Chapter 1 Suman #5
I heard Nandani’s faint laugh. My primary responsibility was to ensure her health and the quality of her food.
Ranaji wouldn’t hesitate to punish me if she ate anything dangerous to her and the baby’s health.
Reaching the royal kitchen, I asked a few attendants to bring two bowls of water, then grabbed a clean plate and knife to take to her chambers.
When I reached back, I noticed Princess Aishwarya sitting there with them, too. They were playing Chausar10, laughing together.
Nandani’s pregnancy had been critical from the beginning, and the physicians had strongly advised her to avoid any stress. However, as the queen of a kingdom perpetually caught in wars and turmoil, she felt powerless.
As I sat beside her, she looked at me and said, “I’ve also placed your pieces.”
I shook my head with a smile, “I’m not playing.”
“I’m not playing either, Bhabhi-sa; I have some work to attend to,” Kunwar-sa said.
Nandani glanced at me, and Princess Aishwarya looked at him.
“What? You called me to play Devar-sa. You can’t back out now,” Princess Aishwarya said. I silently grabbed a few mangoes from the basket to wash them in the bowl.
“I’m slicing mangoes for you,” I said politely.
“We can wait for you.” Nandani insisted, patting my knee.
I shook my head. “No, no, please, go ahead; I have other things to take care of,” I said, slicing mangoes for them, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. He stared back at me.
My heart sank into my stomach.
“Aap bin bataaye kahaan chale gaye the, Devar-sa?”
“Where did you go without telling us?” Princess Aishwarya asked Kunwar-sa with a smile.
He rolled the dice, palming them. “Nowhere,” he replied. “Just for a hunt,”
I passed the plate to them, and Nandani took a slice.
“Oh, you mean to meet a girl?” Nandani laughed at him.
A smirk appeared on his face.
“Pata nahi kya samajh rakha hai aap sabne humein,”
“God knows what you take me for.” he said, moving his piece forward.
“We can’t help it, given that you’ve turned down so many girls for this one,” Princess Aishwarya said with a soft laugh.
He bit his lower lip, a blush tinting his cheeks. I couldn’t look away from the dagger beside him.
He’ll kill me someday.
I could feel it in my bones, especially in how I spoke before him, and how he glared at me.
After slicing some mangoes for them, I got back to my chores.
I entered her bedchamber with the other attendants, made her bed, and set up the couches.
Serving as the chief attendant to the kingdom’s queen involved many responsibilities and high accountability. My day typically began with bathing and getting ready, often before she woke up. However, as her due date approached, we expected the baby’s arrival, making things even more hectic.
After getting ready, I asked the attendants to prepare her bath, her clothes for the day, breakfast, and everything else she would need. When quicker-than-expected results were necessary, I occasionally handled that work instead.
However, my responsibilities increased because Ranaji relied solely on me for her food and belongings. Occasionally, I had to cook for her myself.
Honestly, I loved it.
She never saw me as merely an attendant. To her, I was always her best friend, so I could never overstep my boundaries or betray her trust.
However, her Devar-sa had to apply the symbolic vermilion to my hair, making it difficult for me to feel at ease.
I wanted to tell her, but it would’ve just complicated everything.
The previous year, the rules regarding marriage had changed, prohibiting a man from marrying more than one woman without his first wife’s consent.
Ranaji was even stricter about these matters in his household. He had clearly instructed his brothers to be loyal to their wives. I could never ruin the life of the person who saved mine.
“Suman,” suddenly, another attendant’s voice caught my attention. Pulling my gaze from the bedsheet I had been blankly staring at for what felt like an eternity, I looked in her direction.
“Ji,” I responded, and she knitted her brows in confusion.
“You’ve looked pale since you got back,” she said, prompting me to touch my cheek, and I shook my head instinctively.
“It’s just… I’m tired,” I replied.
“What happened to your wrists?” she asked. I looked at my wrists and noticed the graze marks.
“Oh! I pulled the water out of the well a little too hard,” I lied.
“Okay, anyway, Rani-sa11 is calling for you,” Reva informed before leaving.
Even though I had only met her at Suryagarh, she was like a friend; she had been incredibly helpful from the beginning. We took turns handling responsibilities whenever we felt tired.
I arranged the dupatta over my head and walked out. They were still playing. “Yes, Nandani,”
“Suman,” she looked at me. “Ask someone to make something for Devar-sa.”
I glanced at him as he looked up, then quickly shifted my gaze back to her. “Of course,” I replied.
He interrupted. “Bhabhi-sa, tell her not to cook for me. She’s a terrible cook.”
I took a deep breath in frustration.
Nandani chuckled softly. “No, Devar-sa, you’ve only had the khichdi12
she had made. She’s a splendid cook. But don’t worry; she will ask someone else to prepare something,” she replied, glancing at him.
I clenched my jaw hard.
“Then it’s fine,” he replied, stretching his arms wide. “Ask them to bring it to my chamber,” he said.
“Okay, Bhabhi-sa. I should get going. Bhai-sa has given me some work,” he added, looking at Nandani and Princess Aishwarya before standing up with a broad smile.
“Namak mirch theek hone chaahiye humaare bhojan mein,” “Make sure everything’s perfect in my food.”
I inhaled deeply and nodded. “Ji, Kunwar-sa,” I said, walking away. Their voices faded in the background.
?????
Once I entered the kitchen, I surveyed the lunch preparations and asked, “What’s on the menu today?”
“Paapad ro saag, ker saangri ro saag, gatte ro saag, panchratna daal, baati, aur meethe mein choorma13.” The head cook replied.
“Is it ready?” I asked further. “Kunwar Agastya is asking for lunch,” I told the head cook, who nodded.
“Yes, it’s almost ready, but we don’t have any servants available at this instant.”
I looked around, noticing everyone was busy with work.
“It’s alright, just pass me a plate; I’ll handle it,” I told him.
I waited until they had prepared the food, then walked to his chamber.
Upon entering, I attempted to call out, “Kunwar-sa,”
Standing outside his bedchamber, I asked, “I’ve brought your lunch. May I come in?” but there was no response.
“Kunwar-sa, I brought your lunch,” I called out again.
Finally, he replied, “Come in.” His words were deliberate as I entered.
He was writing a letter, leaning over the table, so I approached him.
He frowned, eyeing me from head to toe.
“Humse milne ke bahaane dhoondh rahi ho?” “Are you looking for reasons to meet me?” he asked as I kneeled before the table to set the plate.
“Hum kyun bhala bahaane dhoondenge aapse milne ko?” “Why would I do that?” I asked, offended.
“To phir bhojan tum kyun laayi ho?” “Then why did you bring the food?” he asked, looking back at the paper.
I sighed. “Pehli baar laaye hain? Isse poorv bhi to anekoan baar laaye hai na. Phir aaj aap aisa prashn kyun kar rahe hain?” “Is this the first time? I’ve brought you meals many times before. So, why are you asking this question today?” I inquired, keeping my tone low.
He finally lifted his gaze from the paper to me. I could feel the weight of his gaze. But I didn’t dare look up from the maroon fabric of my skirt.
It hit me!
I was still wearing the attire he had given me.
Shit! That’s why he was watching me so closely back then and now.
“Paros dein, Kunwar-sa?” “May I serve, Kunwar-sa?” I asked, embarrassed.
A long silence followed as I calmed my racing heartbeats down, and he finished writing.
“Tum theek ho?” “Are you alright?” he asked.
“Humein kya hua hai?” “What would happen to me?” I smiled, though I was clenching my palms tightly over my knees, awaiting his answer.
But Ranaji’s voice startled me. “You’re back, Agastya?”
I stood up and stepped back, looking down as he entered.
“Bhai-sa,” Kunwar-sa exclaimed, getting off the couch.
I glanced at them out of the corner of my eye.
“Where did you go without telling me?” Ranaji asked, walking to the couch.
“Nowhere,” he said with a faint smile, “I was feeling down, so I thought I’d take a walk,” and sat beside Ranaji as he patted his shoulder.
“You shouldn’t wander around like that anymore,” Ranaji said, tone serious. “You’re about to become a man with responsibilities. After your marriage, you shouldn’t roam like a free bird.”
“Ji, Bhai-sa, by the way, should I ask someone to bring your lunch here?” he asked.
Ranaji looked at the food and replied, “Oh, yes, I need to talk to you about something as well.”
I left them alone after saying. “I should get your lunch, Ranaji,”
Reaching the kitchen, I asked the helpers to prepare food for Ranaji. A few attendants lined up with bowls in their hands, and I directed them to follow me.
We all entered his chamber, and I signalled the attendants to place the bowls on the table.
“May I serve you, Ranaji?” I asked slowly.
He smiled and replied, “Yes, please.”
I began while he ordered the other attendants to leave. They bowed and left.
“Do you think they will take any action against it?” Ranaji asked Kunwar-sa, and I tried not to pay attention.
I was a trusted attendant, so he didn’t ask me to leave.
“They will. And I think they are behind all of this.”
I didn’t know why, but everything felt different. I had heard them talking a thousand times while serving food, but this time, it felt different.
“So, do you think six months is the minimum time they’ll need to lift their swords?” Ranaji asked.
“We must wait until after the wedding,” Kunwar-sa suggested. “Because then, and only then, can we use Meharangarh’s army.”