She walked toward me and hugged me gently before cupping my cheek.“Kunwarsa Agastya will arrive today, so get ready,” she said, and I smiled, shaking my head.
“It’s fine. I’m okay,” I said, returning to continue making the laddoos I had prepared with the attendants in the courtyard of Nandani’s chamber.
The entire kitchen was in chaos. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want his attention anymore. I was content with this.
“Is Kunwar Agastya’s chamber ready and clean?” I heard Nandani ask another attendant, raising her voice slightly.“What are you doing? Do it quickly,” she urged, and I just smiled, focusing on the laddoos.
All I wanted was for him to look at me with love-filled eyes for once. My shringaar43would be done, my responsibilities fulfilled, and love would bloom.
I didn’t realise that Nandani had left with all the attendants to welcome an important guest arriving at the palace.
Suddenly distracted by the princess’s cries, I looked around to see that no caretaker was present.
Where did everyone go?
I stood up and quickly washed my hands before entering Nandani’s bedroom.
Only selected people could touch her. The attendants could care for her and inform Nandani, but they could not get too close for security reasons.
“Aww, my baby,” I pampered, lifting the princess into my arms. I patted her back as she cried even more.
“What happened to my sweet little pumpkin? Maa-sa? Do you need your Maa-sa?” I brought her out of the bedroom, but all she could do was cry.
“Aww, baby, calm down; she will be back. Do you want to eat something sweet?” I asked, trying to divert her attention.
She made faces, and I wiped away her fake tears.“Aww, did you have a bad dream? Don’t worry, your Baapu-sa will take care of all the demons,” I murmured sweetly, but she turned her gaze toward the laddoos.
“Taatttooo,” she cried out, leaning toward them.
I sighed and put her down, watching as she reached for the laddoo plate with her little hands.
I smiled, sitting beside her.“Oh, you want to make sweets for your birthday yourself?” I asked, returning to making the laddoos, listening to her babble.
She cooed, tasting the laddoos, messing her fingers.
“How does it taste, Princess?” I asked with a smile.
She looked at me wide-eyed and smiled as she savoured the sweet.
Like uncle, like niece—always hungry for sweets.
A crimson blush crept onto my cheeks, recalling some of our sweet encounters.
Suddenly, the princess crawled up, placing her hands on my thighs to lift herself.
“What happened, baby?” I asked, feeling her place her hands on my shoulder and back. As my dupatta slipped down, I chuckled.
“What are you doing, my princess?” I asked, feeling her tiny hands on my back as she took help to walk.
She fell to her bum and wailed.
I laughed lightly as I watched her antics, never understanding what it meant.
I focused on making laddoos while I felt her tiny hands on my back, trying to lift her to her feet again. Her fingers hooked on my blouse, and suddenly, she tugged on the string of my blouse and pulled it open.
“Princess,” I exclaimed, and the blouse loosened even more when I tried to turn around.
I looked at her, and she smiled, showing her small teeth, and did so again.
