A few days later...

Bhairav Ji was busy rolling his sleeves in front of the mirror. He had begun wearing more white now. I wondered if it was because he had accepted politics as a major part of life now.

The election results were to be released any day now. The anticipation was eating a lot of people alive, but I was only annoyed by it. The kids were playing on the bed beside me, and I was trying to teach my son to stand up more by himself.

"Jaane ke pehle aap zara meri mangalsutra dekh lijiye. Kuch dino se dheeli mehsoos ho rahi hai."

(Before you leave, please check my mangalsutra. It feels a little loose for the past few days.)

He hummed and sat beside me. Bhairav Ji pushed my hair forward and fiddled with the chain of my mangalsutra. He had to bite the lock a few times to tighten it.

"Dheeli kaise ho gayi yeh... Us din toh bade ache se baandha tha..." He mumbled.

(How did it get loose... I had tied it quite well that day.)

"Ab bhi bilkul baandh kar rakhte ho," I rolled my eyes.

(You keep me tied even now.)

When his warm lips kissed the back of my neck, I flinched, staring at him over my shoulder. Bhairav Ji smiled innocently, "Aur ache se baandh kar rakhunga..."

(I'll keep you tied even better...)

"Isliye aapse koi bhi kaam karwane se darti hu!" I groaned, but he wrapped his arm around my waist and held my hand as well.

(This is why I hesitate to ask you for anything!)

"Aise kya kar di maine?" He scoffed and kissed my forehead, "Biwi ko chu nahi sakta?"

(What did I even do? I can't touch my wife?)

I glared at him. "Kuch zyada hi chute ho..." I muttered under my breath.

(You do it a bit too much...)

"Kya kaha tumne?" He tightened his grip.

(What did you say?)

"Ah-!" A moan escaped me because his hand that had been on my waist was now squeezing my breast.

"Kya keh rahi thi meri gilehri?" His lips brushed my neck.

(What were you saying, my little squirrel?)

I gulped and held the side of his face, "Bache dekh rahe hai... Mat kijiye."

(The children are watching, don't do this.)

Bhairav Ji hummed and rested his chin on my shoulder. Raghu was staring at us with large, cute eyes as he nibbled on his fingers. Janaki was distracted by some patterns on my pallu.

"Aankhei toh tumhare hai..." He whispered, staring at the kids.

(They have your eyes...)

"Par sab kehte hai ki aap jaise dikhte hai," I smiled to myself.

(But everyone says they look like you.)

He sighed and kissed my cheek. "Aaj sheher jaana padega, par shaam tak laut aaunga. Kaarkhaane mein kuch kaam hai."

(I need to go to the city now, but I'll return in the evening. There's some work in the factory.)

I pouted at him, "Jaana zaroori hai?"

(Do you have to go?)

"Hmm, zaroori hai."

(Yeah, I need to.)

"Phir mere liye woh mithayi laana mat bhuliye," I grinned at him.

(Then don't forget to bring sweets for me.)

He cocked a brow, "Mithayi? Konsi waali?"

(Sweets? What kind?)

"Jab main sheher aayi thi, ek din aap mujhe Bhargav ke saath us mehengi mithai ki dukaan par le gaye the na? Wahi se koi bhi mithai le aaiyega."

(When I came to the city that day, you took me to an expensive sweet shop with Bhargav. Just buy me something from there.)

He bumped his nose against mine, "Badle mei mujhe kya milega?"

(And what do I get in return?)

I rolled my eyes, "Kya chahiye, Sarkar?"

(What would you like, Sarkar?)

He only smirked at my question, and I leaned in and pecked his lips, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"Shaam ko wapas aate hi, puri karz chukana padege."

(As soon as I return in the evening, I'll make you return the favor.)

I pushed his face away, "Har raat aapka karz hi toh chukati rehti hu, Thakur Ji."

(Every night I return favors for you, Thakur Ji.)

Bhairav Ji smiled at this. After kissing the children goodbye and slapping my ass unnecessarily, he left for work. In the evening, Payal came home, and Aradhya and I were thrilled to see her. She hadn't been let outside during the election time, and I realised it was Jagdish's doing.

"Kya kar rahi ho?" I asked when I realised she had come with a roll of paper and a pencil hidden in her sari. Payal carefully began drawing what looked like a bird.

(What are you doing?)

"Maa mujhe ghar mein tasveer banane nahi deti... Isliye yaha aayi hu," she told us, her focus fixed on the drawing. Then she looked up with a bright smile, "Agle mahine mei yaha se dur jaa paungi!"

(Maa doesn't let me draw at home... So I came here. Next month I'll be able to leave this place!)

I smiled at her enthusiasm. Next month was Keshav and Jagdish's graduation day, and her plan to run away from home was still very much intact. Aradhya had been responsible for getting money, while I had to get train details from Keshav. It wasn't very hard, considering I made him drunk on some nights, just because he was the most honest guy when drunk and never remembered anything in the morning.

I had tricked Keshav into telling me the train fares to reach Payal's aunt's village. Meanwhile, since Bhargav trusted Aradhya blindly, she often asked him for money for tamarind toffees. And whenever he asked whether she had left any for him, she'd get emotional and confess that we had eaten it all. In reality, we were saving up money slowly for Payal's train fare.

"Jab main wahan pahunch jaaungi, apni tasveerein bech kar rozi kamaa loongi. Mujhe yaqeen hai mujb par... Aur Thakurain Ji, Didi," she turned to us, "Aapke paise bhi jald se jald lautane ki koshish karunga. Kasam khati hu."

(When I get there, I'll sell my drawings and make money. I believe in myself... And Thakurain Ji, Didi, I'll return your money as soon as possible. I promise.)

I sighed, "Uski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Bas waha jaakar kabhi chhiti likha karo... Surakshit rehna."

(There's no need for that. Just write to us sometimes... Be safe.)

Payal smiled, "Bilkul. Chinta mat kijiye."

(Of course. Don't worry.)

Later that night, I was getting worried that Bhairav Ji still hadn't come home yet. What could be taking him so long? I had already set the dinner table, and everyone else had eaten except us.

"Jeth Ji aate hi honge," Aradhya gave me confidence, and I gave her a weak smile.

(Jeth Ji will be here in a bit.)

But in my heart, something didn't feel right.

I spent time with the children just to distract myself, and eventually everyone went to bed. The children weren't getting sleepy at all, but I paced around the bedroom with them in my arms, one by one. Raghu yawned a few times, and just as he was about to sleep, I heard some kind of commotion outside.

I left the children in the cradle and opened the bedroom door to find Bhargav discussing something with Gopal in a panicked tone outside his bedroom.

"Kya hua?" I asked, fixing my veil. The men froze as they turned to look at me slowly. Gopal gulped when I frowned at him, "Thakur Ji kaha hai?"

(What happened? Where's the Thakur?)

"M-malkin... M-malkin woh..." There were suddenly tears in his eyes. I didn't know what was happening, but my patience was snapping.

(M-malkin... M-malkin he...)

"Mere pati kaha hai, Gopal?" I gritted my teeth.

(Where is my husband, Gopal?)

He lowered his head, "Malik bach nahi paaye... Unki gaadi mei kisi ni bam chupa diya... Achanak visphot ho gaya, Malkin... Maafi chahta hu... M-maafi chahta hu... Hum unhe bacha nahi paaye."

(The boss didn't make it... Someone hid a bomb in his Jeep. There was an explosion... I'm sorry... I- I'm so sorry... We couldn't save him.)

I felt my senses shutting down one by one. What was Gopal saying?

A bomb explosion?

Somebody murdered my husband?

But... But... I had seen him in the morning.

He had kissed me, annoyed me, and promised to bring me sweets from the city.

Bhairav Ji... Hadn't he promised that he'd return?

"Mai na hone par, bacho ko hum dono ka pyaar dena."

(If I disappear one day, give the children my love as well.)

I felt out of breath as I thought back. My heart was beating so wildly, I felt like I'd have a heart attack any second.

"Sanjana...!" Bhargav and Gopal held me before I could collapse.

My husband... He was dead. I'd never get to see him again. Never.

I was a widow.