As I entered our bedroom with the fresh white kurta the dhobi had handed me, I found my husband drying his hair with a towel. I laid out his clothes on the bed and made sure that they had no creases anywhere.

"Lijiye aapke ache ache kapde... Inme daag lagna bahut aasan hai," I warned.

(Here're your neat clothes... It's quite easy to stain them.)

Bhairav Ji only smiled at this. He got dressed in front of me, and I made sure to button his kurta well. Even while wearing shirts, he'd leave the first few buttons open, like a thug, but I couldn't have that today. He had to look respectable and decent, like the future Sarpanch.

"Kya zaroorat hai iski?" He mumbled.

(Why's all this necessary?)

"Aakhir chunaav ke din toh meri baat maan lijiye," I sighed.

(At least listen to me on the election day.)

Bhairav Ji eyed me quietly, "Tum sach mei nahi aane wali ho? Bacho ko bhi saath lekar chalte hai..."

(Are you really going to stay home? You can bring the kids as well...)

I chuckled, "Aap chinta mat kijiye, Sarkaar. Agar mai aapke liye vote karu ya na karu, aap hi jeetenge."

(Don't worry, Sarkaar. Even if I vote for you or not, only you'll win.)

My husband stepped closer, letting his breath fan my face, "Chunaav ke baare mei thodi baat kar raha hu, Sanjana. Tum bacho ke saath ghar mei akele rahogi. Bhargav bhi Aradhya ko saath lekar jaa raha hai..."

(I don't care about the election, Sanjana. You'll be home alone with the kids. Even Bhargav is taking Aradhya with him...)

Well, Aradhya had betrayed me in that aspect. I didn't want to go vote amid all the noise and crowd of the villagers. The children were hard enough to manage, and I'd rather stay home calmly with them. I thought even my devrani would stay with me, but when Bhargav asked her to accompany him (and later sneak away somewhere romantically without informing anyone), she gave in without a second thought. Bhairav Ji was taking even Maa and Dadi with him as they dearly wished to vote for him.

"Naukarniya bhi yahi honge, aap chinta mat kijiye. Agar bacho ko bheed me lekar jaenge toh woh zaroor roh padenge... Aur mai unhe waha doodh bhi khila nahi paungi."

(The maids will be with me, don't worry. If we take the children in that crowd, they'll begin crying... And I can't feed them there either.)

He hummed in understanding. Honestly, in the past few months, I had tried to avoid the topic of elections as much as possible. Wherever I turned, everyone talked about it. I just wanted all of it to end as soon as possible.

Bhairav Ji's hands curved around my waist, and he pulled me even closer. I pressed my hands to his chest, trying to push him back, "K-koi dekh lega... Darvaza khula hai..." I hissed.

(Someone will see us... The d-door is open...)

But the man only smiled faintly and leaned in to brush his lips against my ear, "Kitni achi khushbu hai..."

(You smell amazing...)

His kiss tickled me, and I squirmed in his arms, trying to break free. Bhairav Ji trailed kisses all down my neck slowly.

"Chunaav khatam hote hi tumhare paas aunga," he rasped, sucking my skin gently. I struggled to hold in a moan.

(As soon as the election ends, I'll come to you.)

"A-aapko... Der ho rahi hai... Ah..." My breath hitched when he pressed me even closer.

(Y-you... You're getting late... Ah...)

"Meri gilehri, chunaav se zyada, tumhare saath raat bitane ke liye betaab hu... Intezaar nahi hota-"

(My little squirrel, I'm more impatient to spend the night with you than attend the election.)

I heard Saarang's little feet sprint towards our room, and I pushed my husband away with all my might. It barely had any effect, except the fact that his lips were a little away from mine.

"Jiju! Sab aapko bula-"

(Jiju! Everyone is calling-)

Saarang froze at the door. He narrowed his eyes at us, scrunched his face at us, and before I had the chance to catch him, he sprinted away, shouting, "Bhaiya! Jiju didi ke saath gande cheeze kar rahe hai!"

(Bhaiya! Jiju is doing dirty things with Didi again!)

"Saarang!" I yelled at the top of my voice and caught him right before he could ascend the stairs. His words were muffled as I pressed my palm over his mouth, "Mere saath yaha akele rehne wale ho... Yaad rakhna..." I glared at him, and he gulped in fear.

(Saarang! Remember, you're going to be home alone with me...)

But what I didn't notice was that everyone was, in fact, waiting for my husband downstairs. I fixed my veil nervously as Bhairav Ji appeared behind me.

"Gaadi nikalo," he instructed Bhargav cooly while going down the stairs. I followed him while squeezing my brother's shoulder. He tried to slip out of my grasp, but I didn't let him. To my relief, everyone ignored Saarang's words, considering my husband was still around.

(Start the car.)

Bhairav Ji held Dadi's hand and helped her to the Jeep. She was the most excited one as she had been waiting desperately for her grandson to become the Sarpanch for years. Maa gave me a few instructions regarding lunch as I took Janaki from her arms. Raghav was in Aradhya's arms, and she gave me a pained smile.

"Jao apne piya ke saath," I mumbled as she placed my son on the verandah seats.

(Go on, go with your husband...)

"Aise mat kaho... Mujhe bura lagega..." She grew sad, "Agar woh bulaye toh hum mana kaise kare?"

(Don't be like that... I feel bad... How can I say no to him?)

I gave her the side-eye. It was my mistake for thinking we could relax together in the house with no men or elders to bother us. Her loss.

"Baba!" Raghav clutched the verandah railing and tried to reach for his father through it.

He came towards us as Bhargav swerved the Jeep towards the gate. I could see quite a lot of villagers standing around the haveli, eager to accompany their Thakur to the voting booth. Bhairav Ji smiled while scooping Janaki into his arms.

"Baba... Gaadi..." My daughter pointed at the Jeep behind him.

(Baba... Car...)

"Hmm, Gaadi," he nodded and caressed Raghav's head as well before kissing him, "Jaldi wapas aa jaunga. Maa ko tang mat karna. Aur tum..." he turned to Saarang and ruffled his hair, "Sabka khayal rakhna, theek hai?"

(Yes, car.)

(I'll be back quickly. Don't trouble your mother, and you... Take care of everyone, okay?)

"Ji!" My brother saluted him. He had learnt it from Keshav for some reason, and I chuckled.

Bhairav Ji handed Janaki back to me. His eyes were resolute this time as he met my gaze, "Jeethkar laut aunga."

(I'll return after winning.)

I smiled at him, "Bas laut aaiye Ji. Kaafi hai."

(Just come back to me. That's enough.)

His brows raised just a little in amusement, and a kind smile bloomed on his face as he nodded, "Zaroor, jaan."

(Of course, my dear.)

***

Saarang was lying on my lap with a book in his hands, "Didi...?" He kept the book down for the fifth time in the past ten minutes. He couldn't focus at all, and I ran a hand through his hair.

"Jiju toh Thakur ban gaye, ab Sarpanch banenge. Mai bada hokar kya banunga?" He bit his nails while talking, and I pushed his hand away, "Nakhun mat khao. Mujhe tumse puchna chahiye, Saarang, kya banna chahte ho?"

(Jiju is the Thakur; now he'll become the Sarpanch. What will I be when I grow up?)

(Don't bite your nails. I should be asking you that, Saarang, what do you want to be?)

He thought for a while before sitting up with glimmering eyes, "Pati banna chahta hu!"

(I want to be a husband!)

I laughed at his words, "Pati? Kiska pati?"

(A husband? Whose husband?)

"Pata nahi," he shrugged, "Par Pati banna chahta hu. Keshav Bhaiya bhi woh banna chahte hai! Toh mai bhi banunga."

(I don't know. But I want to be one. Keshav Bhaiya told me that he wants to be one. I want to be like him.)

I sighed. Keshav had really put some crazy ideas in his head.

Saarang immediately turned to the children who were sitting nearby. Raghav was busy playing with the toy car that his father had got him, while Janaki was stacking different toys one on top of another.

"Tumhe kya banna hai?" He hugged Raghav, who yelled and kicked for no reason, "Maa!" He shouted and crawled towards me with the car.

(What do you want to be?)

"Mai tumhara Mama hu, Mama bolke dikhao!" Saarang kept poking Raghav. He was quiet for a while before saying the word out loud.

(I'm your uncle, say uncle!)

"Ah, bahut badiya beta," I kissed his head.

(Ah, that's great beta.)

"Gaadi!" Janaki tried to reach for the car in her brother's hand, but he held it away, refusing to let her play.

(Car!)

"Behen hai, de do beta-"

(She's your sister, give it to her-)

"Na!" Raghu held the car away, even from me. Saarang chuckled, "Aakhir yeh gaadi se kya khelegi?" He teased and tickled my daughter who crawled towards me.

(No!)

(What will she even do with a car?)

But to my surprise, she held my arm and slowly began lifting herself up. Janaki had done it a few times before, more frequently than her brother. But eventually they both fell, so I was always cautious to let her try it again.

"Use girne mat dena," I told Saarang, who nodded and held her waist.

(Don't let her fall.)

"Gaadi chahiye... Maa... Gaadi..." She mumbled and managed to stand entirely. With her new angle, she managed to snatch the toy out of her brother's hands.

(I want the car... Maa... Car...)

Raghu screamed, almost making me go deaf, and he lunged at his sister. But my daughter sprinted away at that time, making me gasp.

Janaki had taken her first step, all by herself.

No, she had run first instead of walking.

"Didi! Yeh toh chal rahi hai!" He exclaimed as well. But the very next moment, my baby fell face down on the floor and cried out loud. Raghu crawled towards her when I placed him down and took the toy first, ignoring his sister. I took my baby into my lap and rubbed the small swelling on her forehead.

(Didi! She's walking!)

"Oh... Ro mat Jaanu... Dard jaldi dur ho jaegi... Par tumne apne aap se chalna seekha!" I showered her face with kisses, "Meri pyaari bachi! Baba kitne khush honge aaj!" She finally stopped crying after I had rocked her in my lap for a while. Janaki had truly done a wonderful feat and I couldn't be prouder.

(Oh... Don't cry my baby... The pain will go away soon... But you learnt to walk all by yourself!)

(My precious baby! Baba will be so happy today!)

Later in the afternoon, one of Bhairav Ji's men came home to inform me that they were having lunch at another Landlord's place. In fact, the entire family stayed out the whole day, but I was happy that I got time to put my brother to bed myself. He held my hand as he slept, and it made me smile.

The maids helped in handling the kids, and when the Jeep rolled into the haveli, we served dinner for everyone as well. All three brothers were a little drunk, I realised Maa and Dadi allowed it as it was their day to celebrate.

I realised that Bhargav had taken Aradhya out on his bike, and even the ghaghra in her hair had changed. He clearly bought it for her. Even though there was a pang of jealousy in my heart, it mostly melted away seeing how she excitedly rushed towards me.

"Bahut kuch batani hai..." She whispered, clearly blushing. I smiled back.

(I have a lot to tell you...)

There were a lot of flower garlands in the Jeep, and I assumed they were given to my husband by the villagers. The results of the election would take a few weeks to be published, but the villagers were already celebrating.

Even as Aradhya and I helped in serving dinner, the conversation was centred entirely around the election and how everyone was sure that my husband would emerge victorious. I sat down beside him with Janu in my arms, and Maa fed Raghav by hand. Dadi was the most talkative one at the table, to my surprise. She was unable to contain her excitement as she talked greatly of he grandson and how Baba would have been the proudest if he were alive.

When I glanced at Bhairav Ji, he seemed somewhat quiet. Even though his body was present near me, his mind was somewhere else. I was dying to tell him about Janaki's feat, but considering how everyone was more thrilled with the elections, I doubted whether it would make a difference. I decided to try either way.

"Suniye," I mumbled quietly when the others began talking among themselves.

(Listen.)

He hummed, staring at the food.

"Janu ne aaj apne aap se chalke dikhayi- nahi, daudi! Aapko pata hai?"

(Janu learnt to walk by herself today- no, she ran!)

Bhairav Ji paused. He looked up, surprise in his tired eyes, "Daudi?"

(She ran?)

I nodded, "Raghu se khilona cheenkar bhagne ki koshish thi."

(She snatched a toy from Raghu and tried to run away with it.)

"Ah... Meri pari," He smiled gently and squeezed our baby's chin, "Idhar aao Baba ke paas. Apne aap se daudna seekh liye eh?" Bhairav Ji took her into his lap and fed her by hand. I was happy. Even though he had a rough exterior, I could tell that he had been dying for some kind of distraction, an escape. He was so happy that he could pay attention to something else.

(Ah... My angel. Come to Baba. You learnt to run all by yourself, huh?)

Even the others were thrilled when they heard my baby had taken her first steps. Dadi turned to me sharply, "Aur Raghu ko tumne nahi sikhaya? Bete ko pehle sikhana chahiye sab."

(And why didn't you teach Raghu? The boy needs to learn everything first.)

Bhairav Ji didn't say anything. He only smiled, watching Janaki eat each morsel out of his hand, and he wiped the bits of rice off her mouth. I realised that he was too tired to pick a fight with Dadi at this hour. And even I refused to let it bother me.

"Ji."

(Okay.)

I played along and let my baby enjoy her father's embrace.