Of course, there were questions when Sanjana disappeared from the haveli in the morning. But I laughed it off, saying I got bored with her and fell asleep after two rounds. She was far too plain for my liking, and I believed she had run away in the middle of the night. Everyone believed it, even though Baldev complained that I could have sent her to him instead.

When I told him that I was looking for a homely place to have lunch the next day, he offered to treat me at his home, as it was quite near Gulzar's mansion.

"Aapki biwi manegi? Us ladki se shaadi karne ke liye... Ah... Naam bhi bhool gaya..." I pressed my nose.

(Will your wife agree? Since you want to marry that girl... Ah... I forgot her name...)

"Sanjana?" He chuckled.

"Ah, Sanjana! Bahut chilla rahi thi kal raat ko," I grinned.

(Ah, Sanjana! She was moaning quite well last night.)

Baldev sighed, "Sach kahu toh shayad shaadi nahi karunga. Par soch raha tha ki jab jab gaon wapas jau, ek rakhail zaroori padegi... Aur jab woh mana karti hai, use chedne mein aur maza aata hai. Biwi ko jaanne ki zarurat nahi hai."

(To be honest, I might not marry her. But when I go to the village, I'll definitely need a mistress... And when she says no, it's more fun to taunt her. The wife doesn't have to know.)

I grinned, "Aap bahut chaalak hai, Baldev."

(You're quite clever, Baldev.)

He laughed, "Use bhi khushi milegi. Do saalo se kisi ne use khush nahi kiya hai na...? Kuch der mei hi ladkiya pagal ho jaate hai."

(She'll be happy too. Nobody's shown her pleasure for two years, right...? Girls become crazy for it quite easily.)

I forced a smile through clenched teeth. "Waise, aapki pehli shaadi kaisi hui thi?" I asked, and he shrugged, "Pita Ji ki dost ki beti thi, aur sabne milkar humari zabardasti shaadi karwa di. Ek do saalon mei mujhe kisi aur se pyaar ho gaya, aur jab use pata chal gaya toh maayke wapas chalo gayi. Pata nahi ab kaha hai."

(She was the daughter of my father's friend. Eventually, we got forced to marry. In a year or two, I fell in love with someone else, and she went back to her parents' home when she found out. I don't know where she is now.)

"Ah, phir aapne usi ladki se shaadi ki?"

(Ah, then you must have married that girl next?)

"Nahi," he chuckled, "Phir kisi aur se kar li. Usse bhi bahut lagaav tha... Woh sab kuch maaf kar deti hai, aur bahut nazuk hai. Isliye. Beti hai meri. Cheh saal ki."

(No. I married someone else later. She forgives everything easily and is quite soft-spoken, too... So I'm quite attached to her. We have a daughter, she's six.)

He was smiling when he mentioned his daughter. It was the first time I was seeing some goodness in him, but based on the research that I had done, it didn't seem like the daughter was his.

Was he aware of that?

I'd love to find out.

After we reached Baldev's home, the child came running to greet her father. He lifted her in his arms and kissed her.

"Bau Ji, aap mere liye kuch laaye hai?" She asked excitedly, and he pinched her nose, "Hamesha kuch na kuch maangti rehti hai. Jaakar rasoi mei Maa ki madad karo aur khaana taiyar karne ke liye bolo."

(Bau Ji, have you brought something for me?)

(You keep asking for toys every day. Go help your mother in the kitchen and ask her to prepare lunch.)

The girl nodded. She paused to stare at me for a while before running inside. Baldev led me to the dining area, and we talked about my made-up business until his wife brought us food. I could barely see her face because of the ghoonghat.

He tasted a morsel first as she poured water for him, "Itne saalo se khaana paka rahi hai aur ab bhi namak daalna nahi aata!" He scoffed before smiling at me, "Ise mat khaiye, Abdul Saheb." Baldev pointed at the potato curry, "Sirf ek kaam di hai, khaana pakana, woh bhi dhang se nahi kar sakti."

(She's been cooking for years now and still doesn't know to put salt in food!)

(You have just one job- which is cooking, and you still can't do it right.)

The woman was quiet for a while, until she whispered in a meek voice, "Maaf kijiye... Mai kuch aur-"

(I'm sorry... I'll-)

"Ab kuch aur banane se kya faida?" He muttered irritably, "Yaha se jao. Mere paise aur barbaad mat kar."

(What's the use of making something else now? Go away from here. Don't waste my money.)

His daughter was watching it all from the kitchen door. I could see her looking at us until her mother went back to the kitchen with her. Baldev complained and ridiculed his wife a little more until he switched the topic to work.

We talked and talked until Baldev excused himself to use the bathroom. That was my chance. His daughter, Ruhi, was playing quietly nearby, and I called her softly, "Idhar aao, beta. Mithayi pasand hai?"

(Come here, beta. Do you like candies?)

"Pasand hai..." She smiled shyly.

(Yes...)

I lifted her into my lap and gave her sweets from my pocket, "Aapka janamdin kab hai?

(When is your birthday?)

"Magh mei hai..." she told me while nibbling on the sweets. Based on Baldev's marriage records, he had the child within 10 months of marriage, but after talking to the midwife who delivered the child, I remembered her telling me that it was December, and not February. Considering how he barely paid attention to his wife, I wouldn't be surprised if she tricked him into believing that the child was, in fact, his.

(It's in February...)

Think of the devil. His wife, Komal, appeared.

"Idhar aao, Ruhi," she immediately called her daughter close, seeing how I had her on my lap.

(Come here, Ruhi.)

"Ghabrane ki koi baat nahi," I grinned, "Mai use sirf mithayi khila raha tha."

(You don't need to worry. I was only giving her candy.)

She ignored me entirely while pinching her daughter's arm and warning her not to leave the kitchen. Komal tried to pass me by going outside to sweep the verandah, but I cleared my throat, "Bache ko maine bulaya tha... Use saza kyu de rahi ho?"

(I was the one who called the child... Why did you punish her?)

Komal squeezed the broom tighter, "Unke sabhi dost use god mei bithana chahte hai... Sirf aap nahi." Now it made sense when the child complied fearlessly. I felt sorry for her.

(All his friends want to have her on their lap... Not just you.)

Just as she was about to turn to leave, I caught her attention with one word.

"Nandlal."

She froze, and this time I saw her wide eyes behind the ghoonghat.

Baldev returned at that time. He asked what she was doing, standing so quietly by the door.

"Kuch nahi, bas usse keh raha tha ki chai peene ki man kar raha hai."

(Nothing, I was just telling her that I wish to have some chai.)

"Mehmaan ko chai bhi nahi dogi?!" Baldev snapped, making her flinch. She returned to the kitchen immediately. He asked me whether I'd be interested in having a smoke with him on the terrace. I realised I was running out of time, so I assured to join him after chai.

(Won't you serve chai for the guest?!)

Baldev went on ahead, and when Komal brought chai for me, I realised that I didn't have any more time left.

"Mujhe pata hai, Nandlal ke baare mein... Sab kuch pata hai... Aur Ruhi ki janam Margashirsha mei hui hai. Aapke gaon ke dai ne batayi hai."

(I know about Nandlal... I know everything... And Ruhi was born in December. The midwife of your village told me.)

Komal stared at me, unmoving. She looked at the door cautiously, fearing her husband would come any moment.

"A-aap... Aap kaun hai... Aap kya chahte hai?"

(W-who... Who are you... What do you want from me?)

"Ruhi ka baap Baldev nahi hai. Kya mai sahi hu?"

(Ruhi's father is not Baldev. Am I right?)

She gulped, glancing at the door away and clutching the tray in her hand. I sipped the tea calmly and waited for her to respond, "Agar aap sach sach batayegi toh Baldev ko kabhi kuch pata nahi chalega."

(If you're honest with me, then Baldev will never be suspicious of anything.)

"Haath jodti hu, Saheb. Woh mujhe aur mere bache ko jaan se maar denge... Aap jo bhi chahte hai, mai sab de dungi... Aap unse kuch mat bataiye."

(I'm begging you, Saheb. He will kill my daughter and me... I'll give you whatever you need... Just don't tell him anything.)

"Theek hai," I smiled, "Kya Ruhi ka baap Nandlal hai?"

(Okay. Is Ruhi's father Nandlal?)

She glanced at the front door again before lowering her eyes in shame. Komal nodded slowly.

"Agar aapko uske saath dobara zindagi shuru karne ka mauka mile, toh kya aap use phir se svikaar karenge?"

(If you had the opportunity, would you like a second chance with him?)

Her lips parted, and I noticed tears in her eyes, "Aap kya keh rahe hai saheb? Shaadi ke din unhe aakhri baar dekha tha. Woh humse nafrat karte hai ab. Aur agar humare pati ko kuch pata chala toh jaan se maar denge, Saheb... Kuch mat kahiye."

(What are you saying, saheb? I last saw him during my wedding. He must hate me now. And if my husband finds out, he'll not let me live... Please Saheb, don't tell him anything.)

"Shaant ho jao," I sighed, "Maine sirf ek savaal pucha hai. Agar woh aapko lene aayega, toh aap jayenge ki nahi?"

(Stay calm. I've only asked you one question. If Nandlal comes to get you, will you go with him?)

She opened her eyes to say something, but no words came out. Komal swallowed the lump in her throat and kept her eyes downcast, "Aap mujhse kya chahte hai...?"

(What do you want from me...?)

"Mai Nandlal ka dost hu, Bhabhi. Woh janta nahi ki uski beti hai... Aap soch rahe hai ki woh aapse nafrat karte hai? Hargiz nahi. Aaj tak shaadi nahi ki usne... Yahi sheher mei rehta hai... Aur sirf aapke karan shadi nahi ki."

(I'm Nandlal's friend, Bhabhi. He doesn't know that he has a daughter... You think that he hates you? Not at all. He lives in the city here and has never married because of you.)

She nearly gasped, "Sh-sheher mei hai? Par aap... Aap yeh sab kyu kar rahe hai?"

(H-here? In the city? But you... Why are you saying all this?)

I stood up, setting the cup on the table, "Mera khaas dost hai, isliye. Ek din aapse milne aayega. Taiyar rahiye."

(He's my close friend, that's why. He'll come to meet you one day. Please be ready.)

"Par..."

(But...)

I left before she could ask me anything more. Things were finally falling in place.