Her voice softened.“None of us had the slightest idea of everything he had been through, yet he shared it with you. His purpose was not to hurt you, Suman. Trust me, Rudra and Prince Ranvijay didn’t raise him that way.”
She gave a small smile.“He might be bubbly and flirty, but he’s a genuine man. And putting aside my opinions, don’t do anything. Follow your heart. If you don’t want to talk to him, then don’t. Don’t force yourself to do anything you don’t want to do. He’ll eventually get past this,” she went on.“No one will ever know what happened between you. He’ll never show it on his face, and trust me, even after this, he won’t hate you.”
“So calm down,” she said gently.“I’m sure whatever it is within you, he’ll understand. But please understand him too. Don’t make it all about yourself.”
I gulped silently, listening to her, and nodded.
“Rani-sa,” an attendant caught our attention, prompting us to lift our gaze and look at her.“Kunwar-sa,” she said, and I noticed her eyes tense and her fingers shaking as she pointed behind her.“He has arrived,” her voice trembled.
My heart raced wildly.
My voice trembled as I stood up and asked,“Where did he come back from?”
“From the war,” the attendant replied; images of blood, sword, and his near-death experience on the battlefield overwhelmed me. My head spun, dropping me to my knees.
“Suman,” Nandani quickly embraced me and patted my cheeks.
My heart raced uncontrollably.
“Kunwarsa,” my heartbeat and breathing shallowed, and I didn’t understand what had happened to me.
I felt a glass pressed between my lips and a coldness against my throat as Nandani gently patted my cheeks.
“He’s fine, Suman. Hold yourself together,” I heard her voice, and my eyes shot open at the mention of him.
I got up to run toward the main entrance. My legs wobbled. The attendants watched me. Tears streamed down my face, and suddenly, I stumbled over a stone and fell onto my elbow. A deep cry escaped my lips, and I felt Nandani’s hand on my shoulder.
“Suman, calm down,” she said worriedly, and I quickly returned to my feet.
“What happened to him?” I babbled, unable to control my swirling, dark thoughts.
The priest’s voice echoed, telling me I was his problem. But we weren’t properly married; how could he get the bad fortune?
I ran again and halted far from the main entrance, noticing the convoy of soldiers entering, many bleeding. Ranaji and Hukum-sa were also there.
I approached them with shaky feet, my heart sinking lower with every step, until suddenly, a loud cheer erupted.
“Kunwar Agastya Dev Singh ki!”
“Jai!”the crowd cheered, and my heart sank even more.
My head pounded, and I stood immobile. Nandani held my hand and guided me toward them.
And the moment my eyes landed on him entering on his horse, I regained my breath.
I could hear my heartbeat over the loud cheering.
He was bleeding, damped, and dirty; his eyes were drooping, his face was tired.
I gulped, soaking in his presence.
He stopped, dismounting the horse. Patting Ashwait’s forehead, he kissed it and stumbled toward Ranaji.
Ranaji stepped forward with a broad smile.
Kneeling on one leg before him, Kunwar-sa offered a blood-soaked sword with both hands,“Mehrangarh.”
“Kunwar Agastya Dev ki,”Ranaji cheered in an earth-shattering voice that echoed through all the walls of Surygarh.
