Chapter 1 Suman #3
“I read the letter you received. We make copies of all letters received at Suryagarh and keep them for safety reasons. While searching for a letter in that copy, I came across yours, which mentioned that your husband had died and that you are being called for the post-ritual. You didn’t share everything with Bhabhi-sa4, which made her worry about you afterwards.
While speaking with Bhabhi-sa, I learned about your tribe’s custom of burning wives with their deceased husbands.
So, I came here and saved you. However, I didn’t know that your people would be so wild and that the entire village would come to slaughter me. ”
He turned to me, adding in a serious tone, “No one can know what happened there, or what transpired between us. I did that only to protect you; now you are completely safe. You can live your life as you did before. I won’t bother you, okay?” and I nodded slowly.
“Ji, thank you so much for saving me, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m just a maid, Kunwar-sa,” I couldn’t stop saying so.
“I would’ve done the same for anyone in your place. Don’t think you’re special,” he replied dryly, leaving my hand in front of a small cottage. “Come inside,” he said, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as soon as I noticed the darkness in the cottage.
“What is this place?” I asked, hiding my fear.
“You don’t need to know.” He responded curtly.
Yes… of course!
Stepping inside, I felt the dirt beneath my feet. But the cottage had a strange warmth. It seemed as if no one had visited here for years. The dim light streaming in through the small hollow in the wall fell on the dry leaves, a small trunk, and a few earthen pots in the corner.
He walked over to the trunk, and I followed suit in fear. I didn’t know where we were, and the mere thought of someone discovering us together felt worse than death.
The air was thick, making me uncertain about how to confront him in the kingdom when we returned. Plus, Nandani would flood me with questions and interrogate me.
“Here,” his voice caught my attention. He handed me a maroon outfit. It was used, but I didn’t dare ask to whom it belonged, so I muttered a ‘thank you.’
“You can’t return to the kingdom wearing these.” He gazed at my white clothes. “Bhabhi-sa will worry, and I don’t want to add to her stress right now. She’s already suffering, and knowing what happened to you might affect her health,” he explained, and I nodded, swallowing quietly.
His bhabhi-sa was the queen of Suryagarh and never showed arrogance toward anyone. She had always regarded me as her best friend, and she was currently unwell because of her pregnancy. That’s why I couldn’t tell her everything.
“I know, Kunwar-sa, and please don’t worry.
I won’t tell anyone about what happened.
I understand you did that to protect me, and I can’t even think of myself as your wife—” My heart came to my mouth as he cocked his brow, “I mean, in that position in my dreams. Everyone is so happy about your wedding that they should never know about it. I hope we can both forget this day and continue our lives as they were,” I said through uncontrollable, unwelcome tears streaming down my cheeks.
“And thank you so much for saving me,” I added with a trembling voice.
“I don’t know how I can repay you in this life.
You didn’t even think of yourself before doing that.
I mean nothing to you; I’m no one. We haven’t even spoken once, yet you came to rescue me.
I will pray to God that you receive everything you desire in this world. ”
He stepped closer, and I immediately lowered my gaze and stepped back.
But as he placed his hand on my head, I halted.
The gentle weight, screaming for protection, forced my lashes shut.
“It’s okay. I can’t stand seeing a woman suffer through that.
Try to forget it as a terrible memory. I can’t bring your husband back, but time will heal everything. ” His words made me chuckle.
More tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. “Even if you could bring my husband back, I would never want that,” I exclaimed, adding, “I need to change.”
He pulled his hand back and nodded, “I’m standing outside.”
He stepped out of the cottage and closed the door behind him.
My chest felt heavy as I lowered my gaze to the white attire stained with his blood. I still couldn’t process what had happened. The memories of the flames, the smoke, the cries, the screams, and the blood weakened my knees, and I tried to calm myself down, closing my eyes, fisting my hands.
I’d never forget that, nor would I forget the debt he owed me.
Stripping the Dupatta5 and removing my blouse and skirt, I stood naked. My long braid hung low on my hips; the burnt ends poking against my skin. I wore the dress he gave me.
After putting it on, I neatly placed the dupatta over my head and said, “Bheetar aa sakte hain ab aap” “You can come in now.”
The lack of response, however brief, heightened my anxiety and sped up my pulse. “Kunwar Agastya,” I repeated, clenching my dupatta tightly in my fist. I stepped toward the door when he still didn’t answer.
“Kunwar-sa,” I cried out. Intense fear coursed through me, making my knees shake. It was getting dark; I didn’t know where I was, and he wasn’t responding.
“Please reply, Kunwar-sa,” I said, my voice trembling with fear as I cautiously approached the door. “Kunwar-sa,” I called again, pulling the door open. The creaking of the old wood sent a strong shiver down my spine.
My heart raced wildly, and my breathing grew heavier as my eyes searched for him.
I stepped outside, looking around. With the growing darkness, I could hardly see anything.
The chirps of insects and the rustling of dry leaves stirred by the wind sent shivers down my spine.
A hollow silence surrounded me; I felt a storm raging inside.
Tears filled my eyes as I moved further, calling out to him.
“Kunwar-sa, where are you?”
I clenched my hand tightly around my skirt and looked around. My steps were small and fearful. When I didn’t find him, I burst into tears.
“Kunwar-sa,” I called again.
Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps rustling through the dry leaves, approaching from afar, alarmed my ear. I spun to find him walking toward me.
I rushed in his direction.
Before processing anything, I moved closer, wrapping my arms tightly around his torso. “I thought I’d lost you,” my voice trembled. Tears fell like a river.
He placed his hand on my head. “I just went to wash up in the river and pick some fruits,” he explained, and I tightened my fist over his back.
My entire body shook. What if someone had taken me from here?
I wasn’t afraid of death, but the thought of being burned alive wouldn’t leave my mind.
“Hey, hey, calm down. Everything is okay; you’re safe,” he said, nudging me away.
I nervously wiped my tears, looking at him. “You should’ve at least told me.”
“I told you to wait for me there. You didn’t listen,” he stated through gritted teeth, and I immediately stepped back.
He was a prince; I shouldn’t have hugged him like that. What was I even thinking?
“I’m sorry, I really am sorry,” I said, taking a few more steps away before walking back toward the cottage with him, keeping my distance.
We both entered the cottage. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his wet hair and his clean clothes. He had taken a bath.
“I got this for you to eat,” he said, handing me two apples.
I took them with trembling fingers and asked, “Do we need to stay here for the night?”
He sat on the floor, resting his back against the wall, and nodded.
“We don’t have any options. My horse needs rest, too, and the dense forest covers the path.
It’s not safe to travel at night,” he explained in a tired tone.
I lowered myself to the floor and wrapped my dupatta around me as snugly as possible.
I didn't know, but I couldn't accept that he had married me. It meant he was my husband.
No... Nooo!
“Aren’t you going to miss your husband?” he asked, catching my attention and biting into the apple.
I gulped slightly, shaking my head. “No,”
He lowered his gaze to his lap for a moment.
“Why?” he asked.
The black soldier’s attire, made of leather, adorned with long strings tied over his broad chest, caught my attention. I noticed a drop of blood on the silver fasteners. It must have come from my forehead after he… did that.
I took a deep breath, looking down at my fidgeting fingers.
“He never considered me his wife,” I said.
“How long had you been married?”
I blinked momentarily. The weight was burdensome. “Eight years,”
“How old are you? You look so young,” he seemed shocked, inquiring.
“Twenty-three.”
He inhaled deeply. “You got married at sixteen,”
“Yes,” I nodded, ashamed. “And the irony is I was excited to get married.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Everyone told me I would have a new home after the wedding, someone to look after me, and all those dreamy things,” I whispered while biting into the apple again.
“What went wrong then?” he asked, chewing on his apple.
I gulped, taking a pause.
“Everything,”
He nodded.
My heart felt heavy under the weight of old memories.
Those nights when I’d scream, and he wouldn’t stop.
I used to search for hiding spots to avoid being grabbed by him.
Memories of his drunken state, in which he would hit and mock me in front of his friends, allowing them to touch me inappropriately to prove how unattractive I was.
“Do you have any... children?” He asked, gazing at me.
I timidly lowered my gaze and shook my head.
“No,” I said, biting my lower lip. “Not my own.”
“Then who are these lent ones?” he asked, amused.
A smile dared to appear on my face. “Teenagers of my late husband and his late wives,”
He raised his eyebrows with a smile. “Wives?”
I nodded. “Three.”
“All dead?” he asked, and I nodded.