Keshav's POV:

It was late at night as I sat in the office. For the past several months, it had become my favourite pastime. Reading books until daybreak. Maa and Sanjana knew that I went off alone in my bike whenever I couldn't sleep.

Throughout my teenage years, I had never liked the shabby office that my Father and brothers used. It was far too gloomy, and the yellow lights made me even duller. But now, I sought comfort in it. The lazy atmosphere made it feel like time had stopped for me. The crickets outside made me aware of how serene nighttime was, and I indulged in lovely Western classics. Not just Western though. I liked to read Russian, Iranian, Colombian... All kinds of literature.

Tonight, the reason I couldn't sleep was because of the events that had transpired recently. When Bhargav Bhaiya went to the city, he entrusted the safety of everyone in the Haveli in my hands. A part of me doubted whether he wanted to escape from it all, but either way, one of us had to stay and take care of Maa and Sanjana. Not to mention, my niece and nephew were quite a handful. At least I had to step in as the man of the house.

But I had failed at that miserably as well. Sanjana didn't tell me what had truly happened the night they took her. And honestly, I was afraid to hear it. I convinced myself that they had only talked things out, but I knew that there was more. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I heard more details.

Now I realised why Bhairav Bhaiya had married her. All these years, she had been consistently fearless. Even when I gave in to loneliness or when Maa talked weakly, she had never let any of those things affect her when I knew that she was the one closest to him.

Hell, I had never imagined Bhairav Bhaiya of all people to become soft. His callous ways were far too much for any woman to fall in love with, let alone accept. But now I saw how she did it. I aspired to be as fearless as her someday. Ever since I was young, she had secretly been my inspiration.

There was a knock on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Fear gripped me for some reason. Who the hell could it be at this time of the night? And why would someone even come here?

There was a gun that my brother had kept in one of his drawers. I took it carefully and loaded it before opening the door, just a crack. The visitor outside made my eyes go wide.

"Payal? Aadhi raat ko yaha kya kar rahi ho?"

(Payal? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?)

She didn't even let me finish as she came inside and shut the door behind me hurriedly, "Shor mat machaiye..." Her cheeks tinted pink, and I noticed that she was clutching 'The Jungle Book' against her chest.

(Please don't be loud...)

"Agar koi dekh liye toh musibat ho jaegi-"

(If someone sees us, we'll get in trouble-)

"Isliye puch raha hu ki yaha kya kar rahi hai?!" I gritted my teeth. She noticed the gun in my hand and took a step back in fear. Sighing, I put it back in the drawer and crossed my arms, "Pagal ho gayi ho?"

(That's why I'm asking what the hell you're doing here?!)

(Have you gone insane?)

"Aap... Hamesha yaha aate hai raat ko..." She whispered, staring down. Even though she dared to come all the way here, she didn't have the guts to look me in the eye. Hilarious.

(You... Always come here at night...)

"Maine dekha hai kai baar aapki gaadi yaha... Puchna chahti thi par puch nahi paayi... Aap yaha akele kyu aatr ho raat ko?" Her eyes drifted towards the table, "Aap... Padh rahe the?"

(I've seen your bike outside countless times... I've always wanted to ask you, but I couldn't... Why do you come here alone at night? Were you... Reading?)

"Haan, padh raha tha," I glared, "Par tum mere jaise thodi ho? Shaadi shuda ho. Aise aadhi raat ko akele ghumna kitna khatarnaak hai? Tumhare ghar wale kuch nahi puchenge? Aur Jagdish ko pata chala toh?"

(Yes, I was. But what's it got to do with you? You're married. Don't you know how dangerous it is to roam outside at night like this? Won't the people at your home question you? And what if Jagdish finds out?)

She frowned at that time and looked away, "Woh raat ko kahi chala jaata hai aur sirf subah ko laut aata hai. Mere baare mein koi parwah nahi karta us ghar mein..."

(He leaves somewhere at night, and returns only in the morning. Nobody cares about me in that house...)

I took a step closer. Did she even realise what she had done?

Payal took a step back in fear until her back bumped against the wall. I caged her between my arms as I leaned dangerously close to her face. She looked nothing less than a frightened little girl. Her cheeks were flushed as well because of our proximity. Come to think of it, I had never gotten this close to her.

The freckles on her nose were quite cute.

"Aadhi raat ko ek suhaagan aurat akele ghoom rahi thi... Aur achanak woh ek paraye mard ke haath lag gayi. Kya hoga anjaam? Jaanti ho?"

(A married woman is roaming around alone at midnight... And suddenly she falls into the clutches of a stranger. Are you aware of the consequences?)

She gulped, "A-aap kahani likhne jaa rahe ho?"

(A-are you going to write a story?)

I banged my fist on the wall behind her, making her flinch, "Tumhe khatre ke baare mei samajhne ki koshish kar raha hu. Kyu aaye ho yaha?"

(I'm trying to make you understand how dangerous it is. Why did you come here?)

There were tears in her eyes as she looked away. Her voice cracked, "Aapke saath padhne... Mujhe b-bahut se angrezi shabd malum nahi hai... Isliye puchne aayi thi... Agar ghar mei Jagdish ne kitaab dekh ki toh jala denge. Maine socha aap shayad mere saath denge... Meri galti hai. Mai jaa rahi hu."

(To read with you... I- I don't know many English words... So I came to ask you... If Jagdish sees the book, he'll burn it. I thought you'd help me... I was wrong. I'll leave now.)

I panicked, realising what I had done. Had I frightened her too much? Shit, I had never been nervous with a woman like this. The girls in school were so much better. How could I win her trust again?

"Ruko zara..." I grabbed her wrist, but immediately pulled away when she glared at me. God, she was still scary.

(Please wait...)

"Maaf kardijiye... Mai ghabra gaya aapko dekhkar. Agar aap padhna chahte hai toh mai aapko nahi rokunga. Galti ho gayi, Payal."

(I'm sorry... I got overwhelmed when I saw you. If you want to read, I'll help you. I made a mistake, Payal.)

She stared at me quietly for a while before nodding, "Koi baat nahi... Mai sach mei yaha baithkar padh sakti hu?"

(It's fine... Can I really stay here and read?)

"Haan," I smiled.

(Yes.)

It felt a little awkward and strange as she sat in a chair in the corner beside the bookshelf, and I sat at the table, glancing at her often. Women looked so beautiful from afar. But they often fell into the hands of the wrong men, eventually making their beauty wither like a dead rose. The only exceptions I had seen were Maa and my brothers' wives.

Payal would have been better off with me than that bastard Jagdish.