Chapter 20
Bhabhi-sa’s words made me chuckle as I watched her leave us alone with a smile.
When she disappeared, I heaved out heavily and looked at Suman, wiping tears from her cheeks.
“Hey,” I muttered, stepping closer to her.
She broke into more cries, and I wrapped my arms around her, caressing her back.
“Bhala itni si baat par koi rota hai,” “Does anyone cry over such trivial matters?”
She hugged me back tightly. “I'm sorry. It's all because of me,” she muttered, and I closed my eyes, kissing her head.
“No, nothing is because of you. Why are you even crying? This was inevitable,” I said, but she shook her head.
“But she got angry because of me,” she sobbed, and I kept stroking her back.
“She wasn't angry,” I said, pausing just long enough to find the right words. “She had been experiencing postpartum mood swings since she had just had a baby. It’s normal,” I explained, and she chuckled, pushing me away.
“Do I look like a fool to you?” she asked, pouting, and I shook my head.
“No, you look like my wife,” I couldn’t help but say.
“No one is going to agree with us. She agreed because I’m her best friend. Ranaji, Prince Ranvijay, and the other kingdoms won’t like it,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
I cupped her cheek to make her look at me.
“Agastya Dev Singh kahenge to Bhagwaan ko bhi maanna padega, ye to phir bhi chote-mote raja hain,”
“When Agastya Dev Singh speaks, even God must listen. These are merely petty kings in comparison.”
She laughed at my words, and I wiped the tears from her cheek.
“But I hurt her,” she said, and I pulled her into my embrace again.
“That’s okay; I'll gladly be her pet in return,” I said, remembering what Bhabhi-sa had asked me to do as part of our arrangement this time.
“What would she ask you to do?” she asked, pulling away.
I looked into her eyes filled with love.
“Nothing,” I paused, “Just stirring up a bit of drama between her and Bhai-sa so their relationship continues to blossom, and finding some useful information for her—things she likes but doesn’t share with Bhai-sa,” I said.
She frowned. “What things?”
I pursed my lips. “Um… that’s a secret between us?”
And she nodded. “Of course.”
“Mitti ka sewan karti hai tumhaari priya sakhi,” “Your dear friend craves edible clay.” I said, and her eyes widened in shock.
“What? She didn’t give that up?”
I raised my brows. “Does she look like someone who gives up on anything? Just think about how she won over my Bhai-sa.”
She narrowed her eyes in return. “Don’t you feel ashamed saying those words in front of her? I mean, isn’t she like a mother figure to you?”
I took her hand, guided her to the edge of the bed, and sat her down. Pulling her closer, I settled her on my lap.
“I do, but she doesn’t see me as a child,” I said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Every time I saw tears in her eyes, I lost my composure.
The moment Bhabhi-sa was about to raise her hand at her, I lost it.
I understood they were best friends, and her family treated Suman as one of their own.
Daadi-sa cared for her, Abhinandan was like a brother to her, and my brothers respected her immensely.
Still, I couldn’t tolerate anyone raising their voice at her, because she didn’t deserve it.
I had always seen her waking up before everyone and being there for Bhabhi-sa whenever she needed her. And she never made it seem like it was all a burden to her. She had forgotten herself for this family—my family.
She watched me silently and muttered, “I'm sorry for all the blunders.”
I shook my head and cupped her cheek.
“You’re the most beautiful blunder of my life, Sumanika,” I said, brushing her cheek softly, and she leaned closer, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
Hiding her face in my neck, she kissed the crook of my neck and whispered, “Thank you for everything, Kunwar-sa.” She seemed sad.
I tightly wrapped my arms around her, closing my eyes.
“I don't need a thank you,” I said, and her hold tightened around my shoulders. “But…” I paused and couldn’t help but smile.
“If you want to thank me, you know... the bet is still pending,” I concluded, and she immediately lifted her gaze to meet mine with an intense glare.
“I can't believe you,” she said, her voice astonished. She immediately pushed me and stood up.
But I held her wrist. “Hey, you can’t leave without a proper thank you. I’m a man of my word. I stick to it if I say something,” I said teasingly.
Her frustration flared up as she shook her head.
“Are you mad? I’ve done nothing like that,” she said with a flushed face, and I pulled her closer.
Our chests collided, and I gently cupped her cheek, gazing into her eyes.
Her eyes flickered between mine and my lips as her heartbeat quickened.
“Do you want to see how it’s done?” I asked.
She inhaled sharply, her cheeks crimson as she shook her head slightly, as if trying to resist the effort.
A smile spread across my face, and I asked, “Do you want to go out with me?”
Her eyes widened slightly, and she asked, “Where? Why?”
I sucked my lip. “To the rivers, the mountains, the markets,” I paused. “To the place where you can see how to do it,” I said, and she gulped nervously.
Her lips trembled. “You,” her voice broke. “You want me to see another man naked?”
“Trust me, I don’t mind unless it affects your comfort and happiness,” I muttered.
She nibbled her lower lip slightly. “What should I say? Where am I heading? To everyone,” she asked timidly.
“You do not have to worry about that. I will tell Bhabhi-sa,” I replied.
Her cheeks flushed, and she asked, “Tonight?”
A smile appeared on my face as I watched her excitement, and I nodded. “Yes,”
She smiled when an attendant suddenly walked in.
“Kunwar-sa,”
I looked at the entrance and saw that the same attendant had watched us twice.
She fumbled and tried to stand up.
“Yes,” I said to the attendant while holding her firmly in my arms.
She kept wiggling to escape when the attendant responded, “Um… Rani-sa is asking for you.”
“Hum bhi to yahi bataane aaye the,”
“I came to inform him the same,” Suman said, attempting to break free from my hold, and I glanced at her.
“Tum kal raatri se humein yahi bata rahi ho?”
“You’re telling me that from last night?” I asked, and her eyes widened in shock.
“I’m coming,” I told the attendant as I watched her leave.
“How can you do that?” she asked, widening her eyes, and I kissed her cheek.
“Bas bhai-sa ko pata chalne do, phir to hum tumhe baandhkar rakhenge,”
“Wait until Bhai-sa finds out; then I’ll keep you tied.”
She bit her lip, and as I leaned closer, she struggled initially, but gave in when my lips met her neck, sucking her flesh gently.
A soft moan escaped her lips as she pleaded, “No more bruises, please.”
I couldn’t stop myself. “It’ll take more than a request to stop me, love,”
She winced and withdrew her face. Her anguished eyes locked onto mine, and she lightly slapped my cheek.
“Bilkul baat nahi maante aap,” “You don’t listen to me at all.” Frustration dripped from her tongue as I stared at her blankly.
I loosened my grip and lowered my gaze in silence.
“Kunwar-sa, I’m sorry, I truly didn’t mean to,” she said, cupping my cheek, making me look at her. “Alright, bruise me as much as you want,” she said in a low, tense voice, brushing her hair aside.
“No, I don’t want to now,” I pouted, and she cupped my cheek.
“Oh, please,” she muttered, and I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at her.
“Suhaagraat ka samay aane do, tumhaare shareer ka ek ang nahi chodenge,”
“Wait for the consummation night; I won’t spare even an inch of your skin from my touch.” I said, and she looked at me, stunned.
“You’re joking, right?” she asked nervously.
“Only fools take my words as a joke. The wise understand the wrath behind them,” I muttered, pulling her closer by her nape.
Her lips quivered. She inhaled deeply as I brushed my lips over her soft, pink petals; I closed my eyes and drew in their essence.
She shivered in my embrace as I tilted my face to the side and began kissing deeply. She was so soft.
When the heat intensified, she pushed me away and stood up.
“I have to go,” she inhaled deeply and scrambled away.
A smile crept onto my face as I watched her hide her blush and smile, walking away from me.
I silently swallowed, rising from the bed for a quick bath.
Having bathed, I proceeded to the guest quarters to meet King Abhinandan.
“Pranaam, Abhinandan,” I greeted, entering the guest chamber and finding him savouring breakfast with his twin sons, enjoying the fruits.
“Pranaam, Kunwar Agastya,” he said, stepping forward to give me a loose hug. “Where have you been? I couldn’t find you during the entire ceremony,” he said, moving away.
I smiled weakly and replied, taking a seat on the couch. “Um… I had been watching a few activities,” I said, watching him pick up one of his crying sons.
“Oh my baby,” he muttered, patting his chest, and I inhaled sharply, realising that my Bhabhi-sa was his sister. That meant my niece was in a relationship with this crying child. They shared the same genes, meaning she’d cry like him when she got older.
“Oh, God!”
“What happened?” Abhinandan asked, and I couldn’t believe I had said that out loud.
“Ah, nothing, he is cute and lovely and beautiful, I mean, children!”
Wait! I’ll also have children one day.
I exhaled deeply, trying to focus on one thing at a time.
Girls are better than boys. My niece was better than those twins.
“So, where have you been?” he asked again, and I smiled.
“Um… you were right to doubt,” I couldn’t help but declare.
His eyes widened. “What? Is that true?” he asked in shock, but suddenly the child broke into even sharper cries.
Abhinandan sang him a lullaby in baby language, and I swallowed hard in silence.
“Then?” he asked.
“Um… I went to see that, and yes, it was there. I don’t know what to name them,” I said, and the other child started crying.