her eyes twitched. But on the other side, Payal looked finally hopeful.

What if the girl truly did something stupid like ending her life?

Considering how everyone treated her, it was highly likely. I'd do anything to stop it. Bhairav Ji would definitely do more than just scold me if he were to find out, but at least he wouldn't be as cruel as Jagdish. I was fine with that.

Now the only precaution I had to take was in regard to Aradhya...

"Par yeh sirf humare beech rehna chahiye... Bhargav ko kabhi kuch mat batana, theek hai?" I warned her.

(But this will stay between us... Don't tell anything to Bhargav, got it?)

"Th-theek hai..." She mumbled half heartedly.

(O-okay...)

"Maa kasam?"

(Swear on your mother?)

Aradhya's eyes widened, "Maa ko dosh hone nahi dunga!"

(I can't harm my mother like that!)

I grabbed her hand and pressed it to her chest, "Agar kisi se kuch nahi kahogi toh Maa ko kuch nahi hoga." I smiled.

(If you keep your promise, nothing will happen to your mother.)

Aradhya was in tears now, "K-kyu karva rahe ho mujhse yeh sab... Kisi se puch bina aisa karna... Bahut khatarnaak hai... Sanjana, tumhare bache hai-"

(Wh-why are you making me do all this... It's so dangerous to do this by ourselves... Sanjana, what about your kids- )

"Isse bacho ka kya lena dena?" I muttered, getting annoyed with her whining. "Ab sabhi ne kasam khayi hai. Koi kisise se kuch nahi batayega. Payal, tum he khud soch lo aur hume batao ki sheher jaane ke baad kaise jeeyoge..."

(They have nothing to do with this... Now everyone has promised not to tell anyone. Payal, you need to think about how you'll live after reaching the city. Once you make the plan, come tell us.)

"Theek hai," she smiled at me. And to my surprise, she even launched herself into my arms and hugged me tight.

(Okay.)

"Shukriya, Thakurain Ji. Sada sukhi raho aap."

(Thank you, Thakurain Ji. May you always be happy.)

I gulped. Bhairav Ji's not-so-kind face was flashing in my mind. Was it really a stupid thing to do?