In a hurried frenzy, a couple of women came and whisked Megha away. She was barely conscious, more dead than alive, so they only managed to take her as far as the window. Down below, a crowd had already gathered—and if they had seen her in that state, rumors would’ve spread like wildfire.

After much wailing and chaos, the cremation was completed. What had happened with Megha was quietly buried by the women of the house.

And just like that, five years passed.

In those five years, Megha’s husband, Vijay, was all but forgotten by the family. Not that he had ever done anything worth remembering. He had spent his days loitering around, wasting his father’s wealth on every possible vice, and tormenting everyone in the family. For them, his death had lifted a curse. Though none blamed Megha directly for his demise... how could they? He died only after reducing her to a living corpse. And her poor parents—aware of everything—had still turned a blind eye. They were too impoverished to challenge the Thakurs.

In those five years, the lives of everyone else had moved on.

Two weddings had taken place in Thakur Jagdish Singh’s haveli. Four years ago, Arjun—the son of his late elder brother Thakur Amar Singh—was married. Two years ago, his only daughter, Deepti, also got married. Now she even had a four-month-old daughter. But happiness had remained elusive. Ever since her wedding, her husband’s business had gone under. So Thakur Jagdish had called them both back to live in the haveli.

Megha’s younger sisters had also been married off in their youth, just like her—but unlike Megha, fate hadn’t been so cruel to them. Thanks to Thakur Jagdish Singh’s blessings, they had found good homes. This time, Megha’s father had ensured to verify everything before giving his daughters away.

The only life that hadn’t changed—was Megha’s.

For the entire village, she was the widow of the late younger Thakur. And for the Thakur family, she was a mute, unpaid servant—someone who could be ordered around day or night without a second thought.

She would wake up before the household and toil all day like a bull tied to a millstone. She ate what was thrown her way, wore what was handed down. As a widow, colors were already forbidden. Megha had perhaps died on her wedding night itself—on the pyre of her marriage. Her dreams, her hopes... all perished. Whatever little of her had survived was shattered by society.

That day, Thakur Jagdish Singh had returned to the haveli with visible lines of worry etched on his forehead.

“Chhoti Bahu, bring some tea,” said Kamini Devi, settling down beside her husband.

“You seem troubled,” she observed.

“There is a reason to be,” he admitted.

“Did you speak to the lawyer about giving the share to our son-in-law?”

“Yes, I did. But the outcome wasn't encouraging.”

“What did he say?”

“He said the property cannot be divided without Arjun. He must be given his share too.”

“That’s absurd. Why would he need the money?”

“I told the lawyer the same. Arjun owns the country’s biggest law firm. He lacks nothing. And anyway, what would he do with some village land? The last time he came was for Vijay’s wedding—only because Mala Jiji insisted. He has no interest in ancestral property.”

“Then?”

“The lawyer said unless Arjun provides a written declaration that he’s willingly giving up his claim, we cannot transfer his share to anyone else.”

“Then speak to him. Deepti is his sister, after all. Our son-in-law could start his own business with that money.”

“Yes, I’ll talk to him.”

---

That night, the Thakurain was yelling loudly—

“Chhoti Bahu! Oh Chhoti Bahu! Are you asleep or what?!”

Megha came running into Kamini’s room—likely she had been sleeping.

“Come here. Massage my legs with oil. You’re always dozing off.”

Megha sat on the floor and began massaging Kamini’s feet.

“And listen carefully. Make sure tomorrow’s food is well prepared. Your elder brother-in-law is coming to the haveli. Mala Jiji will be with him too. Don’t make any mistakes—they’ll only stay till evening. And mind you, I don’t want to see you anywhere outside the kitchen. If Jiji asks about anything here, keep your mouth shut. Don’t try to be clever.”

Megha simply nodded her head in silence.