𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Author's POV:-
It was time to head back home, and Sakshi's heart sank. She didn’t know when she would get to come back again...
She looked at her maa, her lips trembling—but she held herself together.
“Chaliye, aap fir taiyaar ho jaiye... waise bhi shaam ho gayi hai, ghar pahuchte-pahuchte raat ho jaayegi,” she said softly, trying to sound normal.
(Ji ,we should get ready now..it's already evening, and by the time we reach home, it’ll be night.”)
“Haan, jamaisa, abhi nikal lijiye... phir jaldi pahuch jaayenge,” her father added warmly.
("Haa beta..you should leave now… that way you’ll reach early.”)
Dadi nodded in agreement.
Arjun looked at his wife, who was deliberately avoiding his gaze.
“Kahan jaayenge baba? Sakshi toh aaj yahin rukne waali hai aap logon ke saath...” he said casually, making Sakshi instantly turn to him, eyes wide with surprise.
(“Where are we going, Baba? Sakshi is staying here tonight with you all…”)
“Itne dino baad apne ghar aayi hai... toh aaj hi chali jaayegi?” he added with a light smile.
(“She’s come to her home after so many days… and you want her to leave the same day?”)
Dadi was the first one to object. “Par beta, yeh yahan akele kaise rahegi? Nayi nayi shaadi hui hai tum dono ki...”
(“But beta, how will she stay here alone? You two are now newly married…”)
“Kisne kaha woh akele rahegi? Main hoon na... aaj raat main bhi rukta hoon. Kal subah chale jaayenge,” Arjun said calmly.
(“Who said she’ll be alone? I’m here… I’ll stay tonight as well. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”)
Sakshi’s heart flipped in joy, though she tried not to show it.
Lata, too, jumped in excitement—more because she would get extra time to play with their cow.
With that, everyone seemed happy, even Dadi nodded with contentment.
“Ji... par Buaji ne kaha hai ki aaj hi laut aana hai... gussa karengi agar nahi gayi toh,” Sakshi said anxiously.
(“But… Buaji said we should return today… she’ll be angry if we don’t.”)
“Main kar loonga Buaji se baat. Ek raat rukne se kuch nahi hoga, Sakshi. Kal hi toh wapas chale jayenge,” he replied, shrugging.
(“I’ll talk to Buaji. Staying one night won’t make a difference, Sakshi. We’ll leave tomorrow.”)
Sakshi smiled gently and held his two thick fingers in her small palm.
“Shukriya ji... aaj raat rukne ke liye,” she whispered, her eyes filled with happy tears.
("Thank you jii..for staying here tonight..")
He gave her palm a soft caress, squeezing it lightly.
It was night. After having dinner, Sakshi took her husband to her room so he could rest. She, meanwhile, went to her maa’s room to have mother-daughter gossip.
She now lay in her mother’s lap, her head gently caressed as it had been for years.
“Tu khush hai na, bacha? Arjun beta theek se vyavhaar karte hain na tere saath?” her mother asked softly, concern layered beneath her smile.
(“You’re happy na beta? Arjun beta treats you well na??”)
Sakshi looked up, smiling. “Arjun ji bahut acche hain, maa. Bilkul baba jaise nahi... bahut pyaar se baat karte hain,” she said, playing with her bangles.
(“Arjun ji is very nice, Maa. Not at all like Baba… he speaks with so much love.”)
Her mother smiled—a heartfelt one. She could already see the happiness in her daughter’s eyes, yet the mother’s heart still needed reassurance.
Sakshi suddenly sat up and cupped her mother’s face. “Aapko... baba ne mere jaane ke baad fir se haath toh nahi uthaya, maa?”
(“After I left… Baba didn’t raise his hand on you again, did he, Maa?”)
Her mother was momentarily startled but quickly gave an awkward smile and shook her head.
“Sach bol rahi ho na maa? Ab apni beti se kuch mat chhupaana,” she pleaded, stroking her cheek.
("You are telling truth na maa?? Don't hide anything from your daughter")
“Hatt, pagli! Aisa kuch nahi hua. Tu bhi na... ekdum bado jaisi baatein karti hai,” her mother said, trying to brush it off.
("Nothing like that happen..always talking like a grown-up.”)
Sakshi gave a sad smile, then wrapped her arms around her mother in a tight hug and kissed her cheek.
“Chal, ab jaa... bohot baatein ho gayi. Jaake so jaa. Jamaisa shayad apni biwi ka intezaar kar raha hoga,” her mother teased, making Sakshi blush.
(“Now go… we’ve talked enough. Go and sleep. Jamaisa might be waiting for his wife.”)
“Maa... aap bhi na... aisa kuch nahi. Lata hai na... dono saath mein so gaye honge,” she said shyly.
(“Maa… you too… nothing like that. Lata is there with him..they both probably fell slept together.”)
She got up from the bed, but in her hurry, the pleats of her saree slipped off her waist.
She look at her maa scaredly before making a loud whine.
'Maaaaa....' she cries dramatically for her help.
She shake her head seeing her nautanki...
'Kab seekhegi khud apni saree pehnana...mein kya thori tere sasural mein madad karne k liye jaungi??...' she scolded her making her grin sheepingly.
(“When will you finally learn to drape your saree yourself? I’m not going to go to your in-laws’ house to help you every time…”)
'Toh aap thikh se sikhate hi nahi hain..mein kya karu??' she teases making her glare.
(“That’s because you never teach me properly! What can I do??”)
She slap her forehead lightly making her whine.
'Ab toh bari ho jaa Sakshi...shaadi ho gayi hain.. lein khol isse pura...ache se pehna deti hu mein...aur seek le ache se..' she said getting down from the bed.
(“You’re married now, Sakshi… grow up already. Here, open this saree fully… I’ll drape it for you properly. And this time, learn it well.”)
“Nahi sikhungi,” Sakshi muttered under her breath, giggling.
("I won't learn")
She undressed the saree, still shy, like a child. It had been a long time since her mother helped her drape it.
“Pura khol, pagal larki! Ab apni maa se bhi sharamayegi? Bachpan mein main hi tujhe nahaaya karti thi!” her mother scolded with fake irritation.
(“Open it all, you silly girl! Now you’re feeling shy even in front of your own mother? I used to bathe you when you were little!”)
“Daat kyun rahi ho maa...” Sakshi pouted as she secured her loose blouse tightly with two pins.
("Why are you scolding me maa??")
Her mother lovingly wrapped the saree around her, adjusting each pleat with care.
“Ek pleat bhi theek se nahi banaati... kya karun main tera?” she mumbled.
("“You can’t even make a proper pleat… what am I going to do with you?”)
“Kya karun? Akele akele pehani na yeh saree... Buaji toh madad karti nahi, upar se daant lagati hain. Achha hua pehle rasoi ke din Arjun ji ne meri pleat bana di—”
(“What can I do? I had to drape it all by myself… Buaji never helps, and on top of that, she scolds me. All thanks to Arjun ji that he helped me in making the pleats on the day of my first—”)
She paused, realizing what she'd just blurted.
Her mother gave her a knowing look, a soft smile playing on her lips.
“Haan... matlab, unhone thoda madad kiya tha,” Sakshi corrected quickly, avoiding eye contact.
("Haa I mean he helped me a little ...")
Her mother smiles shaking her head making her go all flushed with embaressment.
Her eyes then landed on the beautiful payal she was wearing..
'Yeh dono payal toh bohut sundar hai bacha..'
("These payals you are wearing are very beautiful beta")
Sakshi looked down and beamed. “Arjun ji ne diye the... pehli rasoi ke gift mein. Aur yeh kangan bhi... unki maa ke hain. Sundar hain na?” she asked, shaking her bangles excitedly.
(“Arjun ji gave it to me… as a gift for the first cooking ritual. And these bangles too… they’re his mother’s. Beautiful, aren’t they?”)
“Bahut hi sundar hain... par gumana mat. Teri toh aadat hai sab cheezein gumaa dene ki,” her mother warned.
(“Very beautiful… but don’t lose them. You always have a habit of misplacing things.”)
“Aapko toh sirf taane dene hote hain mujhe ..hain na maa?” Sakshi huffed, making her mother laugh.
(“All you ever do is taunt me… right, Maa?”)
She pulled her daughter close and kissed her forehead, tucking her into her embrace.
“Bilkul bhi nahi, mera bacha...tu toh toh meri shona hain..” she whispered into her hair.
(“Not at all, my child… you’re my little darling…”)
After having gossip, she went to her room and gasped, freezing at the door.
'Arjun ji... aap neeche kya kar rahe hain??' she asked, palming her mouth in surprise.
(“Arjun ji… what are you doing on the floor??”)