Bhairav Ji was quiet as we drove back home. There were already a few people gathered outside, narrating the entire episode to Maa. Even they stood up in fear when my husband appeared.

The only two souls who ran towards him in joy were our kids. "Kya usne Baldev ko maar daala hai?" Maa squeezed my hand, asking me in hushed whispers as I went towards her.

(Has he really killed Baldev?)

"Mm..." I hummed, unable to look at her.

"A-aur... Aur police...?"

(A-and... The police?)

"Malik ne sab kuch sambhal liya hai, Maa Ji," Gopal smiled. He looked quite proud of his master.

(Malik will take care of everything, Maa Ji)

"Sanjana."

I nearly jumped when Bhairav Ji turned to me sharply.

"J-Ji...?"

"Bacho ko le jao. Mai nahakar aata hua," he went up the stairs, and I pulled the kids towards me.

(Take the kids. I'll go take a shower.)

"Par Baba-"

(But Baba-)

"Baba kuch der baad aayenge," I sighed and tried to keep the kids distracted in the kitchen while preparing lunch. Aradhya was resting as she wasn't feeling well all morning, Bhargav was busy talking to the vedh who treated Keshav, and finally Maa kept asking me countless questions about everything.

(Baba will be back after a while.)

"Bahut bheed thi, Maa... Sabhi ne dekha... Pata nahi kya hone wala hai," I mumbled. Janu was in my arms, nibbling on my veil without a care in the world.

(It was really crowded, Maa... Everyone saw everything... I don't know what's going to happen.)

"Maine nahi socha tha ki woh phirse aisa kuch karega..." She stared down, almost disappointed. Raghu lifted his toy car towards her, "Dadi, dekho!"

(I never thought he'd do something like this again...)

(Dadi, look!)

Maa smiled momentarily. At least the kids were around to ease the tension.

"Tumne use rokne ki koshish kyu nahi ki?" Maa muttered.

(Why didn't you try to stop him?)

I stared at her in surprise. "Mai kaise rokti, Maa Ji? Aapka beta kisi ki baat kabhi sunta hai? Aur un logo ne unke chote bhai ki bhi pitayi ki. Isliye woh apne aap ko bilkul rok hi nahi paaya... Mai kya kehti?"

(How could I stop him, Maa Ji? Does your son ever listen to anybody? And those people beat up his little brother as well. So he could not control himself at all... What could I say?)

She glanced outside the kitchen, "Neeche aa gaya hai... Uske haath mei jaakar davai laga lo, phir khaana dena. Mai jaakar Keshav ko dekar sati hu. Usse baat karo."

(I think he's come downstairs... Go apply medicine to his hands, then give him food. I'll go give lunch to Keshav. Talk to him.)

Maa pushed me out of the kitchen almost forcefully. The kids sprinted towards their father in excitement, and before my husband could take a seat at the table, I held his hand gently.

"Aapke haatho mei davai lagani hai, phir mai khaana laati hu. Aap zara waha jaakar baithiye," I told him softly. Bhairav Ji eyed me for a while before complying. I sat beside him and dabbed his wounded fists with the essence of medicinal herbs.

(I need to apply medicine to your hands, and then I'll bring you lunch. Please go sit over there.)

"Malik," Two of his men appeared with their heads lowered, "Baldev ki laash ko humne phek diya hai. Aap Barrister Ji se milna chahte the?"

(Malik, we've gotten rid of Baldev's corpse. You wanted to meet the barrister, right?)

"Haan..." My husband replied coldly as I dressed his hands, "Paramesh se jaakar bolo ki sheher jaana hai. Gaadi taiyar rakhe. Aur Keshav kaisi hai...?" He turned to me.

(Yes... Tell Paramesh that we have to go to the city. Keep the car ready. And how is Keshav...?)

"Bhargav unke saath hai... Vedh ne kaha tha ki sirf bahar chot lagi hai. Ek hafte mei sab kuch theek ho jaega," I replied.

(Bhargav is with him... The doctor said that he only has external injuries. He'll be better in one week.)

Bhairav Ji hummed. "Bahut se kaam bache hai... Kuch log mere saath sheher aayenge," he instructed them, and they smiled eagerly before leaving, "Ji malik."

(There's a lot of work left... A few of you will accompany me to the city.)

(Yes sir.)

"Baba... Baba chot lagi hai...?" Raghav pointed at his father's wrist while trying to climb onto the sofa. Bhairav Ji scooped the twins into his arms and held them in his lap.

(Baba... Baba, are you hurt...?)

He didn't say anything, just hummed and brushed their hair quietly. "Baba dard hai?" Janaki asked, patting his bandaged hand, making me smile as well. They loved him so much.

(Baba, is it painful?)

"Zyada nahi hai..." My husband whispered.

(Not a lot...)

"Raghu! Woh haath mein karo!" My daughter commanded her brother, and both of them grabbed Bhairav Ji's hands.

(Raghu! Do it in that hand!)

"Kya karne wale ho?" he asked curiously.

(What are you going to do?)

I watched in awe as the kids kissed his wounded hand three times each. "Ud jao dard! Ud jao dard! Ud! Ud! Ud jao dard!" They chanted together, making my heart melt.

(Fly away pain! Fly! Fly away pain!)

"Ab dard nahi hoga, Baba!" Raghu grinned while holding his father's face.

(Now it won't hurt anymore, Baba!)

"Haan! Maa ne sikhayi hai!" Janaki hugged him as well.

(Yes! Maa taught it to us!)

Bhairav Ji was at a loss for words as he stared at the children. His arms curved around our babies automatically and hugged them tightly against his chest.

"Tum dono mere liye sab kuch ho... Baba bahut khushnaseeb hai..."

(You both mean the world to me... Baba is so lucky to have you...)

The kids giggled, hugging him back just as tightly and trying to climb onto his shoulder for no reason. "Khushanseeb matlab?" My little boy asked curiously, making me laugh.

(What does khushnaseeb mean?)

Bhairav Ji leaned towards me suddenly. His bandaged hand held the side of my face as he sighed.

"Shukriya..."

(Thank you...)

I blushed at his words and looked away, "Kis baat ke liye? Maine toh kuch kiya hi nahi-"

(Why? I never did anything-)

"Sanjana..." He leaned even closer and brushed his thumb over my lower lip. I really wanted to kiss him.

Maa cleared her throat.

I stood up from the couch almost immediately and fixed my veil. She was just coming down the stairs from Keshav's room when she caught us.

"Bahurani, agar davai de chuki ho toh khaana bhi khila do. Lagta hai do saal se bahut bhuka hai..." She muttered, glaring at us both. It was so embarrassing that I could feel my skin peeling off me. I didn't wait for my husband to say anything as I disappeared into the kitchen. But even then, I could hear her scold him.

(Bahurani, if you're done giving him medicine, then give him lunch as well. It seems like he's really hungry after two years...)

"Is ghar mei log aate jaate rehte hai... Kisi ne tumhare besharam harkate dekh li toh? Sabse bade ho. Aur samajhdari se kaam kiye karo. Hamesha chup rahi hu tumhare maamle mei... Magar aaj se nahi hoga. Waise bhi raat bhar kya karte rehte ho ki biwi ko subah bhi chein se nahi jeene de sakta?"

(There are always people in this house... What if someone sees your shameless antics? You're older than the rest. Be more wise. I've always stayed quiet in your case... But not anymore. Besides, what are you up to all night that you won't even let your wife rest the next morning?)

I shut my eyes. If Bhairav Ji was experiencing Maa's scolding on this level, then it meant I'd receive a much more severe dose.

"Aap mujhe aise kyu daant rahe ho, Maa?" He asked nonchalantly. The children giggled in excitement as they had never seen someone scold their father before.

(Why are you scolding me like this, Maa?)

"Mujhe bhi bahut kuch dekhna pada hai aapke aur Baba ke karan... Agar Dadi ko pata chalti toh woh swarg se rone lagti."

(Even I've had to see quite a lot of awful things because of you and Baba... If Dadi found out, she'd be crying from heaven.)

Sarcasm dripped from his tone as he smiled and kissed the kids. I peeked out of the kitchen to see Maa's face red with rage and... Embarrassment?

"Bhairav!" She snapped. My husband smiled and held his ears to apologise, "Maaf kardo, Maa. Aaj se kabhi aapke bahu ko khule mei nahi chedunga... Wada hai."

(I'm sorry, Maa. I'll never bother your daughter-in-law in the open again... It's a promise.)

"Wada hai!" The kids imitated him by holding their ears as well.

(It's a promise!)

Maa was far too annoyed as she came into the kitchen. "Um... Maa Ji... Mai aapke liye bhi khaana laga du?" I whispered.

(Um... Maa Ji... Should I bring lunch for you as well?)

She glared at me this time, "Aradhya ko dekho... Bhargav kaise tha, aur ab kaise hai! Tumse shaadi karne ke baad mera beta itna bigad gaya hai. Sab tumhare karan..."

(Look at Aradhya... She changed Bhargav for the better! But after marrying you, Bhairav has become so spoilt! It's all because of you.)

I only apologised and got on with my chores. When everyone except Maa came to the dining table for lunch, I went to fetch her.

She was sitting quietly on her bed and staring at a small picture of Baba that she kept under her pillow at all times. I felt a little sorry for her... She must miss him dearly.

"Maa Ji... Khaana taiyar hai. Sabhi aapke liye intezar kar rahe hai. Aapko davai bhi toh khaani hai," I smiled softly at her.

(Maa Ji... Lunch is ready. Everyone is waiting for you. You need to take your medicines as well...)

She looked up and nodded. After keeping the picture back, she followed me outside. "Shaam ko bacho ke saath mandir chalte hain, beta."

(We'll go to the temple with the kids in the evening.)

I smiled, "Ji."