“Um, why don’t we take Princess to my chamber?” he suggested, and I squinted my eyes at him.“You can watch over her and take care of her there, too, right?” he immediately added, like a kid caught doing something mischievous.
“But didn’t Nandani ask to lie her on her bed?” I asked, and he nodded.
“Yes, she did say to put her on a bed, but she didn’t mention whose. So, it can be our bed too, you know. Please,” he muttered. I gulped, pondering it for a moment, but then nodded anyway.
“Alright.” I knew Nandani wouldn’t mind unless it concerned the Princess’s safety.
We both walked to his chamber. As I stepped inside the bedroom, I looked at the new bed.
The workers did a really great job in a short time.
Stepping closer to the bed, I slowly lay her on the bed and settled beside her, and Kunwar-sa covered her with the comforter.
I began gently caressing her head. She looked so beautiful while sleeping.
“She’s such a joy to the family,” I remarked.
“Every girl is a joy to the family, Suman,” he muttered, looking at me with a tender intensity.
He lifted my hand off Princess’s tiny belly and pulled me toward him.
I inhaled deeply before walking on my knees, careful not to disturb Princess.
Wrapping his hands around me, he pulled me closer. Settling against the pile of pillows, he shifted me with him, letting my back rest comfortably against his chest. But I was quite hesitant.
“Koi aa jaayega, Kunwar-sa,”“Someone might come, Kunwar-sa.”
He nuzzled his face in my neck and inhaled deeply. As his lips slowly came into contact with my skin, I sighed deeply, and my dupatta fell off my shoulder. My lashes fluttered shut, lost in the sensation.
And he questioned in a slow voice.
“Humaare vivaah ki charcha ho rahi hai, Suman. Tumhe koi aapatti to nahi na? Tum chaahti to ho na humse vivaah karna?”“They’re discussing our marriage, Suman. You don’t have any objections, do you? You do want to marry me, right?”
I opened my eyes, feeling his feet on mine.
“Hum chaahte hain aapse vivaah karna, kintu humein bhay hai ki kahin humaare madhya punah koi matbhed na ho jaaye,”“I do want to marry you, but I fear we might end up getting into a fight again.” I retorted.
He held my hands and made me look at him, letting me lean sideways into his arm. I could feel my heart pounding.
“Kis baat par hoga matbhed?”“What would we fight about?”
My teeth dug deeper into my lower lip as I mulled over the possibilities.
“Um… anything. I mean, I know I’ve made mistakes. I have tried to get over what I had been through and understand what you had been through, yet somehow, what if my insecurity or your insecurity surfaces back?”
His lips stretched in a weak smile.
“Koi baat nahi. Vivaah ke pashchaat to waise bhi anban hoti hi rehti hai. Kabhi tum mana lena, kabhi hum mana lenge.”“It’s alright. Couples do end up having disagreements after marriage anyway. Sometimes you can make up, sometimes I will.”
“Aur aap punah humein ek varsh ke liye chhodkar chale gaye to?”“And what if you leave me again for a year?” I immediately asked.
He frowned.“Hum tumhe chhodkar thodi gaye the, hum to apne kaarya se gaye the,”“I did not leave you; I went for work,” he said, and I shook my head, not believing him.
“You cannot fool me. I know you were hurt,” I whispered.
“Yes, I was hurt,” he replied, pressing his cheek against my cheek.“But I knew you did not mean what you said. It was your insecurity and experience speaking. Suman, you’re not someone who would hurt anyone. Also, you realised your rights over me; that's why you did so. And honestly, I’ve long forgotten that. The things that mean nothing must never be entertained,” he explained calmly, and I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
“But, Kunwar-sa, I’m still scared about one thing,” I said, inhaling deeply, and he hummed in response.
