His to Hate.

Chapter - 37

The rest of the month passed in the same routine, except now, Daadisa had been trying her best to keep me away from Adhiraj uncle but I was also stubborn as hell because uncle was at least trying to recover.

His nurses and physiotherapists had been telling me that over the past two months, he had started willingly participating in his exercises instead of showing his usual reluctance. I didn't know what had caused the change, but I was incredibly grateful that it had happened.

So if Daadisa thought a few disapproving looks and unnecessary instructions were enough to stop me from visiting him every morning and evening...

She had clearly underestimated me.

Thankfully, Uncle seemed equally determined.

Every morning before leaving for the office, I would quietly slip into his room with my coffee, spend half an hour helping him with his exercises and then leave after talking his ears off.

Every evening after work, I would come back again.

Sometimes I played old Hindi songs because the neurologist believed familiar music helped stimulate memory.

Sometimes I simply sat beside him and read aloud while he rested.

Sometimes I complained.

Mostly about Ranaji but not because he had done anything wrong. It was quite the opposite which, annoyingly enough, had become the actual problem.

"You know, Uncle..." I said thoughtfully one evening while slowly helping him bend his fingers one by one. "Your son has developed a very irritating habit." I complained to him.

His eyes slowly shifted towards me.

"He notices everything." I continued with a sigh as I carefully repeated the exercise. "If I skip breakfast, he notices. If I look tired, he notices. If I work too much, somehow coffee appears on my desk." I said, shaking my head in complete disbelief.

Uncle blinked once.

"I don't even know who tells him all this." I muttered suspiciously before narrowing my eyes a little. "Actually... I think half this palace reports to him."

The nurse standing nearby let out a laugh.

I ignored her.

"And don't even get me started on the hair incident." I continued dramatically as I began massaging his wrist gently.

Uncle's eyes remained on my face.

"He tied my hair." I informed him seriously.

A slow blink.

"I know!" I exclaimed, looking at him. "Exactly!"

His fingers twitched ever so slightly beneath mine.

I immediately pointed an accusing finger at him.

"No." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"Don't encourage him." I warned sternly.

Another slow blink followed.

I gasped dramatically.

"Uncle!" I exclaimed in complete betrayal. "You're taking his side!"

The nurse covered her mouth to hide another smile.

"You know, I think everyone in this palace has stopped believing that you will ever talk to them or walk to them.

They think that there is no hope. But I don't think so, uncle.

I think that you want to talk to them and walk with them.

I know that you want to play with Ishaan, that you want to talk to Yuvaan bhaisaa and Ranaji and tell them that they don't have to deal with everything on their own.

I know that you want to sit with Pankhuri and me and gossip about stuff and that you want to give Daadisa a big, big hug.

But to do all that, you will have to try a little harder, you know. " I told him, my voice dropping.

His eyes never left mine.

I smiled softly as I continued moving his fingers one by one.

"I know it hurts." I admitted. "And I know it is tiring. Some days it must feel like nothing is changing at all."

I paused for a second before looking at him again.

"But every single day you move your hand just a little more than you did yesterday." I pointed out gently. "Every day your physiotherapist smiles a little wider. Every day your nurses tell me that you cooperated without complaining."

I laughed softly.

"You have no idea how proud they are of you."

His eyes remained fixed on me.

"And me?" I asked, smiling. "I am probably the proudest."

Very carefully, I helped him straighten his fingers again before placing his hand back on the blanket but kept on holding his hand.

"So don't stop now, okay?" I requested softly. "Don't decide that this is enough."

I leaned forward slightly.

"Because there is still so much left to do."

I smiled at him.

"I still have to complain more to you about your sons."

I began counting on my fingers.

"Yuvaan bhaisaa pretends he doesn't care but then somehow notices everything."

"Ranaji..." I sighed dramatically. "Well, we've already discussed him."

The nurse chuckled again behind me.

"And Ishaan is growing up far too quickly." I continued with a small smile. "Soon he won't even need me to help him with his homework."

I looked back at Uncle.

"So you'll have to wake up before that happens."

My voice softened.

I swallowed.

"I want to hear your voice."

I smiled through the sudden lump in my throat.

"And one day..." I whispered hopefully, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, "...I want you to interrupt me in the middle of one of my very important complaints and tell me that I talk too much."

For a long moment, nothing happened.

Then, very slowly, his fingers curled around mine.

Not by much.

Just enough for me to feel it.

I froze.

The nurse froze too.

Neither of us spoke.

I looked down at our joined hands, then back at Uncle.

"...That's it." I whispered, my eyes stinging. "That's exactly it."

A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.

"I knew you were still fighting." I said softly, squeezing his hand back. "I knew it."

"I should get going uncle, Daadisa will be here any moment." I spoke up after a minute, gave his hand a little squeeze and stood back up on my feet.

"I will see you in the evening!" I said with a smile he returned.

Just before stepping out, I turned around one last time.

"Don't trouble your physiotherapist today." I warned him playfully, pointing a finger at him. "No pretending to be tired after five minutes."

Uncle looked at me and then he blinked once.

I smiled.

"I'll take that as a promise."

"I'll make sure he remembers, Raanisa." the nurse assured me with a smile.

"Thank you." I replied gratefully before stepping out into the corridor.

As I was walking back to my room, my phone went off and it was Papa.

"Hiii Papa! What's up? How are you?" I asked him.

"Ruhani has gone into labour, Parthvi. We are taking her to the hospital." he replied, making me stop.

"What? Bhabhi wasn't due until the next fourteen days!" I exclaimed, panicking.

"Babies don't always wait for their due date, beta." Papa replied calmly. "Her contractions have started, so we're taking her to the hospital. The doctor asked us to come in immediately."

"Is Bhabhi okay?" I asked immediately, my heart beginning to race.

"She's fine." Papa reassured me patiently. "The contractions have started but everything seems normal. We're on our way to the hospital now."

I let out the breath I hadn't realised I was holding.

"Which hospital?" I asked quickly.

"City Care." Papa replied.

"I'll come."

There was a brief pause.

"You have work, beta." Papa reminded me gently.

"I don't care." I replied without thinking. "I'm coming."

"You don't need to rush." Papa said calmly. "We'll keep you updated."

"I am still coming." I insisted stubbornly.

Papa sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

"Exactly." I replied immediately. "Please tell Bhabhi that I'll be there soon."

"I will." Papa said warmly. "Drive safely."

The call ended.

I stared at the dark screen of my phone for barely two seconds before turning around.

I had taken only three hurried steps towards the room when I almost walked straight into Ranaji.

He steadied me automatically by lightly holding my shoulders.

"What happened?" he asked immediately, his brows drawing together as he looked at my face.

"My bhabhi..." I replied, still trying to catch my breath. "She's gone into labour."

For a fraction of a second, surprise crossed his face.

"Is she alright?" he asked.

I nodded quickly.

"Papa said everything is normal, but they're taking her to the hospital." I told him, almost wanting to jump.

I was going to become a bua soon!

He didn't ask another question.

"Go." he said immediately.

I blinked.

"What?"

"Go to your family." Ranaji repeated in the same calm voice. "I will have someone bring your car around."

"I... I should tell Yuvaan bhaisaa..." I began.

"I will inform him." he interrupted gently.

I looked at him for a moment.

"You don't have to worry about anything here." he said and some of the panic inside me eased.

"I'll probably stay there until..." I started.

"As long as they need you." Ranaji completed my sentence.

I nodded.

"Thank you."

He gave the smallest inclination of his head.

"Call me when you reach."

I smiled faintly despite the nervousness twisting inside me.

"I will."

Without wasting another second, I turned and hurried towards the palace entrance, praying the next phone call I received would be one telling me that both my bhabhi and the baby were safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~

"It's a baby girl." the doctor announced with a warm smile as he stepped out of the delivery room where Papa, Mumma and I had been anxiously waiting while Jai Bhaiya stayed inside with Bhabhi.

"A girl?" Papa repeated, his eyes widening before the biggest smile spread across his face.

Mumma immediately covered her mouth with both hands, tears filling her eyes.

I just stared at the doctor.

"A... baby girl?" I repeated blankly.

The doctor smiled and nodded.

"Congratulations." he said warmly. "Both mother and baby are healthy."

That was all I needed to hear.

I let out the loudest squeal that echoed through the entire corridor.

"I'M A BUA!" I practically shouted before throwing myself into Papa's arms.

Papa laughed, hugging me tightly.

"Yes, you are." he said, unable to stop smiling himself.

"I HAVE A NIECE!" I exclaimed again, bouncing on my feet the moment he let me go.

Mumma laughed through her tears.

"Shhh..." she reminded me affectionately. "We're in a hospital."

"I don't care!" I whispered loudly, which completely defeated the purpose of whispering.

"I HAVE A NIECE!"

The nurse walking past us laughed.

"Would you like to see her?" she asked kindly.

All three of us nodded so quickly that she couldn't help smiling.

"One at a time." she reminded us gently.

"I'll go later." I said immediately, shaking my head. "Mumma and Papa should go first."

They looked at me.

"Go." I insisted with a smile.

Mumma squeezed my cheek lovingly before she and Papa disappeared inside.

The moment the door closed behind them, I pulled out my phone.

There was only one person I wanted to call first.

Ranaji.

He answered before the second ring.

"Parthvi, are you alright?" he asked sounding a little surprised.

"I am." I replied, unable to stop smiling.

I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Ranaji..." I whispered excitedly.

"Yes?" he prompted me to continue.

"I'm a bua!!!!"

Silence.

Then...

"Congratulations, Parthvi." he said softly, and somehow those two simple words made my smile grow even wider.

"It's a baby girl." I said, almost laughing. "Both Bhabhi and the baby are healthy."

"I am glad." he replied, genuine warmth evident in his voice.

I leaned against the wall outside the room.

"I can't wait to hold her." I admitted quietly.

"You are going to spoil her, aren't you?" he asked it as a question but he was making a statement for sure.

A smile immediately spread across my face.

"Obviously." I replied as though the answer was painfully obvious. "She's my niece. It is practically my responsibility."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"I thought as much." Ranaji said warmly.

"I already have plans." I confessed, sliding down the wall until I was sitting on the bench outside the room. "I'm going to teach her everything."

"I hope that does not include getting lost inside palaces." Ranaji remarked in the same composed tone.

I gasped.

"That happened only a few times." I defended myself immediately.

"It happened yesterday." he reminded me calmly.

"That is still a few times." I muttered under my breath.

His soft laugh reached my ears again and I found myself smiling without even trying.

For a few comfortable moments, neither of us spoke.

I could hear announcements echoing through the hospital corridors, nurses walking past with hurried footsteps and somewhere down the hallway, the unmistakable cry of a newborn baby.

My smile slowly softened.

Without really meaning to, my eyes drifted towards the closed door of Bhabhi's room.

I wished...

No.

It wasn't exactly a wish.

It was simply one of those thoughts that came to me before I had the chance to stop it.

I wished he were here with me because I wanted him to see this. I wanted to share this happiness with him.

I wanted him to see the way Papa had smiled when the doctor announced it was a girl.

I wanted him to watch Mumma cry happy tears.

I wanted him to tease Jai Bhaiya for undoubtedly crying inside the room even though he would deny it for the rest of his life.

I wanted him to meet the tiny little girl who had managed to make my entire family forget everything else in the world within a single second.

But I knew that could never happen.

There was too much history, too much pain and too much of my family's fault.

For a brief, foolish second, the words reached the tip of my tongue anyway.

"Ranaji... would you..."

I stopped and my fingers tightened around my phone.

What was I even thinking? I couldn't ask him to come.

Not here.

This was my family's happiness and no matter how much my heart had begun to blur the lines between my family and my husband, the circumstances and truth around us hadn't changed with it.

"Would I what, Parthvi?" he asked after a second.

"What?" I asked quietly, pretending I had simply lost my train of thought.

"You were about to ask me something." Ranaji said patiently. "Would I what?" he repeated in the same calm voice.

I stared at the floor for a long moment.

For one reckless second, my heart urged me to say it.

Would you come?

Would you come and meet my niece?

Would you stand beside me while I introduced you to everyone, not as the man I had been forced to marry, but as my husband.

The thought hurt almost as quickly as it had appeared.

Because it wasn't possible.

He deserved peace and my family deserved this happiness today.

Neither deserved to be reminded of the past.

I closed my eyes for the briefest moment before forcing a small smile onto my face even though he couldn't see it.

"It's nothing. I will call you later, Ranaji. The....the nurse needs me to get some stuff." I lied to him.

He said nothing for a moment and I had a feeling he knew I was lying.

He had become annoyingly good at recognising the difference between the things I said and the things I actually meant.

Still, true to who he was, he didn't corner me with questions I wasn't ready to answer.

"Alright." he replied.

His voice remained just as gentle as before.

"Take your time."

"I will." I murmured.

Another small silence settled between us.

"Parthvi?" he called my name softly after another second.

"Hmm?" I responded, absentmindedly tracing invisible patterns on the edge of the wooden bench with my finger.

"I am happy that you called me." he admitted simply.

My hand stopped moving.

The words were so unexpectedly honest that for a second I forgot how to breathe.

I hadn't expected that.

I had expected him to congratulate me, I had expected him to ask whether everyone was alright, I had expected him to tell me to take care of myself but I had not expected him to tell me that he was glad I had thought of him.

A warmth spread quietly through my chest, followed almost immediately by an ache because that was exactly the problem.

He was becoming the first person I wanted to tell whenever something happened.

Good.

Bad.

Happy.

Scary.

It didn't matter.

Somewhere without me even realising it, he had become the person my mind reached for first.

"Me too." I confessed before I could stop myself.

The words slipped out so naturally that I didn't even realise I had spoken them until there was silence on the other end of the call.

Heat immediately rushed to my face.

I closed my eyes. What exactly was wrong with my mouth these days?

"I mean..." I began awkwardly, desperately trying to recover. "I meant... I'm glad I called too because... because you would have found out from Pankhuri bhabhi anyway."

Ranaji was quiet for a second.

I could almost picture him on the other side of the call, standing near the large window of his office with one hand in his pocket, wearing that same unreadable expression he somehow managed to wear even while smiling.

"I suppose I would have." he replied eventually, his voice carrying the faintest trace of amusement.

"I should go." I said quietly, hearing footsteps approaching from the other end of the corridor.

"They're probably bringing Bhabhi and the baby out."

"Go." he replied immediately. "She should not have to wait for her favourite bua."

I laughed.

"I haven't even met her yet." I said, laughing.

"You decided you were her favourite before she was born." he reminded my own words to me.

"That is true." I said, shrugging.

"So I imagine she has very little say in the matter." he said, making me laugh again, louder this time.

"She doesn't." I declared confidently. "I've already claimed the position."

"Go on and come home soon." he said and my heart did that annoying little thing again.

The one where it completely ignored my brain.

"I will." I replied and then we hung up.

For a long moment, I simply looked at the blank screen of my phone before slipping it back into my bag.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~

The next two days disappeared before I even realised they had passed.

Ruhi officially became the centre of our entire universe.

Apparently, a tiny little girl who barely weighed three kilograms had somehow managed to take complete control over five fully grown adults.

She decided when everyone slept.

She decided when everyone ate.

She decided when everyone gathered around her crib just because she had stretched one tiny hand or made the smallest little sound.

And somehow, nobody minded. Not even a little.

Bhabhi and Ruhi were discharged from the hospital two days later and the moment we reached home, Mumma welcomed them with an aarti while Papa stood beside her with tears of happiness shining in his eyes.

I, however, had declared myself the self-appointed Head of Baby Security.

"Stop." I ordered Jai Bhaiya sternly the moment he reached towards Ruhi.

He looked at me in disbelief.

"What now?" Jai Bhaiya sighed dramatically.

"You touched the gate." I pointed out seriously. "Go wash your hands again."

"I washed them two minutes ago." Jai Bhaiya argued.

"You touched the car door after that." I reminded him matter-of-factly.

"I am her father." Bhaiya deadpanned.

"And germs don't care." I replied confidently.

Ruhani Bhabhi burst into laughter.

"I think becoming a bua has officially made her mad." Ruhani Bhabhi laughed.

"Slightly?" Jai Bhaiya asked innocently.

"I was trying to be polite." Ruhani Bhabhi replied with a grin.

I rolled my eyes.

"You both are just jealous because Ruhi loves me the most." I declared proudly.

"She is two days old." Jai Bhaiya reminded me dryly.

"So?" I challenged him.

"So she cannot even see properly." Jai Bhaiya replied patiently.

"She can feel positive energy." I argued confidently.

"I have absolutely no idea where this girl gets her confidence from." Papa laughed.

"From you." Mumma answered immediately.

Papa became quiet and I smirked.

The next five days passed in exactly the same chaos.

Every time Ruhi cried, all of us reached her before poor Bhabhi could. Every time she yawned, someone declared it the cutest thing they had ever witnessed. Every time she slept, all of us lowered our voices as though we were carrying out some top-secret military operation.

By the seventh day, Mumma had finally had enough of me.

"Haan madam, waapis jaana hai ki nahi?" she asked, looking at me.

"Ranaji ko koi problem nahi hai ki mai yahan hoon toh aapko kyun hai?" I asked her, rolling my eyes.

"Problem humein bhi nahi hai beta par you have a job now and you cannot be taking so many leaves just because your husband is your boss, that does not send across a good message." Papa said, sitting down on the couch next to me.

He was right.

No matter how much Ranaji had told me to stay as long as I wanted, I couldn't keep taking advantage of it.

People already whispered enough whenever the boss's wife received any sort of special treatment.

I had worked too hard to earn the respect of everyone to let something as avoidable as this become office gossip.

I let out a sigh.

"Fine." I muttered reluctantly. "I'll leave after lunch."

"There is my sensible daughter." Papa said with a satisfied smile.

"I never said I was leaving happily." I pointed out immediately.

"You've complained every five minutes since morning." Jai Bhaiya remarked from the dining table.

"I am grieving." I replied with complete seriousness.

"You are going back to your husband, not being exiled." Jai Bhaiya deadpanned.

"Same difference." I muttered.

Before anyone could reply, the loud sound of multiple vehicles entering the driveway echoed through the house.

All of us instinctively turned towards the main gate.

Papa frowned.

"Were we expecting someone?" Papa asked, looking towards Mumma.

Mumma shook her head.

"No."

A minute later, our gardener who comes three times every week to tend to the plants hurried inside.

"Sir..." he spoke respectfully. "A vehicle has come from Ratangarh."

My eyebrows immediately shot up.

"From Ratangarh?" I repeated.

The man nodded.

"They said they have come from Rajmahal."

Before anyone could process his words, another voice floated in from outside.

"Priiiiiii!"

I didn't even have to look.

"Ishuuuu!"

I practically ran towards the entrance just as Ishaan came charging inside with his tiny backpack bouncing against his shoulders.

He threw himself at me with so much force that I almost lost my balance.

"I missed you!" Ishaan declared, wrapping both his arms around my waist.

"I missed you too, monkey!" I laughed, hugging him tightly before kissing the top of his head.

Behind him, Pankhuri Bhabhi walked inside wearing a soft smile.

"You could have warned us you were coming!" I exclaimed happily before pulling her into a hug.

"If I had warned you, it wouldn't have been a surprise!" Pankhuri Bhabhi laughed, hugging me back.

Papa and Mumma had also reached the entrance by then.

"Namaste Uncle. Namaste Aunty." Pankhuri Bhabhi greeted them politely.

"Khush raho, beta." Mumma blessed her warmly before embracing her.

"What brings you here?" Papa asked pleasantly.

Pankhuri Bhabhi smiled.

"I actually came under strict orders."

"Orders?" I asked curiously.

"Ranaji's." Pankhuri Bhabhi replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

I blinked. Before I could ask another question, another three men entered carrying enormous gift hampers.

Then another two. Then another four. Then someone wheeled in a beautifully wrapped wooden cradle.

I stared and so did everyone else.

One after another, beautifully wrapped boxes continued entering the living room until almost half of it had disappeared beneath gifts.

There were stuffed toys bigger than Ishaan, baby clothes in every possible size, handmade quilts, silver utensils, tiny gold bangles, soft blankets, educational toys, books, a customised baby stroller, a baby monitor, a rocking bassinet and an entire bookshelf filled with children's classics.

My jaw slowly dropped lower with every passing second.

"Bhabhi?" I finally managed.

Pankhuri Bhabhi looked at me innocently.

"Hmm?"

"What..." I pointed towards what looked less like gifts and more like an entire baby store. "...is all this?"

Before she could answer, Ishaan proudly puffed out his little chest.

"Bade Papa bought everything!" Ishaan announced proudly.

I looked at him.

"What?"

"Everything." Ishaan repeated enthusiastically. "He made us go shopping for two whole days!" he replied, shaking his head.

Two...

Whole...

Days?

Pankhuri Bhabhi laughed at my expression.

"He isn't exaggerating." Pankhuri Bhabhi admitted. "Your husband practically emptied half the baby stores in Ratangarh."

I blinked.

"No..."

"Oh yes." Pankhuri Bhabhi nodded, thoroughly amused. "At one point the store manager actually asked him whether he was opening a nursery."

Papa looked equally stunned.

"But... why so much?" Papa asked in disbelief.

Pankhuri Bhabhi smiled softly.

"He said..." she paused before looking directly at me, "...that this is the first baby in Parthvi's family after her marriage and that their niece deserves nothing but the best."

"He chose all of this himself?" I asked almost inaudibly.

"He refused to let anyone else do it." Pankhuri Bhabhi replied with a helpless laugh. "The sales staff kept asking whether they should show other options and he would say, 'Show me the best one.' Then he'd ask for another shop because he wanted to compare."

I could only stare.

"He even called our paediatrician." Pankhuri Bhabhi continued. "He made a list of things newborns actually need so that he wouldn't miss anything."

My throat tightened.

Papa quietly looked away for a second.

Mumma pressed the edge of her saree against the corner of her eye.

"He..." I whispered, struggling to find words. "...he didn't have to do any of this."

"I know." Pankhuri Bhabhi replied gently.

She smiled knowingly.

"But I don't think anyone could have stopped him." Pankhuri Bhabhi replied.

I stood there in complete silence.

My eyes wandered across the countless boxes filling our living room.

"There's more." Pankhuri Bhabhi spoke up, breaking my thoughts.

I looked at her.

"He has also arranged for a monthly delivery." Pankhuri Bhabhi informed everyone with a helpless smile.

"What?" I blinked.

"Every month until Ruhi turns three." Pankhuri Bhabhi continued. "Diapers, formula if needed, toys according to her developmental stage, books, clothes in the next size, medicines, baby care products..."

I simply stared at her.

"He has already paid for all of it." she finished.

Jai Bhaiya let out a low whistle.

"I've met obsessive planners before." Jai Bhaiya muttered. "But this..."

Papa slowly shook his head.

"He has thought of everything." Papa said quietly.

"He always does." Pankhuri Bhabhi smiled.

For some reason, those three simple words stayed with me.

He always does.

They described Ranaji better than any long speech ever could.

He noticed everything, he planned everything and whenever he cared, he cared completely.

I lowered my eyes, suddenly unable to look at anyone.

"He really shouldn't have spent so much." Papa said after a long silence, genuine discomfort evident in his voice. "These gifts are... too expensive."

"He said that he wants to do this for his niece and no one should be taking his right to spoil her from him." bhabhi replied with a shrug.

"He has left me with no argument." Papa admitted but I could hear his guilt and pain in his voice.

"He usually does." Bhabhi replied with a laugh.

Mumma looked towards me before looking back at Pankhuri Bhabhi.

"He treats Parthvi very well, doesn't he?" Mumma asked softly.

I immediately looked down at my hands and Bhabhi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked at me for a long moment before smiling.

"He does." she answered honestly. "More than she probably even realises."

Heat rushed to my face.

"Bhabhi..." I muttered in embarrassment.

"What?" Pankhuri Bhabhi smiled innocently.

"I'm only telling the truth."

Jai Bhaiya folded his arms across his chest.

"You know..." Jai Bhaiya said thoughtfully. "I don't think I've ever actually known someone who plans this much."

"Oh, you haven't seen the half of it." Pankhuri Bhabhi laughed.

Just then, one of the staff members entered carrying a small velvet box.

"Baisa" The staff member said respectfully, looking at Pankhuri Bhabhi. "This was kept separately."

"Oh." she smiled. "I almost forgot."

She took the small box before walking towards Ruhani Bhabhi.

"This one is specifically from Rudra Bhaiyaa."

Ruhani Bhabhi accepted it carefully.

"What is it?" Ruhani Bhabhi asked.

"Open it." Pankhuri Bhabhi encouraged.

Ruhani Bhabhi slowly lifted the lid and inside lay a delicate gold bracelet for a newborn.

It was impossibly tiny.

A single pink ruby had been set into its centre, surrounded by tiny diamonds.

Attached to it was a small handwritten card.

Ruhani Bhabhi unfolded it.

"Read it aloud." Jai Bhaiya requested curiously.

She smiled before reading.

For my little Ruhi.

May your life always be filled with laughter louder than tears, courage greater than fear and love so abundant that you never know a life without it.

You may not know me today, but you will always have another family waiting for you in Ratangarh.

With love and blessings,

Your Phuphasa.

His words left me with only one thought. How was he the same man who had taken me from my home because of my family's sins, yet cared so deeply about their well-being?

How?

The answer refused to come because every time I thought I had finally understood Ranaji, he did something that forced me to begin all over again.