Chapter 31
His words sent my heart into a frenzy. I gulped, unable to look away from his intense, menacing green eyes.
As our bodies pressed together, it felt as if I was streaming like a river into his vast green ocean.
I was stuck under him, by him, and for him, through and through.
Shaking my head, I pushed against his incredibly firm chest and said, “Ab nahi honge hum aapse rusht kyuki galti hamari thi, Kunwarsa. Aap to bass hume samman de rahe the, aap to apne jeevan me hume ek mukaam de rahe the, or hum galat samajh bethe, ya fir ye kahe to kadachit hum dare hue the. Hume laga ki kahi aap hume dokha na de, hum bass vo dukh dobara nahi jhelna chahte the,” “I will no longer get angry with you, Kunwar-sa. Because I made a mistake. You were giving me a respectable place in your life. But I misunderstood its meaning, or perhaps I should say, I was afraid. I thought you were betraying me. I didn’t want to go through that pain again.
” My voice came out trembling, my fingers pushing him away.
Yet, he didn’t move an inch. Instead, he leaned closer. “Really?” Sweat beads formed at the back of my head when his gaze lowered to my lips, and he said, “You’re so beautiful,”
His words made me gulp; I couldn’t help but press my teeth into my lower lip to stop it from trembling.
“Hume pata tha…aap aayenge aaj isiliye hum poori raatri so nahi paaye, aur aap keh rahe ki hum ache dikh rahein hain,” “I couldn’t sleep the entire night knowing you’d come today, and you’re saying that I look beautiful,” I complained.
Smiling, he inched closer to kiss me. However, I nudged him away, paranoid someone might walk in.
He chuckled softly as I was failing in my attempt to push him. He was being stubborn.
“Jaane dijiye na Kunwar-sa,” “Let me go, Kunwar-sa.” I requested.
His brows thinned, and he asked, “Chali jaana kintu jaate-jaate ye bata kar jao ki hum soyenge kahaan?” “You may go, but before you leave, tell me where I will sleep?”
I inhaled deeply at his words. The blush rose to my cheeks, feeling his weight over me. “Humein kya pata, itna vishaal kaksh hai aapka, kahin bhi so jaaiye,” “How’d I know? You have such a grand chamber; you can sleep anywhere.” I replied clearly, yet my voice came out low and trembling.
He smiled, caressing my cheek gently with his thumb.
“Accha chalo jao, nahi karenge hum tumhein tang,” “Okay, you can go; I’ll stop teasing you now,” he said and placed his hand on the side of my waist on the broken bed, and as he pushed himself up, the bed creaked further under his weight.
The prominent muscles in his arms and the veins in his hands made me stare in astonishment.
He had a tan.
I shivered with fear when the broken bed creaked again, more with his weight, causing me to sink deeper into it before he stood up.
He smiled and held out his hand to help me stand as well.
As I stretched my arm toward him, his long fingers brushed my palm. It felt rough, rock-solid, as he gripped my hand and pulled me closer to him, on my feet.
My chest crashed into his, and I immediately lowered my gaze, holding the other end of my dupatta to cover my head.
He gently nudged my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. I felt my eyelids flutter as he moved closer, his lips threatening to touch mine.
A slow, shocking question from him had me frozen in place, unable to breathe. “Vivaah karogi humse?” “Will you marry me?”
My eyes widened in shock. The words sent a shiver down my spine, and I blinked nervously at the thought of everyone knowing about us, especially Ranaji.
My head shook in disbelief as I immediately pushed him away.
“Aaj Rajkumari ka janmdiwas hai. Aapko wahaan sabke saath hona chaahiye, Kunwar-sa, Sab dhoondh rahe honge,” “It’s the princess’ birthday, Kunwar-sa.
You should be there with everyone. People might be looking for you.
” A tremor ran through my voice as I retreated, a soft chuckle echoing behind me before I ran away from his chamber.
My heart was racing wildly. I felt my mind blurred by a haze. Exhaling heavily, I went to Nandani’s chamber to manage the remaining work.
As I sat with the other attendants to work on the laddoos, Reva asked, “Suman, where did you go? And what happened to your face?”
My hand immediately went to my cheeks, tapping and inquiring. “What happened to my face?”
“It’s red,” she replied in a whisper.
I gulped nervously and walked away from there to Nandani.
“Nandani,” I called, stepping inside her bedroom and finding her feeding Princess Rudraja.
She lifted her gaze and asked with a smile. “Yes, what happened?”
I walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. Taking her hand in mine, I placed it over my chest and said, “My heart is beating so fast.”
She frowned in confusion. “For what reason?”
I blinked nervously, trying to form my words. “Um… I apologised and tried to explain and he... he... he is good and then we fell and the bed broke a—”
“What? The bed broke?” My eyes widened in shock when I heard Princess Aishwarya’s voice, and we both immediately turned to her as she stepped into the bedroom.
Was I that loud?
Nandani looked at me, and I tried to shake my head; she smiled.“Come, Aishwarya, I think Suman has something to tell you.”
I sighed deeply and clenched my fists. I felt apprehensive about how others would respond.
Princess Aishwarya laughed softly before walking toward us. Nandani adjusted her blouse and put Princess Rudraja to sleep comfortably.
“Yes, tell me, what is it? Suman,” Princess Aishwarya asked, sitting beside us.
I gulped, looking at her. I didn’t know what to say or how to tell her. “Um… Princess, actually, I... I am we... no, I, I mean...” I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, palming my face. “Let Kunwar-sa do this, please.” I whined out.
She placed her hand on my thighs, her brows knitted together, and confusion was visible on her face. “What happened, Suman? Did something wrong happen? What did Devar-sa do?” She asked softly.
I shook my head, looking hopefully at Nandani. She just smiled at me, and I smiled at Princess Aishwarya.
Inhaling deeply, I said, “He proposed for the wedding,” My voice came out slow, careful.
Nandani screamed. “Whatt?”
I nodded. The tears spilt out of my eyes, and the Princess Rudraja started crying.
Nandani sighed with frustration. A groan escaped her lips, “Oh my God, not again.” Patting Princess’s belly only intensified the baby’s cries. "Aeeeeeeeeeeeaaaattttttaaaaaaaaa,"
Princess Aishwarya made me look at her. “What do you mean? I know nothing. What the hell is happening, Jiji46?” she asked in shock, and I gulped, feeling nervousness rushing through my body.
“Um… let’s just call Agastya,” Nandani suggested. I shook my head.
This wouldn’t end well.
She clapped, and an attendant immediately rushed in.
“Can you call Kunwar Agastya?” she asked, and the attendant nodded, immediately walking out.
I palmed my face and shook my head. “You are so bad, Nandani.”
Princess Aishwarya asked, “Can someone please tell me what the hell is happening? Why am I not getting anything? Who proposed to whom? And, Suman, please, what happened to you?” she asked, concern prominent in her tone.
I bit my lip to respond. “Um… Princess, let Kunwar-sa clear it, please,” my voice came out slowly.
Her eyes widened. “He likes you?”
I blinked silently and nodded. “Yes, I guess,”
“Oh my God!!!” She gaped in amazement. “I cannot breathe, oh my God,”
I shook my head in shame.
“Come on, Aishwarya, digest it,” Nandani said. “You know your Devar-sa,” and Princess Aishwarya looked at Nandani.
“Jiji, you didn’t even tell me.” She looked at her, shocked, and I just wished for the earth to swallow me whole.
“Rani-sa,” the attendant intervened, and we all turned to look at her.
“Ji,” Nandani asked.
“Rani-sa, Kunwar-sa said that he will see you in a while. He is a little busy at the moment,” she informed.
“With what?” Nandani asked. I exhaled deeply.
“Rani-sa, his bed broke, and he is instructing the attendants to fix it,” she informed, and I closed my eyes in embarrassment.
“What?” Nandani’s eyes widened in shock, and she turned to look at me.
I shook my head and tried to explain, “It’s not what you think.”
Her mouth opened wide, and I looked at Princess Aishwarya, who shared her shock. The attendant walked away, and I shook my head.
“It was just a mistake. We both fell on it.”
Suddenly, she burst into laughter. “Oh my God, Suman,”
“Suman, you two were having... sex?” Princess Aishwarya asked.
“No!!!” I exclaimed. “No, no! He just returned. How can we?” I said, flabbergasted.
“Listen,” Nandani interrupted, calling the attendant back. “If Ranaji asks where Devar-sa is, don’t forget to mention this detail.”
“No! Nandani, you cannot do this to me,” I begged, and she just giggled at my expense.
“Okay, Jiji and Suman, I need to know what’s happening,” Princess Aishwarya urged.
I took a deep breath and told her everything, obviously hiding some precious, cosy details.
Her eyes widened with every detail I shared, with shock, amusement, and adoration.
“You called me Bhabhi-sa.” Kunwar-sa’s voice broke into our conversation. And, as he stepped in, I closed my eyes, embarrassed.
“Come, Devar-sa, we were just waiting for you,” Nandani said. “Um… I think the family should talk.”
I quietly rose from the bed and hid my face behind my veil.
Princess Aishwarya stared at me in disbelief as I tried to leave.
“But why?” he asked.
Princess Aishwarya immediately turned to look at him. “You hid it from me,” she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, and he smiled, creasing his brows.
“About what?” he asked.
She turned to me and signalled, circling her hand from my tip to toe, dramatically, “About this!”
He chuckled as I walked away. However, the moment I tried to walk past him, he held my hand and pulled me closer.
“Bhabhi-sa kuch pooch rahi hain,” “Bhabhi-sa is asking something,” he said, and my eyes enlarged at his daring action.