Chapter 20

Ummmm... I feel this chapter is little Extraaa  🫠

“Hunting is a terrible idea,” Rajni muttered. “Will there be lions too? What if one of them attacks us—or, more precisely, me—before we can do anything?” Her voice grew smaller as she added, “Is it absolutely mandatory for me to join?”

Srikant and Ratnesh exchanged weary glances, having already endured what felt like the hundredth question since Ratnesh had informed Rajni about their plans to go hunting in the jungle with Daaman and his wife, Sarita.

Rajni had only met Sarita once, during a brief encounter in the kitchen while preparing tea for the Thakur brothers. Though no words had been exchanged, Rajni had felt an inexplicable unease under Sarita's penetrating gaze, as if the woman were trying to unearth some hidden truth about her. The moment had lasted only a minute or two before a child's cries echoed through the courtyard, prompting Sarita to leave the kitchen and attend to her son. Rajni had let out a relieved sigh once she was alone again.

Srikant, seated nearby, stopped wiping his rifle and set it aside. He turned his attention to the sulking woman, who was now mumbling to herself while folding clothes.

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do there!” she grumbled. “I just hope they don’t use me as bait to lure dangerous animals…”

The thought made her shudder, and she began imagining herself tied to a tree, helpless, as a lion lunged at her, fangs bared and ready to devour her. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. “No, no, no,” she murmured under her breath.

Srikant watched her with growing amusement, unable to keep a small smirk from forming on his face.

“No, no, Chote Thakur (the younger Thakur) wouldn’t do that,” she reassured herself aloud, trying to recall any instances where Ratnesh had been cruel to her. Only two memories surfaced—one where he had humiliated her by leaving her sleeping naked on the floor, and another from the same day during a particularly humiliating encounter. Even so, she reasoned that Chote Thakur didn’t dislike her enough to use her as bait for wild animals. “Chote Thakur wouldn’t do it,” she said again with a small smile.

But the smile vanished almost instantly as another thought crept into her mind. “Par Bade Thakur (but the elder Thakur)…” she whispered, her expression growing grim.

She considered his cold behavior in the past, and a chill ran down her spine. Unlike Ratnesh, Bade Thakur seemed entirely capable of such cruelty. Her hands stilled over the pile of clothes as she turned to glance at Srikant. To her dismay, his eyes were already fixed on her, his face unreadable.

“Bade Thakur…” Rajni began, her voice trembling like a child on the verge of tears, pleading for their favorite candy. “Aaj accha nahi lag raha (I’m not feeling good today).”

Srikant’s lips finally curved into a wide grin. He had been quietly listening to her rambling for the past several minutes, and it was now clear to him why she seemed so distressed.

“Koi baat nahi, Rajni (Don’t worry, Rajni),” he said, his tone teasing. “Hum jungle mei chalenge toh accha lagne lagega (Once we’re in the jungle, you’ll start feeling better).”

Rajni opened her mouth to retort, to declare she wouldn’t feel good about going to the jungle, but the words died in her throat when she saw Srikant casually picking up his gun. With the barrel pointed in her general direction and his finger resting on the trigger, her eyes widened in alarm. She quickly glanced around, hoping to find her safest Thakur, but her hopes sank as she saw Ratnesh completely absorbed in cleaning his own rifle, oblivious to her plight.

Her gaze darted back to Srikant. “Ab itti si baat ke liye goli maar denge kya?” (Would he shoot me over something so small?) she muttered under her breath. Unfortunately for her, the words came out louder than intended, loud enough for both Srikant and Ratnesh to hear.

Ratnesh looked up, his brow furrowed, silently asking what he had missed. Srikant, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow at Rajni, his cold, unreadable expression betraying none of the amusement bubbling within. Beneath his composed exterior, he was holding back a smile, thoroughly entertained by her antics.

Rajni, on the other hand, froze like a deer caught in headlights, her wide eyes fixed on Srikant as though he might actually shoot her. Then, as if suddenly struck by inspiration, she blurted, “Arey haan, mai chai laati hoon bna ke!” (Oh yes, I’ll go make some tea!)

Before either of the men could respond, she practically flew out of the room, eager to put as much distance as possible between herself and their guns.

“Kya karta rehta hai, Srikant?” (What do you keep doing, Srikant?) Ratnesh asked with a chuckle, his curiosity piqued. “Kyun darata rehta hai usko din bhar?” (Why do you keep scaring her all day?) he added when he noticed a smile creeping onto Srikant’s lips, which quickly turned into a bubbling laughter that echoed through the room.

Srikant shook his head at Ratnesh, still chuckling, before replying, “Maine kuch nahi kiya.” (I didn’t do anything.)

His casual tone, coupled with the amused glint in his eyes, only made Ratnesh laugh in return.

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"Dekh ke chal, Rajni," (Watch your step, Rajni) Srikant said instinctively, reaching out to steady her as she stumbled along the narrow path. Rajni, her lips still adorned with an exaggerated pout, first shot him an angry glare before her eyes darted ahead to find Ratnesh, who was walking a few steps ahead, carrying a basket of food and a blanket.

“If you keep pouting like that,” Srikant teased, “not only will you end up in the jungle, but you’ll have to join us in hunting too.”

Exactly as he anticipated, Rajni’s reaction didn’t disappoint. She stretched her lips into a wide, exaggerated smile, the kind that screamed anything but genuine, and fluttered her eyelashes at him. Her mock effort to comply made him chuckle.

“Good girl,” he said, stifling his laughter. “Ab aise hi muh ke saath chal.” (Now keep walking with that expression.)

Rajni obediently maintained her ridiculous smile, nodding dramatically as she walked, her face a study in forced cheerfulness. Srikant’s amusement deepened as his eyes sought out Ratnesh, as though wanting him to witness this spectacle.

As if on cue, Ratnesh paused and turned to look at them. His brows furrowed in confusion as he took in Rajni’s unusual expression. Her smile was bright, but her eyes betrayed her irritation. His gaze shifted to Srikant, who was barely managing to keep a straight face.

Ratnesh shook his head, exhaling like a weary parent dealing with mischievous children. “What now?” his expression seemed to say, his exasperation only making Srikant’s grin widen.

Srikant raised his hand up in surrender with a chuckle before replying "Maine kuch nahi kiya"

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Ratnesh settled down on the blanket they had spread out, with Rajni beside him. Srikant rummaged through the food basket, looking for something to eat, his demeanor casual yet sharp. Ratnesh had already decided Rajni wouldn’t help, dismissing her subtle attempts to assist. Nearby, Sarita and Daaman sat on their blanket, close enough to be visible but far enough not to overhear their conversation.

“Yeh Sarita ji baar baar idhar kyun dekh rahi hai? Hum zyada paas baithe hain kya?” (Why does Sarita keep looking over here? Are we sitting too close?) Rajni whispered, sliding a little farther from Ratnesh. Her eyes darted toward Sarita, who was, indeed, already staring at them.

Ratnesh followed her gaze, and the moment his eyes locked with Sarita’s, she quickly averted her gaze.

“Koi ji-wi nahi hai woh. Aur tu udhar dekhna band kar,” (There’s no ‘ji’ here. Stop looking over there,) Ratnesh said firmly, his tone carrying a sudden edge. Rajni glanced up at him, startled by the unexpected change in his voice.

“Aap achanak se gussane kyun lagte hain?” (Why do you get angry so suddenly?) she complained, her wide eyes fixed on his face. Her question caught Ratnesh off guard, and for a moment, he just stared at her.

“Tu zyada nahi bol rahi aaj, Rajni?” (You’re talking a lot today, aren’t you?) he teased, his tone lighter now, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

Rajni froze, processing his words, then shook her head vehemently. “Nahi toh! Main toh bas apne mann ki baat bol rahi hoon. Maine toh zyada bola hi nahi!” (Not at all! I’m just saying what’s on my mind. I haven’t been talking much!)

Before she could continue, she felt another presence behind her. Srikant had stepped closer, and before she could react, he grabbed her elbow and gently turned her to face him.

“Kya bola? Dobara bol,” (What did you say? Say it again,) he demanded, his tone lazy but his eyes sharp.

Rajni shook her head, her eyes pleading as she turned back to Ratnesh, silently begging for rescue.

“Kuch nahi bola isne,” (She didn’t say anything,) Ratnesh interjected, his voice calm. His response earned a genuine smile from Rajni, who suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to leap into his arms and proclaim her gratitude. But just as quickly, her excitement faded when she noticed Daaman and Sarita’s eyes on them again.

“Rajni,” Srikant began, his tone almost languid. His gaze flicked to his brother, who was now watching Rajni intently as she toyed with his fingers, then shifted to the couple. Daaman and Sarita were still staring, their focus unwavering. Though Srikant was certain they couldn’t see Rajni holding Ratnesh’s hand—Ratnesh’s broad frame provided ample cover—he didn’t want to risk it.

Without a word, Srikant pulled Rajni against him, wrapping his arm around her waist. The motion made Ratnesh frown, but he said nothing.

“Woh log bas idhar hi dekh rahe hain,” (They’re just staring over here,) Srikant muttered, gesturing subtly toward the couple. Ratnesh nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. He smiled faintly when Rajni glanced at him and gave a small, almost apologetic grin before playfully pinching his finger.

“Dard hua?” (Did it hurt?) she asked, her tone childlike, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Ratnesh shook his head, the hint of a smile still lingering.

Rajni frowned, pinching a little harder. “Ab?” (Now?)

Again, Ratnesh shook his head, unbothered. Frustrated, Rajni unconsciously reached for Srikant’s hand and was about to pinch him too when she froze, realizing whose hand she was holding. Instead of pinching, she gently caressed his palm, then placed it back on her waist, tilting her head slightly to look up at him with a guilty smile.

“Hum shikaar kab karenge?” (When will we hunt?) she asked suddenly, sounding both bored and restless. Her gaze wandered to the still pond and the eerily quiet surroundings. Though she hadn’t liked the idea of coming hunting, she now wanted it over with so they could return to the haveli before nightfall. “Agar shaam hogi toh hum ghar chalenge na? Matlab, raat ko toh yahaan khatra hoga.” (If evening comes, we’ll head home, right? I mean, it’ll be dangerous here at night.)

“Nahi. Hum jab tak shikaar nahi kar lenge, hum nahi lautenge,” (No. We won’t leave until we’ve hunted something,) Srikant said firmly. Or at least, he tried to sound firm. Her expressions, coupled with the dramatic faces she kept making, made it impossible for him to maintain his stern facade.

“Toh chaliye,” (Then let’s go,) she said with an exaggerated sigh, springing to her feet. Her eyes flitted between the two brothers as she gestured impatiently. “Chaliye, chaliye! Shikaar kariye!” (Come on, let’s hunt!)

Her exasperated eagerness drew an amused smirk from both men. Rajni, ever full of surprises, was managing to make even this tedious outing an unpredictable adventure.

“Kya hua hai isse aaj?” (What’s up with her today?) Srikant murmured to Ratnesh, his voice low enough that Rajni, striding ahead like she was the one carrying the rifle, couldn’t hear.

Ratnesh shrugged in response, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. His look seemed to say, “As if I know.”

The group continued walking, the dense jungle around them alive with faint rustling sounds and distant bird calls. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, shattering the relative quiet. Rajni shrieked, instinctively jumping back, her confidence vanishing in an instant.

Another shot followed, but this time it wasn’t aimed at the wilderness. The bullet came their way, slicing through the air with a menacing speed. Before anyone could fully comprehend what was happening, it struck Rajni on her shoulder.

Her eyes widened in shock, tears welling up as the pain registered. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she fell backward, only to be caught by Ratnesh. His arms wrapped around her protectively as panic etched itself into his features. He looked utterly shaken, his usual composure unraveling in a heartbeat.

Nearby, the wild boar that had been Daaman’s target bolted into the underbrush, disappearing into the dense jungle, its life spared by the chaos.

“Rajni!” Ratnesh’s voice was strained, barely above a whisper as he cradled her trembling form, his mind racing as blood began to seep through her clothing. Srikant’s expression turned grim as he quickly scanned their surroundings, already alert for any additional threats.

The once-playful air of the hunt had evaporated, leaving only the chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in both the jungle and their own carelessness.