𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Author's POV:-
"Tujhe pata hai na, maine tujhe yahan kis kaam k liye bulaya hai?" Buaji asked, a sly smirk playing on her lips.
("You know why I've called you here, don't you?" )
Veer was comfortably lying on his mother's lap, one leg crossed over the other, completely at ease. He glanced up at her with mock irritation.
"Maa, bol toh aap aise rahi ho jaise mujhe koi bhoolne ki bimaari ho," he said, rolling his eyes.
("Maa, you're talking as if I have some memory loss,")
Buaji chuckled, gently running her fingers through his hair. Her touch was affectionate, but her eyes gleamed with something far more calculated.
"Toh, kya socha hai? Kya karne ka irada hai?" she asked, voice low and curious.
("So, what have you thought? What do you plan to do?")
"Woh sab mere haatho mein chod dijiye, Maa. Main sab dekh loonga," he replied with confidence.
("Leave all that to me, Maa. I'll handle everything,")
Buaji's smile faded just a little, replaced by concern.
"Ek baat yaad rakhna, Veer... bhool kar bhi Arjun ke saamne kuch mat karna. Agar zara si bhi chook hui na, tu poora phans jaayega," she warned, the weight of past mistakes heavy in her voice.
("Just remember one thing, Veer... don't do anything in front of Arjun. If you make even a small mistake, you'll be completely trapped")
Her tone turned bitter as she added, "Jaise main phansi thi uss din..."
("Just like I was trapped that day...")
Veer chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Aap toh ek number ki buddhu hain. Kisne kaha tha woh kangan uss drawer mein rakhne ke liye? Aapko nahi pata bhaiya ki nazar aur dimaag dono kitne tez hain? Woh turant pakad lete hain!"
("You're really something else, Maa. Who told you to keep that bracelet in the drawer? Don't you know how sharp Bhaiya's eyes and mind are? He catches everything instantly!")
"Toh main kya karti?" she said defensively, frustration bubbling up.
("Then what was I supposed to do?")
"Mujhe kya pata tha bahu Arjun ko sab kuch bata degi itni jaldi? Aur itne kam samay mein aur kya karti?"
("How would I have known that bahu would tell Arjun everything so soon? What else could I have done in such a short time?")
Veer raised an eyebrow. "Toh kangan bech dete na, paise le lete uske badle mein... jaise aapne Mami ke time kiye thein..kitne labh hua tha hum logo k..." he said casually, as if recalling a simple business deal.
("You could have sold the bangles and taken the money for it... just like you did during Mami's time. We made quite a profit that time...")
Buaji fell silent .She nodded her head.
After a moment, she finally spoke, her voice quieter and laced with anxiety.
"Jo hua so hua... par tu dhyan se kaam karna. Ek bhi galti, Veer, Arjun tujhe zinda gaar dega."
("What's done is done... but be careful now. One mistake, Veer, and Arjun will bury you alive.")
Veer sat up a bit, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Maa, bekar mein chinta kyun kar rahi ho? Bola na, kuch nahi hoga. Aur galti ka toh sawaal hi paida nahi hota... kyunki jo kaam mein karne jaunga usme saara dosh toh seedha Sakshi bhabhi ji par hi jaayega. Aap likh lo... abhi ke abhi, khate mein!" He laughed darkly.
("Maa, why are you worrying for nothing? I told you, nothing will happen. And there's no question of a mistake... because the entire blame for what I'm about to do will fall directly on Sakshi Bhabhi. You can write that down in copy")
"Aap bas mere taal se taal milana... aur haan, thode aansu tapka dena. Bhaiya ko lagega jo hum bol rahe hain, wah hi pura sach hai..." His smirk was wicked now.
("You just play along with me... and yes, shed a few tears. That way, Bhaiya will believe everything we say is the whole truth...")
Buaji couldn't help but smile. There was pride in her eyes, masked behind maternal warmth.
"Tu chinta na kar beta... main toh har waqt tere saath hoon..bas tu aisa kuch karna jisse ki Arjun Sakshi ko ghar se nikal de".
("Don't worry, my son... I'm always with you. Just do something that makes Arjun throw Sakshi out of the house.")
It was afternoon when Sakshi is working in kitchen preparing lunch and Lata is standing here seeing how her bhabhi is making food.
'Tere pair nahi dard ho rahi kya ,itni der se jo khari hain..' she asked giving a small smile at Lata.
("Aren't your legs hurting, standing for so long?")
She shake her head, 'Aap bhi toh khari hain kitni der se bhabhi..'
("You're also standing for so long, Bhabhi.")
She chuckles, 'Mein aur tu kya ek hain bacha..mujhe aadat hain itni der khadi rehane ki..tu agar karegi na, phir pair mein dard hogi...'
("You and I aren't the same, bacha?? I'm used to standing for this long. If you try it, your legs will definitely hurt.")
She frowns and shook her head, 'Par mujhe seekhna hain bhabhi..aap kaise khana banate ho..mere sare saheliya ko ati hain khana banana..sirf mujhe hi nahi aati..'
(But I want to learn, Bhabhi... how you cook. All my friends know how to cook-only I don't.")
Sakshi cups her cheek, 'Toh jab teri samay ayegi ,mein sikha dungi tujhe ache se..abhi tu bohut choti hain khana banane k liye bacha...hath jala degi..'
("When the time comes, I'll teach you properly. Right now, you're too young for this, bacha... you'll burn your hands.")
Lata blinks her eyes and hugs her bhabhi by her waist in response. Sakshi caressed her hair lovingly.
'Ab jaa bacha , mere kamre mein jake kuch khel...yaha rasoi mein bohut garmi hain...mein yeh bana lu fir sabko bulati hun khane k liye..' she said and Lata leave from there.
("Now go, bacha. Go to my room and play a bit... it's too hot in the kitchen. I'll finish cooking and then call everyone for lunch,")
Everyone was seated around the dining table, enjoying lunch. Arjun and Veer sat side by side, while Sakshi and Buaji sat opposite them, serving food whenever needed.
"Tera padhai kaise chal raha hai, Veer?" Arjun asked casually, catching Veer off guard.
("How are your studies going, Veer?")
"Haan bhaiya, bas acha chal raha hai..." Veer replied with a nervous smile, his eyes fixed on his plate.
("Yes, Bhaiya... it's going well,")
"Jo pariksha pichhle mahine hua tha, uska result toh dikhaya nahi tune?" Arjun probed further, his tone laced with suspicion.
("And the exam you had last month? You didn't show the result?")
"Woh... bhool gaya bhaiya lane mein.. Aap chinta mat kijiye, pass ho gaya hoon ache se" Veer answered, trying to sound confident.
("That... I forgot to bring it, Bhaiya... Don't worry, I passed well,")
"Sirf pass hone se kya hoga? Achhe number laana nahi hai kya??" Arjun taunted.
("Just passing isn't enough. Don't you want to score good marks?"
"Kar lega Arjun... tu bekaar mein usse taane mat maar. Mera Veer bahut hi buddhimaan hai" Buaji interjected with a proud smile.
("He'll do well, Arjun... don't taunt him unnecessarily. My Veer is very intelligent,")
'Kab karega?? Burapa ho jayega tab karega aapka beta huhh??' he asked making buaji kept silent.
("When will he do well? When he's old and grey?")
Veer didn't dare to open his mouth because he knows how much scary is his bhaiya Arjun.
Just then, Sakshi leaned a little toward Arjun and asked gently, "Aapko kuch chahiye ji?"
("Do you need anything, ji?")
Arjun shook his head.
"Toh woh aadha paratha kis ke saath khayenge? Thaale mein sabzi bhi nahi hai... dahi doon?" she asked, glancing at his plate.
("Then with whom will you eat that half paratha? There's no curry on your plate either... should I get you some fresh curd?")
"Achha de ," he nodded. She quickly handed him a bowl of curd.
("Okay, get it," )
Meanwhile, Veer wasn't focused on his food at all. His eyes quietly followed Sakshi's every movement - the soft smile playing on her lips, the eyes which were filled with deep kajal, the graceful way she adjusted the pallu over her head.
Sakshi could feel his deep and intense gaze, The moment she looked up at him, he quickly turned away, pretending to be engrossed in his food.
She sat down beside Buaji, holding her pallu tightly over her head, trying to compose herself. As she adjusted a few empty plates on the table, she suddenly flinched - feeling something lightly graze the top of her foot below the dining table.
Startled, she looked down quickly, but saw nothing there.
Her eyes darted to Arjun, who appeared nonchalant. A shy smile crept onto her face, assuming he was teasing her. But when their eyes met, she was met not with a mischievous grin, but a blank, confused expression.
"Kya kar rahe hain aap ji?" she asked silently, her eyes questioning.
("What are you doing ji??")
"Main? Kya kar raha hoon?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
("Me? What am I doing?")
"Aapne hi toh kiya... abhi abhi," she hinted, signaling with her eyes and a subtle movement of her foot.
(""You just did something... just now,")
But Arjun's confusion didn't fade. Instead of the flirtatious spark she expected, there was only uncertainty in his eyes. Her smile faded as a wave of realization hit her.
She turned slowly toward Veer. He sat there chewing, innocence painted across his face - but the slight, knowing smirk on his lips told another story.
Her stomach knotted.
Could it be... Veer?
Fear bubbled in her chest. She quickly looked away.
"Kya hua bahu? Itni achanak se uchli kyun?" Buaji asked, noticing the change in her expression.
("What happened, Bahu? Why did you suddenly jump?" )
"Kuch nahi buaji... bas aise hi," Sakshi murmured, trying to mask her unease.
("Nothing, Buaji... just like that," )
Veer leaned slightly forward, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Kya hua, Bhabhi ji? Koi samasya hai?" he asked, his tone innocent - but the smirk remained.
("What happened, Bhabhi ji? Is there a problem?")
Sakshi lowered her gaze. "Nahi... kuch nahi," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.
("No, nothing")
Arjun looked at her, brows furrowed in concern, but she avoided his gaze completely.
In the room Sakshi was folding the dry clothes of her and Arjun's clothes. She saw him write something on paper with concentration. Probably something related to work.
'Batau kya unhe aj jo hua khane k samay??' she questioned herself.
("Should I tell him what happened during lunch?")
'Par kya batau?? Mujhe toh thikh se pata bhi nahi hai ki woh Veer tha yah buaji..yah meri hi galat faemi..' she wondered.
("But what will I say? I don't even know if it was Veer or Buaji... or maybe I misunderstood...")
'Tu soja Sakshi, mujhe thora der lagega yeh khatam karne mein..' he said.
("You sleep, Sakshi. It'll take me a little longer to finish this,")
After keeping all dried clothes in almirah, she then goes towards him to see what he was writting.
'Ji Kitni der lagegi aapko??' she asked as gently sat on his lap.
("How long will it take, ji?")
"Aur aadha ghanta lagega... bola tha na tujhe sone ko," he replied, though his arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her in closer so she could sit properly.
("About half an hour more... I told you to go sleep,")
"Achha ji, theek hai... aap khatam kar lijiye, phir ek saath soyenge," she said with a small smile.
("Okay, fine... finish it, then we'll sleep together," )
He sighed and placed his chin on her shoulder.
"Phir tu itne samay tak kya karegi?" he murmured.
("Then what will you do till then?")
"Ji bas aapke paas baithi rahungi... aur dekhungi aap kya likh rahe hain," she replied, her eyes gleaming with affection.
(" Ji I'll just sit with you... and watch what you're writing,")
He resumed writing while she watched, tracing his handwriting with quiet curiosity. But soon, her head started drooping, her eyes struggling to stay open. She blinked her eyes and shook her head cutely.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he saw her head slowly lower onto the edge of his notebook. Without disturbing her, he gently guided her head to rest on his broad shoulder.
She shifted in her sleep, nestling into the curve of his neck, her parted lips brushing softly against his skin. Warm breaths tickled his neck.
"Das minute bhi nahi lagi isse sone mein..." he whispered with a soft chuckle.
("She didn't even last ten minutes...")
Carefully, he loosened the end of her pallu from her waist, sensing that it was making her uncomfortable.
She instinctively curled up like a child on his lap, tucking her knees in. One of her hands rose sleepily to his neck, fingers clutching him gently, and she exhaled deeply in relief.
"Jiii..." she murmured.
He looked down quickly, thinking she was awake, but realized she was simply talking in her sleep.
Once his work was done, he gently scooped her up in his arms.
He look down at her and murmurs , "Din-ba-din tu toh aur bhi patli hoti ja rahi hai... khana khati bhi hai ya sirf din-raat hawa se hi pet bhara leti hai? Lagta hai tujhe thoda aur mota banana padega.."
("You're getting thinner day by day... do you even eat, or do you just survive on air? Looks like I'll have to fatten you up a little...")
He laid her on the bed, turning off the lights.
He lay beside her, and the moment she sensed his presence, she immediately inched closer, snuggling into his arms, burying her face into the crook of his neck, putting one leg over his stomach.
He looks down to see her knees touch his member but he didn't mind, instead he scooted her more closer by her waist.Her soft palm rested against his rough cheek, and with her warmth surrounding him, he finally drifted off to sleep.