𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Author's POV:-
The trio was ready to leave her house. They took blessings from everyone. Sakshi's dadi handed them a few boxes of sweets.
"Inn sab ki zarurat nahi hai, Dadi," Arjun said politely, trying to refuse.
("There's no need for all this, Dadi" )
"Beta, yeh bas mithai aur namkeen hain... apni buaji aur phuphaji ke liye le jao. Unhe achha lagega," she replied with a gentle smile.
("It's just some sweets and snacks, dear... take them for your phuphaji and buaji. They'll like it")
Sakshi hugged her mother. She didn't cry today, but her eyes grew slightly emotional.
"Khayal rakhna apni maa ka... main phir se aungi kuch dinon baad," she said, cupping her mother's cheeks.
("Take care of your mom... I'll come again in a few days,")
Her mother kissed her forehead lovingly. "Zarur aana, bacha."
("Do come, my child...")
After one last goodbye, they got inside the car, and the engine roared to life.
"Aap ro rahi ho, Bhabhi?" Lata asked softly as the car started to move.
("Are you crying bhabhi??")
Sakshi chuckled and gently caressed her head. "Nahi Lata... tujhe meri aankhon mein paani dikh raha hai kya?"
("No, Lata... do my eyes look watery to you?")
Lata shook her head.
"Aur phir tu hai na mere saath? Main kyu roun bhala?" she smiled, making Lata beam and hug her bhabhi tightly.
("You're with me, right? Then why would I cry?")
"Haan, aap toh meri sabse pyaari Bhabhi ho!" she chirped.
("Yes, because you're my most favorite Bhabhi ever...")
Arjun saw the two of them bonding through the rear-view mirror and shook his head with a faint smile.
"Waise, tune humari gaay se khel paayi kal?" Sakshi asked.
("By the way, did you get to play with our cow yesterday?")
"Haan Bhabhi, bohot khela maine uske saath. Chara bhi khilaya. Usne kuch nahi kiya mujhe."
("Yes, Bhabhi, I played with it a lot... I even fed it grass... it didn't do anything to me,")
"Dekha? Maine kaha tha na kuch nahi karega woh. Aur seeng marega bhi kyun, humari Lata jaise masoom si ladki pe?" she teased, making her giggle.
("See! I told you, it won't harm you... and why would it attack a sweet little girl like you?" )
Lata's gaze drifted out the window, and she spotted a mela going on in the nearby ground.
"Bhabhi! Dekho wahan mela lagi hai!" she exclaimed, tapping Sakshi's arm.
("Bhabhi, Bhabhi, look! There's a fair over there!")
"Haan lagi toh hai... aur bohot bheed bhi hai," Sakshi replied, looking out.
("Yes, there is... and it's quite crowded too,")
Lata wanted to go, but didn't know how to ask her brother. So, she gave her Bhabhi a pleading look.
Sakshi raised her brows. Lata gave her an innocent, toothy smile.
"Bhabhi, aap bol do na Bhaiya se... aapki baat sunenge woh" she whispered.
("Bhabhi, please ask Bhaiya to take us to the fair,")
"Main? Kyun? Tu khud bol na" Sakshi replied, baffled.
("Me?? Why don't you ask him yourself?")
"Meri baat kaha sunte hain?? Aap bolo na.." she whined.
("Because he listens to you not me..")
Sakshi bit her lip and glanced at Arjun, hoping for a hint.
"Bohot der se dekh raha hoon, kuch khichdi pak rahi hai tum dono ke beech. Kya chal raha hai?" Arjun asked suspiciously.
("I've been noticing something's cooking between the two of you... what's going on?")
Sakshi quickly hid Lata's face in her lap. "Woh... aap... kya hume mela mein le jaa sakte hain?" she asked nervously.
("Umm... can you please take us to the fair?" )
Lata peeked at him from her lap to catch his reaction.
Without saying a word, Arjun told the driver to stop the car in front of the mela.
Lata jumped in joy, clapping her hands.
They got down, and Sakshi held Lata's hand tightly as they walked in, with Arjun walking a few steps behind them.
There were countless stalls - food, clothes, jewellery, and toys everywhere.
"Bhabhi! Dekhiye, kitne saare khilaune!" Lata squealed and dragged her toward a toy shop.
("Bhabhi, look at all those toys!" )
"Dheere Lata... gir jaayegi bacha," Sakshi said, holding her back.
("Slow down, Lata... you'll fall bacha,")
Lata picked her favorite doll and looked toward her brother.
"Jo chaahiye le lein, main sab kharid dunga," Arjun said.
("Take whatever you want, I'll buy it for you," )
Sakshi's eyes wandered to the colourful toys.
"Tu bhi kuch le le apne liye," Arjun told her.
("You should pick something you like as well,")
"Ji... main kya loon?" she hesitated.
("Jii ?? What should I take??")
"Kya matlab kya loon? Itni saari cheezein hain. Tere man pasand choodiyan le le jaake," he replied.
("What do you mean 'what should I take'? There's so much to choose from... at least buy some bangles you like.")
After buying the toys for Lata, they strolled toward a jewellery stall. Sakshi's eyes sparkled at the sight of some designer bangles.
"Ji behenji, kya dikhayein aapko?" the shopkeeper asked.
("Yes, sister... what would you like?")
"Ji, dekh rahi hoon," she said softly.
("Ji I am looking")
She picked up a baby pink pair of bangles and turned to Arjun.
"Yeh kaisi lag rahi hai dikhne mein?" she asked.
("How do these look jii?")
"Achhi toh lag rahi hai. Par tu mujhse kyun pooch rahi hai? Pehnegi tu hi na. Jo pasand ho, wahi le," he replied.
("They look nice... but why are you asking me? You're the one who'll wear them. Take whatever you like,")
"Mujhe toh yahi wali pasand hai... yeh gulabi wali," she smiled, trying to wear it, but it didn't fit.
("I like this pink one only")
"Yeh toh ghus hi nahi rahi," she told the shopkeeper.
("These won't go in,")
"Arey yeh size toh bilkul aapke haath ke liye theek hai. Aap haath dijiye, main pehna deta hoon," he said, reaching for her wrist.
("Oh, these are just right for your hand... let me help you put them on,")
Before he could touch her, Arjun snatched the bangles from his hand.
"Pati hoona iska. Toh mujhe hi dekhne de, theek hai ya nahi," he said calmly but firmly.
("I'm her husband... so let me do it,")
Sakshi looked down shyly as Arjun held her wrist and tried to slide the bangles in.
"Ji... thodi tight hai," she whispered looking at his eyes.
( "Jii ,they're too tight...")
He sighed and tossed the bangles back at the shopkeeper. "Ek size bada dein iska."
("Give one size bigger than it..")
"Main keh raha hoon na saab, yahi size theek hai inke liye," the shopkeeper argued.
("I'm telling you, sir, this is the perfect size for her hand,")
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "Biwi tera hain nahi na? Toh zyada muh mat chala. Jo bola hai woh kar."
("She's not your wife, right? So let me decide what fits and what doesn't. Don't talk back. Just do what I said.")
The shopkeeper, intimidated by his tone, quickly handed him the larger size.
Arjun took her hand and gently slid the bangles in. They fit perfectly.
"Dekh le thik se," he said.
("Check if it fits well,")
She nodded, shaking her hand to hear the soft clinking sound of the bangles.
He paid the amount and took Lata's hand. Sakshi saw him walking towards the car.
"Ji, aap kuch nahi kharidenge apne liye?" she asked curiously.
("Don't you want to buy anything for yourself jii??")
He looked back. "Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, Sakshi. Mere paas sab kuch hai. Chal ab gari mein."
(I don't need anything, Sakshi... I already have everything. Come one now get inside the car.")
Sakshi sighed softly but then her eyes caught sight of a small stall. She quickly walked over and bought something using the money her maa had secretly handed her earlier.
"Kya kar rahi hai wahan, Sakshi?" Arjun called out, his voice slightly raised with concern.
("What are you doing there, Sakshi?")
"Bas aa rahi hoon, ji!" she responded quickly, clutching the small paper packet close to her chest-the one she'd secretly bought just for him.
("I'm coming, Jii...")
As she ran towards him with tiny hurried steps, he extended his other hand instinctively. Without hesitation, she slipped her small palm into his-her delicate fingers curling around his large, reassuring grip, as if it was the safest place in the world.