‘Have you kept the milk as I asked?’ asked the great aunt again. A bout of coughing followed.

‘Yes, but usually he does not drink milk at night. It gives him diaorrhea.’ The little boy’s comment elicited a few smirks.

‘Today he wants to bathe in it, so shut that little trap and keep it here…’

The aunt clearly had a temper. She sat in the room like a queen and ordered everyone about, complaining of knee pain at regular intervals. Through her incessant rambling Rajjo learnt that she lived in the house with her nephew, and occasionally travelled to another city to visit her daughter and sons.

‘Kesar, now get me a cup of tea. I have just attended a hectic wedding. But I am happy Kullu is settled with a nice bride. Now the lord can call me up there! I will go happily!’ The aunt looked up with a divine expression. Her thinning white hair, wrinkled face, toothless grin and sharp tongue made her more fearsome than likeable.

‘When will he call you up there, you think?’ asked the little boy, Kesar. ‘You had promised to buy me a new school bag for my evening classes. Now where will I chase you once he calls you up there…?’

The other ladies bit back a smirk as Kesar’s mother, who helped around the house with the chores, took him by the arm to give him an earful. Kesar seemed like a happy boy around her. The old aunt continued to mutter as she slurped on the tea. ‘Rascal!’

Just then Seth-ji passed the living room and disappeared in the bedroom, not exchanging any pleasantries with the gathering of ladies and neighbours.

The aunt swung into action again.

‘What are you girls standing there and giggling for? Now I have to move my ancient legs and take the bride in the room? Move it and take her in there!’

Promptly, a few cousins escorted Rajjo shyly to the master bedroom.

‘I want a great grand nephew soon, I am telling you right now,’ hollered the old woman. Rajjo’s face burnt with humiliation as she heard giggles erupting at the comment.

Thankfully, she escaped the living room only to be ushered into a bedroom.

Rajjo skimmed the room painted in a pista green colour. Patches of cement on the roof spoke of harsh seasons. Muddy yellow and white curtains hung on the window listlessly, and she could glimpse the mango tree through them. A double bed and a steel Godrej cupboard took up most of the room. A mirror attached to one of the cupboard walls reflected Rajjo. She looked resplendent in her red outfit.

The cousins fled the room as they saw Seth-ji come out of the bathroom. With a hungry look on his face, Seth-ji inspected his new bride, ignoring the shy giggles. He lay down on the bed with a loud sigh staring at Rajjo expectantly. He made an odd sight, sprawled on the colourful printed bed-sheet, his belly falling towards his right and his eyes devouring Rajjo. This was not the vision Rajjo had of her husband.