𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Author's POV:-
Sakshi hurriedly came through the kitchen with neatly packed food in a steel container.
'Ji yeh lijiye...samay se kha lena..ache se pack kar di hain' she said handing him the container.
("Jii take this...eat it on time.. I packed it properly..)
He nods.
'Waise apka train kab hain ji??' Sakshi asked.
("By the way, what is the timing of your train??")
'Tu chinta mat kar , 9.30 ko hain train ..abhi bohut samay hain' he said.
("Don't worry, it's at 9.30 ...I have lot of time in my hands)
Both Buaji and Veer sat on the sofa, silently yet intently listening to what Arjun was saying.
Just then, Lata came hurrying downstairs with her schoolbag swinging on her shoulder.
"Chalein, Lata? Sab kuch le liya jo school mein chahiye aaj?" Arjun asked, gently taking the bag from her hands.
("Shall we go, Lata? Have you taken everything you need for school today?")
"Aur yeh le bacha, teri tiffin. Paratha diya hai... kuch bacha ke laane ki zarurat nahi..pura kha lena" Sakshi added with a warm smile, placing the tiffin carefully inside Lata's bag.
("And here, dear, your tiffin. I've packed parathas... no need to bring anything back,eat everything")
Buaji chuckled sarcastically, stuffing a betel leaf into her mouth.
"Mujhe toh samajh hi nahi aata... ladkiyon ko itna padha ke kya milega?"
("I just don't understand... what's the point of educating girls so much?")
Arjun looked up at her silently, his jaw tightening.
"Waise bhi shaadi karke doosre ghar chali jaayegi. Behtar hota agar itna paisa padhai pe na kharch karke uski shaadi aur dahej ke liye bacha k rakhta... kaam wahi aayega baad mein," Buaji continued, and Veer nodded in silent agreement.
("She'll get married and leave for another house anyway. Would've been better if, instead of spending all this money on her education, you had saved it for her wedding and dowry... that's what will be useful in the end," )
Lata's fingers curled around her bag strap nervously. The weight of those words sank deep.
Arjun's voice cut through the air, edged with irritation.
"Aapki yeh raay aap hi ke paas rakhiye, kaam aayega baad mein. Mujhe dene ki zarurat nahi hai, samjhi aap, buaji??"
("Keep your opinions to yourself. You might need them later. I don't required your opinions..Understand, Buaji?")
Then, turning away dismissively, he added coldly,
"Aur subah-subah ab yeh kalesh shuru mat kijiye... jaaiye, jaake apne laadle bete ka pet pooja kijiye. Bhookh se mar raha hoga bechara."
("And please, don't start this drama first thing in the morning... go feed your precious son. Poor guy must be starving.")
Veer frowned in annoyance.
"Jo kaha maa ne kaha, maine toh kuch bola hi nahi. Aap mujhe beech mein kyu laa rahe ho? Lata ke baare mein toh maine kuch kaha bhi nahi," he defended, rolling his eyes.
("Maa said it, not me. Why are you dragging me into it? I didn't even say anything about Lata,")
"Jo keh rahi hoon, tere hi bhale ke liye keh rahi hoon. Tujhse zyada duniya meine dekhi hain," Buaji said, her tone laced with smugness.
("I'm only saying it for your own good. I've seen more of the world than you,")
Arjun didn't respond. Instead, he quietly reached for Lata's hand.
"Chal Lata... chalte hain," he said gently.
("Come on, Lata... let's go,")
Lata smiled and turned to Sakshi, hugging her tightly.
"Chalti hoon, Bhabhi-Maa," she said softly.
("I'm off, Bhabhi-Maa,")
Sakshi hugged her back with a proud smile, brushing a hand over her hair.
"Khush reh," she whispered, watching them step out.
("Stay happy..")
She then closed the door behind them and quietly turned the lock.
"Wah bhabhi se bhabhi-maa? Kya parivartan hai! Bhabhiji ab maa bhi ban gayi?" Veer chuckled with sarcasm.
("Well well, from bhabhi to bhabhi-maa? What a transformation! Now bhabhiji has become a mother too?")
Buaji raised her eyebrows and nodded dramatically.
"Wahi toh dekh rahi hoon main..."
("That's what I am noticing")
It was afternoon. Sakshi was busy preparing lunch in the kitchen when Buaji walked in, draped in a freshly starched new saree.
"Suno bahu, main mandir jaa rahi hoon. Aaj puja hai, toh lautne mein der ho sakti hai. Tere phuphaji aur Veer ke liye khana bana ke rakh dena."
("Listen, bahu , I'm going to the temple. There's a special puja today, so I might be late coming back. Make sure to prepare lunch for your phuphaji and Veer."
Sakshi froze mid-stir, clearly surprised.
Just yesterday, Buaji had taunted her not to make anything for Veer. And today she was asking her to cook for him?
Even Kajal, who was kneeling nearby making dough, looked stunned.
"Par Buaji, aapne hi toh kal kaha tha ki bhabhi haath na lagaye-" Kajal murmured, but Buaji quickly cut her off.
("But Buaji, didn't you say just yesterday that bhabhi shouldn't touch-")
"Haan haan, mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai is nalayak bahu ke haathon ka khana mere pati aur bete ko khilane ka. Par kya hi karoon, upvaas hai mera aaj. Na khana kha sakti hoon, na bana sakti hoon," she said, rolling her eyes and adjusting her hair.
("Yes yes, I still have no desire to feed my husband and son food cooked by this useless bahu. But what can I do? I'm fasting today. Can't eat, can't cook,")
Sakshi said nothing, simply stared at her.
"Ab muh kya dekh rahi hai mera? Waise bhi toh din bhar kamre mein padi rehti hai. Kuch kaam-dhaam karti toh hai nahi. Ache se khana bana ke rakh dena!"
("Now what are you staring at? It's not like you do anything all day anyway. Make the food properly!")
With that, Buaji turned on her heels and walked away.
Kajal shook her head with a smirk.
"Ek din kya khana bana liya, unki toh hawa hi tight ho gayi bhabhi!"
("One day of cooking and she already surrendered, bhabhi!")
Sakshi let out a soft chuckle.
"Khana banana bhi ek aadat hoti hai, Kajal. Sirf chapar-chapar karne se khana nahi ban jata... mehnat lagti hai. Roz banati hoon na isiliye ache se pata hai mujhe "
("Cooking is a habit, Kajal. Just flapping your mouth doesn't make food... it takes effort. I cook every day, that's why I know.")
Kajal nodded in agreement.
"Kajal, main abhi upar jaa rahi hoon. Tere bhaiya ki almirah saaf karni hai. Dhool jam gayi hai."
("Kajal, I'm going upstairs for a bit. Need to clean your bhaiya's almirah It's covered in dust.")
"Toh main bhi kapde dho leti hoon iss waqt," Kajal said, getting up.
("Then I'll wash the clothes in the meantime,")
"Haan, chhat pe jaake dho le. Baar baar upar neeche mat kar, seedhiyon se gir jaayegi. Tere bhaiya ne upar naya tap lagwaya hai paani ka, taki tujhe aasani ho. Wahi pe dho ke sukhana."
("Yes, go wash them on the terrace. Don't keep going up and down-you'll fall from the stairs. Your brother had a new tap installed up there for water, just to make things easier for you. Wash and dry them there itself.")
"Ji bhabhi," Kajal smiled and went upstairs with a bundle of clothes.
("Ok bhabhi..")
In the bedroom, Sakshi opened the almirah.
"Kitni baar kaha hai unko, de dijiye almari saaf kar deti hoon... par nahi. Jab bhi bolo- 'Nahi Sakshi, kisi aur din kar lena, aaj nahi...'" she mimicked his tone, chuckling to herself.
("I've told him so many times-let me clean the cupboard... but no. Every time it's, 'No Sakshi, do it another day, not today...'")
"Arey, saaf toh main hi karungi na! Ismein bhi unhe dikkat!" she grinned, pulling all his clothes out and dumping them on the floor.
("I mean, I'll be the one cleaning it anyway! What's the problem with that?")
Veer stepped out of his room, stretching lazily as a slow smirk spread across his face. His eyes scanned the downstairs hall-it was empty. Silent. Just the way he wanted.
He tiptoed to the edge of the staircase and leaned slightly, peeking towards his elder brother's room. His grin widened.
Inside, Sakshi was humming softly, her voice almost musical as she dusted and folded clothes near the almirah. Her back was to the door, completely unaware of the eyes watching her with a dark intent.
Veer leaned against the wall, folding his arms, whispering to himself.
"Kya timing hain... bhaiya shehar mein hain... maa mandir gayi hain... baba kaam pe... Kajal upar chhat pe... aur bhabhi ji... bilkul akeli... mere saamne..." he chuckled under his breath, his tone thick with twisted amusement.
("What a timing... Brother is in the city... Maa is at the temple... baba is at work... Kajal's on the terrace... and bhabhiji... all alone... right in front of me,")
He inched closer to the door, eyes never leaving her figure.
"Aap bhi na, bhabhi ji... kitni bholi hain. Aapko laga bhaiya ne ek baar bharosa kya kar liya toh har roz karenge? Naah... naah bhabhi ji... main aisa hone kaise doon?"
("You're something else, bhabhiji... so naive. You thought that just because bhaiya trusted you once, he'll keep trusting you every day? Nah... nah, bhabhi ji... how can I let that happen?")
His voice grew softer, darker.
"Devar hoon main aapka... thoda maza karne ka haq toh mujhe bhi hai, hai na?" he muttered, his gaze trailing down her body shamelessly.
("I'm your devar, after all... don't I have some right to a little fun too?")
"Bhagwan ne aapko itna haseen safed badan diya hai... sundar chehra diya hai... kuch toh istemal hona chahiye iska..." he whispered with a sarcasm.
("God gave you such fair, beautiful skin... such a pretty face... shouldn't it be put to some use?")
Unaware of the evil lurking just behind her, Sakshi continued humming, her hands moving through the clothes, neatly arranging them in the almirah. The soft tune she sang was the only sound in the room.
Veer took another step closer, slow and silent. His eyes locked onto her hips, watching how the fabric hugged her form. Slowly, deliberately, he began tracing the curve of her body mid-air with his fingers, as though he owned her-even without touching her.
Sakshi, unaware of the eyes glued to her, turned around with a soft smile on her lips, humming a tune as she held a pile of clothes. But her smile vanished the very next second. Her face drained of all color, and her eyes widened in horror.
"Veer... t-tum... yaha?" she stammered, taking a shaky step back.
("Veer... y-you... here?" )
The clothes slipped from her trembling hands and scattered across the floor.
Veer chuckled darkly, his laugh echoing in the room like a threat.
"Kya bhabhi ji... mujhe dekh ke aapka chehra itna safed kyun pad jaata hai?" he asked with mock innocence, stepping closer.
("What's the matter, bhabhiji... why does your face go so pale when you see me?" )
Sakshi's breathing grew rapid, fear rising in her chest as her back hit the cold surface of the almirah.
"D-dekho Veer... m-main chilla doongi..." she warned, her voice barely a whisper.
("L-look Veer... I-I'll scream...")
"Arey baap re, chillayengi?" Veer feigned fear, placing a hand over his heart before his lips twisted into a sinister grin.
("Oh no, you'll scream?" )
"Chillaiye na... koi nahi aayega bachane. Bhaiya bhi nahi... ghar poora khaali hai. Sirf main... aur aap. Bohot mazaa aayega, hai na ji?" he drawled.
("Go ahead and scream... no one will come to save you. Not even brother... the whole house is empty. Just me... and you. It's going to be so much fun, isn't it?")
Sakshi shut her eyes tightly as he raised a hand to touch her face-
But nothing came.
She opened her eyes slowly... only to see Veer gasping, his eyes bulging, his mouth open in pain. Both of his hands clutched at his neck, trying desperately to break free from the powerful grip strangling him.
A deep, menacing voice rang through the silence.
"Maza kya hota hai... ab tujhe tere bhaiya dikhayenge, Veer..."
("You want to know what fun is... now your bhaiya will show you what real fun is Veer...")
Veer's entire body froze, and his face turned as pale as chalk powder.
Relief washed over Sakshi as she saw Arjun, standing behind Veer, his fingers gripped tightly around his younger brother's neck. His eyes darken with rage.
Another second's delay... and she didn't dare imagine what could've happened.
With blazing fury, Arjun spun Veer around and slapped him across the face-so hard that Veer was thrown to the floor, groaning in pain, his hand clutching his stinging cheek.
Sakshi flinched at the crack of the slap, rushing to Arjun's side.
Veer's eyes welled with tears. He shook his head, desperate to explain.
"Bhaiya, aisa kuch nahi tha... meri baat suno, jaisa aap dekh rahe ho waisa-"
("Bhaiya it's not what it looks like... please listen to me once-")
Before he could finish, Arjun grabbed him by the collar, then by the neck again, choking the words back down his throat.
"Tujhe kya laga?" Arjun growled, voice low and deadly.
("What did you thought??")
"Main apni biwi ko tujh jaise jaanwar ke saath aise hi akele chhor dunga? Mujhe kya pagal kutte ne kaata hai?"
("That I would just leave my wife alone with an wild animal like you? Am I out of my mind?")
Veer squirmed, trying to free himself, but Arjun's grip only tightened.
"Arey sheher jaane toh bas ek chhota sa dhong tha... jaise tune uss din kiya tha, yaad hai? Waisa hi natak main bhi kiya... taaki tujhe rangey haathon pakad saku." His voice turned into a snarl.
("Oh, going to the city was just a little act... just like the one you pulled that day, remember? I staged this drama so I could catch you red-handed.")
"Kya kaha tha maine? Jis din tu mere haath mein aayega, us din nahi chhodunga... Ab dekh main tere saath kya karta hoon."
("What did I say that day? The day I get my hands on you, I won't let you go. Now watch what I do to you.")
Arjun finally released him, making Veer gasp for air, coughing violently.
"Bhaiya... bhaiya dekhiye aisa kuch nahi hua..." Veer stammered, crawling forward, his body trembling.
("Bhaiya... please... it wasn't like that..." )
"Acha thikh hain maaf kar dijiye... galti ho gaya..."
("Please forgive me... I made a mistake...")
He reached out to touch Arjun's feet-but Arjun kicked him, hard, right on his head.
Veer yelped, clutching his head in pain.
Arjun wasn't done.
He grabbed Veer's hair and yanked it so viciously that a scream ripped from Veer's throat.
"Aahhhh! Bhaiya! Dard ho raha hai! Maaf kar dijiye!" he howled.
("Ahhh! Bhaiya! It hurts! Please forgive me!")
Arjun's eyes were burning with rage. "Galti?? Bas ek galti?? Yeh galti nahi Veer...yeh ek gunah hain.. ek paap....aur yeh rone ka natak na mere samne mat hi kar.Jitna tera chehara dekhta hoon na,utna khoon kholta hain mera.." he spat.
("Mistake?? Just a mistake?? This wasn't a mistake, Veer... this was a crime, a sin... and don't pretend to cry in front of me. Every time I see your face, my blood boils...")
Sakshi stood frozen, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her lip trembled as she bit it to stop herself from breaking down. She held his shoulder to calm him down.
"Tune meri biwi ke saath badtameezi ki..." Arjun roared, slapping Veer once more-harder.
("You misbehaved with my wife...")
"Meri biwi par gandi nazar daali..." Another slap landed, splitting Veer's lip.
("You dare to looked at my wife with dirty intentions...")
Blood trickled down as he cried out in agony.
"AAHHH! Bhaiya... nahi... please...!"
("Ahhh bhaiya ..no please...!!!)
"Tujh jaise gire hue insaan ke liye us din meri Sakshi ne kya kya nahi saha... uska har ek aasu... har ek dard ka hisaab lunga main aaj ter se!" Arjun shouted, his voice thunderous.
("For a scum like you, do you know what my Sakshi had to endure that day? Every tear she shed... every bit of pain... I will make you pay for it all today!")
"CHAL NEECHE! CHAL!" he growled, dragging Veer by the hair down the stairs like a rag doll.
("Get down!!!!! right now!!!)
But all his continuous pleadings goes all deaf to his ear..
'Tujhe abhi tak pata nahi tere bhaiya kya cheez hain...kya kya kar sakta hain woh...itne dino tak bas muhh se daat khaya hain...aaj mere haath ka bhi swaad chakha dunga tujhe...' he roared dragging him from the stairs mercilessly.
(""You still have no idea what your bhaiya is capable of... what all he can do. All these days, you've only tasted my scoldings... but today, I'll let you taste what my hands can do too.")