Chapter 35 - Suman #2
I clenched his hand tight, worrying about what if I tripped over his foot, or what if I stumbled down in front of everyone?
“Tumne bataya nahi kaisi ho tum?” “You didn’t say how you are?” he repeated.
I blinked nervously, but before I could respond, my eyes fell on an elderly lady approaching us, followed by an attendant with a plate filled with coconut, holy thread, and a few other auspicious items for the fulfilment of the ritual.
I immediately pulled my hand from his and stood up quickly to touch her feet.
She blessed me, placing her hand on my head. “Suman, hum nahi jaante aap humein pehchaanti hain ya nahi, isiliye hum apna parichay swayam de dete hain. Hum Agastya ki Badi-maa hain,” “I don’t know if you know me, so let me introduce myself. I’m Agastya’s Badi-maa.” she said.
“Pranaam, Badi-maa,” I greeted her.
“God bless you, dear. Come, sit,” she nudged me gently onto the couch.
I looked at him from the corner of my eye and found him looking at me with his mouth agape.
What’s there to be shocked about?
“Dear,” Badi-maa called me, and I looked back at her immediately. “Unfold your dupatta over your lap so we may begin the ritual.”
Inhaling internally to brace myself, I held the ends of my dupatta before her. She began filling the dupatta with all the auspicious items as a gesture of acceptance and welcome. I felt truly overwhelmed by the ritual.
“What’s this about, Badi-maa?” he suddenly asked. “Wouldn’t I get a coconut to eat?”
In an instant, laughter erupted around the room.
“No, this is only for her,” she clarified warmly.
I couldn’t resist smiling. “Koi baat nahi. Aap isme se kha lijiyega,”
“It’s okay. You can eat from this.” I mumbled, and everyone’s laughter grew louder.
He just stared at me with a smile and whispered, leaning closer, “Hum kuch aur khaayenge,” “I’ll eat something else.”
I immediately looked and saw Badi-maa walk back to her place. One by one, everyone came forward to give me gifts as part of the ritual, and I kept passing those gifts to the attendant standing beside me.
When Nandani stepped before me, Princess Rudraja looked at me closely and puckered her lips.
“Su-ma-ah…” she babbled, stretching her hand out to me. The attendants standing beside me helped me with the things in my lap; then, I reached out and took Princess in my hands.
“Aww… is my princess missing her Maasi-maa?” I murmured softly.
She responded with a toothy and unmistakably mischievous grin, and before I could fully register what that meant, she leaned forward and bit down on my nose.
“Ow!” I yelped, wincing at the sudden sting.
He chuckled, clearly amused. “I taught her that,” he announced proudly.
I shot him a sharp glare.
“What?” Nandani exclaimed at once, loudly.
Startled, he snapped his head toward her a little too fast.
“Oh—nothing,” he rushed to cover up. “I was just saying.”
That was when, probably, Princess Rudraja noticed Kunwar-sa and began calling for him.
“Aa-ta-ta,”
He smiled at me as he took her from my hands, and she immediately squealed with delight.
“Aa-ta-ta-ta,” she cooed sweetly, trying to pronounce his name.
“Agastya,” he corrected. She looked at him with wide eyes. “Agastya,” he said again, while she listened carefully.
“Agata,” she said, tilting her head as if asking if this one’s right.
He smiled. “Yes, better.”
She laughed and looked back at Nandani.
“Rudraja, please stay in one place for some time,” Nandani said wearily.
She wailed in response to that reply. “Nana…”
Nandani sighed deeply and took her from Kunwar-sa’s lap. She then walked toward Ranaji, who was sitting with King Abhinandan, engaged in conversation, and handed the Princess to him. He looked at her in shock.
“Handle her for some time,” she said.
He smiled at Princess Rudraja, then handed her his small dagger. She indulged herself, playing with it, sitting on his lap.
I just smiled, looking at this little but adorable interaction. That’s when I noticed Princess Aishwarya walking toward me along with Queen Trisha.
“So, Suman, you’ve now officially become ours,” Princess Aishwarya said.
Queen Trisha muttered.
“Ek baar panditji vivaah ka sahi muhurat nikal dein to hum haldi va anya rasmoan ki tayyariyaan praarambh kar denge. Haldi lagne ke paschaat aap dono ek dusre ko dekh nahi sakte.” “Once Panditji determines the auspicious time for the wedding, we’ll begin preparations for the haldi and other rituals.
After the haldi ceremony, you two won’t be able to see each other until the wedding day. ” Queen Trisha explained softly.
“Why?” he intervened abruptly. “Look, if it’s something like that, I’ll not marry,”
We both looked at each other at the same time, and both of the ladies giggled.
“What?” he frowned. “Didn’t you just hear what they said? What’s the point of getting married if we cannot see each other?” he hissed when suddenly Ranaji remarked.
“Dekho, Agastya, ab yadi vivaah karna hai to kuch samay ke liye is virah ko sehna hi hoga. Anyatha tumhe sampoorn jeewan is virah ki agni mein jalna hoga!” “Listen, Agastya, now that the wedding’s around the corner, you’ll have to endure this separation for a few days.
Otherwise, you’ll spend the rest of your life burning in the fire of longing! ”
His face twisted in utter frustration.
Slowly, I held his hand and shook my head. I could sense how anxious he was from the way he kept blinking and gulping.
I looked at Daadi-sa and Rani-maa, who were talking to the priest.
“Everyone,” Daadi-sa said, catching everyone’s attention.
“Suman aur Kunwar Agastya ke vivaah ka shubh muhurat aaj se ek saptaah ke baad ka nikla hai. Aisa muhurat va sanjog battis varshoan me ek baar hi banta hai,” “The auspicious date for Suman and Kunwar Agastya’s wedding falls exactly one week from today.
Such a muhurat and alignment occur only once in thirty-two years. ” she announced.
My heart raced—one week.
“What?” Nandani interjected. “Just one week? How will we prepare everything so soon?”
Princess Aishwarya and Queen Trisha, too, arched their brows in quiet disbelief.
“Ji, Daadi-sa, isn’t it too soon?” Queen Trisha suggested when Kunwar Agastya cut in quickly.
“Done, Daadi-sa, done. Now, if everything is final, can I take my wife somewhere to talk to her?” he asked, grabbing my hand.
Ranaji narrowed his eyes at Kunwar-sa, but he was too much in haste to be bothered, so he just rolled his eyes and walked us out of the hall. I could sense everyone’s amused yet shocked gazes fixed on us.
As he hurried us outside, a cold breeze hit me, raising goosebumps.
“Kunwar-sa,” I tried to stop him, and he halted mid-step.
“Yes,” he retorted, turning to me.
Calmly, I withdrew my hand from his and glanced back, noticing the guards standing outside the celebration hall watching us.
“That’s not how you behave in the elders’ presence, Kunwar-sa,” I said, looking back at him. “Everyone was watching us. You shouldn’t have done that.”
He just smiled and stepped closer, and my eyes widened in shock.
“What?” I questioned, but he inched even closer, causing me to take a step back. “Kunwar-sa, stay within your limits; everyone’s here,” I reminded him in a warning tone.
He frowned. “Where are you staying here?”
My own brows creased together in confusion, yet anyway, I replied. “In a guest chamber,”
“Oh, great,” he smiled. “Why don’t we go there for some time?”
My jaw clenched, and I immediately pulled him aside.
“Are you mad? Everyone’s here, an—”
“Shhh…” he hushed me, placing his finger on my lips, and my breath caught in my throat.
“Kabhi-kabhi chup rehna bhi seekho; hum har samay acchi manodasha mein nahi hote. Kayi baar humaara hruday humaare hi viruddh ho jata hai.” “You should know to keep quiet once in a while; I’m not always in a good mood.
Sometimes my heart conspires against me,” he hissed, holding me flush against his chest.
His words and his touch sent a shudder through me, leaving me breathless. And as I was just about to catch my breath, he leaned in to my ear and whispered, “Take me to that chamber,” his tone almost commanding, and I clenched my teeth.
I hated him for that. He always did that. He knew all the ways to embarrass me, and he never obeyed.
I sighed, took a step back, and nodded. Turning around, I led him toward the chamber while he kept pace behind me.
I was angry. Very much. Everyone was present in the hall, and he literally rolled his eyes at Ranaji. What would they have thought about us? He shouldn’t have done that.
I slowed down when he caught up with me. However, I quickened my pace when he slowed.
“Aree,” “Hey,” he called out softly, but I didn’t speak a word until, even after reaching the chamber.
I found the attendants there, decorating the whole chamber. It looked beautiful.
“Ekaant” “Privacy.” His sharp voice cut through the air.
My eyes flew wide in shock, and I snapped my head toward the attendants, only to find them leaving already. I was left speechless.
I turned to him, trying to speak. “Wh... what are you doing?” But the moment he stepped closer in response, I instinctively stumbled back, and my spine collided with the bedpost.
I shifted from one leg to another, captivated by his striking green eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce my very being, as if he knew everything about me. I felt numb. My heart slowed. I felt as though my energy had completely drained.
I lowered my gaze and pressed my palms against his chest.
“Koi aa jaayega, Kunwar-sa. Humein chalna chaahiye,” “Someone might walk in on us, Kunwar-sa. We should leave.” I muttered in a daze, attempting to push him back, but he kept moving closer and closer.
The moment his foot brushed mine, tremors crawled all the way from my toes to my head, making me shiver.
“Ku... Kunwar-sa,” I breathed, closing my eyes when he tugged his finger under my chin and slowly lifted my face.