𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Author's POV:-
As instructed by Arjun, Sakshi was cooking in the kitchen, with Kajal assisting her quietly.
"Kuch hua tha kya kal, bhabhi? Bhaiya bohot gusse mein lag rahe the..." Kajal asked hesitantly, glancing at Sakshi.
("Did something happened yesterday bhabhi?? Bhaiya was looking so angry..")
Sakshi froze for a moment, startled.
Then slowly, she shook her head and said softly, "Nahi Kajal... bas tu mere saath rehna rasoi mein."
("Nothing Kajal, just be with me all the time in the kitchen..")
Kajal nodded and resumed washing the vegetables.
Half an hour later, Buaji walked into the kitchen. Her gaze immediately fixed on Sakshi and the food being prepared. Sakshi, sensing her presence behind her, straightened up silently.
"Kajal, kya ban raha hai aaj khane mein?" Buaji asked sharply.
("Kajal what will be there for lunch??")
"Ji Buaji... daal aur mooli ki sabzi," Kajal replied meekly.
("Haa buaji..now just daal and one curry is done..")
Buaji huffed and glared at Sakshi. "Thik hai. Lekin apni bhabhi se keh dena-mere Veer ke liye kuch bhi banane ki zarurat nahi hai. Main apne bete ko is besharam ladki ke haath ka ek daana bhi nahi khilaungi. Bata dena is ghar ki bahu ko."
("Fine. But tell your bhabhi-there's no need to make anything for my Veer. I won't let my son eat even a single grain made by this shameless girl. Tell this clear to the daughter-in-law of this house.")
Sakshi remained quiet, her eyes fixed on the stove.
"Jo kiya usne kal mere bete ke saath... main kabhi nahi bhoolungi. Besharam aurat... masoom banne ka dhong karti hai. Andar se toh zehar bhari hai" Buaji spat venomously.
("What she did to my son yesterday... I will never forget. Shameless woman... pretends to be innocent. But she's filled with poison inside," )
Kajal looked at Sakshi, whose eyes shimmered with silent tears. Because the way buaji cursed and abused by insulting her, it hurt her deeply.
"Aree tu nahi jaanti Kajal... kal gandhi nazar se dekha hai mere bete ko. Chhi! Tu bhi saavdhan rehna. Apne dono beto ko kabhi yahan mat lana... kab, kis par gandi nazar daal de, kya bharosa??" Buaji sneered.
("You don't know, Kajal... she looked at my son with dirty intentions yesterday. Ugh! Be careful too. Never bring your sons here... who knows when she might cast her filthy gaze on someone?")
"Chehra dekhne mein bhi ghin aati hai mujhe... kitna roya mera beta kal... khana tak nahi khaya raat ko.." She wiped her tears dramatically.
("Even her face disgusts me... my poor son cried so much yesterday... didn't even eat dinner..." )
"Ek maa ka dard tu kya samjhegi... isse toh sirf hawas chadhi hai...bhagwan hain upar...woh sab dekh rahe hain..."
("What would you know of a mother's pain... all she knows is lust... But God is watching it all...")
With that, Buaji stormed out.
A sob escaped Sakshi's lips.
"Bhabhi!!" Kajal gasped, clutching her shoulder.
"Kajal... maine kuch nahi kiya re... sach mein... yeh sab jo bol gayi... jhooth hai sab..." Sakshi whispered between tears, biting her lips.
("Kajal... I didn't do anything... truly... all that she said... it's all lies...")
Kajal hugged her tightly, trying to calm her. "Mujhe pata hai, Sakshi bhabhi... aapko kuch batane ki zarurat nahi hai... aise mat roiye..."
("I know, Sakshi bhabhi... you don't need to say anything... please don't cry like this...")
"Main kaamwali zarur hoon... par hoon toh ek aurat hi na?" Kajal cupped her face gently.
("I may be just a maid... but I'm still a woman too, aren't I?")
Sakshi looked down, embarrassed. She didn't need to tell Kajal what Veer had actually done. Kajal seemed to guess it already.
"Veer bhaiya... aise hi hain. Har ladkiyo ko apne gandi nazar se dekhte hain..5 saal se kaam kar rahi hu yaha.." Kajal said quietly.
("Veer bhaiya... he's always been like this. Looks at every girl with dirty eyes... I've been working here for 5 years...")
Sakshi looked up, surprised.
"Haan bhabhi... par main kuch bolti nahi... chup rehti hoon. Meri baato ka kaun hi vishwas karenge?" Kajal gave a sad smile.
("Yes bhabhi... but I never said anything... just kept quiet. Who would believe me anyway?")
"Bas aap aur bhaiya acche log hain... isliye dil nahi karta yeh kaam chhorne ki. Aur isi sehi toh meri ghar chalti hai..." she chuckled bitterly.
("Just you and bhaiya are such good people that's why I am working here..and above that this is only option which I can earn for my family..")
"Sari sharam, laaj... dil mein dabakar jeeti hu bas...kyuki jo bhi galti kare..akhir dosh toh ek larki ke upar hi aake girti hain.."
(I've buried all my shame and dignity in my heart... because no matter who makes the mistake, the blame always falls on the girl...")
"Tune mujhe kyun nahi bataya, Kajal? Mere saath itni baatein karti hai... toh yeh kyun chhupaayi?" Sakshi asked softly, recognizing the pain behind her words.
("Why didn't you tell me, Kajal? You share so much with me... why hide this?")
Kajal laughed hollowly.
"Tu hass rahi hai?" Sakshi asked, holding her by the shoulders in disbelief.
("You're laughing??")
"Sharam aati hai bhabhi... batane mein. Bohut sharam aati hain..Aakhir do beto ki maa jo ban chuki hoon...yeh duniya bas bolti hain sunti nahi hain.."
("I feel ashamed, bhabhi... to even speak of it. So much shame... after all, I'm a mother of two sons now... and this world only judge, never listens...")
Her voice broke.
"Deewaron ke bhi kaan hote hain. Agar mere pati ke kaan mein yeh baat chali gayi na... toh woh mujhe maar maar k aadha chor denge.."
("Even walls have ears. If my husband hears about this... he'll beat me till I'm half dead...")
Sakshi was silent. Her throat closed up.
"Sab bhaiya jaise nahi hote na..." Kajal whispered.
(""Not every man is like bhaiya, you know..." )
Sakshi pulled her into a warm embrace, gently running her fingers through her hair.
"Jab kabhi dil halka karne ka mann ho... seedha mere paas aa jaana... apni saheli samajh ke, hmm?" she said.
("Whenever you feel like sharing your heart... come straight to me... think of me as your friend, okay?")
Kajal nodded, wiping her eyes.
"Chaliye bhabhi... khana bana lete hain fatafat... phir roj ki tarah gappe karenge chath pe baith k' Kajal said with a small smile.
("Come bhabhi... let's finish cooking quickly... then we'll do our usual gossip session on the terrace,")
Sakshi giggled softly nodding her head.
On the other side,
'Lata ,aajaa bacha...aur paani mein mat khel..thand lag jayegi..' Sakshi asked who is holding a towel and Lata is just playing with water.
("Lata, come now... and stop playing in the water. You'll catch a cold...")
'Khelne do na bhabhi..bas aur paanch minute..' she says cutely showing with her small finger.
("Let me play, bhabhi... just five more minutes...")
Sakshi crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes in mock anger. "Tu yahan aayegi ya mein wahan aaun? Mere se daant khane mein bohot maza aati hai na tujhe?" Her tone was scolding, but her face betrayed the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
("Will you come here or should I come get you? You love getting scold by me, don't you?")
Lata let out a dramatic whine, "Bhabhiii..." dragging the word as though it were a spell to melt hearts.
But Sakshi wasn't having it this time. She marched in, pulled her gently by the arm, and wrapped her snugly in the towel.
"Aadhe ghante se tu paani mein khel rahi hai... agar thand lag gayi toh?" she asked, wiping her wet body and hair.
("You've been playing in the water for over half an hour... what if you catch a cold?")
"Toh bukhar ho jaayega... aur kya?" Lata replied with a casual shrug, like it was no big deal.
("Then I'll get a fever... what else?")
Sakshi let out a soft laugh and lightly slapped her own forehead, "Chup kar! Aise baatein muh se nahi nikaalte..."
("Shush! Don't say things like that out loud...")
Sakshi then makes her wear her undergarments, then one yellow top with a long skirt.
She sit silently on the bed as Sakshi started combing her hair.
'Kitna tel de diya baalo mein aapne bhabhi ..' she said with a pout.
("You put so much oil in my hair, bhabhi...")
'Haa toh?? Ache se tel maalish karne se baal lambi hoti hain..tune hi kaha na ki mere jaise tujhe lambe baal chahiye??' she asked.
("Yeah, so? Massaging your scalp with oil makes your hair grow long... Didn't you say you want hair like mine?" )
'Haa haa' she bobs her head excitedly.
("Yes yes")
'Toh wahi toh kar rahi hu ...jisse ki meri lata ki bhi baal ghane aur lambe ho jaay..mere se bhi lamba..' she said while wiping her face with the towel.
("Then that's exactly what I'm doing... so that my Lata's hair grows longer and thicker... even longer than mine..." )
Lata shyly smiles.
"Tu yahan baith ja... main abhi teri aur meri thali leke aati hoon. Aaj hum dono ek sath, isi kamre mein khayenge, theek hai?" Sakshi said with a soft smile, tapping Lata's nose playfully.
("You sit here... I'll bring our plates now. Today we'll eat together in this room, okay?")
Lata's eyes lit up in joy. She clapped her hands excitedly like a child who just got her favorite treat.
"Yayyy! Bhabhi ke saath khaana!" she chirped, hopping onto the bed, legs dangling off the side.
("Yayy! Eating with bhabhi!")
A few moments later, Sakshi returned with two steaming plates. The aroma of fresh ghee-laced dal, soft rotis, and lightly spiced muli ki sabzi and papad filled the room. Sakshi settled next to Lata and gently pulled her close.
"Aa ja bacha... mooh khol..." she said lovingly, beginning to feed her bite by bite.
("Come now, open your mouth..." )
Lata was animated, narrating her all those stories which happened in her school.
"Aap bhi khao na bhabhi... main khud kha lungi..." she offered sweetly, noticing Sakshi hadn't taken a single bite yet.
("You eat too, bhabhi... I can feed myself now,")
But Sakshi smiled and shook her head, "Nahi bacha, pehle tu kha le... phir main khaungi. kab se bol rahi thi bhook lagi hain bhabhi..isliye toh jaldi le aayi....aur waise bhi chote bache aage kha lete hain..?"
("Nahh bacha you eat first... I'll eat later. You kept saying you were hungry, remember? That's why I brought it quickly... and besides, don't little kids eat first?")
Lata looked at her for a moment, tilting her head curiously. Then, she giggled.
"Jaante ho bhabhi... pehle na main dopahar ko hamesha aant mein khati thi... aur ab dekho, ekdum pratham!" she said, grinning wide, her cheeks puffed like a squirrel.
("You know bhabhi... earlier I always ate last in the afternoon... and now look, I eat first!")
Sakshi's hand paused mid-air.
Her smile faltered.
She blinked slowly and asked, her voice barely a whisper, "Aant mein?"
("Last means??")
Lata nodded innocently, "Haan... Kajal maasi ke saath... buaji aur phuphaji ke khana khatam hone ke baad..."
("Yeah... with Kajal maasi... after Buaji and Phuphaji finished eating...")
Sakshi looked at her, her heart constricting. Her throat tightened. She quickly blinked away the mist in her eyes and composed herself. But her soul had already heard more than it wanted to.
She gently asked, "Aur raat ko?"
("And at night??")
Lata beamed, "Raat ko toh main pehle hi kha leti hoon... bhaiya ke saath baith ke...Woh mujhe akele khane nahi dete ..."
("At night I eat first... with bhaiya... he doesn't let me eat alone...")
Sakshi couldn't hold herself anymore. She leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss on Lata's forehead. Her little girl-her fragile flower-had seen more neglect than most adults could bear.
After the lunch, Sakshi dimmed the curtains to soften the sunlight seeping in through the windows. She patted her lap gently, "Aa ja, thodi der so le... aankhen band kar bacha..." she whispered while combing her fingers lovingly through her hair.
("Come now, rest a bit... close your eyes, bacha...")
Lata crawled towards her, placing her head on Sakshi's lap like it was the safest place on Earth. She sighed contentedly as Sakshi's gentle strokes lulled her.
Then, in a whisper soft as cotton, Lata said, "Ek baat kahu? Aap na bhabhi... bilkul maa-maa jaisi ho"
("Can I say something? You know bhabhi... you're just like a mother.")
She looked down surprisingly at Lata, her tiny fingers playing with the edge of her pallu.
"Main aapko bhabhi-maa bula sakti hoon?" Lata asked, eyes wide with innocent hope.
("Can I call you 'Bhabhi-Maa'?")
Sakshi's hands froze for a split second. Her heart skipped a beat. No one had ever called her that before-no one had ever made her feel that way. There's an entire world of difference between calling your mother "maa," and having someone else look at you with such innocent love and call you their "maa."
It wasn't just a word-it was a feeling. A trust. A bond. A place of comfort. She always considered her as her own child.
And today, Lata made her feel all of that in a single breath. Maa. That one word fluttered in her heart like soft petals caught in the breeze. It wrapped around her soul and filled her with a joy so pure, so sacred, that she couldn't help but smile through the sudden warmth in her eyes.
She wasn't just a bhabhi anymore.
She was her bhabhi-maa.
She placed her hand gently on Lata's cheek.
"Tujhe jaise mann kare bacha... waise bula sakti hai mujhe..." she said with a choked laugh, brushing her thumb over her soft skin.
("You can call in whatever way you want bacha")
"Phir toh bhabhi-maa hi bulaungi!" Lata squealed, burying her face in Sakshi's belly, hugging her tightly like a koala.
("Then bhabhi-maa is final !!!")
"Pagal larki!" Sakshi chuckled, her eyes now glistening, as she patted her back rhythmically. "Meri nanhi si khargosh..."
("Crazy girl")
("My cute little rabbit...")
Arjun return quite earlier than usual. The house was unusually silent. He looked at the kitchen to see no one present there. He then directly went to the room to see the door is closed.
'Yeh darwaza band kyu hain??' he whisper getting in but Sakshi was not present..the balcony door was also closed.
("Why is this door closed?")
'Kaha gayi yeh Sakshi??' he whisper searching here and there, his heart unknowingly started to beat faster.
("Where did Sakshi go?")
'Niche bhi nahi dikhi... kamre mein bhi nahi hain..chath pe bhi iss samay nahi hogi..' he whispers.
("She's not downstairs... not in the room either... and she won't be on the terrace at this hour...")
Suddenly something struck on his mind. He then went straight to Lata's room. He let out a breath of relief finding both Sakshi and Lata is sleeping hugging each other.
Lata snuggles into her chest and Sakshi was holding her by her bum. Lata's one leg was laying above her waist. A smile came on Arjun's lips automatically seeing the sight.
He sat down beside them carefully. Gently, he caressed Lata's hair with a featherlight touch, then moved his hand to Sakshi's head. At his touch, her eyes fluttered open.
Still half-asleep, she blinked a few times before her eyes widened.
"Ji-Aap? Aap kab aaye?" she whispered, quickly straightening up.
("Jii?? when did you came??)
Her eyes immediately went to Lata, still asleep, clinging to her saree. Sakshi softly shifted her, placing her head on the pillow and covering her with the blanket.
"Abhi aaya... tujhe kamre mein nahi dekha, isliye yahan dhoondhne aa gaya," he said, his voice low and gentle.
("Just now... I didn't see you in the room, so I came here looking for you," )
She glanced at the wall clock-and panicked. "Arre! 6:30 baj gaye... Hey Bhagwan!" she exclaimed, getting up hurriedly.
("Oh no! It's 6:30 already... Oh God!")
"Shaant ho jaa... abhi utna bhi der nahi hua. Main hi jaldi aa gaya aaj," he said, catching her wrist and pulling her gently back to sit.
("Calm down... it's not that late. I just came early today,")
"Pata nahi kaise aankh lag gayi meri..." she mumbled, embarrassed, quickly tying her hair into a bun.
("I don't know how I feel asleep")
"Koi baat nahi... aaj tera utna kaam bhi nahi tha," he replied, brushing it off casually.
(""It's okay... you didn't have much work today anyway,")
'Waise aaj uss kameene ne tujhe pareshan toh nahi kiya??' he asked in serious tone.
("By the way, that scoundrel didn't bother you again today, did he?" )
She shook her head quickly. "Buaji ne khud mana kar diya mujhe Veer ke liye khana banane se. Keh rahi thi, mere haathon ka bana hua kuch bhi apne bete ko nahi khilayengi. Ab khud banayengi uske liye." Her voice held a small, sad smile.
("Buaji herself stopped me from cooking for Veer today. She said she won't feed her son anything made by me. She'll cook for him herself now." )
Arjun chuckled bitterly. "Wah... itne din baad sadbuddhi aayi unhe. Yeh kaam toh pehle hi kar leni chahiye thi unhe."
("Wow... finally she got some sense after all these days. She should've done that much earlier.")
'Jo bohut kuch sunaya ji mujhe...' she murmurs looking down.
("She said a lot of nasty things to me...")
'Toh sunane de na ?? Kya farak parta hain?? Ab bhagawan ne ek muhh diya hain unhe..toh kutte ki tarah toh bhaukegi hain na??' he joked making her eyes widen with the words he was using but anyways a smile formed in her lips.
("So let her say it, who cares? God's given her a mouth, so she'll bark like a dog, won't she?")
A dark glint appeared in his eyes. "Yeh sab un maa-beta ka bas chaal hai. Veer ko pata hai ki agar woh phirse kuch karne gaya aaj , toh iss baar mere haathon se bachega nahi... isliye chehra hi nahi dikhaya aaj.."
("All this is just a ploy by that mother-son duo. Veer knows that if he tries anything again today, he won't survive me this time... that's why he didn't even show his face.")
Sakshi gave a small nod.
After a pause, she asked softly, "Aap aaj itni jaldi aa gaye?"
("You came home so early today?")
Arjun looked at her and nodded. "Haan, kyunki kal subah jaldi nikalna hai. Shehar jana hai kaam se... aur wapas aate-aate raat ho jaayegi."
("Yeah, because I have to leave early tomorrow morning. I need to go to the city for work... and I won't be back until night.")
Her expression changed.
"Raat ko?" she whispered, her voice almost disappointed.
("Night")
He gave a slow nod.
She lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker of sadness. She knew his work was important. Still, the thought of a day without him... stung.
"Kab niklenge subah?" she asked quietly.
("When will you leave in the morning?" )
"Lata ko school bhejkar seedha chala jaunga. Ghar nahi aaunga," he replied.
("I'll go right after sending Lata to school. I won't come back home,")
"Toh mein... kal pura din akele rahungi?" she said, her voice laced with soft melancholy.
("So I'll be alone all day tomorrow?")
Arjun gave a knowing smile.
She gave a little hum of acknowledgment and leaned her head on his biceps, seeking comfort in his presence.
On the other hand,
"Suna aapne Maa? Bhaiya kal shehar jaa rahe hain..." Veer said with a sly smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
("You heard that, Maa? Bhaiya is going to the city tomorrow...")
Buaji glanced up from her knitting, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "Haan, suna toh... Subah 7 baje nikal jaayega."
("Yes, I heard... He's leaving at 7 in the morning.")
Veer chuckled darkly, leaning back in his chair, arms folded. "Iska matlab pata hai na aapko?"
("Do you know what that means right?"
Buaji's hands paused mid-knit. A slight tension clouded her features. "Beta, tu kuch din baad kar... jo karna hai. Kal rehne de. Arjun ki nazar har waqt tere upar hota hai. Agar kuch gadbad ho gaya toh-"
("Son, wait a few days... whatever you're planning. Don't do it tomorrow. Arjun watches you like a hawk. If anything goes wrong-")
Veer rolled his eyes and interrupted her in a mocking tone, "Kya Maa, aap kab se bhigi billi ban gayi mujhe batayenge? Itna kya darr lagne waali baat hai? Aap toh aise bol rahi ho jaise main kisi ka khoon karne jaa raha hoon! "
("Oh Maa, since when did you become such a scared little kitten? What's there to be so afraid of? You're talking as if I'm going to kill someone!")
Buaji grabbed his arm, her grip tight with worry. "Mujhe chinta ho rahi hai, beta.. Kahin aisa na ho ki jo pathar tu kisi aur ke liye uthaye, woh ulta tere upar hi gir jaaye..."
(I'm worried, son... What if the stone you pick up for someone else ends up falling on you instead?")
Veer exhaled in frustration, brushing her hand off gently.
"Maa... aisa kuch nahi hoga. Aur pathar mere upar nahi, bhabhiji ke upar girega. Bhaiya shehar jaa rahe hain, aur raat tak lautenge bhi nahi. Aap yeh sab kahenge toh hum aag kaise badhenge?"
("Maa... nothing like that will happen. And the stone isn't going to fall on me-it's going to fall on bhabhiji. Bhaiya's going to the city and won't return until night. If you keep saying these things, how will I fuel the fire?")
Buaji stayed quiet for a moment, then gave a reluctant nod. She looked down, conflicted but slowly giving in.
"Bas... zyada aag mat laga dena," she mumbled.
("Just... don't burn everything down,")
Veer grinned wickedly. "Aap toh bas dekhte jao... Apni pyaari bahu ko toh main iss ghar se nikalwa ke hi chhodunga..baaye haat ka kaam hain mera"
("Just watch... I'll make sure that darling daughter-in-law of yours is thrown out of this house. It's a left-hand job for me.")
He reached over and pinched his mother's cheek playfully.
Buaji chuckled too, though her laugh was hollow. She ran her fingers through his hair like all indulgent mothers do - proud of their sons, even in their darkest deeds.
But beneath her smile... a tremor of fear lingered.