𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Author's POV :-
Both Sakshi and Arjun had entered their room. Arjun was staring at her in such a way that it sent a shiver of fear down her spine.
She looked up at him with teary eyes, her lips trembling, but no words came out.
“Jii…” she whispered, barely audible.
“Jaake saari badal ke aa, Sakshi,” he said in a deep voice that made her flinch.
("Just go and changed into fresh saree Sakshi...")
“Jii… maine kuch nahi—” she started again, her trembling hands giving away her nervousness.
("Jii...I didn't do anyt-")
“Main abhi kya kaha tujhe? Kya karne ko bola?” he asked, his voice firm as she lowered her gaze.
("What did I ask right now ?? What did I ask you to do ??")
“Kapde badalne ko…” she murmured, her voice choked with tears.
("To change in a fresh saree..")
“Toh jaa…” he said coldly.
("So go..")
Without another word, she obeyed and went to the bathroom to change her saree.
She quickly changed and came back outside to see Arjun standing with his back facing her. Gathering courage, she took slow, hesitant steps toward him.
Before she could say anything—
“Kya hua tha aaj rasoi mein?” he asked, his voice direct and calm.
("What happened in the kitchen today??")
Her lips quivered, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
She sobbed, eyes fixed on the floor. Arjun turned around to face her.
“Maine kuch poocha tujhse, Sakshi. Batayegi ya nahi batayegi?” he asked again, this time softer but dead serious.
("I ask you something Sakshi?? Will you tell me or not??")
He wasn't shouting or visibly angry, but his voice carried a weight that made her knees weak. She could feel the fury simmering beneath his composure.
Shaking her head, she joined her hands pleadingly. “Jii, maine kuch nahi kiya… sach mein… meri koi galti nahi hai… vishwas kijiye…”
("Ji..I didn't do anything..really..It's not my mistake...ji please trust me..")
Her tear-soaked eyes made his heart clench, but he needed to know the truth.
He gently pulled her by the arm and hugged her tightly.
That was enough for her to break. She began sobbing loudly, shaking her head in denial, her tears soaking his kurta.
Arjun slowly lifted her up from the ground, and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder, crying uncontrollably. Her tears is soaking his cloth.
“Maine kuch nahi kiya, ji… main toh bas rasoi mein khana bana rahi thi… phir Veer aaya… paani maanga… toh main gilas mein paani bhar rahi thi us matke se… tabhi peeche se woh mere…” she broke down, her nails digging into the nape of his neck.
("I didn't do anything jii...I was just cooking in the kitchen..then Veer came and ask for water..and when I bend down to filled the glass...he came behind me and ...")
“…kamar ko chhua…” she choked out, gasping through her sobs. Her fingers gripping his nape tightly.
("And he touched my waist..")
Arjun’s grip on her waist tightened at her words, but he let her speak.
“Main jab peeche muri… toh woh mere bilkul kareeb khada tha… aur gilas ki paani usse takra gayi… aadha mere upar gira… aur aadha us par…"
("When I look behind...I saw Veer was standing so close to me..and the glass collided with him... causing the water to split..half on my saree and other half on him..")
She sobbed harder.
“Phir kya hua?” he asked, voice strained but calm.
("Then what happened??")
“Main zor se chillayi… par Veer waisa hi mere kareeb khada tha… jaise kuch hua hi nahi… ajeeb tareeke se has raha tha… main peeche hatne lagi… par paani ki wajah se pair phisal gaya… aur matka gir gaya… saara paani fail gaya, ji…”
("Then I screamed loudly..but then also Veer was standing so close to me like nothing has happened..and he was laughing very weirdly..I then immediately step back..but my feet got slipped slightly on fallen water on the floor..due to imbalance, my hand gets collided with the matka causing it to fall down and due to that, entire water wets the floor..")
She was still holding on to him tightly, her body trembling.
“Mujhe Veer ka dekhne ka tareeka… uska baat karne ka andaaz… sab kuch ajeeb lagta hai, ji… jabse woh iss ghar mein aaya hai…”
("Jii I don't like the way, he stares at me..the way of talking... everything is weird about him, since the day he has come to this house..")
Arjun frowned deeply, his eyes dark with unspoken rage. He gently took her face in his hands, making her look into his eyes.
“Usne pehle bhi tere saath kuch kiya hai?” he asked.
("Did he also tried to do something else earlier??")
Sakshi nodded slowly in ashamed.
“Toh mujhe pehle bataya kyun nahi? Chup kyun thi itne din tak?” he asked, his voice rising slightly in frustration.
("Then why didn't you tell me earlier?? Why you were silent in all this days??)
She cried louder.
“Aaj dopahar ke khane ke samay… jab main aapko paros rahi thi… tab mujhe laga jaise koi mere pairon ko chhoo raha ho… jab maine neeche dekha toh koi nahi tha… mujhe laga aap ho…”
(“This afternoon, during lunch… when I was serving you… I felt like someone was touching my feet… when I looked down, there was no one… I thought it was you teasing me…”)
Arjun stared at her silently.
“Par aapne toh aisa kuch nahi kiya… tabhi maine Veer ko dekha… phir wahi ajeeb si hansi… wahi ghoorne ka tareeka… wahi toh kiya hoga, ji…” she whispered.
(“But you didn’t do anything like that… then I saw Veer… that same strange laugh… the same way of staring… it must have been him…”)
Arjun let her go, stepping back in anger.
“Tere yeh sab chupane ki aadat na… mujhe bilkul pasand nahi hai, Sakshi. Nafrat hai mujhe isse” he said harshly.
(“This habit of hiding things from me… I absolutely hate it, Sakshi. I despise it,” )
She flinched, her eyes widened in pain at his words.
'Jiii...aise mat boliye..mujhe pata nahi tha ki woh sachme Veer tha yah buaji yah meri hi galatfehmi...' she sobbed.
(“Please… don’t say that… I didn’t know whether it was really Veer or Buaji or maybe it was just my misunderstanding…”)
'Toh bata toh sakti thi na?? Batane se kya samasya thi apne pati ko?? Meine nahi kiya ...tab sirf ek hi insaan bacha tha..woh hain Veer..hain na?? Ab ek aurat toh aise harkat karegi nahi hain na???' he shot back.
(“Then why didn’t you tell me?? What was the problem in telling you own husband?? I didn’t do it… so there was only one person left… it had to be Veer, right?? A woman wouldn’t behave like that, would she??” )
She kept quiet unable to argue.
'Pehale woh kangan ki baat aur ab yeh?? Jab baat hadh se bohut age bar jaati hain...tab tere demaag ki batti jalti hain...' he shouted.
(“First the kangan incident, and now this?? You only realize the gravity of things when it’s too late…”)
She cries silently.
He looks away , his muscle of the shoulder clenched thinking of that bastard....
'Vishwas kijiye..meine kuch nahi kiya..' she stammers, her words chocked as she gripped his kurta lightly.
(“Believe me… I didn’t do anything wrong…”)
'Vishwas karta hu mein Sakshi...karta hu tujhpe..' he said.
(“I believe you, Sakshi… I do trust you…”)
'Aise hi itna sawal nahi pucha tujhse...kyuki mein Veer ko nas-nas se janta hu..mere aankhon k samne bara hua hain woh...' he said making Sakshi look at him shockingly.
(“That’s why I asked so many questions… because I know Veer inside out… he grew up before my very eyes…”)
'Uska har ek aadat..jhoot bolna..kis baat ko ghuma phira k bolna ...sab pata hain mujhe..' he said..
(“All his habits—lying, twisting stories—I know them all too well…”)
'Ajj bhi woh neeche jo bariya natak kiya na ,magarmach ki aasu nikal k.. woh bhi mujhe pata hain...sab dhong hain sab dhong...college jaake woh kya kya karta hain ...kaunsi larki ko cherta hain.. mazak urata hain....kaunsi larki k sath ayyashi karta hain woh bhi mujhe achi tarah se pata hain...par mujhe yeh nahi pata tha ki woh khud k bhabhi k sath aisa kuch kar payega..' he said,his fist clenching tightly.
(“Even today, that dramatic act downstairs, those crocodile tears… I saw through it all… it was fake… all of it. I know what he does in college—who he teases, who he mocks, the girls he flirts with and exploits… I knew all of that… but I didn’t know he could do something like this with his own bhabhi…” )
'Mann kar raha hain ki abhi k abhi jaake uske dono hathon ko zinda jala du aag mein..gala daba du....ankhen nochne ka mann kar raha hain uss kamine ka...par aise hi bina saboot k mein kuch nahi kar sakta..' he says making Sakshi's breath hitch with his voice.
(“I feel like burning his hands alive right now… strangling him… gouging out his eyes… that bastard… but I can’t do anything without proof,”)
Sakshi’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know what to say. Her guilt was already drowning her.
He looked back at her. “Ab kya soch rahi hai? Aur kuch toh nahi chupa rahi mujhse?”
(“What are you thinking now? You’re not hiding anything else from me, are you?”)
She looks up at him quickly shaking her head in fear.
He sighed, placing his large palm gently on her tear-streaked cheek, wiping it softly.
"Mujhe maaf kar dijiye... aage se aisa nahi hoga ji... jo bhi hoga, sab kuch pehle bata dungi aapko... kuch bhi nahi chhu paungi... aap bas naraz mat rahiye mujhse... nahi dekh pati main aapko aise ji," she whispered, as one lone tear escaped her eye.
("Please forgive me... I won’t repeat this again... whatever happens, I’ll tell you first... I won’t hide anything... just don’t stay upset with me… I can’t bear to see you like this,")
He nodded slowly, silently.
"Chal, khana kha lete hain," he said softly.
(“Come, let’s eat,”)
She hesitated, glancing towards the staircase, worried Veer might be downstairs.
"Chal, main hoon tere saath... rasoi mein rahunga. Koi kuch nahi karega," he assured, wrapping one arm protectively around her shoulders.
(“I’m here with you... I’ll stay in the kitchen. No one can do anything”)
They walked downstairs and were surprised to find the space empty. As they entered the kitchen, they saw the floor was wet, and a broken matka lay scattered in pieces.
"Ji, aap bas rukiye... main yeh saaf kar leti hoon, phir khana parosti hoon," she said quickly, and he nodded.
("Ji you just stand here..let me first clean the area..then I'll serve the food..")
Wrapping her saree tightly around her waist, she knelt down and began wiping the wet floor with a cloth. Arjun then bend down and started collecting the broken pieces.
'Jii aap choriye ..mein kar lungi..' Sakshi said.
("Jii leave it..I'll do it..")
'Ek sath karunga toh kaam jaldi ho jayega...tu bas pocha laga..' he said.
(“It’ll get done faster if we do it together… you just wipe the floor,”)
After cleaning up, she washed her hands.
Arjun then pulled out two plates from the wooden rack, one for each of them.
"Ji... aaj toh kuch khaas nahi bana payi... sirf daal aur ek sabzi hai," she said in a small voice.
(“Ji... I couldn’t cook anything special today… just dal and one sabzi,”)
"Theek hai... isse hi chala lenge aaj. Baaki kal dekhenge... jo hoga dekha jayega," he replied calmly.
(“It’s fine… we’ll make do today. Tomorrow, we’ll see... whatever happens, we’ll face it,”)
On the other hand,
'Pagal hain kya?? Akal bech k aya hai kya tu?? Kya zarurat thi woh sab harkate karne ki tujhe??' Buaji asked in frustration looking out of window.
(“Have you lost your mind?? Have you sold your sense?? What was the need to do all that??” )
Veer chuckles sarcastically, 'Kamal hai maa aap bhi..agar kuch karu toh bhi dikkat ..na karu toh bhi dikkat..samasya kaha hai batayenge zara aap??'
(“Amazing, Maa... if I do something, it’s a problem… if I don’t, it’s still a problem. Can you tell me where the real issue lies?”)
She then look at him, 'Yeh tu jo kar raha hai na ..aisa na ho ki baad mein Arjun k haath toh pit jaay buri tarah se ....bata de rahi hu mein...'
(“The way you’re acting… don’t be surprised if Arjun ends up beating you badly one day. I’m warning you...”)
Veer look at his mother in disbelief, 'Kyu maar khaunga bhala?? Bhaiya ne kya dekha mujhe woh sab karne k samay?? Aap bhi na kya ulta-phulta cheez bolte rahata ho..'
(“Why would he beat me? Did he catch me doing anything? You always say the most ridiculous things...”)
'Tune dekha na kitna natak aur aasu bahane se bhi teri baat par bilkul bhi bharosa nahi kiya ...sirf kiya toh kiya apne biwi pe...' she said tensely.
(“He saw that even with all your drama and tears, he didn’t trust your words for a second… the only person he trusted was his wife,”)
'Are choro na maa bhaiya ki baate... bhaiya ek number k chamcha hain apne biwi k..unhe kuch aur dikhta hi nahi siway apne biwi k alawa..' Veer scoffs.
(“Oh please, Maa… forget Bhaiya. He’s completely whipped by his wife… he can’t see anything beyond her,” )
Buaji didn't replied and just her fingers were playing with her saree pallu.
Veer sighed and wrapped his arms around her mother, 'Ab Kya deemag mein chal raha hain..khul k bolenge??'
(“What’s going on in that head of yours? Can you tell me clearly??”)
She sighed and caressed his cheek.
'Beta ...age jo bhi karna hain..soch samjh k karna, phirse bol raha hu...jab Arjun kaam pe jayega..tabhi karna..samjha??' she said.
(“Son… whatever you do next, think carefully. I’m telling you again… only act when Arjun goes to work. Got it?”)
'Haa maa.. samajh gaya.. aapka beta ka deemag itna bhi gobar nahi hain..ki kulhari apne pair pe hi maare' he joked making his maa chuckle.
(“Yes, Mom… I got it. Your son isn’t so dumb that he’ll shoot himself in the foot,”)
They both had dinner together in silence. Sakshi kept stealing glances at him, hoping he would say something—anything. But Arjun quietly ate, his eyes fixed on the plate, his mind elsewhere..like he is thinking something deep.
Her heart sank. She pushed the food around her plate before slowly trying to get up.
“Kaha ja rahi hai bina khana khatam kiye?” he asked grabbing her wrist.
(“Where are you going without finishing your food?”)
“Pet bhar gaya hai ji... aur nahi khana,” she murmured softly.
(“My stomach is full… I can’t eat more,”)
“Chup-chaap baith aur pura khana khatam kar,” he said firmly, pulling her back down by the wrist.
(“Sit down and finish your food quietly,” )
She pouted, staring at him with big eyes.
“Muh kya dekh rahi hai meri... khana khatam kar. Khana khatam kiye bina, udhne nahi dunga tujhe yahan se,” he added sternly.
(“Why are you staring at me like that... finish your food. Until you finish eating, I’m not letting you leave,”)
“Aap toh bilkul meri maa ki tarah bolte ho ji...” she muttered under her breath and began chewing the roti reluctantly.
(“You are talking just like my maa, ji…”
He didn’t reply.
After finishing dinner, they both quietly made their way to bed. Sakshi peeked at him through the dim light to see if he had fallen asleep. His arm was resting over his eyes. For the first time in days, he didn’t hold her in his sleep.
She turned toward him, blinking slowly. “Ji... so gaye kya aap?” she whispered.
("Jii did you slept already??")
“Hmm... tu bhi aankhein band kar aur so ja, Sakshi,” Arjun murmured without removing his arm.
("Hmm you too sleep sakshi..")
She inched closer to him and gently lifted his other arm that was resting on his stomach. He half-opened his eyes, just in time to see her wrap it around her waist and place her head on his shoulder.
“Kya kar rahi hai tu?” he asked, voice low and groggy.
("What are you doing??")
“Kuch nahi ji... bas aapke kandhe pe sona hai mujhe,” she whispered and closed her eyes.
(“Nothing ji... I just want to sleep on your shoulder,”)
He didn’t say a word but let his hand rest on her waist.
When she was sure he was asleep, Sakshi slowly opened her eyes and looked up at his peaceful face. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she gently caressed his cheek with her fingertips, careful not to wake him.
“Ji... aap abhi bhi naraz ho na mujhse? Mujhe pata hai... aap gussa ho... bohot,” she whispered sadly.
(“Ji... you’re still upset with me, aren’t you? I know... you’re very angry,” )
There was no response. Just his steady breathing. But the way his arm held her even in sleep, wrapped protectively around her, spoke volumes.
She glanced down at where his hand rested on her waist and smiled faintly.
Slowly, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss near his lips, letting it linger for a few seconds.
“Kitna pyaar karte ho na aap mujhpar gussa reha ke bhi, hain na ?” she murmured, her lips brushing his.
(“You love me so much even if you are angry..know??”)
“Main bhi... bohot pyaar karti hoon aapse, ji.”
(“I love you a lot too, ji.”)
A few strands of her hair fell onto his face, making him scrunch his nose in his sleep. She gasped lightly and tucked her hair behind her ear, watching him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.
Finally, she nestled closer to him, eliminating every inch of distance between them.
Her body molded into his, and the soft clinking of her bangles echoed gently in the silence as she clutched the fabric of his kurta, dipped her face in the crook of his warm neck.
He moved slightly in sleep pulling her more close by his both arms. His fingers unknowingly going beneath her saree clutching her flat belly.