Suman
I felt my hand being held and suddenly pulled. My chest collided with his, and my heart began to pound even louder. My cheeks flushed even more as I felt his hand cup my cheek and lift my face to meet his gaze.
His eyes had beautiful, thick, curled lashes like his hair. The green of his eyes had turned into a sad version of green, resembling an ocean awaiting the moon to let its waves play freely. His cheeks had turned a shade of red, along with his dark pink lips.
I could feel his breath fanning over my face as he spoke. “ You don ’ t have to worry about my marriage.” His words pierced through me, and I swallowed the lump in my throat while trying to respond.
“ And? You want me to become the person I ’ ve hated all my life? A second woman?”
I could feel his breath growing heavier, his voice thickening as he slightly shook his head. “ Trust me… you ’ re not second,”
It was so easy for him to attract anyone, and I was being completely foolish here. “ Of course, I am not second. Maybe third, fourth, tenth, fiftieth, hundredth, three hundred—”
“ Stop,” he muttered, and I could see his lips leaning closer. His grip tightened around my wrist. The words hung in my throat as I battled my lashes to resist giving in.
Another moment with him, and I would lose the battle of seven years.
My breaths started breaking, and I pressed my lips together to prevent them from quivering in his support. The softness I felt upon the touch of his lips on mine dripped down his lips, which were just an inch away.
I lifted my gaze and looked into his eyes, which flickered between my lips and my own. He blinked slowly and silently, his lips slightly parted. I froze as he leaned even closer. My lashes felt heavy, and I tried to shake my head.
This was wrong. This was profoundly wrong. I could never forgive myself if he cheated on his fiancée with me.
I couldn ’ t be that woman; I couldn ’ t stand as an enemy to another woman.
He closed his eyes and restrained himself by biting his lip.
"I want to go, Kunwarsa," I hesitated, my voice broken and breaths shaky.
My eyes met his as he looked back at me, and I could see the care evident in his gaze. Slowly, he leaned in closer and pressed his lips to the tip of my nose.
My lashes fluttered shut, and for a moment, I felt at home. I felt unbothered, unburdened, and cared for. It was as if time slowed down.
For the first time in my life, I felt this from a man. A man named Agastya Dev Singh, the most charming, handsome, and intelligent prince of Suryagarh.
“ Just do whatever you want. But be happy, an- “
"I want to go," but he seemed committed. I shook my head and pushed him away.
I shouldn ’ t be here. What if his future wife discovered our relationship? I couldn ’ t be counted among the many women he has history with?
There seemed to be no clear reason for his actions other than attraction. I walked away and went to my room, shutting the door behind me.
The temperature rose around me. I could feel the heat in my cheeks and body, and sweat formed on my palms. I tried to place my hand on my heart, attempting to calm it down.
I rolled into the comforters and hid myself. The vision of him closer to me was clearer than reality. My future was also clearer than reality. I couldn ’ t stay away from him and control myself around him.
The emotions I had always considered dead and buried were awakening, reminding me that a woman resides within me who needs to be cherished by a man.
The Man. He was the Man. A Man.
For the last four years, I had never felt this way about him. But then, why did it change suddenly?
My head spun with his thoughts, and the one that prompted me to push my comforters off my face was the thought of completing that kiss.
What would happen if he kissed me? What was I even thinking?
No, he shouldn ’ t come near me. That was wrong. Society would never accept this.
But he drew closer. I felt my back press against his chest, his lips near my ear. My breathing grew heavy. His finger brushed my arm, sending shivers of anticipation through me. His chest felt warm against my almost bare back.
I felt him leaning into my neck. My lashes closed tightly, and a slight wetness formed in my core. It was wrong, but it felt good. The touch didn ’ t burn me. The voice didn ’ t bite me. And the softness made me feel cared for.
I pressed my thighs together. We were on the bed, and he smiled at my struggle. Placing his hand on my thighs, he parted them, shaking his head. ‘ Only me, ’
His words made me feel even hotter, and I turned to face him and sat in his lap. I felt his hardness against me, and it thrilled me. ‘ Kunwar Agastya, ’ I murmured, kissing his cheek, and in that instant, I opened my eyes.
I quickly glanced around and straightened up.
What in the world was I dreaming about? And why?
I shook my head in disbelief. How could I dream about him? I quickly covered my face, struggling to breathe.
, you ’ ve become a problem. He isn ’ t the problem. You are the problem. You ’ re getting turned on. And after seven years? For him?
Suddenly, I felt the bright sunlight on my face and immediately looked toward the window. It was well past morning.
Ugh, no! Let me handle one thing at a time.
A grand feast awaited in the Kingdom, and I was sleeping in late.
I immediately threw away the comforter and walked toward the common bathing room for attendees. At this time, it was empty. Typically, we attendees would remove our clothes and wrap ourselves in cotton fabric to take a bath together. However, some attendees were very confident about their bodies, so they went naked, like older women.
I wrapped the fabric around my body and stepped into the pool, which was now filled with dirty water since everyone had bathed. However, I let it go, and after emerging from the pool, I used a bucket of clean water to change into my plain clothes.
But today, I chose to be real. I removed my leftover bangles, nose rings, and toe rings. In our tribe, wearing vermilion was optional, but the toe and nose rings were the main ornaments for married women.
I needed to accept this, and additionally, Kunwarsa needed to accept it as well.
Taking a deep breath, I walked toward Nandani ’ s chamber. Upon entering, I found her sitting with her Daadisa.
“ Pranam, Daadisa ,” I wished, bending down to receive her blessings. She placed her hand on my head and held my wrist, encouraging me to sit beside her. “ How are you, ?” she asked in her weak, old voice, and I smiled, rubbing her hand. "I am good, Daadisa,"
“ You called me Bhabhisa,” his voice suddenly captured my attention and sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“ Ji, Devarsa, come here,” Nandani invited, and I heard his footsteps approaching. I glanced at him as he settled on the other side of the bed with Nandani.
“ I was thinking of taking you with me for a while. You ’ ll feel better,” Daadisa said, catching my attention as I heard Nandani ask him, “ What happened to you last night? Why were you acting so childish?”
I gulped nervously, feeling my palms sweat.
“ You will come with me, right, ? You ’ re our child now. I want you to get married and settle down in a loving family. I have someone in mind,” Daadisa said with a smile, and my smile faded from my face.
Did she really have to say all of this in front of him?
I tried to shake my head, but then he suddenly burst out laughing. “ Um, Bhabhisa, actually, no one knew what I wanted to eat, and I wanted to teach them a lesson. So, I kept sending them back until they brought me what I love,” he said, and I could feel my stomach twisting at that moment.
“ Tell me, . You ’ re getting married, right?” Daadisa asked, shaking me. I tried to nod absentmindedly but noticed Nandani twisting his ear. “ How can you act like this when your Bhabhisa just laid an offspring? Couldn ’ t you eat what they made for just one day?”
He screamed in pain for a moment and shook his head. “ Ouch, sorry Bhabhisa. I ’ m really sorry; I won ’ t do that again,” his voice sounded cute, and I couldn ’ t believe that his cuteness wasn ’ t as charming in my dreams.
My cheeks grew warm as I glanced at Daadisa, who was still waiting for my answer. I gulped nervously. “ Ji, Ji, Daadisa. Whatever you want,” I said in a slow voice, hoping he wouldn ’ t hear.
“ By the way, I want to see my papaya,” he said, leaning forward to look at the baby. I guess he hadn ’ t even noticed me.
“ Oh my God, she ’ s beautiful… but she ’ s so tiny. Are you sure it ’ s Bhaisa ’ s?” he asked, and Nandani immediately punched his bicep. “ Don ’ t you dare, Stupid!”
He laughed and leaned in to kiss the baby ’ s feet. “ I will make you the most spoiled princess this world has ever known,” he said, but suddenly Daadisa interrupted. “ What about the princess you ’ re marrying, Kunwarsa? How will you spoil her?”
I sensed the teasing tone in her words and immediately lowered my face, wanting to escape from her.
He laughed, gently touching the baby ’ s cheek, and said, “ You are too old to know about it, Daadisa.”
Nandani interrupted, “ Ayee, she is not old.”
He laughed again and looked at us. His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he spoke. "Then I can tell you,"
I quickly glanced at Daadisa and said, “ Um, I need to go, Daadisa. I must see the kitchen.”
She didn ’ t even hear me as I slowly escaped, listening to his voice fade away. “ I will teach her how to use the dagger wisely. You know it ’ s a journey of self-discovery,”
Nandani laughed loudly. Daadisa chuckled too, but I didn ’ t understand what was funny. I never quite understood Nandani and his jokes; their bond was deep, like that of best friends.
I walked out of her room and tried to step outside. However, before I could, someone grabbed me and pinned me against the wall. I quickly glanced around before turning to look at him.
“ Kunwarsa,” I gasped. “ Someone will see us,”
He quickly untied the curtain from the pillar, letting it cover both of us. “ Not now,” he said. Frustration ran through my nerves. “ I want to talk to you,” he continued.
I shook my head, trying to push him away.
“ Ayyeee, don ’ t!” His warning only provoked me to push him harder.
However, as I tried to walk past him, he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. A wave of pain shot through my hand when he twisted my arm behind my back, dragging me precariously nearer to him.
My eyes widened with shock.
"I am talking to you," He said.
My whole body shivered with his strength, and I gazed into his eyes with a trace of fear. “ Kunwarsa,” I muttered.
He gulped, gently loosening his hold while leaving my hand. “ Why did you take it off?” he asked, studying my face, and I shook my head. “ What?”
“ Your nose ring,” he said.
I was stunned. “ Because my husband died. It ’ s only for married women,” I reminded him.
He took a step closer, pushing me against the wall. I felt smaller next to him.
"You have a husband," He spoke.
I shook my head. “ No, I don ’ t,” I replied immediately. “ The world doesn ’ t know about it,” I added in a low voice.
His eyes sharpened, and his slightly tighter grip made my wrist feel numb. His cologne enveloped the air like a drug, as his presence occupied a significant space in my life.
“ But you know about it, don ’ t you?” he said as I gazed at his face, leaning in closer. My cheeks flushed, and I felt suffocated, trapped in his embrace. I attempted to lean back, trying to create some distance between us, but as he drew me nearer, my weight shifted onto my toes, and my eyes widened in astonishment.
“ Be a good wife to me,” he muttered.
My stomach twisted. His lips moved closer to mine. I turned my face away, trying to resist my sinful surrender.
“ Ayeh,” he breathed, wrapping his other hand around my shoulder and cupping my jaw with his large hand, forcing me to meet his gaze.
My lips quivered and parted as I huffed. He drew nearer, and I could feel our breaths mingling against each other ’ s lips.
I couldn ’ t help but give in; I felt too weak to struggle. To my surprise, he kissed the tip of my nose and murmured, “ I need to go for a day. I want you to keep my dagger with you.”
His words prompted me to open my eyes and regard him with furrowed brows. “ Where and why?” my lips muttered, and he smiled.
“ That ’ s like how you ought to question your husband,” he said, and I gritted my teeth a bit.
“ Half husband,” I reminded him. He smirked slightly, loosened my hand, and leaned in closer, bringing his lips near my ear.
"Jitno tum ho na uske liye hum aadhe hi Kaafi hai,"
“ My half is sufficient for all of you,” he said, his dagger brushing my cheek. It felt cold against my skin as he gazed into my eyes.
“ It ’ s not serious between my fiancé and me.” Suddenly, his words shattered my world, and I stood frozen. But before I could react or ask anything, he stepped away from me, leaving me with his dagger in hand, unsure of how to deal with it.
“ See you tomorrow, dinner ,”