𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-30

Mausa = Mother's sister's husband

Chachi = Father's brother's wife

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The warm fur blankets and Mickey Mouse bedsheets tangled around Ira and Panchhi's legs and torsos. They lay with their backs to each other, their bodies rising and falling with each gentle breath. The closed door and windows blocked out most of the sunlight, but the ceiling glowed softly, illuminated by the warm rays peeking through the ventilator.

Panchhi's legs stretched out straight, her feet relaxed, while her hands sprawled outward, elbows bent in a loose, childlike pose.

Ira lay surrounded by a fortress of pillows, each one carefully positioned to cradle her body. A pillow beneath her head supported her weight, her brown hair cascading across it like a tangle of dark snakes. Another pillow propped up her feet, while two more flanked her sides, providing a sense of security and comfort.

The door swung open with a loud thud, flooding the room with sunlight that danced across the marbled floor. The jingling of anklets and bangles announced someone's arrival, the sound growing louder with each step.

The sudden interruption made the sisters' eyelids flicker, their faces scrunching in protest.

The woman swiftly yanked away the blankets. Ira and Panchhi's bodies jerked in response, their faces contorting in sleepy dismay. Their hands fluttered wildly, grasping for the edges of the bedsheets, which they pulled up to their eyes in a futile attempt to shield themselves from the sudden brightness.

"Get up, sleeping beauties! It's already 11 a.m.! Do the chores!" she screamed, her voice sharp enough to pierce eardrums.

Panchhi's lips twisted as she retorted, "We're not your servants!"

"Then do you people come here only to sleep and be served?!" The woman's hands planted firmly on her hips, her stance widening as she glared at the sisters.

Panchhi tossed the blanket onto the floor and swung her legs over the bed. She mirrored the woman's stance - hands on hips, chin lifted. "Just like you, isn't it?"

The woman's expression soured further, her lips pursed. She strode toward Ira's side, her footsteps heavy, and snatched the pillow from Ira's grasp, making her face fall into the mattress with a soft thud.

"Who is this pillow?! Your husband?! That not even the air is passing between you two?!"

Ira's teeth clenched, her eyes squeezed shut. Her lips parted, but she fell silent as Panchhi's voice cut in.

"Oh yeah, Ira di. See how experienced mami is? She knows exactly that the air doesn't pass when you sleep with your husband like that."

The aunt's face twisted, her mouth parting in outrage.

"Come on, Ira di. Let's get some fresh air." Panchhi gestured for Ira to follow as she turned toward the door.

Ira silently swung her legs over the bed, her feet dangling for a moment before touching the cold floor. She rubbed her eyes, stifling a yawn, her shoulders sagging slightly as she trailed behind Panchhi.

The aunt stood rigid, eyes narrowed, hands still on her hips. "Huh! Don't know what these little lizards think of themselves! Standing in my house and talking back to me?" She paused, breathing heavily, then muttered loathingly, "Whichever house these two little brats go to, they'll ruin the peace of the people there too."

With a final twist of her mouth, she spun on her heel, her saree rustling as she strode out of the room.

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