I was tucked against Bhairav Ji's chest as he lazily ran his hand over my hip. After a long time, I was feeling so serene and even sleepy.

"Sirf panch hazaar hai meri keemat?" I whispered.

(Am I worth only five thousand?)

Bhairav Ji opened his eyes to look at me. "Kya?" He asked in disbelief. I looked away, drawing patterns on his chest.

(What?)

My husband sighed and held my chin, "Mere liye tum anmol ho. Us samay Baldev ne panch hazar maanga toh de diya..."

(You're invaluable for me. At that time, Baldev asked me for five thousand, so I agreed to it...)

I smiled and pecked his cheek, "Sahi jawab!"

(Right answer!)

He rolled his eyes, "Aur jo bhi maine use diya, woh asli nahi, naqli paise the."

(And the money I gave him was fake anyway.)

I gasped, "Aapke paas itne saare naqli paise kaha se aaye?"

(From where did you get all the fake money?)

"Phir kya karta? Sabhi ne maan liye ki meri mrityu ho gayi. Mere paise toh nahi le paaya... Isliye in do saalo mei ek press ki malik se dosti ban gayi. Tumhare liye woh khat bhi unke karan chap paaya."

(What else am I supposed to do? Everyone believes that I'm dead. I couldn't take my money... So in these two years, I befriended the owner of a printing press. I managed to publish that letter because of him as well.)

I hugged him tighter, leaning into the crook of his neck, "Ab aap kya karne wale hai? Gulzar aur Baldev ke saath..."

(What are you going to do now? With Gulzar and Baldev...)

"Sab cheen lunga... Paise, aadmi, parivar... Aur aakhir mei unki zindagi," his tone was icy as he said it. I was worried for him. What if someone were to find his true identity? I couldn't lose him again.

(I'll steal everything from them... Money, manpower, family... And finally their lives.)

"Mujhe dar hai ki aapko kuch hoga..." I whispered.

(I'm worried for you.)

Bhairav Ji pressed his soft lips against mine, calming my nerves just a little, "Tumhe phirse chodkar nahi jaunga. Waada hai. Chinta mat karo, meri gilehri."

(I won't abandon you again. I promise. Don't worry, my dear.)

"Pichli baar bhi aapne yahi kaha tha..." I mumbled.

(You said the same last time...)

He didn't reply, and to my surprise, he got up from the bed and began dressing.

"A-aap... Kaha jaa rahe hai...?"

(Wh-where are you going...?)

"Tumhe wapas haveli tak pahunchana hai. Subah tak yaha rehna sahi nahi hai... Mera ek dost hai, woh tumhe ghar tak chhod aayega. Sari pehen lo."

(I have to make sure you get home safely. You can't stay here until daybreak... I have a friend who'll take you home. Get dressed.)

I was so very confused, but mostly I was disappointed that we couldn't spend any more time together. I was so scared that I'd never be able to see him again after this.

Bhairav Ji opened the door carefully and made sure that there was nobody around before pulling me outside with him. I squeezed his hand tightly as he navigated inside the mansion, and finally, we found the back door that led outside. A man was smoking near a car.

"Yusuf, ise jaldi ghar lekar jao," Bhairav told the man who threw his cigarette away and went to start the car.

(Yusuf, take her home quickly.)

The night was awfully cold, and my husband noticed how I hugged myself. He took off the scarf around his shoulders and wrapped it around me well. "Ab thand kam lagega," he whispered, and it honestly melted my heart. I didn't want to leave him.

(You'll feel warm now.)

"Aap... Zaroor aayenge na...?" I gulped, clutching his shirt one last time.

(You will come back for me... Right?)

"Haan, Sanjana, bilkul aaunga. Ab jaldi jao," he cautiously glanced around.

(Yes, Sanjana, of course I'll come for you. Now leave quickly.)

I cupped his face in my hands and pressed our lips together.

When the news of Bhairav Ji's death reached me first, I had always regretted not kissing him enough. Never was I going to make the same mistake twice.

He was startled at first, but he reciprocated gently, pulling me closer. We stayed like that for a while until he pulled back and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, "Tum meri sab kuch ho. Jald se jald laut aunga."

(You're my everything. I'll come back as soon as I can.)

There was a time when I thought I'd never heard those words out of him, but now I was smiling like a fool when he said that. Butterflies frolicked in my stomach as I nodded. My face was already red.

"Bacha hai gaadi mei... Aa rahe ho ki nahi?" The man, Yusuf, muttered irritably. I had to reluctantly step away from my husband. It was even more embarrassing when I spotted a little boy in the backseat, not much older than Saarang. He was smiling at me brightly as I sat beside him.

(There's a child in the car... Are you coming or not?)

"Rehman, yeh hai meri Thakurain," Bhairav Ji ruffled his hear and he grinned at me, "Aapse milkar khushi hui! Waqayi mei aap bahut sundar ho!"

(Rehman, this is my Thakurain.)

(Nice to meet you! You're really pretty miss!)

"Rehman." His Father glared at him in a warning tone, but the boy made me smile. Bhairav Ji gave me a parting look, the one I hated, as we drove towards a back gate.

Rehman covered me with a thick dark blanket and asked me to stay hidden under the seat for now. I did as told as the car slowed down near the gate.

"Kaha jaa rahe ho? Abdul Saheb ke aadmi ho na?" I heard a man ask. He was slurring a bit, and the faint smell of alcohol made me realise that he was drunk.

(Where are you going at this hour? Don't you work for Abdul Saheb?)

"Ji, unke kuch saaman laane the. Kuch ghanto baad wapas aaunga."

(Yes, I had to get some of his things. I'll be back in a few hours.)

There was silence for a while, and I stayed as quiet as possible. "Theek hai, theek hai, jaldi jao," the same man patted the car's body. Yusuf drove ahead again, and a long while later, Rehman told me that I didn't have to hide anymore.

(Alright, alright, go on.)

"Par... Subah unhe pata chalega ki mai bhaag gayi... Tab... Unka kya hoga?"

(But... They'll realise in the morning that I ran away... Then... What will happen to him?)

Yusuf glanced at me in the rear-view mirror, "Aap fikar mat kijiye. Aapko ghar lekar jaane se zyada khatarnaak hai wahi rehne dena. Malik sambhal lenge..."

(You don't worry. It's more dangerous to stay there instead of taking you home. The boss will handle it...)

It was quiet for a long time, but I couldn't wrap my head around who Yusuf was or how my husband knew him.

"Aap... Unke baare mein sab jaante hain?"

(Do you know him well?)

"Mai samjha nahi," He replied, eyes on the road.

(What do you mean?)

"Matlab, aap logon ki mulaqaat kaise hui?"

(Well, how did you guys meet?)

Yusuf sighed, "Woh mere ghar ke paas ke samundar ke tat par beh kar aa pahuncha tha."

(I found him on the beach near my home.)

I gasped, "Aapne unki jaan bachai?"

(You were the one who saved his life?)

"Aisa bhi keh sakte hai..."

(You could say that too...)

I joined my hands before him, "Aapne meri pati ka jaan bachai hai, main zindagi bhar aapka yeh ehsaan nahin bhoolungi. Shukriya, Yusuf Ji."

(You saved my husband's life. I don't know how I can ever thank you, Yusuf Ji.)

He didn't say anything, just squeezed the wheel tighter as a silent acknowledgement.

"Aapko pata hai? Thakur Ji hamesha aapke aur aapke bachon ke baare mein baat karte hai. Aur woh Abbu se zyada, mujhse baat karte hai. Aur unhone yeh bhi kaha ki aapka ek bhai hai, jo bilkul mere jaisa hai. Sach hai kya, Thakurain Ji?"

(You know what? Thakur Ji talks about you and your kids often. He talks with me more than with Dad. And he also told me that you have a brother just like me. Is it true, Thakurain Ji?)

I smiled at Rehman. It only made me happy to think that Bhairav Ji missed me as much as I missed him.

"Haan... Woh bhi bahut pyara hai, aapke jaisa."

(Yes... He's really adorable too, just like you.)

"Kitne saal ka hai woh?"

(How old is he?)

"Nau saal... Aap vidyalay bhi jaate ho?"

(Nine years... Do you go to school?)

Rehman made a face while glancing at his father. He leaned towards me and whispered, "Abbu zabardasti bhejte hai vidyalay. Utna bura nahi hai... Par waha sirf padhai hoti hai."

(Abbu forces me to go. It's not that bad... But there are only nerds there.)

His words gave me deja vu. I used to hate going to school just as much as he did, but Bhairav Ji forced me nevertheless. "Vidyalay jaana bahut achi baat hai," I chuckled. I'd always be grateful to him for pushing me out of my comfort zone to do things, even though I didn't realise it when I was younger.

(Attending school is a good thing.)

It took a few hours for us to reach the haveli. When two of the guards spotted me in the car, they rushed over. My husband's words repeated in my head. In their heads, I had probably been molested at Gulzar's haveli. I had to remain gloomy.

"Malkin... Malkin aap... Theek hai?" Gopal gulped. He glared viciously at Yusuf until I cleared my throat, "Sab so gaye? Keshav kaha hai?"

(Malkin... Malkin you... Are you alright?)

(Is everyone asleep? Where's Keshav?)

"Malik andar hai... Aapke wajah se soye nahi abhi tak... Badi Malkin ki tabiyat bhi kharab ho gayi... Sab aapke suraksha ke baare mein sochkar bechain hai. Aapko chot toh nahi lagi na?"

(He's inside... He hasn't slept because of you... Even Badi Malkin was feeling ill... Everyone was worried about your safety. You're not hurt, right?)

"Nahi, Gopal. Mai theek hu."

(No, Gopal. I'm fine.)

I turned to Yusuf, "Ghar tak chodne ke liye aapka shukriya." He nodded, and I smiled faintly at Rehman as well. They drove off in the dark.

(Thank you for bringing me home.)

When I went inside the haveli, Keshav was drinking hopelessly in the living room. His eyes were red as he looked at me, and immediately he began sobbing like a child.

"S-Sanjana... Tum aa gayi...? Mujhe maaf kar dena..." He buried his face in his palms, startling me as he sobbed, "Maine Bhaiya se w-wada kiya tha... Ki tumhe aur bacho ko hamesha surakshit rakhunga... M-mai wada nahi nibha paaya- Mai... Mai unke bina kuch nahi hu! Mujhe maaf kardo, Bhabhi!"

(S-Sanjana... You came back...? I'm so sorry... I had promised Bhaiya... That I'd always protect you and the children... I- I couldn't keep my promise... I... I'm nothing without him! I'm so sorry, Bhabhi!)

It broke my heart to watch him sob like this. Keshav was far more sensitive and soft than both his brothers. The last time I had seen him cry this way was during Baba's funeral.

A part of me just wanted to reach out and hug him while assuring him that his brother was fine. I was sure that Keshav would be over the moon to hear that.

But I couldn't. It was a promise I made.

"Keshav... Tumhe aise rote dekh ke acha nahi lagta... Idhar dekho," I held his hand as he sniffed, "Mai bilkul theek hu. Unke jaane ke baad, tumne hamesha is parivar ki rakhwali ki hai... Iske liye bahut, bahut shukriya... Jab tumhari shaadi hogi, main mere devrani se kahungi ki unka pati aise bacho ki tarah rote hai."

(Keshav... Please don't cry... Look here, I'm completely fine. After his passing, you've always protected this family... So thank you so much. When you get married, I'll tell my devrani that her husband cries like a baby.)

He sniffed, his cheeks turning red as he pulled his hand away, "M-meri mazaak mat udao... Tum bhi aise rote ho. Tumhara dil patthar ka hai... Bade Bhaiya hamesha mujhe rone dete the." He wiped his tears and blew his nose on his shirt, making me grimace a little.

(D-don't make fun of me... You cry in the same way. Your heart is made of stone... Bade Bhaiya always used to let me cry.)

"Jaakar so jao, Keshav... Bahut pee li aaj."

(Go to bed, Keshav... You're already drunk.)

"H-haan..." He hiccuped before lying flat on the couch and hugging a cushion, "Mai so jaunga. Mai Bade Bhaiya se aapki shikayat karunga." I had never seen him this drunk before as he passed out right before my eyes.

(O-okay... I'll go to sleep. I'll complain about you to Bade Bhaiya.)

When I went into Maa's room, two maids were seated beside her. They changed the wet towel on her forehead and massaged her tired feet as she breathed heavily.

"Maa Ji..." I sat beside her and took her hand. There were tears in her eyes as she sat up slowly and held the side of my face, "Tum... Aa gayi beta..."

(You... Came back, beta...)

"Ji," I squeezed her hand weakly. It broke me to see her like this. I wondered if Bhairav Ji realised how much the Haveli had changed since he left.

(Yes.)

Maa sent the maids outside until it was just the two of us. "Baldev ne tumhare saath kya kiya...?" She gulped, caressing my cheek softly.

(What did Baldev do to you...?)

"Hum... Um... Sirf baat kar rahe the, vidyalay ke baare mein..." I whispered, not able to look into her eyes. Maa lifted my chin, and I noticed her worried eyes travel lower. Immediately, I wrapped the pallu around me better so that all hickies remained hidden.

(We... Um... We were just talking about the school...)

But it was impossible to hide anything from her.

Maa caught my hand and slowly moved it away before touching my neck softly, "Usne... Tumhare upar haath rakha...? Aur tumhare gaal-" she touched the swollen spot on my cheek, making me wince. That bastard Baldev had really slapped me without mercy. Not even my own husband had hit me that hard.

(He... Touched you? And your cheek-)

Tears slowly streamed down Maa's face and I panicked, "M-Maa Ji... Aap.... Aap roiye mat, Maa Ji... Mai theek hu... Mai utni kamzor nahi hu."

(M-Maa Ji... Please don't cry... I... I'm fine. I'm not that weak.)

"Kya keh rahi hai tuh?!" Her voice cracked as she held my hands, "Un logon ne tumhe barbaad kiya hai... Tumhare badan ka bhi durupyag kar diya... Bhairav ka naam dekh kar bhi, unhone tumhare upar haath lagane ki himmat kaise ki?"

(What are you saying?! Those people have ruined you... They've misused your body... Even after seeing Bhairav's name, how could they lay a finger on you?)

I froze. My eyes were as wide as saucers. How the hell did she know that?!

Nobody but Bhairav Ji had seen me naked that way, except maybe the doctors at the hospital, but that was it. There was no way that Maa could have known.

"A-aapko... A-aapko woh k-kaise pata...?" My face turned beet red.

(H-how... H-how do you... K-know that...?)

"Mujhe sab pata hai," she said quietly, "Usne tumse zyada kisi se bhi itna pyaar nahi ki hogi... Woh jab bhi tumhare saath tha, apne sud budh kho deta hai... Par ab un logo ne tumhe puri tarah se barbaad kiya hai."

(I know everything. He's never loved anyone more than you... Whenever he was by your side, he'd be lost entirely in you... But now those men have ruined you entirely.)

I gulped and squeezed her hands, "Maa... Aapka bukhar bad jaegi. Mai sahi salamt ghar wapas laut gayi hu, dekhiye? Aap mere baare mei chinta mat kijiye. Let jaiye, mai aapke per ki maalish kar deti hu."

(Maa... Your fever will get worse. I've returned home safely, right? Please don't worry about me. Lie down, I'll massage your feet.)

It took me a long time to convince her, but she finally lay down, and I pressed her feet. The poor woman was only going to grow weaker if she worried about me. I'd never let anything happen to her because of me.

After she fell asleep, I went upstairs to my bedroom. It was nearly daybreak now, and the sight that greeted me made my heart full. Saarang was fast asleep between the twins, his arms safely wrapped around them. Raghav hugged his arm as he slept while sucking on his thumb. Janaki had her legs on his back as she slept open-mouthed, drool on her lips.

I smiled as I sat beside them and gently caressed Saarang's hair. They were all my babies, and I couldn't wait for them to reunite with Bhairav Ji again.