Nitya

Entering my room, I quietly close the door with trembling hands. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath.

Tears gather in my eyes when I recall Udayji's sinister words and the smirk on his face.

Why is he suddenly here? Why now, when finally, things between me and Prathamji are changing for the better?

As I stand there, trying to steady my breathing, I notice Prathamji standing in front of the cupboard. His back is to me and he has not turned yet.

I rush to him and hug him from behind, clutching him tightly, trying to get his warmth to get rid of the coldness that Udayji's sudden presence has brought into me.

The unexpected hug seems to catch him off guard, and for a few seconds, he does not move, although I can feel his body stiffening under my touch.

"Nitya?" He asks, his voice bewildered. "What happened?"

Saying nothing, I only cling to him. His warmth somewhat calming me, but my mind is still in turmoil.

I want to tell him everything—from marriage proposal brought by Mahaveer Kaka to the reason behind my refusal, and also what Udayji said and did in the kitchen and the living room. But the words are stuck in my throat, the doubt of Prathamji not trusting me, paralyzing me with indecision.

Gently untangling my arms from his waist, he turns around and looks at me.

"Tell me, Nitya. Did something happen downstairs? Did Maa say anything to you?"

I look at him, at the worry for me etched on his face, and open my mouth to tell him everything. But I pause when Udayji's voice rings in my ears.

"I have known this family and Pratham since many years. My father has done lots of favors on them. Now, you tell me. Will everyone in this house and Pratham believe you, or will they believe me?"

"I'm... tired," I say, my voice shaking with the guilt of lying to Prathamji.

Even though I want to tell him the truth, the fear of not being believed, of being abandoned and thrown out, holds me back.

Prathamji frowns at me, seeming to be unconvinced by my reply. "Is this really the only matter?"

Unable to meet his eyes, I lower my head and give him a slight nod. "It was a long journey from city to here. That's why I am tired."

He sighs, still not convinced, but thankfully, he does not press further. "Rest for some time."

He leads me to the bed, and after making me lie there, he climbs down, about to get out of the room.

"Where are you going?" I ask, sitting up on the bed.

"I am going downstairs," he replies. "I will talk with Uday for a while, then will return to the room."

"No. Don't go."

"Why?"

I open my mouth, but no reply comes out. After all, what can I tell him? That I am scared Udayji will lie to him about me being characterless?

Although he had told me he won't say anything to anyone yet, but I don't trust him.

"Nitya? Answer me," Prathamji says, still standing at the door.

"I feel scared," I tell him the half-truth.

Narrowing his eyes in concern, he walks to the bed and sits beside me. "Why do you feel scared?"

"I feel restless," I tell him. "Kya aap mere paas rahenge? Aap saath kote hain toh lagta hai ki main mehfooz hoon. Aisa lagta hai ke aap mujhe kuch nahi hone denge."

( "Will you stay with me? I feel safe when I am with you. I feel like you won't let anything happen to me." )

Smiling at me, he gently cups my cheek. "Okay. I am here. Rest for a while."

"Thank you," I say, leaning into his touch.

Slowly, I lie down on the bed, my mind still churning with worry and fear. I know I need to find a way to deal with the situation, and I need to do it fast. I need to do it before Udayji lies to everyone.

Suddenly Yash Bhaiyya's face flashes in my mind.

Yes. Bhaiyya can tell everyone the truth. He had gone to Udayji's village, after all. He knows more about the matter than me. Perhaps he can go to that village again and get the evidence so I can prove my truth to Prathamji when I finally tell him about it.

Feeling slightly relieved due to that thought, I glance at Prathamji sitting on the bed beside me. He was focused on reading the file in his hand, but time and again, his eyes strayed to me. The concern for me apparent on his face.

Will this concern remain after I tell you the truth? Will you believe me? Or, will you believe Udayji and throw me out of your life?

I silently question him, continuing to gaze at him until my eyes droop and I feel myself finally succumbing to restless sleep.

*****

When I wake up, I find the room shrouded in darkness, with me being alone on the bed.

"Prathamji?" I call out, hoping he is at least in the room.

Not getting any reply from him, I sit up on the bed and hurriedly switch on the lamp on the bedside table.

As the dim light filters the room, I realize Prathamji is not here.

"He might have gone downstairs," I say to myself and climb down from the bed.

Walking to the door, I am about to step out, but I stop when I realize Udayji must also be downstairs, talking with everyone.

What if he has said everything to everyone? His version. His lie. What if all of them have believed him and are now waiting for me downstairs to confront me and also to throw me out of the house?

Shivering at the thought, I slowly move back from the door, slumping on the bed when I feel my legs bump against it.

Tears gather in my eyes as Prathamji's face flashes in my mind. Him smiling at me. Him taking care of me. Him supporting me.

I can't lose him. I can't.

When I hear the footsteps approaching the room, I tightly clutch the bedsheet over the edge of the bed in anticipation.

Prathamji enters the room, and seeing him, my restlessness grows. I am still not sure whether Udayji has or hasn't said anything to him yet.

"It's good that you have woken up. I came to wake you up too," he says, switching on the room's light, and a shudder of relief washes over me on seeing his smiling face.

Did Udayji really mean it when he said he would keep mum until I give him the answer about what he asked me to ponder on?

"I slept for quite some time. It'll be time for dinner soon. I will go to the kitchen and make something." I climb down from the bed.

My legs feel heavy when I start walking to the door. I can't face Udayji. I don't want to face him. The way he looked at me earlier. It had made my skin crawl. The way he wants to lie about what happened between us has made me scared and restless. And the way he touched me. Even though the contact was brief, and only our hands had touched, it was enough for me to know about his vile intentions.

But I need to face it. I can't keep staying in the room due to my fear.

"There is no need to go to the kitchen, Nitya," Prathamji tells me and I turn to look at him.

"But what about dinner?"

"Everyone has gone out. Uday has taken them. They will return after having dinner," he tells me.

"You didn't go with them?"

"How could I go leaving you alone here?" He says without thinking, but seems mortified the very next moment.

Clearing his throat, he says, "I mean, I have some work in the factory. So, I need to go there too. That's why I didn't go with them."

My smile vanishes when I hear that. He is going to the factory, and no one else is at home too.

Does Udayji know Prathamji would be going to the factory? What if he knew and he came here to talk with me when I am alone in the house?

I don't know if I am being completely paranoid right now. After all, I do not know that man at all.

But one interaction was enough, Nitya. It was enough to know what kind of person he is.

"I don't want to stay alone at home," I say to Prathamji. "Will you take me to the factory with you?"

"I would have taken you, but I have work outside the factory too," he says, and I frown at the way he is averting his gaze from me.

Before I can tell him that I will sit quietly at his office in the factory and won't bother him, he continues speaking. "And anyway, you won't be alone at home. Dhriti is here too."

"Oh! Dhritiji also didn't go?"

"She said she was tired from work, and she already ate too much of evening snacks to have any appetite for dinner, anyways," Prathamji answers, smiling fondly at his sister antics.

I also smile, relieved that I won't be alone at home.

"When will you return, Prathamji? I will keep dinner ready for you."

He shuffles uneasily on his spot. "There is no need for that."

"Will you be eating out too?" I ask, feeling my smile falter because I wanted to have dinner together with him. Perhaps it's because we had been eating dinner together at the city, I have grown used to it.

I know it won't be possible every day here because Maaji has specifically told me that I am allowed to eat dinner only after serving everyone at home and after completing all the works in the kitchen.

But there can be some days when we get to eat together. Like tonight, when everyone has gone out for dinner.

"No, Nitya. I won't be eating out alone," he tells me, making me frown.

"You won't eat at home and won't be eating out too? You are not fasting too, Prathamji, because you had eaten in the morning. So, why won't you eat now?" I ask, suddenly realizing there could be another reason.

"Are you feeling sick, Prathamji?" Stepping closer to him, I put my hand over his cheek and on the side of his neck, checking if he has fever. "Why didn't you tell me? Is this why you don't feel like eating? And you won't to go to the factory in this condition? That too alone? No, no. You can't go al—"

"I am perfectly fine, Nitya." Prathamji interrupts me, and I gulp, looking at the slight anger on his face.

"S-sorry," I mumble, getting subdued by his loud voice. "You said you didn't want to eat so I thought—"

"So, you thought I am ill?" He asks, and I nod.

"Arrey, ab chup kyun hogayi? Thodi der pehle toh bohot bol rahi thi."

("Why are you silent now? You were chattering a lot just a few seconds back.")

Lowering my head, I mutter, "Ab aise ghurke darayenge toh kaise kuch kahun?"

("How will I speak if you scare me by glaring at me?")

"What did you say?"

"Umm, n-nothing," I reply, glancing up at him. "Tell me, Prathamji. If you are not sick, then why don't you want to eat dinner tonight?"

"Because I was thinking to take you out for dinner after I return from the factory. You must also be tired after the journey, so I don't want you to cook, and Dhriti said she was tired too. So, I didn't want to trouble her too."

I blink several times, unable to believe what he said. "You want to take me out? Just us two?"

We had gone out to eat in the city too, but Namanji and Shrutiji always came with us. Tonight would be the first time that only we two would be going.

Prathamji nods at me. "Will you come with me?"

"Yes," I immediately reply. "But what about Dhritiji?"

"I had asked her but she refused to come. She said that she didn't want to be a thirdwhe—" He suddenly stops, seeming flustered.

"I didn't understand. What did she say?"

He smiles slightly and shakes his head. "It's nothing. Let it be. I will return in an hour and we will go out after that. Be ready."

"I'll be ready," I tell him, already eager to go out with him.