Chapter 35 - Suman
As I gazed at the rising sun, with my arms crossed around my knees, close to my chest, the warmth of its golden rays filled me with a new hope, soothing my insides. My lips stretched into the slightest of smiles in contentment.
I rubbed my palms over my arms, feeling chills at the realisation that I was going to become his wife, the wife of Agastya Dev Singh. A soft giggle spilt from my lips at the thought. He would’ve left for Mahabaleshgarh already.
When I looked to my side, I saw Reva walking into the garden toward me with a smile.
“What’re you doing here alone, Suman?” she asked and sat beside me.
Looking back at my front, I muttered, “Nothing,”
“You never told me,” she complained, nudging my shoulder playfully.
I smiled timidly. “Kya hi bataate, Reva? Humein to abhi bhi vishwaas nahi ho raha ki humaara vivaah unse ho raha hai,” “What would I have even told you, Reva? I still cannot believe that I’m getting married to him.”
She placed her hand on my forearm. “How is he?” she asked. “I mean, I know he’s a prince, but how does he behave with you? Does he call you by your name or something special?”
I chuckled at her curiosity. “He…” I paused momentarily, nipping on my lower lip and looked at the orange hues of the sun spreading all over the sky.
“He is… amazing, Reva. He understands me like no one else. He doesn’t make me feel low or unworthy, nor does he make it seem like he is too special.
He treats me so well. I mean, yes, he cares for me, but he also takes care of the boundaries.
He loves me, but he never tries to cage me in that love.
Well… he gets impossible sometimes and too sharp with his words, but he always wants what's best for me. It is actually me who causes him trouble, and he gets annoyed sometimes,” I laughed, thinking of his troubled expressions.
“And?” she pressed, a brightness sparkling in her eyes.
“And he’s so good. He loves me so much sometimes it’s overwhelming and scary,” I murmured.
She frowned. “Why scary?”
I looked at her with my lips pursed. “It’s scary because I feel I might end up hurting both of us. But, I know he will protect both of us from that,” I whispered as if I wasn’t just telling her, but assuring my mind.
Second marriage—an act that society doesn’t approve of, happily or truly appreciate, especially when it’s a woman doing it; a woman who comes from the lowest background of society’s caste system; a woman who’s a petite maid working in the royal palace, and that same woman, ironically, gets married to a prince.
I had no idea what challenges lay ahead.
But I was sure of one thing: if he’d be by my side, I’d swim the vast oceans, climb the highest mountains, and walk through the storms.
“Suman,” suddenly Daadi-sa’s voice brought me back from my reverie. I looked at her, breathing heavily, probably from walking all the way to the garden.
“Daadi-sa,” I stood up. “Aap kyun chale aaye? Humein bulwa liya hota,” “Why did you come here? You should’ve sent someone to call me.” I spoke as I walked closer to her.
She held my hand and said, “Everything is prepared; let’s go. You take a bath, and then we’ll get you ready. They’ll arrive any moment today,” she said.
I looked down, trying to hide the heat on my cheeks.
I went with Daadi-sa, where she had allotted me a huge guest chamber. Rani-maa had assigned a group of attendants to help me with everything. And Queen Trisha was the most supportive of all. I didn’t know why, but I felt there was something very special about her.
She was very kind to me. Perhaps because she was aware of all the struggles I’d been through.
Almost two and a half years ago, a year before King Rajvardhan’s demise, she married King Abhinandan. No one knew why they got married in such a hurry and in such privacy. Nandani didn’t tell me much about it, and she never even talked much about it with anyone.
Since her wedding, King Abhinandan and Nandani had become somewhat detached. They would speak, but it would only be about ordinary things or necessary matters. There wasn’t anything similar between them like before.
But Nandani and Queen Trisha shared a good bond; well, in all honesty, they hadn’t interacted much.
Initially, Nandani even opposed their wedding when she found out that Queen Trisha was four years older than King Abhinandan.
There were even talks around that King Rajvardhan had asked Queen Trisha to groom King Abhinandan before their wedding when he left Mahableshgarh for Pratapgarh because of Nandani’s wedding.
“Suman,” Queen Trisha’s voice brought me back, and I noticed her standing with a plate in her hand. Even Rani-maa was there, holding both babies in her arms.
“Chaliye, beth jaaiye; snaan se pehle hum ye tel aapko laga dete hain. Aapki twacha bhi nikhar jaayegi aur deh ke baal bhi nikal jaayenge,” “Come on, sit down; let me apply this oil on you. Your skin will glow, and it’ll even remove your body hair.”
In a corner of the chamber, I sat down on a small stool and saw her kneeling before me.
“Rani-sa,” I quickly stopped her and shook my head. “Please don’t touch my legs. You are a queen, and I’m nothing in front of you. Your love and kindness are more than enough for me. You’re already making me feel at home,” I requested.
Suddenly, Ranima rose from the bed and walked towards us.
“Aisa na socho, Suman. Humaari Trisha to heera hai; aap ho ya hum, unke liye hum sab samaan hain. Bhale hi aap kitni bhi vinati karlein, wo nahi rukengi, kyun Trisha?” “Don’t think like that, Suman.
Our Trisha is like a diamond; in her eyes, we’re all equals.
No matter how much you stop her, she won’t, right, Trisha?
” she said, gently caressing our queen’s head.
Queen Trisha smiled, laughing softly. “Ji, Maa-sa, Suman is our responsibility until she gets married.” Looking back at me, she added, “So, yes, Suman, let me fulfil my responsibility.” And as soon as she touched my foot, I flinched slightly, but let her apply oil, giving her a hand to apply to my feet and ankles.
After applying oil to every part of my body, she told me to let it sit for a while.
In the afternoon, I was asked to take another bath, which had taken longer than usual.
The attendants assisted me with everything.
After removing body hair and applying various bathing oils and sandalwood paste, it felt as if a ton of dirt had washed off my body.
I felt immensely relaxed. When Queen Trisha, Daadi-sa, and Rani-maa helped the attendants get me ready for the ceremony, I felt sleepy.
They had chosen a simple but elegant cream-and-red-coloured outfit for me and tied my hair neatly in a braid.
“Suman, you’ve eaten nothing. Should I bring you something?” Rani-maa asked.
I shook my head timidly. “No, thank you, Rani-maa,”
“Hmm… you are fasting for him, right?” Daadi-sa interrupted teasingly. “You’ll eat only when he arrives, right?”
I gave a small nod. “Ji, Daadi-sa, I feel ticklish in my stomach,”
Rani-maa chuckled at my response. “God bless you, Suman; I really wish that all your dreams come true,” she said lovingly.
I sat in silence until the day had almost ended; the sun had set, and I began to feel restless.
“They’re coming today, right?” I asked Reva.
She nodded. “Yes, they are.”
I tried to focus on calming my racing heart. Without realising it, I found myself scratching the back of my hand.
Suddenly, an attendant rushed over to me and announced, “They’re here.”
A wide ear-to-ear smile spread across my face, and I shot to my feet.
“Really?” I asked, unable to contain my excitement. She nodded in confirmation.
“They’re just stepping in. Once done with the refreshments, the ceremony will begin,” she informed me, and I just smiled, sitting back in the chair.
A lot of time passed in the chamber alone with Reva while everyone was busy treating guests.
“Suman,” suddenly, Nandani’s call caught my attention, and I immediately rose from my seat. She sprang toward me and hugged me tightly.
“We’re here,” she squealed in delight, and I looked up to see Princess Aishwarya walking toward us.
“Oh my God,” I exclaimed nervously and pulled back from Nandani as Princess Aishwarya stepped forward to hug me.
I had been comfortable with Nandani since the beginning, but when I hugged Princess Aishwarya, it felt quite different. My body trembled slightly with nerves.
“Let's go, everyone’s waiting,” Nandani said, holding my hand.
Princess Aishwarya adjusted my dupatta slightly lower on my forehead, muttering, “You’re looking so beautiful, Suman.”
I smiled as they both led me to the hall where the Aanjhala Bharaayi51
ceremony was to take place. I was nervous—more than at my previous wedding.
As I climbed the stairs to the hall, the decorations caught my eye. The space was adorned with sunflowers, jasmine, and roses. Plush, velvety carpets stretched across the floor, cushioning my footsteps.
But the moment I stepped inside, the room fell silent. A wave of goosebumps washed over me as I felt every gaze settle upon me.
“Suman, you’ve got to sit there,” Nandani whispered, pointing her finger. I looked in the direction, and my eyes fell on him, looking at me with a smile.
He looked so handsome; his face was glowing. I felt my heart race at just one glance and instantly lowered my lashes. The image of his face, with his hair falling on his forehead, made me smile.
When I reached him, he stood up, towering over my frame. I felt very timid at that moment.
“Kaisi ho?” “How’re you?” he whispered, only for me to hear.
While I was watching Princess Aishwarya and Nandani moving to their respective seats, he touched my hand, making me flinch.
Everyone’s eyes were on us. My voice hung in my throat when he kissed my palm. I felt a rush of heat crawling up my face when he pulled me to make me sit beside him.