Bhairav's POV:

The hookah stood at the center like a quiet authority. Its brass stem had dulled with age, and its glass base caught the lantern light in dull amber ripples. Smoke curled upward in slow, deliberate spirals, thick enough to soften the edges of the room.

I sat among Gulzar and his men like the guest they had deemed me to be. It took me a long time to win their trust, just for this moment.

One leg folded over the other, back slightly reclined against the woven charpai, and my fingers loose around the hose. There was no urgency. Only patience, and that very thing, would let me lead these fools into my trap.

The sarpanch leaned forward, tapping ash off the chillum with the edge of a ring. "Woh aate hi honge, Abdul Saheb," he smiled viciously.

(They must be on their way, Abdul Saheb.)

I lifted the mouthpiece and inhaled, letting the smoke slide in, cool at first, deceptively soft, before settling heavy in my chest. I held it just long enough to look natural, then let it out in a slow stream, eyes half-lidded. Not too sharp. Not too cautious.

"Kya khaas baat hai is ladki mein ki aap log itne betaab hai?" I scoffed.

(What's so special about this girl? Why is everyone so excited?)

A few of the men chuckled as Gulzar began telling me the twisted tale of how my wife had dared to hit his close subordinate. He dramatically explained how it had all started off from there, and now she believed she could run a school illegally without consulting the Sarpanch.

"Aaj kal ki auraton ko unki jagah sikhani padti hai... Humare Ammi ke zamane mei sabhi farishta ke roop mei hote the. Itni khoobsurat, komal swabhav, aur bholi... Saari baatein maanne wali. Aaj kal ki ladkiya mardo aur aurton ke beech ke santulan hi bigad leti hai," he paused before laughing again, "Hum unse bade hai. Agar hum nahi sikhayenge toh kaun sikhayega?"

(Women these days don't know their place... In our mother's generation, everyone used to be such angels. So beautiful, soft-spoken, and naive... very obedient as well. Girls these days ruin the balance between men and women. I'm older than them. If I don't teach them, who will?)

Another one of Gulzar's men grinned, "Aur woh akeli aa rahi hai."

(And she's coming alone.)

My jaw tightened as I smiled at their plan. Only the hookah could calm me down. The taste was bitter this time. Or maybe that was just the moment settling in.

"Aur agar woh mana karegi toh?" he asked.

(And what if she says no?)

Gulzar Sultan laughed again and spat his paan into the brass spittoon,  "Koi bhi Maa apne bache ko bali dene keliye taiyar nahi hogi. Woh zaroor aayegi, Abdul Saheb. Aap chinta mat kijiye."

(No mother is willing to sacrifice their child. She'll definitely come, Abdul Saheb. Don't worry about it.)

A ripple of low laughter spread. I joined them just to make it look convincing enough. Another plume of smoke left my lips. I couldn't lose my temper now. Not when I had come this close.

My heart was burning. I'd definitely tear this place apart from within.

The car arrived at that time, and Baldev walked in first, followed by another one of Gulzar's men. And finally, I saw her.

My Thakurain.

She was dressed in a pale sari. No more sindoor on her hair parting, no more bangles on those pale wrists, and hell, no more sweet chiming of anklets as she walked.

Sanjana looked plain, sick even. I doubted whether she even ate well. The only part of her that looked even minutely healthy was her breasts, and I assumed she still fed the kids.

But there was a ripple in my heart the moment I saw her. It was hard to believe that it had been two years. Fuck, it felt like an eternity. If she came a little closer, maybe I could catch a whiff of her intoxicating scent.

"Ah, Abdul Saheb! Aap bhi maujood hai!" Baldev greeted me excitedly with his hands joined. Oh, the bastard. I hated how I was being forced to smile at him through gritted teeth.

(Ah, Abdul Saheb! You're present as well!)

"Kaafi kamal ka maal laaye ho, Sultan Ji..." I licked my lips while eyeing Sanjana. She glanced my way briefly before looking away.

(You've brought quite the treasure, Sultan Ji...)

Gulzar Sultan laughed, "Aapki pasand waqayi mei mehtareen hai!"

(Your taste is really exquisite!)

Even Baldev chuckled at this before grabbing Sanjana's arm. She tried to pull away, but he pushed her forward, "Peeche kya khadi hai? Tumhare baare mein baath ho rahi hai. Is haveli mei tum Thakurain nahi ho, sirf ek ladki ho... Aur humari meherbaani par zinda ho."

(Why are you standing away? We're talking about you. In this haveli, you're not the Thakurain... but just a girl. You're under our mercy here.)

The way he roughly handled her, I memorised everything. My poor darling was trembling by now as she stared at everyone. Just a little bit longer, and I'd fuck up all these bastards.

"Yahi hai Sanjana Bhairav Chaudhary... Jiski aapko talaash thi," Baldev told his Sarpanch, who smiled at her.

(This is Sanjana Bhairav Chaudhary... The one you were looking for.)

"Woh Thakur bahut maze leta hoga... Ahh... Ab bhi kaafi jawaan ladki hai. Tumhe isse shaadi karni hai?"

(That Thakur was really enjoying himself, huh... Ahh, she's still quite young. You want to marry this one?)

I froze. What?

Baldev chuckled, "Ji Malik. Aise chehre se kaun na keh sakta hai? Aur itni himmatwali bhi hai..."

(Ji Malik. How can someone say no to such a face? And she's quite bold as well...)

Oh fuck no. The cunt wanted to marry my wife? No way in hell was that happening. I meant it when I said she was mine, and she'd remain mine forever.

"Qatil..." Sanjana whispered with tears in her eyes, before raising her voice to yell at Baldev and the Sarpanch, "Tum sab qatil ho-!"

(Murderer... You're all murderers!)

Baldev slapped her. My grip tightened on my hookah as I watched Sanjana cough blood while clinging to a pillar with wide eyes.

"Kisko qatil bula rahi hai?" he grabbed a fistful of hair, making her whimper in pain, "Awaaz neeche honi chahiye. Yeh tumhare ghar thodi hai? Izzat se baat kiya karo warna mere haath se izzat sikha dunga. Tumhara pati kabhi nahi kar paya na-"

(Who the hell are you calling a murderer? Keep your voice down. This isn't your house. Be respectful, otherwise I'll teach you obedience with my hands. Your husband was never able to do it right-)

"Bh-bhaad mei jao..." My Thakurain whispered.

(G-go to hell...)

Baldev raised his hand to hit her again, but right before a fatal blow could be inflicted, I cleared my throat and interjected, "Kyu maar rahe ho bechari ko? Woh haseen sa tehra tut jayega Baldev. Mere paas bhejo, mai pyaar se samjhaunga."

(Why are you hitting the poor thing? You'll break her pretty face, Baldev. Send her to me, I'll teach her with love.)

Baldev smiled, "Woh bhi sahi hai... Par sabak toh sikhana hi padega."

(You're not wrong... But she needs to learn her lesson.)

He turned back to her, "Aapko kya laga, Thakurain Ji? Aap Gulzar Sultan ke aadmi ko maarkar bach sakte hai? Pure gaon ke saamne meri beizzati ki... Ab mujhe bhi eent ka jawab patthar se dena padega. Shaadi ke baad aur bhi bahut kuch sikhaunga... Izzat ke baare mei."

(What did you think, Thakurain Ji? You could slap one of Gulzar Sultan's men and escape the consequences? You humiliated me in front of the entire village... And I need to return the favor too, right? I'll teach you a lot more things about respect after we get married.)

"Maaf kijiye, Abdul Ji. Aaj raat toh ise sirf mai aur mere ladke sikhayenge... Pyar se..." He squeezed her jaw. Sanjana was panting and shivering at the same time.

(Forgive me, Abdul Ji. Tonight, only my boys and I will teach her... With love, of course...)

I pushed the hookah away and threw my head back, "Mehmaano ke saath aise bartaav thodi karte hai?" I sighed dramatically, "Tumhari toh shaadi do baar ho chuki hai, aur kothe ki ladkiyon se man ubane lagi hai... Iski keemat batao, mai dunga tumhe."

(Is this how you behave with guests? You've already married twice, and the brothel women bore me now... Tell me her price, I'll give it to you.)

Gulzar eyed me, "Abdul Ji... Kaisi baate kar rahe hai? Yeh shaadi karne wala hai isse-"

(Abdul Ji... What are you saying? He's going to marry her-)

"Panch hazaar manzoor hai!" Baldev replied immediately, making everyone laugh. I knew he'd give in for money. Anyone would. I took a stack of black money from my robe and counted it before handing it over to him, "Panch hazaar. Lijiye aapki biwi ki rakam."

(I accept five thousand!)

(Five thousand. Here's the price for your wife.)

He laughed before greedily taking the money from me. Sanjana watched the transaction with wide eyes and stared between us helplessly.

"Haath baand lo iski... Iske haath bahut khatarnaak hai," he announced, and one of the men tied her hands with a thick rope before leading her away. I noticed how she didn't cry or scream. It was almost strange. But I decided to go with it.

(Tie her hands... They're quite deadly.)

"Dekha? Pyaar se samjhaane se kitni shaant ban gayi hai... Shukriya, Baldev."

(See? She's so calm when taught with love... Thank you, Baldev.)

"Kal subah tak wapas chahiye," he warned me with a grin. I nodded and went back inside the haveli. Yusuf was standing by one of the back doors, just as I had instructed him to.

(I want her back by sunrise.)

"Woh aa gayi..." I mumbled.

(She's here...)

He gasped, "Sach mein aa gayi akele?"

(She really came alone?)

"Haan..." I hated to admit it, because a part of me had been sure that Sanjana wouldn't do it. I wondered what they had blackmailed her with.

(Yes...)

"Sab sone ke baad gaadi ke saath taiyar rehna. Use lekar mai aunga."

(Be ready with the car after everyone sleeps. I'll bring her here.)

"Ji," he nodded.

I was almost nervous as I walked back to the bedroom where Sanjana was kept captive. Two years lost. What would I even tell her? She had been suffering through so much on her own... I wondered if she even got my message...

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, all I saw was the glint of a silver blade as Sanjana lunged at me with it.