𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-58

Babu = Officer or city person (in Bihar).

Suhaag raat = First night after marriage.

Prabhu / Ishwar / Bhagwan = God.

Jija = Elder sister's husband

Barkhurdar = An Urdu term of endearment or respect, similar to kiddo or young one.

-*-*-*-

"This way, come, come." The grandfather stretched out an arm in a gentle sweep as he led them forward. The rooftop tubelight hummed sharply above them, its harsh white glow spilling across the open space and making their eyes squint for a moment.

"Bhushan ji, Apoorva ji," he called over his shoulder, his voice warm and inviting. "Siddharth beta, come this way, into that room. The air is too cold outside."

Bhushan and Apoorva exchanged a small smile before stepping ahead. Their eyes wandered across the space - the concrete house in place of the old clay one, the water purifier where a clay pot once stood, the marble floor - trying to match the brick rooftop with the version they remembered from years ago.

Siddharth followed several steps behind, almost reluctantly. Though the young barrister always carried himself with elegance, tonight everything about his posture betrayed discomfort. His jaw tightened for the briefest second before settling back into its calm, unreadable line. The wind ruffled his neatly combed hair, and he smoothed it back with a quick, irritated motion before slipping his hands into his jacket pockets.

At the doorway of one of the rooftop rooms, the grandfather waited with a patient smile, rubbing his palms together for warmth. He watched the three of them approach - Bhushan and Apoorva with quiet curiosity, Siddharth with muted resistance - and still, his smile never dimmed, as if the simple act of having them here was enough to fill the cold night with warmth.

"Where is everyone?" Apoorva asked, a soft, nostalgic glint shining in her eyes as she stepped inside the room. "I remember yours being a very big joint family."

As they settled on the neat, well-made bed, the grandfather hurried toward the corner, bending slightly as he switched on the old room heater. The metal coils crackled to life, sending out a mild orange glow that warmed the cold air in slow, gentle waves.

"They must be upstairs," he said with a hearty laugh, straightening his back. "You know, the preparations for the puja and all."

Apoorva's face brightened, her eyes widening. "Wow! Then I should also lend a hand!" She pushed herself up from the bed, gathering her saree gracefully as she took a step-when she felt a sudden tug at her pallu.

She turned around, her expression softening as she saw Siddharth's fingers curled tightly around the fabric with the reflex of a child left momentarily alone in a crowd. His eyes lifted to hers, pleading and uncertain.

Apoorva let out a quiet chuckle and eased his fingers off her saree one by one. "Beta, they're our own people," she said, patting his cheek gently. Her gaze flicked toward the old man with a wide smile. "My son is very shy... but he can make people sweat in the courtroom with his fierce questioning!"

Siddharth's lips curved into a small, shy smile. He lowered his head, his shoulders relaxing a little as his eyes shifted between the patterned floor tiles and his father's teasing grin beside him.

The grandfather let out a soft chuckle, rubbing his hands together near the heater's warmth. "Don't worry, Siddharth babu! By tomorrow, you'll get around with everyone."