"Phaili huyi hai sapno ki bahe,
aaja chal de kahi dur
wahi meri manjil wahi teri rahe,
aaja chal de kahi dur"

I was softly singing to the children while patting their chests. It looked like they had already fallen asleep, but I couldn't get enough of staring at their cute little faces.

I heard a soft thud, almost like a knock on the window. Maybe I was imagining things.

But then it came again. Someone was throwing pebbles at the window.

I got up and fixed my sari in the mirror before softly opening the balcony door. There were two men stationed at the front gates. One of them had already fallen asleep, and I could hear him snore while the other was swatting mosquitoes.  But this time, a pebble struck my cheek, and I looked straight at the other side of our wall.

Behind a tree, like a bearded monster, my husband stood there. He nearly gave me a jump scare, and I clutched my heart at how he was grinning in the dark. He looked like a bear from where I stood!

I'd never get used to seeing him in his long hair and god-awful beard.

What was he doing here now?

Keshav told me that he had seen police officers in Gulzar's shops since yesterday. It seemed like they were investigating the income records.

Was he the reason for that?

Bhairav Ji signalled with his hands to open the back door. I quietly went down the stairs. When I finally opened the door, Gopal startled awake. He was sleeping near the wall, and I wondered if I should wake him up.

Meanwhile, on the other side, I heard my husband trying to climb the wall. Why did he have to come home if he was still keeping up his fake identity?

Finally, he managed to climb up somehow, but when he jumped down, Gopal nearly woke up. My husband pressed his hand to my mouth while hiding us behind a wide tree.

"Shh..." He whispered ever so softly in my ear, and I felt goosebumps when he kissed my skin.

Gopal yawned and went back to sleep. Bhairav took my hand, and we went into the kitchen quietly. As soon as I shut the door, he pinned me against the wall and scooped me up in his arms.

"K-kya kar rahe ho..." I nearly gasped at his excitement. Never had I seen him like this before. Had he really missed me that much?

(Wh-what are you doing...)

Bhairav Ji buried his face in the crook of my neck, and I ran a hand through his long hair.

"Aap aa gaye mere liye..." I smiled and kissed his forehead.

(You came back for me...)

My husband stared at my face quietly for a few seconds. He opened his mouth to say something, but he sealed his lips and kissed me instead. I reciprocated and wrapped my arms around him. Whatever he was feeling, I was feeling it too, and we didn't need words to make each other understand.

He pressed his forehead against mine, and his warm breath fanned my face, "Ab hamesha yahi rahunga... Tumhare saath." I bit my lip at his words and kissed him again. It all felt like a dream, but I didn't care anymore. I wanted him so bad.

(Now I'll stay here forever... with you.)

My husband was even more eager. He almost touched my breast, and I gasped. "Kamre mein jaakar..." I slapped his hand away, my face turning red. Bhairav Ji only smiled. His arm was wrapped around me as we went up to the bedroom.

(After we go to our room...)

I managed to take a breath of relief only after I had closed the door. Bhairav Ji froze beside me. I saw his eyes widen a little when he saw the children sleeping in the bed. He sat beside them quietly. No matter how tough he appeared to be on the outside, he was still a wonderful father. That would never change.

"Itne bade ho gaye...?" Bhairav Ji smiled.

(They've gotten this big...?)

"Bahut mushkil se sula di hai," I squeezed his shoulder. He caressed Janaki's hair softly and tried to tickle Raghav's nose when I pushed his hand away, sighing, "Sone dijiye... Mai jaakar inhe Saarang ke kamre mei sulati hu. Aur aap abhi jaakar yeh baal, dadi, sab kaat dijiye."

(It's so difficult to make them sleep.)

(Don't wake them up... I'll go put them in Saarang's room. In the meantime, please cut your hair, beard and everything.)

Bhairav Ji raised a brow, "Dadi rakhne ki soch raha tha... Vaise bhi kyu kaatu?"

(I was thinking of keeping my beard... Why should I cut it anyway?)

I glared at him, "Aadivaasi jaise dikh rahe hai... Maa ka dil toot jaayega agar woh aapko is haalat mein dekhegi. Aur agar mere paas sona chahte hain, toh yeh sab sehna padega.

(You look like a tribal man... Maa's heart will break if she sees the state you're in. And if you wish to sleep beside me, then you'll have to endure all of this.)

"Acha?" He pinched my waist, and I tried to fight his arms, but he eventually managed to pull me onto his lap, "Kuch saal mere gilehri ko akeli kyu chod diya? Ghar ki rani ban gayi, eh?"

(Oh, really? I left my little squirrel alone for a few years, and she became the queen of the house, huh?)

I pushed his face away when he tried to rub his beard against me. God, I couldn't stand the horrendous thing.

Bhairav Ji sighed, "Theek hai... Abhi dadi kaatunga, aur badle mei tum woh sari pehnogi mere liye... Manzoor?"

(Alright... I'll cut my beard right now, but in return you'll have to wear that sari for me... Deal?)

I pecked his nose with a smile, "Manzoor hai, Sarkar."

(I accept, my lord.)

After Bhairav Ji locked himself in the bathroom, I carried the kids in my arms one by one and left them in Saarang's room. Janaki did wake up in between, but she eventually fell back asleep after I rocked her in my arms for a while.

Now, wearing the sari was the hard part. It had been so long since I wore something colorful. My heart was racing as I undressed and slowly draped the revealing fabric around me. It was erotic as hell.

I took out all my bangles and ornaments. It was a joy to wear my anklets again, and my nath looked beautiful with the sari. Of course, I wouldn't forget the hip chain or my lovely earrings.

My soul felt alive again as I dolled myself up in the prettiest way possible. There was once a time when I believed I'd never be able to see the rosy glow return to my cheeks. But now I barely recognised myself in the mirror. I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. My husband was indeed lucky to have me.

Bhairav Ji took nearly an hour inside the bathroom, and when he stepped out, I felt like my long-lost husband had finally returned. His hair was still a bit long on the edges, but he looked a little more handsome now. I loved the way his stubble looked, but most importantly, I had missed the way his eyes undressed me.

"Uparwala bahut acha hai..." He swallowed. The man didn't even blink as he stared at me, and I was starting to blush.

(God is definitely kind...)

"Achi hai ki nahi?" I did a little twirl, letting the veil slip down my shoulders. Bhairav Ji took my hand and kissed it. There was adoration in his eyes as he went around me, and of course, caressed my butt before pulling me closer.

(Is it nice or not?)

"Kitni pyaari dik rahi ho, meri jaan. Pata nahi kaise do saal tumse juda reh paaya... Meri Mohini hai."

(You look so adorable, my love. I don't know how I was able to stay away from you for two years... My darling seductress.)

Bhairav Ji began kissing my cheek and neck, making me ticklish all over. I giggled and squealed, trying to free myself. The next thing I knew, he lifted me in his arms and put me down on the bed. I moaned as he continued kissing me everywhere.

"Jab tum Gulzar ke ghar aaye the, mai zyada samay nahi bita paaya tumhare saath... Magar aaj main jaldi mein nahin hoon. Aaj har lamha tumhare saath mehsoos karna chahta hoon... tumhari har saans, har ehsaas ko apna banana chahta hoon... aur tumhari har zarre ko pyaar se choona chahta hoon."

(When you came to Gulzar's place, I couldn't spend much time with you... But today I'm in no hurry. I want to cherish every moment with you... I want to make every breath you take, every feeling you have, a part of my own... and I want to caress every inch of you with love.)

My breath hitched as his hands began exploring my body. Bhairav Ji stroked my exposed waist, brushing his knuckles over the waist chain until he loosened my pleats. His kisses moved southwards, and soon enough, the man ravaged my breasts like a starved animal.

"Rukiye..." I cupped his face, panting as I made him stare at me.

(Stop...)

"Mera man abhi bhi bechain hai Ji... Hamesha aapki chinta karti hu. Bataiye, Aapne Gulzar Sultan ke saath kya kiya hai...? Aur Baldev ne aapko maar daalne ki koshish bhi ki thi... Aapne aakhir mei-"

(My mind is still restless... I'm always worried about you. Tell me, what did you do with Gulzar Sultan...? And Baldev tried to end your life... In the end, what did-)

"Shh..." Bhairav Ji pressed his index finger to my lips, "Kal subah akhbaar mei khabar chaapegi, Gulzar Sultan ko police ne giraftar ki hai. Aur main dekh lunga ki woh zindagi bhar jail mein rahe. Aur haan, Baldev ke liye dusri taufa hai... Dheere dheere tumhe sab kuch bata dunga. Par Baldev ki maut kal zaroor hogi."

(Shh... Tomorrow morning, the newspapers will report that Gulzar Sultan has been arrested by the police. I'll make sure he rots in prison for the rest of his life. And as for Baldev... I have another gift waiting for him. I'll tell you everything in time. But one thing is certain... Baldev will die tomorrow)

I gulped, "Mujhe dar lagta hai... Aapke liye. Main aapko phir se nahi kho sakti." A few tears slipped down my face, and Bhairav Ji wiped them away while kissing my eyes.

(I'm scared... For you. I can't lose you again.)

"Thakurain... Tumne mujhe kabhi khoya hi nahin. Main hamesha tumhara tha... aur hamesha tumhara hi rahunga. Ab main tumhe phir kabhi rone nahin doonga, jaan. Vaada hai."

(Thakurain... You never lost me in the first place. I've always been yours... And I'll always remain yours. I'll never make you cry again, my dear. It's a promise.)

I only cried more because of his words. Bhairav Ji sealed our lips together with a kiss, and the rest of the night was history.

A/N - One of my favorite comfort songs. Bhairav and Sanjana are finally together <3