I glanced at Kunwar Agastya, watching me as I stood beside Daadi-sa. With his palms balled into fists, he stood beside Ranaji, who was talking to King Abhinandan. While Nandani was speaking to Rani-maa and Queen Trisha, Kunwar-sa suddenly turned and walked toward me.
I quickly looked at Daadi-sa, but before I could do anything, he held my hand and pulled me into a tight hug.
“I’ll miss you so much,” he breathed near my neck.
I froze in place. I didn’t know what to do because I could feel everyone’s eyes on us.
My hands clenched on my skirt, and I blinked and looked at Daadi-sa’s eyes, which widened in shock.
When he didn’t pull back even after a few moments, I couldn’t think of anything but gently patting his arms.
“I’ll miss you too,” I whispered.
He released me and kissed my hand. My breath hitched.
How could he do this in front of everyone? Isn’t he ashamed?
Everyone dispersed and settled onto their respective horses and palanquins. Rani-maa and Queen Trisha sat in one palanquin, and I got in with Daadi-sa in her palanquin.
He helped me sit, holding my hand, and I looked at Daadi-sa, smiling at us.
As the bearers lifted the palanquin, I felt ticklish in my stomach. I gripped my skirt tightly, controlling the urge to look out at him.
“Dekh lo,”(You can see.) Daadi-sa said playfully.
Smiling timidly, I parted the curtains and looked out at Kunwar-sa, who looked at me with a weak smile.
I tried not to cry because this brief separation was necessary to ensure we would be united for a lifetime.
?????
34. Agastya
Ifelt an ache settle in my chest watching her palanquin disappear into the distance. Turning back, I looked at both my brothers and my bhabhi-sas, who were watching me with smiles.
“I hate you for doing this,” I groaned to Rudra Bhai-sa.
He pulled me into a gentle hug and patted my back.“Both of you deserve a grand wedding,” he said, and I smiled, agreeing.
Ranvijay Bhai-sa joined in our hug and added,“Let's start the preparations already.”
I chuckled slightly, realising it was my wedding. It was Agastya Dev Singh’s wedding, and that with my favourite person, Suman.
“Oh my goodness, I can’t believe this is happening,” I exclaimed.
“Yes, Devar-sa, it is indeed happening,” Nandani Bhabhi-sa teased, walking toward me.“And you’ll not be a free bird anymore. From now on, you cannot leave anytime you wish. You’ll have to suffer the consequences of falling in love.”
Aishwarya Bhabhi-sa chuckled with me.“Jiji, if Suman is the consequence, I’m sure Devarsa wouldn’t mind,” and we all broke into joyous laughter.
After all teasings and talk, we retired to our chambers.
The preparation had already begun, and Bhabhi-sa had decided that we would leave for Mahabaleshgarh the next day to ask for Suman’s hand in marriage. I was excited, nervous—I was so many things I couldn’t list completely.
The whole day had passed in playing with Rudraja. She had gotten so attached to me. We both sat silently in the sunlight. I taught her how to eat grapes, and yes, I taught her one more thing: to bite.
As she giggled, her tiny teeth looked so adorable, and this little mischievous devil seemedready to bite anything she set her eyes on.She would bite my clothes, my nose. But I taught her specifically to bite my finger. It was so much fun.
Later that evening, I went to Bhabhi-sa’s chamber, where everyone was waiting for me to look at the things and gifts that we were going to take for her. I saw jewellery, clothes, accessories, and so much more.
