Chapter 39 #2
I felt a stronger knot build inside me. My hips responded beyond my control, moving against his mouth in an urge. I tried bringing my thighs together, but I couldn’t.
My eyes widened, jaw clenched tight, and my voice stuck in my throat in sheer anticipation. I wanted to get rid of this haze.
Suddenly, his tongue sank deeper into the wetness. I could feel his heavy, uneven breathing blowing against my skin. And finally, I melted into release.
My body went numb for a good few moments.
I forgot I was lying on a high wall, with death right behind.
Slowly, I pulled my hand back from his hair, and he helped me sit upright. My cheeks burned, my legs wobbled as he lowered me back to the ground.
I was about to stumble, but he steadied me and crashed his lips onto mine.
A strange, sweet taste lingered as his mouth claimed mine, shoving his tongue deeper.
My strength melted away, my core still throbbed from the aftershocks, and I simply had to give in. Because he was devastatingly untamed when aroused.
I rested both my hands against his chest and pushed weakly. It was our wedding the next day, and everyone must’ve been waiting for us.
However, he lifted me slightly, clasping my waist, sliding his other hand along my back. He had no intention of letting go.
I encircled my arms around his neck to keep myself grounded, but when his fingers pressed into my lower spine, my breath caught.
As he pulled back and looked at me, his green eyes, sparkling with intense desire, had me squirming in my place.
“Kunwar-sa,” I said shakily against his lips. “They’ll be searching for me,”
He groaned into my neck. “I want you to stay with me,” he whispered unevenly. “I need to be inside you. I can’t wait anymore.”
Goosebumps rippled across my skin at his words. My fingers threaded into his hair, my palm cupped his nape, and I pressed my forehead to his.
“Just one more day,” I whispered. “Then I’ll be yours to do anything and everything.”
“Everything?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, everything.”
He pulled me into a tight embrace, making me gasp.
“You’ll crush me,” I laughed.
He nuzzled his face in my neck. “I will,”
After a few moments, he calmed and put me back on my feet.
“Although we are one at heart still…” he inhaled, as though trying to contain himself. “…I’ll wait until the world knows.”
I glanced around nervously. “They must be looking for me.” And took a few steps back.
His jaw tightened, making me giggle. “You look cute when you do that.”
He smirked. “And you sound adorable when you go, oh yes, Kunwar-sa.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away.
I’ll punish him later for that.
Heading back toward the celebration, I tried my best to hide my flushed cheeks and unsteady breath. Despite that, Nandani caught me instantly.
“Where’d you go?” she asked, squinting her eyes.
“Washroom,” I lied.
She glanced me up and down once, then smirked. “Sure,” Holding my wrist, she dragged me into the centre and added, “Keep lying.”
As the music sank in again, I let myself dance, but even from afar, I could feel his gaze on me.
That night, I felt like the luckiest woman alive. That night, I had the most contented sleep.
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I woke up the next morning to hurried footsteps and bustling voices, and realisation struck me like a wave.
It was my wedding day.
I sat up with a jolt and looked around.
Yes, it was my wedding day.
The chamber was fully adorned with flowers draped along the walls, soft fabrics cascading from the pillars, and the distant hum of music drifting in from outside. My breath caught as I lowered my gaze to my palms.
The henna had darkened beautifully, the deepest shade I had ever seen on my skin. My heart fluttered like loose petals in the wind. A soft warmth bloomed in my stomach as I brought my hand to my nose and inhaled the familiar, soothing fragrance.
He loves me so much.
“Suman,” Nandani’s voice called, pulling me from my thoughts.
I looked up as she approached.
“Come, it’s time for the bangles ceremony,” she said.
I nodded.
After a quick bath, I was dressed in a simple yellow outfit. Soon, they seated me on a stool and asked me to close my eyes. I felt hands gently taking mine and heard the soft clink of glass as bangles slid onto my wrists.
Everything felt unreal… too beautiful to be true.
My hands were then wrapped in red cloth, and I was told not to look until the ceremony began. A yellow thread was tied tightly around my wrists, knotted again and again.
“Why are you tying it so firmly?” I asked softly.
Nandani smiled knowingly. “You’ll understand soon.”
Because of the wedding fast, I refused to eat despite their insistence. I was growing restless. Time seemed to crawl; each moment stretched longer than the last. I rested briefly before the chamber filled with attendants carrying jewellery and garments.
They positioned me in front of the mirror.
“You’ll need to change first,” one of them said.
I was timid, jittery, feeling everything at once.
Reva helped me out of the yellow attire and into the red in-skirt. When she handed me the ghaghra, my arms nearly buckled under its weight.
“It’s heavy,” I murmured.
“It is,” she smiled. “Ranaji and Prince Ranvijay gifted the stones themselves. The artisans worked day and night for seven days to complete it.”
Goosebumps rose on my skin.
I was marrying into royalty. I was marrying a prince. And this was just the beginning.
With her help, I slipped into the ghaghra. It felt as though its weight was grounding me, pulling me toward the earth. I sucked in a breath as she bound it at my waist, ensuring it sat perfectly.
The blouse was no lighter. It had golden threads intricately woven with shining stones, and it clung to my skin, almost too tightly, making me feel both regal and special, like Kunwar Agastya Dev Singh’s wife.
When I returned to the dressing room, Nandani and Princess Aishwarya were already dressed in deep red. Nandani’s eyes widened when she saw me.
I chuckled nervously, and a tear slipped down my cheek.
“You look beautiful,” she said, pulling me into a hug.
Princess Aishwarya smiled warmly and embraced me as well.
“Finally, your day,” she said. “Enjoy every moment. I was so anxious at my wedding, but today, I feel like it’s mine all over again.” Pulling away, she added, “You look extravagant.”
“So do you both,” I replied softly.
They seated me in a chair, taking complete charge.
I found myself admiring them both as Nandani fastened the heavy gold armlets around my biceps and Princess Aishwarya fixed the jhumkas in my ears.
I felt so happy, both for Kunwar-sa and for me.
I never, ever thought the family I had longed for all my life would be this one—Nandani and Princess Aishwarya as my caring sisters-in-law, Ranaji and Prince Ranvijay as protective brothers-in-law, and Kunwar Agastya as my husband. The very realisation felt surreal.
I inhaled deeply, watching Nandani slide the rings onto my fingers, which were tied to the kangan54 by delicate beaded chains.
She then locked the kangan around my wrist. After that, she slipped the simpler rings, each set with an emerald at the centre, onto my other fingers.
She repeated the same on my other hand, and I found myself wondering how I’d walk with so much jewellery adorning me.
Princess Aishwarya, on the other side, placed the maangteeka55 perfectly along my hair parting, securing its chains to my earrings. She braided my hair, then adorned it with a long, custom-made braid ornament. It had golden floral circles with tiny bells dangling from each.
“The gold suits you beautifully,” she said.
I smiled shyly, thinking how much effort it would take for Kunwar Agastya to remove all of this later. The mere thought sent a chill down my spine.
“Look here,” Nandani said, lifting the nath56, and I winced softly as she fixed it into my piercing, tying its chain to my hair.
She then knelt—the queen of Suryagarh—knelt before me to clasp the anklets around my feet without hesitation.
I felt so small. Emotion swelled in my chest.
Everyone deserves a friend like Nandani.
When she was done tying the anklets, I held her hands and kissed them in respect, and she chuckled softly.
“Bahut pyaari lag rahi ho, Suman.” “You look lovely, Suman.”
Princess Aishwarya pressed her lips lovingly onto my head.
“Let me tie this now,” she said, placing a hefty choker necklace around my neck, adjusting it carefully. She then added a long, three-layered kundan necklace that rested on my midriff.
“It’s heavy,” I complained gently.
“Get used to it,” she laughed.
Once they were done, I noticed an attendant walking in with an incense brazier and setting it down on the floor.
Meanwhile, Nandani placed the dupatta over my shoulders, tucking one end into my skirt while holding the rest to drape it over my head. Princess Aishwarya picked up the other dupatta, more like a matching shawl, and placed it over my shoulder. I held it in place with my hands.
Once my dupatta was arranged correctly, I walked toward the incense pot.
Nandani and Princess Aishwarya helped lift my skirt slightly as I stood over the pot, placing my feet on either side.
I parted my legs and bent down, feeling the smoke brush against my inner thighs.
I waited for a few moments until the warmth slowly seeped in.
When it was done, I stepped aside, and they asked me to sit down for the final touches. She lined my eyes with kohl and loosened a few soft curls to frame my face. My nerves were stretched thin. I knew they could call me at any moment.
“Kunwar-sa mandap par pahunch gaye hain,” “Kunwar-sa has reached the mandap57.” an attendant announced.
My heartbeat escalated. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as I heard of his arrival.
“Suman is ready as well,” Nandani replied. “Inform us when Pandit ji calls for her.”
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