I couldn’t fight the flip in my stomach at the mere thought of him.“It's not like that,” I tried to say, but she playfully nudged my shoulder.
Coming closer, she asked in a cautious whisper.“Uh… did you just fulfil your bet?”
My eyes widened, and I immediately placed my finger on her mouth, looking around to see if anyone had heard us.“Shhh… Nandani,” but this naughty queen just giggled in return.
“Oh my God! You are having an afterglow,” she exclaimed excitedly.
I gulped nervously, cupping my cheeks, and she instantly hugged me.
“Oh my goodness, Suman, I just can’t wait to have you as my sister-in-law,” she squealed with happiness.“The three of us are going to be unstoppable together.”
I chuckled, holding her tighter.“Thank you,” I muttered.
“Jiji,” Princess Aishwarya sprinted toward us with her arms open wide.“I’m here too,” she exclaimed, hurling herself onto us with such enthusiasm that we staggered back, laughing.
“So, is it a yes finally?” Nandani asked, pulling away.
I nodded, biting my lip, and she seemed ready to burst with excitement.
“Finally, a wedding and lots of fun,” she cheered. And I couldn’t help but laugh, looking at their happiness.
“Oh my God, Suman, come. Everyone is waiting for you,” Princess Aishwarya said, and I frowned, thinking about why everyone was waiting for me. Anyway, we hurried me to the celebration hall.
Having reached there, I saw everyone—Ranaji, King Abhinandan, Daadi-sa, Rani-maa, and everyone.
“Suman, come here,” Daadi-sa gestured, and I silently walked in her direction.
She held my hand and made me sit beside her. I pulled my dupatta a little lower, enough to cover my forehead, and heard everyone gossiping.
“Where is Agastya?” I heard Ranaji ask and turned to Daadi-sa.
“Tum humaare saath chal rahi ho na Suman?”“You’re coming with us, right, Suman?” I didn’t understand what she meant by that, so I looked at her.“Vivaah ke liye,”“For wedding,” she finally pointed, sending shivers down my spine, and the herald simultaneously announced Kunwar-sa’s arrival, causing me to shudder.
I raised my eyes slightly and saw him walk in drowsily, pushing his dishevelled hair through his fingers. Nandani had probably called him as she was standing behind him, holding Princess Rudraja in her hand.
“Kahaan the aap, Agastya?”“Where were you, Agastya?” Ranaji asked.
I immediately looked away from him to Daadi-sa, who was looking at me with an expectant smile.
“Ji, Daadi-sa, I’ll come with you,” I murmured.
“I fell asleep, Bhai-sa,” Kunwar Agastya spoke through a yawn, dragging his feet toward the empty seat beside Prince Ranvijay.
A wave of laughter ran through after Ranaji’s laugh.
A crimson heat appeared on my cheeks, and I instantly lowered my gaze.
“Agastya,” Ranaji began.“We all think the wedding should take place in Mahabaleshgarh. That means Suman will need to travel there to carry out the necessary rituals.” Hearing these words from Ranaji made it sound more real. It meant that our marriage was really happening.
The mere realisation that I had once entered this palace as the queen’s maid, I would leave, but only to return as the bride of the kingdom’s prince, sent a trembling shiver through me.
“No!” Kunwar Agastya exclaimed, shaking his head.“Why does she need to leave for that? We can perform the rituals here too.” I could sense the frustration laced in his tone.
“Ohho, Kunwar Agastya,” Daadi-sa cut in gently.“The wait and separation before the wedding will be fruitful.”
He moved his gaze to me, but then King Abhinandan interjected politely,“Yes, Agastya, it is only right that the wedding happens in Mahabaleshgarh. We couldn’t celebrate much at Rudra and Nandani's wedding. And Sumanika is like a sister to me.”
Kunwar-sa’s face fell, and he looked at Prince Ranvijay dejectedly.
