"Maa ji, roti banau ya chawal?" Gauri, Sunil's wife, asked her mother-in-law, Sakuntala, who was sitting on a low stool chopping cucumbers.

(should I make rotis or rice?)

"Chawal he bana de," Sakuntala said, not looking up. "Bas Sunil ke papa ke liye saat roti bana dena, warna wo chawal kha lenge," she instructed.

( make rice and just make seven rotis for Sunil's father, otherwise he will eat the rice )

"Madhumeh badhta jaa raha hai, par khane-pine mai kami nahi karenge," Sakuntala muttered to herself with a quiet sigh. "Bella... jara yahan aa!" she called out loudly.

( His sugar level keeps rising, but he won't cut back on his eating. Bella... come here for a second! )

Bella came running into the kitchen, her long braid bouncing behind her. This time, there was no pallu over her head.

"Jaake bhaiya ko bol, papad bhi le aaye," Sakuntala ordered.

( Go tell your brother to bring papad as well )

"Theek hai, Maa," Bella nodded cheerfully and rushed outside.

( ok )

This was the real side of her...bubbly, jolly, and always running around the house. But she had been taught strictly to act quiet and graceful in front of outsiders.

"Bol diya!" she chimed, returning a moment later and plumping down right beside Gauri, who was kneading dough in a large brass basin.

( I told him )

"Waise, ye Master sahab ek bhi baar neeche nahi aaye," Sakuntala noted thoughtfully.

( By the way, this Master sahab hasn't come downstairs even once )

"Itni door se aaye hain Maa ji, thak gaye honge," Gauri reasoned smoothly.

( He has come from so far away, he must be tired )

"Tune dekha usko?" Sakuntala asked Gauri.

( Did you see him? )

"Maine kab dekha? Mai toh aapke sath aayi, tab se rasoi mai he hoon," Gauri replied.

( When did I see him? I came with you, and I've been in the kitchen ever since )

"Maine dekha!" Bella chimed in with wide, sparkling eyes.

( i saw him )

"Bade lambe-chaure hain, bhuri-bhuri aankhein hain, aur maine phone par suna... pura Angreji mai baat karte hain!"

( He is very tall and broad, has brown eyes, and I heard him on the phone... he speaks entirely in English )

"Kaun jaat ke hain waise?" Sakuntala asked, her curiosity perking up.

( Which caste is he from, by the way? )

"Papa ne kaha humari he jaat ke hain," Bella said innocently. "Isliye toh apne glass mai paani diya unko."

( Father said he is from our caste. That's why I gave him water in our own glass )

"Haan, par tu zyada unke aas-pass mat jana. Kaise bhi ho, hain toh mard na!" Sakuntala warned her strictly. "Ek toh tera baap bawra hai... bhala jawan beti ke hote huye koi anjaan mard ko ghar mai rakhta hai kya?"

( Yes, but don't go near him too much. No matter how he is, he is a man after all. Your father is crazy... does anyone host a strange man at home when they have a young daughter? )

"Maa ji, choriye na," Gauri interjected carelessly, trying to ease the tension. "Humare ghar nahi rehte toh kahan jaate? Koi aur jagah bhi toh nahi hai iss gaaw mai. Toh wo humare he mehmaan huye na!"

( let it be, If he didn't stay at our house, where would he go? There is no other place in this village either. So he is our guest after all! )

"Baat toh teri bhi sahi hai," Sakuntala sighed, setting the chopped cucumbers into a steel bowl. "Par zamana kharab hai, dhyan rakhna padta hai."

( You do have a point, But times are bad, one has to be careful )

Upstairs in his room, Hridaan was still stretched out on the bed, staring at the dimly lit ceiling.

​Just then, he heard heavy steps on the wooden staircase, followed by a knock.

​"Master sahab?" Sunil's clear voice called out from the doorway.

​Hridaan sat up instantly and swung his legs off the bed.

​Sunil stepped inside, holding Hridaan's sleek laptop carefully in both hands like a fragile antique. "Yeh aapka computer charge ho gaya hai "

( This computer of yours is charged now )

​"Ah, thank you so much, Sunil ji," Hridaan said, taking the laptop and placing it on the desk. "Sorry aapko pareshani hui."

( ​Sorry for troubling you )

​"Nahi nahi, pareshani ki kya baat hai," Sunil smiled politely. "Khana taiyar ho gaya hai. Papa neeche aangan mai aapka intzaar kar rahe hain. Aap neeche aa jayiye."

( No, no, it's no trouble at all. Dinner is ready. Father is waiting for you downstairs in the courtyard. Please come downstairs )

​"Ji, bas do minute mai aata hoon," Hridaan nodded.

( Yes, I'll be down in just two minutes )

​As Sunil headed back downstairs, Hridaan splashed some cold water on his face, combed his hair back, and adjusted his shirt.

Taking a deep breath to prepare himself, he made his way down the dimly lit stairs into the lively courtyard below.

In the center of the courtyard, a khatiya was set up, with armless plastic chairs placed in front of it to serve as dinner tables.

"Aaiye, Master sahab!" Sishupaal called out loudly, patting the woven space right beside him. "Baithiye, baithiye!"

( Come, Master sahab! Sit, sit! )

Hridaan smiled politely and sat down beside him. Sunil was already seated on another khatiya nearby.

"Madam, itna zyada chawal mat dijiye..." Hridaan said softly as Sakuntala started heaping rice onto his steel plate.

( please don't give me so much rice )

"Zyada kahan hai? Itna toh Sunil ke papa ek kaur mai kha jaate hain!" she quipped instantly, making everyone chuckle.

( How is this too much? Sunil's father eats this much in a single bite! )

"Yeh humari dharmpatni hain, badi he mazakiya hain!" Sishupaal laughed hearty.

( This is my wife, she is very humorous )

Hridaan passed a warm, polite smile to Sakuntala, who then sat down comfortably on a mat on the floor after serving everyone.

"Shuru kijiye," Sishupaal prompted, and Hridaan took a small, cautious bite.

( Please start eating )

"Master sahab, zyada sharmayiyega nahi, aaram se khayiye," Sakuntala encouraged smoothly.

( Master sahab, don't be shy, eat comfortably )

"Aaj anda kisne banaya hai?" Sishupaal asked, taking a bite of the spicy egg curry.

( Who made the eggs today? )

"Bela ne! Kyu, kya hua? Namak kam hai kya?" Sakuntala asked, looking up.

(Bela made them! Why, what happened? Is the salt less? )

"Nahi, nahi, behtareen hai!" Sishupaal praised, grinning. "Meri Bela bahot he badhiya khana banati hai."

( No, no, it's excellent. My Bela cooks very well )

Hridaan nodded in agreement, though by now his jaw was literally aching from holding up a continuous awkward smile.

"Sirf khana nahi banati, poori sarv-gun-sampann hai meri beti," Sakuntala added proudly. "Silai, kadhai, bunai... sab aata hai usko."

( She doesn't just cook food, my daughter possesses every good virtue. Sewing, embroidery, knitting... she knows everything )

"Lekin in sab ke bawajood bhi hum uske liye koi accha ladka nahi dhoondh paa rahe," Sishupaal said, his voice dropping into a heavy tone of disappointment.

( But despite all this, we are unable to find a good groom for her )

Hridaan didn't really want to pry, but the heavy pause in the conversation made it feel as though Sishupaal was practically waiting for him to ask.

"Aisa kyun hai?" Hridaan finally asked, taking the bait.

( Why is that? )

"Kyunki gaaw ki baaki ladkiyon ki tarah he Bela bhi padhi-likhi nahi hai," Sakuntala answered before her husband could. "Ikloti beti hai humari, shaadi kisi bade khandaan mai he karenge na? Lekin aaj kal sabhi ladkon ko B.A. Pass ladki chahiye."

( Because just like the other girls in the village, Bela is not educated either. She is our only daughter, we will marry her off into a prominent family, right? But nowadays, all the boys want a girl with a B.A. degree )

"Jab ladki ko aakhir mai khana aur bartan he karna hai, toh kya zarurat hai degree ki?" Sishupaal added with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Jo zaruri hota hai, wo sab sikhaya hai humne usko."

( When the girl ultimately has to cook and do dishes, what is the need for a degree? Whatever is necessary, we have taught her all of it )

"Gaaw mai toh koi dhang ka ladka hai he nahi, aur sehar ke saare acche ladke dahej mai 20 lakh aur ek chaar-pahiya gaadi maang rahe hain," Sakuntala grumbled in despair.

( There are no decent boys in the village, and all the good boys in the city are demanding 20 lakhs in dowry and a four-wheeler )

Hridaan fundamentally disagreed with almost everything they were saying, but being a polite guest on his first night, he chose to keep quiet and merely nodded along as they talked.

"Master sahab, waise aapke ghar mai kaun kaun hai?" Sakuntala shifted the focus back to him with keen interest.

( by the way, who all are there in your family? )

"Madam, main toh apne parents ke saath rehta hoon. Mera ek chota bhai bhi hai, abhi college mai padh raha hai," he explained plainly.

( I live with my parents. I also have a younger brother, he is currently studying in college )

"Pitaji kya karte hain aapke?" Sishupaal asked with growing curiosity.

( What does your father do? )

"Mere dono parents Delhi University mai professor hain," Hridaan replied casually.

( Both my parents are professors at Delhi University )

"Aur aapki bhi sarkari naukri lag gayi!" Sishupaal exclaimed in genuine awe.

( And you got a government job too )

Hridaan chuckled softly. "Ji haan, par main bas kuch waqt ke liye iss naukri mai hoon. Ek baar mera Civil Services mai ho jaye, fir yeh naukri chhod dunga."

( Yes, but I am in this job only for a short while. Once I clear the Civil Services, I will leave this job )

Hearing this, both Sishupaal and Sakuntala were beyond impressed...their minds were practically blooming with unexpected delight.

But poor Hridaan had absolutely no idea that he was being pampered like a sacrificial lamb right before the big feast.

After the men of the house had finished dinner, Sakuntala and Gauri sat on the kitchen floor, eating their meal together. Meanwhile, Bela sat in the hall, completely engrossed in her favourite television serial as she ate.

"Aap aaj itni chup kyun hain? Kisi baat ki chinta hai kya?" Gauri asked, noticing Sakuntala's unusual silence.

(Why are you so quiet today? Is something bothering you?)

Sakuntala stopped eating. She stared at her plate for a few moments before letting out a weary sigh.

"Jab se Bela 18 saal ki hui hai na... tab se wahi meri sabse badi chinta ban gayi hai."

( Ever since Bela turned 18... she has become my biggest worry )

"Ab Bela ne kya kar diya?" Gauri asked with concern.

( Now what has Bela done? )

Sakuntala shook her head.

"Usne kuch nahi kiya... karna toh humein hai. Uska byah."

( She hasn't done anything... we have to do it. Her marriage)

Realisation dawned on Gauri's face.

"Phir se koi rishta aaya hai kya?"

( Has another proposal come? )

"Rishta toh nahi aaya... lekin ek mauka zaroor aaya hai." Sakuntala lowered her voice.

( A proposal hasn't come... but an opportunity certainly has )

Gauri frowned in confusion and leaned closer.

"Matlab?"

( Meaning )

A greedy smile slowly spread across Sakuntala's face.

"Woh master sahab... apni hi jaat ke hain. Sarkari naukri hai, ameer khandaan se hain... aur dekhne mein bhi kitne acche hain."

( That Master sahab... is from our own caste. He has a government job, comes from a wealthy family... and is so good-looking too )

Gauri's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yeh aap kya bol rahi hain? Abhi kuch der pehle tak toh aap chahti thi ki Bela unke saamne bhi na jaye."

( What are you saying? Until a little while ago, you didn't even want Bela to go in front of him )

Sakuntala gave a dismissive shrug.

"Tab maine unhe dekha hi kahan tha. Kal hi Sunil ke papa se baat karti hoon. Isse pehle ki kisi aur ki nazar unpar pade, hum hi apna bera paar kar lete hain. Bas Bela ka byah ho jaaye... phir main Ganga naha loongi."

( I hadn't seen him properly then. I'll talk to Sunil's father tomorrow itself. Before anyone else sets their eyes on him, we should cross our own river. If only Bela gets married... then I can finally take a holy dip in the Ganga and be at peace )

With a satisfied smile, she leaned back against the wall, convinced she had finally found the perfect solution to what she considered the biggest burden on her shoulders.

"Par maa ji... Bela aur unmein zameen-aasmaan ka farq hai. Koi mel hi nahi hai," Gauri said hesitantly. "Aapko yaad nahi Kiran ki shaadi hui thi na uss Income Tax afsar se? Shaadi ke kuch mahine baad hi usse gharwvati karke bhaag gaya. Ab bechari apne bacche ko god mein liye dar-dar ki thokrein kha rahi hai."

( But Mother-in-law... there is a world of difference between Bela and him. There is no match at all. Don't you remember when Kiran got married to that Income Tax Inspector? Just a few months after the wedding, he got her pregnant and ran away. Now the poor girl is wandering the streets, with her baby in her arms )

Sakuntala clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Iss gaon ki aadhi ladkiyon ka byah aise hi hua hai. Ab ek-do ki kismat kharab nikal gayi toh usmein hum kya karein?" she argued. "Aur Master sahab toh yahin rahenge jab tak unka Civil mein nahi ho jaata. Bela bhi humari hi nazar ke saamne rahegi."

( Half the girls in this village got married like this. If one or two turned out to have bad luck, what can we do about it? And Master sahab will stay right here until he clears the Civil Services. Bela will stay right before our eyes too )

Gauri still looked unconvinced.

"Par maa ji... aisa karna hi kyun hai? Bela abhi toh bas ikkis saal ki hui hai-- "

( But Mother-in-law... why do this at all? Bela has only just turned twenty-one-- )

"Ikkis saal kam lag raha hai tujhe?" Sakuntala snapped before she could finish. "Uski umar ki saari ladkiyon ka byah ho chuka hai. Bas wahi ek ghar baithi hai. Logo ne baatein banana shuru kar diya hai "

( Does twenty-one seem young to you? All the girls her age are already married. She is the only one sitting at home. People have already started gossiping-- )

After a brief silence, Gauri spoke carefully.

"Zabardasti shaadi karwane se achha... hum ek baar Master sahab se baat karke dekh lete hain. Humari Bela itni sundar hai, itni guni hai... ho sakta hai woh khud hi maan jaayen."

( Instead of forcing a marriage... why don't we try talking to Master sahab once? Our Bela is so beautiful, so accomplished... maybe he will agree on his own )

"Nahi maanenge woh," Sakuntala said with absolute certainty. "Aur maan bhi gaye toh dahej toh lenge hi. Lekin agar humare tareeke se sab ho gaya, toh dahej bhi bach jayega aur Bela ka byah bhi ho jayega."

( He won't agree. And even if he agrees, he will take dowry. But if everything happens our way, the dowry will be saved and Bela will get married too )

Gauri's expression softened.

"Par maa ji... humne aaj tak Bela par koi khaas kharch nahi kiya. Na usse padhaya, na uske liye kuch joda. Ab kya uske hisse ka dahej bhi usse na dein?" she asked quietly.

( But Mother-in-law... we never really spent anything on Bela. We didn't educate her, nor did we save anything for her. Now will we withhold even her share of the dowry from her? )

Sakuntala looked at her in irritation.

"Tu itni vyakul kyun ho rahi hai? Agar uska byah Master sahab se ho gaya na, toh raj karegi woh. Aur jo dahej ka paisa bachega, woh hum Sunil ki gas agency mein laga denge."

( Why are you getting so restless? If she gets married to Master sahab, she will live like a queen. And the dowry money we save, we will invest in Sunil's gas agency )

Gauri's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Aur agar Master sahab ne yeh zabardasti ki shaadi maanne se hi inkaar kar diya toh? Agar woh police ke paas chale gaye... ya Bela ko chhod diya... ya zindagi bhar usse apni patni maana hi nahi? Tab kya hoga? Kahan jayegi Bela? Kya kisi bhikharan ki tarah sadkon par bhatakti rahegi?"

( And what if Master sahab refuses to accept this forced marriage altogether? What if he goes to the police... or abandons Bela... or never accepts her as his wife for the rest of his life? What will happen then? Where will Bela go? Will she wander the streets like a beggar? )

"Tu bawri ho gayi hai kya?" Sakuntala snapped. "Agar maine byah ka socha hai, toh yeh sab bhi socha hoga na. Meri beti hai woh. Uski parwah hai mujhe."

( Have you gone mad? If I have thought of this marriage, I must have thought about all of this too. She is my daughter. I care about her )

She paused before speaking with complete conviction.

"Aur mard jaat na bahut kamzor cheez hoti hai, Gauri. Unka dil pighalte der nahi lagti. Ek baar shaadi ho gayi, ladki saath rehne lagi... phir dheere-dheere sab maan hi jaate hain."

( And men are very weak creatures, Gauri. It doesn't take long for their hearts to melt. Once they get married and the girl starts living with them... slowly everyone accepts it )

"Par-- "

( But )

"Bas Bela se iss bare mai ek lafz bhi mat kehna. Main usse shaadi wale din hi sab bataungi. Warna woh teri tarah bahut natak karegi."

( Enough. Do not say a single word about this to Bela. I will tell her everything on the wedding day itself. Otherwise, she will throw a huge drama just like you )

With that, Sakuntala stood up and went to wash her hands.

"Aur papa ji? Woh maan jayenge?" Gauri asked from behind.

( And Father-in-law? Will he agree? )

Without turning around, Sakuntala replied, "Kal hi baat karti hoon unse. Zyada der ki na, toh mamla haath se nikal jayega."

( I'll talk to him tomorrow itself. If we delay any longer, the matter will slip out of our hands )

She wiped her wet hands on the edge of her pallu before adding in a matter-of-fact tone,

"Iss gaon mein rozgaar wala ladka khuli tijori jaisa hota hai. Mauka dekhkar koi aur haath maar le, usse pehle mujhe hi haath maarna hoga."

( In this village, an employed young man is like an unlocked safe. Before someone else takes advantage of the opportunity, I have to strike first )

With that, she walked away.

Gauri remained seated on the kitchen floor, her untouched food growing cold before her. She knew Sakuntala well enough to understand that once she had made up her mind, changing it was nearly impossible. She had neither the authority nor the courage to stand against her mother-in-law.

All she could do was silently grieve for Bela, knowing that whatever happened next would be left to fate and Bela would be the one forced to bear its consequences.

_____________________________________

It was past midnight, and the entire house was completely silent. Everyone was fast asleep, but Hridaan just couldn't close his eyes. The unfamiliar surroundings, the strange bed, and the loud barking of wild dogs made it impossible for him to fall asleep.

Holding a book in his hand, he walked out of his room and onto the open terrace to get some fresh air.

He leaned against the terrace wall, looking around in the dim moonlight. His gaze eventually fell down toward the middle of the courtyard below.

Under the dim light of a single yellow bulb, Bela was sitting near the hand pump, washing a pile of dirty dishes. Her pallu was tied around her waist to keep it out of the way, and her long braid hung over her shoulder. She was trying to work as quietly as possible, pressing the iron handle of the hand pump down gently so the noise wouldn't wake anyone up.

Hridaan frowned, finding the sight extremely strange.

It was almost 11:00 PM. Everyone else in the family was resting peacefully, yet here she was, washing dishes late into the night. It felt completely unusual to him.

As she pumped water to rinse a steel bowl, the hand pump made a small creaking sound. Bela instantly paused and looked up toward the upper floor feeling someone's gaze on her.

Her eyes met Hridaan's.

For a second, she froze.

The moment she realized he was looking at her with her head uncovered, panic flushed over her face. She quickly untied the pallu from her waist and pulled it all the way over her head, covering herself completely.

Hridaan felt an immediate rush of awkwardness. He raised a hand in a brief sorry gesture and stepped back from the wall so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

Below, Bela rapidly rinsed the last plate, picked up the tray of clean dishes, and disappeared into the kitchen.

" strange " Hridaan mumbled flipping pages of his book.

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