"Riya, yeh kya hai? Yeh toh Raj bhai ka kamara hai na?"

(Riya, what is this? This is Raj bhai's room right?)

"Chachu aap dekhte rahiye. Kye hai abhi pata chal jayega."

(Chachu just keep watching. Whatever it is will unfold really soon.)

The screen stayed still for a few seconds before the door to the room slightly opens, it was Shourya and Aarav. They enter as quietly as possible and gently close the door behind them, they stand near the door to block the exit.

"Aab yeh dono wahan kya kr rahe hai? If this is some sort of joke then. . ."

(Now what are these two doing there? If this is some kind of joke then. . ."

"No chachi, please keep watching. I'm sure you'll love this."

Meera gazes at Suman, giving her hand a squeeze for comfort, but her heart was also running a marathon.

The family watches the screen, the realisation sets in that things are serious. Rohan looks around for his wife. He couldn't find her, his palms start to sweat as he looks at Riya's smirk.

"Priya! Where's Priya?"

"I don't bhai, aapki biwi hai. You should know."

(She's your wife.)

"Yeh bag kaisa hai mere bed pr? Suman, tumne rakha hai kya?"

(What is this bag on my bed? Suman, did you put it there?)

Suman glances at Sunita Devi before shaking her head and turning back to the screen, followed by everyone else. The screen shows the brothers watching the wardrobe, everything was still on the screen and out of it too. Until there was a slight shuffle on the screen. A shadow, walks past the wardrobe entrance.

"Bhai, did you see that?" Neel asks his brother.

Raj nods his head, on the edge of his seat, his eyes not leaving the screen. And then the shadow passed again, before moving closer to coming inside the room. Then there it was. The person they've been waiting for, hands filled with jewellery and expensive sarees. They were huddled close to the person's chest, shining in the dim light resent in the dark room. Shourya's hand moves to the light, turning it on to reveal the culprit.

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"Priya?"

"Yeh gehne toh. . . ."

(This jewellery is. . . .)

"Suman, yeh toh tumne Meera aur Riya ke liye hai na?"

(Suman, you got these for Meera and Riya right?)

"J-ji."

(Y-yes.)

"Wha-"

The screen shows Priya's steps stalling as she drops the items on the bed, the audience can't hear anything but it's obvious that she was trying to explain. Her hands flailing around, her steps retreating, the colour of her face draining. The Singhania's stand up and move towards the room.

Raj and Neel are ahead of everyone, Reema throwing a glare at Riya as she holds Rohan's arms and follows along. Sunita Devi, Suman and Meera glance at each other before making a move to follow along. Riya disconnects her phone and runs after the rest.

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"Shourya bhai, woh aisa. . .aisa kuch n-nahi hai. A-aapko jaise lag ra-raha ho-ga waisa n-nahi hai." Priya pleads with Shourya.

(Shourya bhai, actually it's. . . .it's n-nothing like that. It's no-nothing like what it l-looks like.)

"Oh really! Do I look like an idiot to you?"
"Bhabhi please! Jaisa dikh raha hai waisa hi hai. Aap mere parents ke kamre se chori kr rahi thi." Aarav shouts.

(Bhabhi, please! It's exactly what it looks like. You were stealing from my parents' room.)

Before Priya could say anything the rest of the family come in.

"Priya! Yeh kya ho raha hai? What are you doing in tayiji's room?" Rohan questions his wife.

(Priya! What is happening here?)

"Stealing, obviously bhai."

Reema steps in front trying to defend Priya, saying it's a trap and her bahu is innocent, but Neel isn't having any of it. He glares at his wife, a sign that he's had enough.

"Bas Reema! Chalo sab bahar chalo. Aage kya krna hai woh mein dekh lunga."

(Enough Reema! Everyone, step out. I will decide what happens next.)

The family sits in the living room, Priya begging her husband to listen to her, Reema trying to calm her husband down. Whilst the rest wait silently. Neel had called the police a few minutes ago and now will not listen to anyone.

"I've had enough. I'm sick of the three of you! Bas, ab mujhe aapni jaan chudani hai tum sab se. Ek bhi chain ki saans nahi li hai jabse Rohan shadi krke aaye hai."

(I've had enough. I'm sick of the three of you! Enough, now I just want to get rid of the three of you from my life. I haven't taken a peaceful breath since Rohan has gotten married.)

"Daddyji, please give me another chance. Aage se aapko koi bhi shikaaet nahi millegi. Please don't call the police. Rohan kuch toh bolo." But it was too late, there was a knock on the door and the officers were escorted inside.

(Daddyji, please give me another chance. I won't give you a reason to be upset. Please don't call the police. Rohan, say something.)

The officers record the complaint and arrest Priya, "Mrs. Priya Singhania, this your chance to explain yourself to your family your motives."

"I come from a poor family, we have 2 tiny bedrooms, a small sitting area and an even smaller kitchen. My parents are happy with what they have, but I want more. It's not a bad thing to want to improve and do better. I have wants and needs that should be met, and my father's nine-to-five wasn't enough."

"Just get to the point Priya," Neel says. Priya shivers before continuing.

"When I met Rohan in college, I knew he could give me anything I want. The kind of life I've craved. So I approached him, and we started to date. He would get me expensive presents and dote on me. But then he told me about his stupid engagement."

Meera tenses next to Shourya.

"I took him home when I knew there wouldn't be anyone home, asked him what I would do without him, I basically created this laachar abla character in front of him. Mene Rohan ko aapni chikni chupdi baaton mein fasaiya, uss pr shaadi ka pressure dala. Phir uske baad ka aapko paata hi hai, humari shadi kaisi hui. Phir jab yahan aayi toh pata chala ki Rohan toh kudh aap sabse paise maangta hai. Toh meine soch ki mujhe hi kuch krna padega. Meera aur Shourya ki shaadi ki tyaari jab shuru huyi toh mene dekha ki Suman tayiji Meera pr kitna kharcha kr rahi hai, Jo pasand aa raha hai bina soche le rahe hain. Mujhe bhi woh sab chahiye tha. Woh gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones, silk sarees, branded handbags, perfumes, makeup and skin care aur pata nahi kya kya. Pr koi meri taraf dekh hi nahi raha tha. Bas mummyji hi the. Mein ghar ki nayi bahu thi, pr har kisi ko iss Meera ki padi thi." Priya spat as she glared at Meera.

(I took him home when I knew there wouldn't be anyone home, and asked him what I would do without his. I basically created this poor and helpless character in front of him. I trapped him in my sweet talks and pressurised him for marriage. and after that, you guys know. And when I came here I realised that Rohan had nothing of his own, he himself has to ask everyone for money. So I thought I had to do something. When the rituals for Meera and Shourya's wedding I saw how much tayiji was spending on Meera, she got her anything she put her hand on without thinking. I also wanted that. that gold, silver, diamonds, gemstones, silks sarees, branded handbags, perfumes, makeup and skin care. and God know what else. But no one was even looking my way, only mum was. I was the new bride of this house, but everyone was worried about this Meera.)

"Do not look at my wife like that." Shourya says.

Priya averts her gaze, and continues her tale.

"Meine tab se hi choti choti cheezon ki chori shuru ki thi, do gift cards the jo daddyji ne Meera ke liye maangye the, kuch saaman Suman tayiji bahar living room mein chod jaati thi. Aisa saman jo aagar gum gaya to dhyaan mein nahi aayega. Meera aur Shourya ki shaadi ke baad, meine aur saman lena shuru kr diya. Aur kisi ko pata bhi nahi laga. Meine soch rakha tha ki saab se keh dungi ki meri job laagi hai, joh ghaar bethe hi hoti hai. Jaise work from home. Aur phir jo saaman meine liya hai, usse bech kr paise ekhatha krungi. Salary ke bahane. Phir jo pasand aayega woh le lungi. Jitna saaman hai, usse lakhon charoron paise mil jaynge. Pr mujhse galti ho gayi ki mujhe woh diamond ka necklace bohot pasand aa gaya. Aur muh dikhai wale din pehen liya, jo tayiji ne dekh liya."

(That's when I started to steal small things here and there, two gift cards that daddyji had bought for Meera, some things from tayiji that she left in the living room. Small things that no one would notice went missing. After Meera and Shourya's wedding, I started stealing more. And no one even noticed. I had thought that I would tell everyone that I got a job, that is online. Like working from home. and then sell the things I steal for the money, and buy what I like. The money I got from selling stuff I would say is my salary. Then I would buy what I like. With the things I got, I would have had hundreds of thousands of rupees. But I made the mistake of wearing that necklace and tayiji saw it.)

Okay so here is one more update, I just wrote it. But I do need to keep writing. So this one is for sure the last update for today!

Happy reading!

<3