Chapter 33 #4
When his breathing turned shallow, I could sense he was getting sleepy.
Looking up, I gently placed my lips on his, and he welcomed them with a soft kiss in return, even brushing his tongue over to part my mouth. That felt so good. So… ticklish. I didn’t know why.
It was as though he was accepting me in every way.
Pulling back, I caressed his cheek, seeing him almost dozing off. I just smiled at the big baby and then looked at Princess Rudraja, who was sleeping peacefully.
I kissed his cheek one last time and quietly got out of bed, but before I could take a step further, he held my wrist.
“Are you okay?” he asked, and I nodded with a smile in response. “Then why’re you leaving? Sleep with me, Suman.”
I chuckled at his hoarse, sleepy voice. “I'm just going to clean myself,” I whispered, pulling my wrist out of his hold.
He nodded, shifted to his side, and cradled Princess Rudraja's hand.
I watched the uncle-niece duo sleeping soundly in the chamber while the entire palace bustled outside. Leaving there, I quickly cleaned myself and then went to Nandani's chamber to look after the work.
After that, I could only have a little meal, because with every bite I could feel him still twitching in my mouth. His groans still rumbled in my ears. Something had changed in me. It felt so good knowing I could give him what he craved.
A slight smile crept up on my mouth when, suddenly, Nandani’s call alarmed me. “Suman,”
I immediately turned to look at her. “Yes,”
Grabbing my hand, “Come with me,” she said.
My brows knitted together. “Where are you taking me?” I asked as we both walked out of the kitchen.
“Everyone’s waiting for you,” she said, then paused to look at me. “By the way, where is Rudraja?”
I gulped; the memory of him in my mouth burned my cheeks. “Um… she’s sleeping in Kunwar Agastya’s chamber,”
She squinted her eyes. “And what is he doing?”
“He’s also sleeping with her,” I replied.
“Ohhh,” her eyes widened, and a huge smile stretched on her face. “Right, right, so you did not just put the baby to sleep but a man too, nice. Very nice,” she teased.
I couldn’t fight the flip in my stomach at the mere thought of him. “It's not like that,” I tried to say, but she playfully nudged my shoulder.
Coming closer, she asked in a cautious whisper. “Uh… did you just fulfil your bet?”
My eyes widened, and I immediately placed my finger on her mouth, looking around to see if anyone had heard us. “Shhh… Nandani,” but this naughty queen just giggled in return.
“Oh my God! You are having an afterglow,” she exclaimed excitedly.
I gulped nervously, cupping my cheeks, and she instantly hugged me.
“Oh my goodness, Suman, I just can’t wait to have you as my sister-in-law,” she squealed with happiness. “The three of us are going to be unstoppable together.”
I chuckled, holding her tighter. “Thank you,” I muttered.
“Jiji,” Princess Aishwarya sprinted toward us with her arms open wide. “I’m here too,” she exclaimed, hurling herself onto us with such enthusiasm that we staggered back, laughing.
“So, is it a yes finally?” Nandani asked, pulling away.
I nodded, biting my lip, and she seemed ready to burst with excitement.
“Finally, a wedding and lots of fun,” she cheered. And I couldn’t help but laugh, looking at their happiness.
“Oh my God, Suman, come. Everyone is waiting for you,” Princess Aishwarya said, and I frowned, thinking about why everyone was waiting for me. Anyway, we hurried me to the celebration hall.
Having reached there, I saw everyone—Ranaji, King Abhinandan, Daadi-sa, Rani-maa, and everyone.
“Suman, come here,” Daadi-sa gestured, and I silently walked in her direction.
She held my hand and made me sit beside her. I pulled my dupatta a little lower, enough to cover my forehead, and heard everyone gossiping.
“Where is Agastya?” I heard Ranaji ask and turned to Daadi-sa.
“Tum humaare saath chal rahi ho na Suman?” “You’re coming with us, right, Suman?
” I didn’t understand what she meant by that, so I looked at her.
“Vivaah ke liye,” “For wedding,” she finally pointed, sending shivers down my spine, and the herald simultaneously announced Kunwar-sa’s arrival, causing me to shudder.
I raised my eyes slightly and saw him walk in drowsily, pushing his dishevelled hair through his fingers. Nandani had probably called him as she was standing behind him, holding Princess Rudraja in her hand.
“Kahaan the aap, Agastya?” “Where were you, Agastya?” Ranaji asked.
I immediately looked away from him to Daadi-sa, who was looking at me with an expectant smile.
“Ji, Daadi-sa, I’ll come with you,” I murmured.
“I fell asleep, Bhai-sa,” Kunwar Agastya spoke through a yawn, dragging his feet toward the empty seat beside Prince Ranvijay.
A wave of laughter ran through after Ranaji’s laugh.
A crimson heat appeared on my cheeks, and I instantly lowered my gaze.
“Agastya,” Ranaji began. “We all think the wedding should take place in Mahabaleshgarh. That means Suman will need to travel there to carry out the necessary rituals.” Hearing these words from Ranaji made it sound more real. It meant that our marriage was really happening.
The mere realisation that I had once entered this palace as the queen’s maid, I would leave, but only to return as the bride of the kingdom’s prince, sent a trembling shiver through me.
“No!” Kunwar Agastya exclaimed, shaking his head. “Why does she need to leave for that? We can perform the rituals here too.” I could sense the frustration laced in his tone.
“Ohho, Kunwar Agastya,” Daadi-sa cut in gently. “The wait and separation before the wedding will be fruitful.”
He moved his gaze to me, but then King Abhinandan interjected politely, “Yes, Agastya, it is only right that the wedding happens in Mahabaleshgarh. We couldn’t celebrate much at Rudra and Nandani's wedding. And Sumanika is like a sister to me.”
Kunwar-sa’s face fell, and he looked at Prince Ranvijay dejectedly.
“I think it's perfect. I mean, you two deserve a perfect royal wedding,” Prince Ranvijay agreed.
Suddenly, he rose from his seat and marched to me. My heart thumped in my chest when he sat beside me in everyone’s presence, and I immediately looked down.
“What do you want?” he asked in a low tone.
Why is he making me feel embarrassed in front of everyone?
Looking up, I glanced at everyone smiling at us. “Um, whatever Daadi-sa would like,” I whispered.
He sighed deeply before saying, “Alright, I cannot stay away for so many days,” he said.
“Yeah, right,” Nandani broke in. “Like you were stuck to her completely throughout the last year.” With the sarcastic remark, everyone burst out laughing, and I lowered my gaze in embarrassment.
“She needed time,” he retorted.
“All right, I think it’s a good decision that Suman leaves for Mahabaleshgarh tomorrow.
We’ll then start with the wedding preparations,” Ranaji spoke with finality in his tone and looked at Daadi-sa.
“Daadi-sa, we’ll soon arrive at the palace of Mahabaleshgarh to ask for Suman's hand in marriage for our Prince Agastya Dev Singh.”
Daadisa joined her hands in respect and smiled. “We’ll be awaiting.”
I turned to Kunwar Agastya, who was already looking at me, and suddenly, Ranaji's voice caught my attention.
“So, Suman,” Ranaji’s voice had me sitting upright. “Is it a yes from your side?” he asked, and a slight shiver ran down my spine.
I stared into his green eyes.
The more everyone asked me, the surer I became that I wanted him.
“Ji, Ranaji,” I whispered, nodding.
“And, Agastya,” Prince Ranvijay interrupted. “What about you?”
Kunwar-sa turned to look at Prince Ranvijay and nodded. “Ji, Bhai-sa,”
My heart beat madly. I didn’t realise tears had blurred my vision when the attendants stepped in with huge platters of sweets.
“It is final, then. Suman and Agastya are going to get married,” Ranaji announced, and Daadi-sa collected me in her embrace.
“Ismein ashru bahaane waali jaisi to koi baat hi nahi, Suman,” “There’s nothing in this to shed tears over, Suman,” Daadi-sa said lovingly, stroking my head, making me chuckle.
When an attendant came to us with the sweets, Daadi-sa picked up a laddoo and fed me.
“Me too, Daadi-sa,” Kunwar-sa said, leaning closer from my side. I pulled myself a little back as she fed him.
Once done with the sweets, I stood up, adjusting my dupatta to touch Daadi-sa’s feet.
She blessed me and kissed my forehead. I then touched Rani-maa’s feet too. Then, walking to the middle of the hall, I knelt to touch the floor in a gesture to touch Ranaji’s feet.
“God bless you,” he said, and I did the same for Prince Ranvijay.
“May your life be filled with immense love, and obviously, if you’re marrying Agastya, then distress.”
Everyone laughed, and I smiled, quietly walking toward Nandani and Princess Aishwarya. They both hugged me and made me sit beside them, after which Princess Rudraja immediately leaned toward me.
When I took her in my arms, Nandani said, “She’s your Kaaki-sa now,” making me smile.
Everyone was happy except one. The groom himself. He kept staring between Daadi-sa and Ranaji as if he wished to poison them both.
After the celebration ended, everyone retired to their rooms. Most of the guests had already gone home. I also went to my room to rest when Ranaji returned to his chamber with Nandani.
I felt tired after such a long, eventful day. Just before the day, I thought that Kunwar-sa would come and that he wouldn’t even notice me, but a lot of things happened in one day that hadn't happened in the previous eight years.
Phew…
I lay on my mattress and closed my eyes.
I could inhale him with my every breath. His cologne was intoxicating, especially when he got sweaty.
I didn’t know what was going to happen next. Or maybe I did. I was to leave for Mahabaleshgarh to get married.
Marriage—second marriage—a thought that had never occurred to me, and then I was here.