𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Author's POV:-
Sakshi then started making his plate. She placed 6 hot rotis and spread with desi ghee..one bowl sabzi, one bowl daal and one bowl fresh curd.
'Bahu aur 4 roti de isse...6 se paedh nahi bharega Veer ko..' Buaji said laughing.
(“Bahu, give him four more rotis… six won’t be enough for Veer,”)
Sakshi nodded without a word, adding four more rotis to the plate.
“Haan haan, bahu… ab use de ke aa,” Buaji said, gently patting her back.
(“Yes, yes, bahu… now go and give it to him,”)
She walked upstairs, holding the plate carefully. Veer’s room was right next to theirs. She hesitated before knocking softly on his door, not wanting to barge in.
Inside, Veer was lying on his stomach, dressed in just a white pajama, his upper body bare. As he looked up, he flashed a lazy, charming smile.
“Arey Bhabhi ji… aiye aiye… bahar kyun khadi hain?” he said, slowly sitting up.
(“Oh Bhabhi ji… please come in, why are you standing outside?”)
Sakshi's eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest. She quickly looked away, clearly uncomfortable.
“Nahi Veer, main theek hoon yahin… bas tumhara khana le kar aayi hoon,” she said softly.
(No, Veer, it’s fine… I’m just here to give you your dinner,”)
Veer immediately gave a knowing smirk caughting on to her discomfort and quickly pulled on his kurta.
“Arre kya hai na, Bhabhi… bahut bechain ho raha tha iss garmi mein, toh bina soch samjhe so gaya tha... Ab, aiye andar,” he said, now sitting up properly.
(“Oh, it’s just that… Bhabhi, I was feeling really hot, so I fell asleep like this without thinking… here, please come in,”)
Sakshi exhaled, relieved, and stepped in to place the plate on his table.
“Kha lena theek se... main ja rahi hoon,” she said with a faint smile, turning to leave.
(“Make sure you eat properly… I’ll get going now,”)
“Arey aise kaise Bhabhi? Main toh socha aapke saath thoda baat karunga... aapke baare mein jaanunga. Par aap ho ki mujhse baat hi nahi kar rahe... kya main itna bura lagta hoon aapko?” he asked, voice dipping into mock sadness.
("Are how can you leave like that, Bhabhi jii?? I thought I’d chat with you a little… get to know you. But you don’t talk to me at all… do I really seem that bad to you?”)
Sakshi looked at him and gently shook her head. “Nahi Veer, aisa kuch nahi hai... bas tumhare bhaiya ko khana dena hai, isiliye thodi jaldi mein hoon.”
(“No Veer, nothing like that… I just have to serve food to your brother, so I’m in a bit of a hurry.”)
“Paach minute bhi nahi baith sakti kya yahan? Bhaiya kuch nahi kahenge” he said, patting the empty spot beside him on the bed.
(“You can’t even sit for five minutes? Bhaiya won’t say anything,”)
Reluctantly, Sakshi sat down, unsure and quiet.
“Yeh hui na baat, Bhabhi! Aap toh aise sharma rahi hain jaise main aapke Arjun ji hoon..aaram se baithiye..” he laughed, placing a piece of roti into his mouth.
(“That’s more like it, Bhabhi! You’re behaving like I’m your Arjun ji… relax, sit comfortably,”)
Sakshi’s face froze. She didn’t like the tone of his words—too casual, too personal. But she stayed silent.
“Mazak kar raha tha, Bhabhi… kya hai na, doston ke saath mazak karte karte aadat si ho gayi hai,” he said with a chuckle, brushing it off.
(“I was just joking, Bhabhi… you know, when you joke around with friends all the time, it becomes a habit,” )
Sakshi looked at him, her voice calm but firm. “Par main tumhari dost nahi hoon, Veer… main tumhari Bhabhi hoon".
(“But I’m not your friend, Veer… I’m your Bhabhi.”)
“Arey Bhabhi ji… aap toh gussa ho gayi… mazak tha bas! Ab apni Bhabhi ke saath bhi mazak nahi karunga toh kiske saath karunga, aap hi bataiye?”
(“Oh come on, Bhabhi ji… now you’re angry? It was just a joke! If I don’t joke with my own Bhabhi, then with whom should I?”)
She simply looked down, fingers playing with her bangles.
Her mind echoed with unspoken thoughts. "Mazak karna theek hai… par aisi mazak?"
(“Joking is fine… but this kind of joke?”)
Trying to change the subject, Veer smiled again. “Waise Bhabhi, sabzi aur daal toh kamaal ka bana hai… mann khush ho gaya.”
(“By the way, Bhabhi, the curry and dal are amazing… I’m really enjoying it.”)
“Shukriya, Veer,” she murmured politely.
("Thank you Veer")
While he ate, Sakshi quietly sat there, waiting to take the plate back. Her eyes scanned the room—clothes strewn across the bed, shoes out of place, everything in a mess.
"Kahan woh Arjun ji… har cheez ko sambhal ke rakhne wale… aur kahan yeh unke bhai... dono bhaiyon mein zameen-aasman ka farq hai..." she thought silently.
(“And then there’s Arjun ji… so tidy and organized… and here his younger brother… there’s a world of difference between the two,”)
“Lo Bhabhi ji… ho gaya… le jaiye ab,” Veer said, handing her the empty plate with a smile.
(“All done, Bhabhi ji… you can take it now,” )
She nodded and was about to leave when his voice stopped her from behind.
"Aur ek kaam bhabhi ji... sath mein yeh mere pehne hue kapde bhi le jaiye dhone ke liye," he said casually, making her freeze on the spot.
(“Oh, and one more thing, Bhabhi ji… take my worn clothes along too for washing,”)
She turned back slowly, shocked. "Kya?"
("What ??")
"Wahan uss kursi pe jo meine pehna tha... kurta, patiyala, sab rakha hai. Maa ne kaha tha aapko bata dun. Zara dho dena."
(“The clothes I was wearing earlier are on that chair—kurta, patiala, everything. Maa told me to let you know. Please wash them.”)
Her eyes moved to the chair. The clothes were there—crumpled and carelessly thrown. But what made her breath hitch was the sight of his innerwear among them—his vest... and even his underwear lying carelessly on the floor.
Her face turned crimson with a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.
"Aur jaane se pehle... light band kar dena," he added lazily, throwing a pillow over his eyes and turning away like nothing had happened.
("And yes before going , turn off the lights..")
She stood frozen, staring at him in utter disbelief.
She always knew Buaji could stoop low—but her son too??
How could he expect her to do something like this?
Did he forget she was his bhabhi? His brothers wife.
How could he shamelessly ask her to wash his used clothes... and that too, his underwear?
Not even once had after marriage Arjun ji ever asked her to wash his clothes—not even a single kurta.
He had always respected her dignity.
But this boy... no, this man... had crossed every line of decency.
Her stomach churned in humiliation. She slowly went towards the kursi but before she could take it,
A voice called her from behind.
'Bhabhiii...'
She look back to see Lata standing there at the door.
'Kya hua lata?? Tu abhi tak soyi nahi kyu??' she asked.
(“What happened, Lata? Why haven’t you gone to sleep yet?”)
'Mein jaa hi rahi thi na Bhabhi, par woh bhaiya aapko bula rahe hain kamre mein..' she said looking at Veer once but he didn't even glance at her inspite of listening her voice.
(“I was just about to, Bhabhi, but Bhaiya is calling you to the room,”)
“Acha, thik hai... chal ab,” Sakshi said, and without bothering to pick up Veer’s dirty clothes, she held Lata’s hand and walked out with her.
(“Alright… let's go now")
After settling Lata in her room, Sakshi went straight to the kitchen. She picked up the plate she had prepared earlier and made her way upstairs. As she reached their room, she saw him coming out of the washroom.
He looked at her sharply. “Kahan thi tu itni der tak? Ek plate sajane mein itna waqt lagta hai?”
(“Where were you all this while? Does it really take this long to prepare a plate of food?”)
She bit her lip, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Ji... khana le aayi hoon. Thodi der ho gayi, maaf kijiye.”
("Ji ..Its here, please eat now. It got a little late…”)
He sat down on the chair, not taking his eyes off her. “Tune mere sawaal ka jawab abhi tak nahi diya, Sakshi. Yeh mere sawal ka uttar nahi hai.”
(“You still haven’t answered my question, Sakshi. That’s not a reply to what I asked.”)
She quietly poured water into his glass. “Ji... upar hi aa rahi thi khana leke, par buaji ne kaha pehle Veer ko khana de aau... isliye thoda waqt lag gaya.”
(“I was coming upstairs with your dinner… but then Buaji told me to give Veer his dinner first in his room… said he wasn’t feeling well, so I got delayed.)
His eyes narrowed. “Aur tu chali gayi?”
(“And you just went?”)
Sakshi nodded, guilt creeping into her voice. “Aapke liye hi toh plate saja rahi thi... woh keh rahe the tabiyat thik nahi lag rahe thein Veer ka . Aap hi bataiye, muh mein kaise mana karti?”
(Jii I was preparing your plate only… but she said Veer wasn’t feeling good. Now tell me, how could I say no to her face directly??”)
He shook his head at her softness, but before she could move, he pulled her into his lap, startling her.
“Ji—yeh kya kar rahe hain? Ab khana kaise khayenge aap?” she asked, her pallu slipping from her shoulder." she asked, her pallu falls from her head on its own.
(“Ji, what are you doing? How will you eat like this?”)
She tries to pull it over her head but he held her hand, 'Mere samne pallu dene ki koi zarurat nahi hain..'
("You don't have to put the pallu in front of me ..")
'Aur tu hain na ?? Tu khila degi mujhe..' he said holding her through her waist.
(“You’re here, right? You’ll feed me,” )
'Le?? Ji Ye koi baat hui bhala??' she said , a smile formed at the corner of her lips.
He eyed the food plate, asking him to feed her.
'Aise ulta baithungi toh kaise khilaungi??' she asked and then he shifted her to his other thigh.
("How will I feed you like this ?? Sitting in a wrong way??")
She then started feeding him in small bite, 'Ji thora thanda ho gaya roti..'
(“The roti’s gotten a little cold…”)
He shook his head and, without a word, tore a piece of the roti and brought it to her lips.
She looked at him, surprised.
“Mujhe thandi roti khane ki aadat hai, Sakshi... maa ke saath har roz aise hi khata tha, sabse aakhir mein,” he said gently. She opened her mouth and let him feed her.
(I’m used to eating cold roti, Sakshi. I used to eat like this every day with Maa, at the very end,”)
“Aap na jaise dikhte ho na ji... waise ho nahi,” she said thoughtfully.
(Ji You know… you’re nothing like you look from the outside,”)
“Kaisa hoon?” he asked curiously.
("Who do you mean??")
“Dikhte ho bahut sakt... par andar se naram, ekdum nariyal jaise,” she chuckled, covering her mouth instantly.
(“You look really stern and strict… but inside, you’re soft like a coconut,”)
He raised his eyebrows, amused. She giggled again, this time softly.
“Aur bahar se kaise dikhta hoon? Sakt matlab?” he asked, eyes twinkling.
("So, how do I look from the outside? What do you mean by stern??")
“Sach bolu? Gussa toh nahi karenge na?” She bite her lips.
(“Shall I tell the truth? You won’t get angry, right?”)
“Nahi karunga. Bata.”
(“I won’t. Tell me.”)
'Jab mein aapko pehali baar dekha tha na shaadi k din bohut darr laga raha tha...' she says innocently.
(“Ji When I first saw you on our wedding day… I was terrified,”)
'Mein tujhe kya rakshash lag raha tha..ki tujhe darr lag rahi thi??' he asked.
(Why? Did I look like a monster to you?)
She nodded her head, 'Ji Haa matlab nahi .. mera matlab jaanwar jaise lag rahe thein...'
( “Not exactly… but kind of like that…”)
He raised his eyebrows making her show her full teeth before pouting..
'Are itna lamba thein aap ..mein aapke kande tak bhi nahi aa pati..aur aap bilkul bhi hass nahi rahe thein nah isliye'
(“I mean, you were so tall! I couldn’t even reach your shoulders. And you weren’t smiling at all!”)
'Agar choti umra mein dudh nahi piyegi toh yahi haal hogi na??' he said signalling her both feet which is swaying in air, not even touching the floor while sitting on his lap.
("If you don’t drink milk when you’re little, this is what happens,”)
She looked at him in surprise. “Aapko kaise pata ki mujhe doodh se nafrat hai?”
(“How did you know I hate milk?”)
“Shaadi ki raat yaad hai? Ek hi baar mein aadha glass pi gayi thi... woh bhi naak band karke.”
(“That’s why, on our wedding night, you drank the milk in one gulp, holding your nose shut,” )
She giggled louder. “Oh haan, yaad aayi... kya karti? Aap samne baithe the, nahi toh khidki se phek deti.”
(“Oh yes, I remember. What else could I do? You were sitting right in front of me… or else I’d have thrown it out the window!”)
He watched her, her innocent yet mature charm tugging at his heart. He knew how she forced Lata to drink milk every day, hiding her own distaste.
“Ab bhi tujhe main rakshas lagta hoon?” he asked softly.
(“Do I still seem like a monster to you?”)
She looked at him, then shook her head instantly. “Bilkul bhi nahi ji... aap toh bahut pyaare ho,” she said, brushing his cheek with the back of her palm.
(Not at all, Ji… you’re actually very sweet.”)
She stood up, took the empty plate, and cleaned the table.
“Sirf aur sirf... bas tere liye,” he whispered, watching her intently unknowing to her.
(“Only and only… for you,”)
“Kuch kaha ji?” she asked, flashing a smile.
("Did you say something jii")
He shook his head silently.
“Mujhe laga aapne kuch kaha... chaliye, table saaf kar diya mein. Ab aap apna kaam pura kijiye, main abhi aayi,” she said and walked out of the room.
(“Oh… I thought I heard something. Anyway, I’ve cleaned the table. Now you can complete your work ji… I’ll be back soon”)