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

Author's POV:-
Hearing his question, her face instantly went pale. She looked at him with parted lips, stunned and nervous.
"Tu kuch bol kyun nahi rahi hai, Sakshi? Maine tujhse kuch poocha hai... pehle bistar se neeche utar," he said sternly, lifting her off the bed and placing her on the floor.
(“Why aren’t you saying anything, Sakshi? I asked you something... get off the bed first,”)
"Ab bata, kahan hain woh do kangan?" he demanded, gripping her wrist firmly.
(“Now tell me, where are those two bangles?”)
"Jii... buaji ne aapko bataya toh tha na... maine unse kaha tha aapse kehne ko," she replied hesitantly, her voice trembling.
("Umm... Jii Buaji already told you, didn’t she? I asked her to inform you,”)
He frowned in confusion.
"Buaji? Kya batayengi woh? Kahan hai kangan, Sakshi? Theek se kyun nahi bata rahi?" he asked again, his voice now tinged with anger, making her shiver.
(“Buaji? What would she say? Where are the bangles, Sakshi? Why aren’t you giving me a proper answer?”)
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Sach sach bata, tune kangan kho diya kya? Pata bhi hai, yeh sone ke hain!" he scolded, shaking her slightly.
(“Tell me the truth — did you lose the bangles? Do you even realize they’re made of real gold?”)
She quickly shook her head, sobbing as she held his wrist.
"Nahi ji... maine nahi khoya... buaji ne maange the mujhse... isiliye de diye unhe," she cried.
(“Nahi jii.. I didn’t lose them... Buaji asked for them... so I gave them to her,”)
He stared at her in shock.
"Kya? Tune buaji ko de diya kangan? Maine kaha tha na, kabhi apne haath se yeh kangan mat nikalna. Meri maa ke hain, bahut khaas hain mere liye. Bina pooche tune kaise de diya? Aur kyun diya?" he shouted, jerking his hand free from her grip.
(“What? You gave them to Buaji? Didn’t I tell you never to take those bangles off? They belonged to my mother. They’re very special to me. How could you give them away without asking me? Why would you do that?”)
She flinched, weeping.
She flinched crying, 'Meine jaan bujh k nahi diya ji... buaji ko kahi jana tha...toh unk paas koi sone k gehane nahi thein pehanne k liye...toh unhone mujhse yeh doh kangan mange pehanne k liye aur bole ki laut k wapas de denge ..'
(“Jii I didn’t give them intentionally... Buaji said she had to go to a wedding and didn’t have any gold jewelry to wear... so she asked me for those bangles and promised to return them...”)
"Kisse pooch kar diya, Sakshi? Mujhse ek baar bhi nahi pucha?" he demanded.
(“To whom did you ask before giving them, Sakshi? You didn’t ask me even once?”)
She said voice cracking , 'Meine unse ye bhi kaha ki aapse ek baar puch lu phir deti hu..par unhone kaha woh aapse puch lenge baad mein...aap kuch nahi kahenge...mein kya karu ji ??umra mein bari hain mujhse.. mana nahi kar paayi.....ek saptah ho gay abhi tak wapas nahi kiye ji..'
(“I told her I should ask you first, but she said she would talk to you herself and that you wouldn’t mind... What could I do jii? She’s older than me... I couldn’t say no... It’s been a week now, and she still hasn’t returned them jii...”)
Arjun stared at her tearful face, which was soaked in guilt and fear.
"Sach bol rahi hoon, ji... aap chahein toh buaji se puch lijiye," she sniffled.
(“I swear I’m telling the truth... you can ask Buaji if you want,”)
He closed his eyes, calming himself. Then he took her hand and walked downstairs, her head hung low as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
He straight away goes to the kitchen where buaji was there. Seeing them both coming inside and saw how Sakshi wiping her face. She got to know something definitely happened.
'Haay bahu...tu aise ro kyu rahi hain ..Arjun bete ne kuch Kiya hain kya??' she started acting softly.
(“Haay bahu... why are you crying like this, beta? Did Arjun say something to you?”)
Sakshi didn't respond but look at Arjun sadly..
'Are tu toh bata beta kya baat hai? Bahu aise roh kyu rahi hain?? Iska chehara toh pura lal ho gaye..' she asked Arjun who is just looking at her with straight face.
(“Tell me, son, what’s the matter? Why is your wife crying like this? Her whole face has turned to red,” )
His hold on Sakshi's palm tightens. Still has the audacity of behaving innocently.
'Buaji, Sakshi k jo kangan apne liye thei pehane k liye usse woh abhi k abhi lauta dijiye..' he asked straight forward.
(“Buaji, please return the bangles you borrowed from Sakshi... right now,” )
Bua ji looks at him for few seconds and frowns as if she is hearing the word for the first time.
'Kangan ?? Kaunsa sa kangan beta??' she asked confusingly.
(“Bangles? What bangles are you talking about, beta?”)
Sakshi's eyes widened.
"Ji buaji, aapne hi toh liya tha mujhse... kaha tha shaadi mein pehnna hai aur lautakar de dengi..."
(“Yes, Buaji, you asked me for them… said you needed them for a wedding and would return them later...”)
Arjun silently stared at Buaji, waiting.
"Oh haan... woh do kangan... toh maine waapas de diye the tujhe. Tu kaunse kangan ki baat kar rahi hai ab?" she said calmly.
(“Oh yes... those two bangles... but I returned them to you. Which bangles are you talking about now?”)
Sakshi gasped, "Aapne wapas nahi kiya, buaji... aapse sayad koi galat faemi ho rahi hain... sachhi wapas nahi kiya..." she said, breaking down.
(“You didn’t return them, Buaji... maybe there’s some misunderstanding... but you really didn’t return them,”)
'Mein kyu bhala jhuth bolungi tujhse bahu?? Tuhi bata mujhe kya milega jhuth bolk ?? 'Buaji said with mock innocence.
(“Why would I lie to you, bahu? What would I gain from lying?”)
Sakshi’s hands turned cold. How would she prove the truth now?
Buaji look at Arjun who still now standing there silently.
'Dekh na beta tere biwi kaise mere upar ilzam laga rahe hain..khud kangan kho diya aur ilzam mujhme ?? Yeh toh nah insafi hain na beta??' she asked, sounding hurt.
(“See, beta, your wife is blaming me like this... She lost the bangles herself and now she’s accusing me? This is so unfair, isn’t it, beta?” )
'Aapko sachme yaad hain na buaji ki apne kangan wapas kar diya tha??' Arjun asked in a ice- cold voice.
(“You do remember clearly that you returned the bangles, right, Buaji?”)
Sakshi look at him in teary eyes.
Buaji get slightly startled with his question but composed herself,
'Haa.. beta...mein kyu jhuth kyu bolunga?? Mein liya zarur tha..par baad mein wapas kar diya tha tere biwi ko..ek kaam kar na apne kamre mein firse dekh..sayad mil jaay ..kahi anjane mein rakh di hai...bachi hai na..'
(“Yes... Beta... why would I lie? I did take them, but later I returned them to your wife. Why don’t you both go check your room again... maybe they were kept somewhere unknowingly... she’s still young, after all...”)
Arjun nods his head in understanding, 'Sahi kaha apne buaji...toh fir ek kaam karte hain na..pehale aap hi k kamre se shuru karte hain dhoond na??'
(“You’re right, Buaji... so let’s do one thing — let’s start by searching your room first.”)
Buaji's expression changed, eyes widening.
'Mere...kamre se..kyu ??' she asked stammering.
(“My... room? Why?”)
'Dekhne se kya hi farak parta hain buaji?? Aap se bhi ANJANE mein galti ho sakte hain na hmm??' he asked wrapping his arms.
(“What difference does it make, Buaji? Even you could’ve unknowingly made a mistake, right?”)
'Tujhe lagta ki mein tere biwi k kangan chori ki hain ??' she asked getting slightly emotional.
(“You think I stole your wife’s bangles?”)
'Meine aap par dosh lagaya hain kya buaji nahi na?? Bas dekh raha hu...' he said making buaji tounge tied.
(“Did I accuse you of anything, Buaji? No, right? I’m just checking...”)
'Toh chaliye aapke kamre mein..' he said and with that the trio went to her room.
(“So let’s go to your room,”)
Sakshi was silently standing at one corner.
Arjun scanned the room.
'Meine bataya tha na beta ki wapas kar diya hain..tu bekar mein dekh raha hain... Isse acha apne biwi se pooch achi tarah se..kya pata natak kar rahi hain?? Itna barawa bhi nahi dena chahiye ghar k bahu o ko , nahi toh sar pe char jate hain..she said patting his back, smirking.
(“I told you, beta, I already returned them. You’re wasting your time. Better ask your wife properly... who knows, she might just be putting on an act? Daughter in law shouldn’t be given too much freedom, or they’ll start taking advantage,”)
Arjun's jaw clenched hearing the last sentence.
Sakshi eyes filled with tears.
'Aap thora apni muhh band rakhenge buaji?? Mein dekh raha hu na?? Toh shaanti se dekhne denge aap??' he asked in slow firm voice.
(“Could you please keep your mouth shut, Buaji? I am checking, right? So let me do it peacefully?”)
Without waiting for her reply, he brushed her hand off his back — not gently, but with enough force to make her stumble a step behind. The smirk that had been plastered on her face vanished instantly. She now was standing there silently.
Arjun's eyes then landed on drawer but when he was about to open it , it was locked.
'Isse kholiye buaji... mujhe dekhna hai isme kya hain..jaldi kholiye..' he said
(“Open this, Buaji... I want to see what’s inside. Open it now,”)
Buaji laughs, 'Beta isme toh tere phuphaji k dawai- wagera sab hain..isk alawa kuch nahi hain..'
(“Oh son, that drawer just has your uncle’s medicines and stuff... nothing else.”)
'Thik hain ...ek baar dekh hi lete hain...chaabi dijiye mujhe..' he said
(“Alright... but let’s check anyway. Give me the key,”)
'Tu mujhe bilkul bhi bharosa nahi karta na ??' she asked taking out the key that she wrapped inside her pallu.
(“You don’t trust me at all, do you?”)
He didn't respond.
Buaji hesitated for a beat before untying the small key hidden in her pallu. Her fingers trembled slightly as she handed it over.
Arjun inserted the key into the lock and turned it slowly. Click.
He sighed looking inside it.
Inside, neatly wrapped in a soft red cloth, lay the two gold kangan.
He then look at buaji who acting like she was too shocked.