I lowered my gaze.“I think... because he loves me,”
“Since when?” he questioned.
I blinked nervously, unable to recall the time since when he had loved me. But, maybe… “I think... I mean, when Princess was born,” I mumbled.
“What? He proposed to you when Rudraja was born?” Ranaji asked, and I immediately shook my head.
“No, no, no, I mean... he didn’t propose b... but... but, I mean, we, we had a b... bet,”
“What bet?” Ranaji asked. I gulped nervously.
“Hey,” Kunwar-sa called out, but Ranaji glared at him.
I looked at everyone staring at me seriously; I could feel that my actual death was approaching, right there.
How could I fall in love with a prince?
“What bet?” Ranaji asked again, enraged.
I blinked nervously.“Ranaji, he was... teasing me... I mean, he was irritating me and... and I said that it would be b... boy and he said that it would be... g.... girl and I said that if... there is a boy, yes boy... then he will not... touch me and then he said,” I gulped nervously, feeling my body shaking with fear. I looked, finding everyone’s expecting eyes on me.
“He said what?” Ranaji asked, his tone tinged with anger, and I felt my eyes welling up as I responded.
“He said... if it’s.... girl, I will, I mean, on every birthday of hers, I will su—”
Suddenly, Kunwar-sa’s hand concealed my mouth, and he pulled me back against him. My back pressed against his chest, and I inhaled deeply as fear coursed through my nerves.
My eyes widened with fear as I looked at everyone, who in return looked back at me in astonishment.
He pressed his cheek against my temple, tilting my head slightly, and he chuckled softly.“Itna thodi batana tha, Suman,”“You’re not supposed to reveal so much, Suman.”
I lowered my eyes in dilemma and fright.
I placed my hand on his wrist and looked at Ranaji, who looked at us with a disgusted look.
“Bhai-sa,” he muttered with a soft chuckle.“I love her. I want to marry her,”
I immediately pushed him away, feeling everyone’s eyes on me.
My cheeks burned, and I turned to face him. Moving away a bit, I spoke,“I recalled... som... something to do,”
But he held my hand and pulled me back beside him.“Tell Bhai-sa what you were saying about loving me back?” he muttered, looking at me.
“Ji?” I questioned.
He nodded, and I blinked nervously and turned towards Ranaji.
“Ji, Ji, Ji, Ranaji. Hum bhi Vivaah karte hai inse, Prem karna chaahte hain,”“Ji, Ji, Ji, Ranaji, I also marry him, I want to love him.” I babbled, and Kunwar-sa chuckled.
“She means she also loves me and wants to marry me,” he corrected.
Ranaji’s eyes widened.“How dare you two keep it from all of us?” he yelled, and I immediately took a step away and hid behind Kunwar-sa.
“She wasn’t ready, Bhai-sa,” he said
“Alright, everyone, take seats, let’s talk to Suman,” Ranaji said.
My eyes widened in shock. I looked at Prince Ranvijay and Princess Aishwarya sitting on the couch, while Ranaji and Nandani sat on the bed. Princess Rudraja was playing with Prince Ranvijay.
