He immediately left my hand, and everyone stood from the bed. I wanted to run away and whooshed up into the sky.
Princess Aishwarya adjusted her dupatta and looked away from him. Nandani remained seated, but a hint of fear was visible on her face, while Kunwar-sa suddenly smiled like a good boy.
“Kisi ka nahi, Bhai-sa; hum sab baat kar rahein the ki yadi bistar toot jaaye to kya karenge?”“No one’s, Bhai-sa; we were just talking about what we will do if the bed breaks,” he spoke animatedly.
Ranaji frowned, walking toward the couch and asked,“Kintu kyun? Ye to wahi baat ho gayi ki baadh aa jaaye to kya karenge, bhukamp aa jaaye to kya karenge, matlab aaj Rudraja ka janmdiwas hai aur yahaan charcha is par ho raha hai ki bistar toot jaayega to kya karenge, waahhh, adbhudh,”“But why? It’s like what will happen if a flood strikes or if an earthquake occurs? I mean, it’s Rudraja’s birthday today, and the discussion here is happening over what if a bed breaks? Wow, great.”
My body shivered when suddenly an attendant walked in and said,“Kunwar-sa,”
Kunwar-sa blinked silently and smiled, looking at the attendant.“Yes,”
“Wo karmchaari pooch rahein hai ki shayya me lakdi ki parat do lagaani hai ya teen,”“The labourers are asking whether they should add two layers or three layers of wood in the bed.”
Kunwar-sa closed his eyes and exhaled, and suddenly Prince Ranvijay walked in.“Bhai-sa,” he said, walking in with a smile, but in an instant, it vanished, and lines of confusion formed over his forehead as he looked at everyone.“What happened?” he asked the attendant.
The attendant repeated,“Wo kunwar-sa ki shayya toot gayi hai to karmchaari pooch rahein hai ki lakdi ki parat do lagaani hai ya teen,”“Kunwar-sa’s bed broke, so the labourers are asking whether to add two or three layers of wood.”
I wished for instant death. I wanted to run away and die. My fingers were shivering, and I looked at Kunwar-sa, breathing in and out deeply before speaking.“Pehle apne mukh par lakdi ki ek ya do parat laga lo aur jao yahaan se,”“First things first, have your mouth concealed with two or three layers of wood, and go away.”
The attendant looked baffled but walked away quietly.
I looked at Ranaji, raising his brows at Kunwar Agastya, and inquired,“How did your bed break, Agastya?”
“What? Your bed broke, Agastya?” Prince Ranvijay asked, walking closer to him.“How? Are you okay?” He placed his hand on his shoulder, and Kunwar-sa just smiled awkwardly.
Princess Aishwarya walked across the chamber to Prince Ranvijay, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
I lowered my gaze as his eyes widened while looking at me, and then he glanced at Kunwar Agastya.
“Bhabhisa, please,” he requested.
Suddenly, Ranaji asked.“Can someone tell me what the hell is happening, apart from Rudraja’s birthday celebration?”
“Oh my God, Agastya!” Prince Ranvijay screamed, placing his hand on his mouth.
Kunwar-sa inhaled deeply, shaking his head.
“Nandani,” Ranaji called, standing up.
I looked at Nandani, who was suddenly acting oblivious and patting Princess Rudraja as if she knew nothing.“Yes, Ranaji,” she asked with a smile.
“Can you tell me what is happening here?” he asked, raising his voice, and Princess Rudraja woke up, wailing.
Nandani shook her head slowly.
He immediately turned to look at Kunwar-sa and placed his hand on his shoulder.“How did your bed break, Agastya?” he asked in a strictly, chuckling as he looked at him.
“Um… Bhai-sa, kya aap bhi, itne bade hain aap, matlab, aapko nahi pata?”“Um… Bhai-sa, what??? You’re a grownup. I mean, do you not know?”
Ranaji gritted his teeth, shaking his head.“No, I do not. I want to know; tell me now,” his voice turned firm.
Kunwar-sa closed his eyes, lowering his head.“I fell,” he muttered.“I fell on the bed,”
Ranaji thinned his brows in confusion.“You just fell, and the bed broke?”
He nodded.
Princess Rudraja started crying louder.
