Keshav and Bhargav were strictly against the idea of us going to Nainital alone and leaving them behind. Well, Bhargav didn't cause much of a fuss because he didn't want to go anywhere without Aradhya, but Keshav was different. He complained that nobody took him anywhere.

Bhairav Ji snapped at both of them to knock it off and that they weren't kids to keep whining like this. Even Maa was very hesitant about the plan, but Bhairav Ji eventually convinced her by saying there were many temples that she could visit.

It was already past midnight, and Saarang was fast asleep beside me. Raghu was in my arms, hidden away under my pallu as I hugged him and hummed him to sleep. Maa was also fast asleep on her seat, and Bhairav Ji returned from the toilet at that time with Janaki in his arms.

"Maa..." She whined and climbed onto my lap as well. It was difficult, but I managed to hug her tight with her brother.

Bhairav Ji didn't look sleepy at all as he watched me. I yawned. The day had been so exhausting because of my husband. Packing everything on short notice and taking care of the children throughout the train journey... I had been far more relaxed at home.

Maa coughed in her sleep, and Bhairav Ji pulled the blanket over her body. To my surprise, he scooped Saarang up in his arms and laid him down on the middle berth.

"Tum uthkar upar so jao Janu ke saath. Mai neeche Raghu ke saath baitha hu," he told me, and I felt so relieved in that moment. Bhairav Ji took our daughter and laid her down on the top berth and helped me climb up.

(Sleep on the upper berth with Janu. I'll stay down here with Raghu.)

"Par mujhe upar chadne aur utarne mei dikkat hoti hai..." I whispered.

(But it's hard for me to climb up and down...)

"Mai yaha hoon na. Neeche utarna hai toh mai madad karunga. Upar sona hi surakshit hai."

(I'm right here. I'll help you if you need to climb down. It's safer to sleep up there.)

Bhairav Ji helped me climb up, but even then, the man was filthy enough to kiss my ankle when he got the chance. He smirked at me from below. So annoying.

After I woke up in the morning, Bhairav Ji went to sleep after breakfast. Saarang played with the kids and made sure that they didn't wander off from our compartment. Even Maa was telling them stories while I was mostly distracted by the beautiful scenery outside. Bhairav Ji told us that we'd reach Nainital by late afternoon. When my daughter got quite fussy, Maa told me that I should probably feed her, and I did.

"Itni jaldi aisi chutti mei jaane ka phaisla isne kyu kiya?" Maa mumbled, watching Bhairav Ji sleep.

(Why did he make a sudden decision to go on a holiday like this?)

"Bhagwan jaane..." I sighed.

(God knows...)

Nobody could ever tell what my husband was thinking. He was so unpredictable.

After we finally reached the station, Bhairav Ji was unusually excited. He kept urging Maa and me to hurry up. Porters carried our luggage, and the kids squealed in excitement when they saw the beautiful mountains around us. It was quite colder than usual as well, and I was left gaping at the beautiful hills.

"Meri gilehri, chalo, ab bhi bahut kuch dekhna baaki hai," he tried to hold my hand, but I immediately pulled away, seeing how Maa was eyeing us. She cleared her throat, and Bhairav Ji was forced to walk ahead with the kids.

(My little squirrel, come on, there's still a lot left to see.)

"Parivar ka izzat rakhna, aurat ka kaam hai," Maa told me, and I nodded quietly, "Ji Maa..."

(It's the woman's job to maintain the family's honor.)

(Yes Maa...)

My husband was already physical with me regularly. In fact, we did it more than necessary. And I still wondered why he was so fond of touching me during the day as well. That too, in front of his mother.

In the distance, we saw three men waiting for us. "Gullu, kaise ho?" My husband patted his friend's shoulder. Only then did Gullu smile and squeeze my husband's hand, "Thakur Saheb! Aap aa hi gaye...!"

(Gullu, how are you?)

(Thakur Saheb! You finally made it!)

It seemed like Gullu was staring at the sky as he spoke. "Mai parivar ke saath laaya hu. Meri biwi aur Maa hai..."

(I've brought my family with me as well. My wife and mother are here...)

"Namaste," I mumbled politely.

The man turned to face me suddenly with a bright smile on his face, "Yeh aapki biwi hai? Namaste, namaste Thakurain Ji!"

(This is your wife? Namaste, namaste Thakurain Ji!)

"Aapki aankhein..." Maa kept staring at him in shock.

(Your eyes...)

"Bachpan se kuch dikhayi nahi deta, Maa Ji," Gullu smiled, "Par ab baaki sab bahut tez hai. Aur aapke bache kaha hai?" He turned to my husband again.

(I'm blind since childhood, Maa Ji. But now my other senses have gotten much better. And where are your kids?)

"Yeh rahe..." Bhairav Ji placed Raghav down and pushed the twins forward, "Yeh Raghav aur Janaki. Thakurain ki chota bhai bhi hai saath mei... Saarang."

(Here they are... This is Raghav and Janaki. Thakurain's little brother is with us as well... Saarang.)

"Namaste!" My little brother smiled cheerfully.

Gullu patted the kids' heads joyfully. He was so happy to meet them. I wondered how he knew my husband, but then he insisted that we should waste no time and go to his home immediately. The men who accompanied him helped in loading our luggage into two cars. Maa, Janaki, and I shared one, while the men shared the other.

"Dekho beta, pahad kitna sundar hai?" I hugged Janu as she stood on my lap, staring outside the taxi window curiously. Even Maa was smiling at how cute she was. My daughter coughed a little before snuggling on my lap.

(Look, dear, aren't the hills pretty?)

"Thand lag rahi hai, meri jaan ko?" I wrapped my arms around her. She did feel a little colder than usual.

(Is my baby feeling cold?)

"Waha jaate hi bacho ke kapde badalna hoga. Woh bimar pad sakte hai," Maa told me, and I nodded.

(We need to change their clothes as soon as we reach, or they could fall sick.)

Tall deodar and pine trees lined the winding mountain roads, their scent drifting through the half-open windows. Every sharp turn revealed deep valleys hidden beneath drifting mist. Sometimes monkeys sat lazily on roadside stones, watching passing vehicles with curious eyes.

Now and then, the taxi passed villagers carrying firewood bundles, or British-era signboards pointing toward guest houses. There were also tea stalls with smoke curling into the cold air, and horse riders making their way uphill slowly.

After nearly an hour of climbing, the taxi finally entered the quieter upper roads beyond the crowded bazaar and Mall Road. Gullu's cottage stood slightly away from the main town: a stone-and-wood house with ivy creeping along the walls and a sloping tin roof that echoed softly whenever mountain winds passed over it.

A narrow path led through a small garden filled with roses and wildflowers. From the veranda, the lake below looked like a silver mirror resting between the hills. The servants carried the luggage inside, and I stood silently for a moment, breathing the cold mountain air.

For the first time in years, life felt unhurried. I felt like I could breathe at ease.

The kids ran inside instantly, and even Maa followed them, while I just couldn't move.

"Pasand aayi?"

(You like it?)

Bhairav Ji's voice brought me out of my trance, and I smiled at him, "Kitni khubsurat jagah hai, Ji! Aur yeh ghar pura humara hai?"

(It's such a pretty place, Ji! And this entire house is ours?)

"Ek hafte ke liye, haan." He put his arm around my shoulder, staring at the cottage with me. At least Maa had gone inside, so I allowed it, even though other people gave us looks.

(For a week, yes.)

"Khaana pakana sab naukar karenge. Aur Gullu ne kaha tha ki do kamre hai."

(There are servants to do the cooking. And Gullu told me that there are two rooms.)

"Par Thakur Saheb..." Gullu came towards us slowly, "Dono kamre mei sirf ek ek palang hai... Sabke liye kaafi rahega?"

(But Thakur Saheb... In both rooms, there's just one bed... Will it be enough for everyone?)

Bhairav Ji thought for a while, "Bacho aur Maa ke kamre mei do chahiye. Aur humare mei ek kaafi hai."

(We'll need two beds in Maa's room for her and the kids. And in ours, one is enough.)

"Oh... Phir toh aapko aaj raat dikkat hogi. Kal subah thak mein ek aur palang ka intezam kar sakta hoon, Thakur Ji."

(Oh... Then it will be difficult for you tonight. I can arrange another bed by tomorrow morning, Thakur Ji.)

"Ek raat ke liye bina bistar ke so jaenge, koi badi baat nahi hai..." Bhairav Ji shrugged off. But I gave him a look. Just because he had lived like a poor fisherman for two years, it didn't mean that I too had reduced myself to that level. Besides, it was already too cold. We'd freeze to death without a bed.

(We can sleep without a mattress for one night, it's not a big deal...)

"Chhat par ek chhoti si charpai rakhi hai. Agar chahein toh aaj raat uska istemaal kar lijiye. Zameen par sone se zyada aaraam rahega, saheb," Gullu informed and my husband thanked him before leading me inside the cottage.

(There's a small cot on the terrace. You can use it for tonight. It's better than sleeping on the floor, saheb.)

"Mai zameen par nahi sonewali... Bahut thand lagegi."

(I'm not going to sleep on the floor... It will be too cold.)

"Mere rani ko zameen pe thodi sone dunga," he replied immediately, sliding his arm around my waist and holding me close, "Us charpai par so jaate hai... Waise bhi mujhe sone ke liye bistar ki zaroorat nahi hai. Sirf tum honi chahiye."

(As if I'll let my queen sleep on the floor. We can sleep on the cot... Besides, I don't need a bed to fall asleep. I just need you beside me.)

He almost brushed his lips against my ear. It sent a shiver down my spine. As soon as I heard Maa's voice calling me, I pushed Bhairav Ji's hand away in a hurry before going inside to help her.