Ew… It’s so bad.
I let out a frustrated groan and put the letter on the bedside table.
Is this even a good idea? A pair of anklets would be a great option.
Going with the thought, I immediately went to the goldsmith in the palace and asked him to make a beautiful, heavy pair of anklets with many bells. I wished to hear her walking, running around my chamber, wearing them.
Oh my goodness!
The thought alone felt so good.
The day had almost ended, and the next day we got ready in the morning.
Badimaa, along with her daughters-in-law, also returned to the palace from one of the princely states on the outskirts of the kingdom. They had gone there to oversee some internal affairs of Suryagarh.
We all got set to depart for Mahableshgarh. I wore a simple white kurta because it was a special occasion.
I couldn’t wait to meet her, because each passing moment felt like a century.
Thankfully, before it had turned dark, we reached Mahableshgarh.
?????
35. Suman
As I gazed at the rising sun, with my arms crossed around my knees, close to my chest, the warmth of its golden rays filled me with a new hope, soothing my insides. My lips stretched into the slightest of smiles in contentment.
I rubbed my palms over my arms, feeling chills at the realisation that I was going to become his wife, the wife of Agastya Dev Singh. A soft giggle spilt from my lips at the thought. He would’ve left for Mahabaleshgarh already.
When I looked to my side, I saw Reva walking into the garden toward me with a smile.
“What’re you doing here alone, Suman?” she asked and sat beside me.
Looking back at my front, I muttered,“Nothing,”
“You never told me,” she complained, nudging my shoulder playfully.
I smiled timidly.“Kya hi bataate, Reva? Humein to abhi bhi vishwaas nahi ho raha ki humaara vivaah unse ho raha hai,”“What would I have even told you, Reva? I still cannot believe that I’m getting married to him.”
She placed her hand on my forearm.“How is he?” she asked.“I mean, I know he’s a prince, but how does he behave with you? Does he call you by your name or something special?”
I chuckled at her curiosity.“He…” I paused momentarily, nipping on my lower lip and looked at the orange hues of the sun spreading all over the sky.“He is… amazing, Reva. He understands me like no one else. He doesn’t make me feel low or unworthy, nor does he make it seem like he is too special. He treats me so well. I mean, yes, he cares for me, but he also takes care of the boundaries. He loves me, but he never tries to cage me in that love. Well… he gets impossible sometimes and too sharp with his words, but he always wants what's best for me. It is actually me who causes him trouble, and he gets annoyed sometimes,” I laughed, thinking of his troubled expressions.
“And?” she pressed, a brightness sparkling in her eyes.
“And he’s so good. He loves me so much sometimes it’s overwhelming and scary,” I murmured.
She frowned.“Why scary?”
I looked at her with my lips pursed.“It’s scary because I feel I might end up hurting both of us. But, I know he will protect both of us from that,” I whispered as if I wasn’t just telling her, but assuring my mind.
Second marriage—an act that society doesn’t approve of, happily or truly appreciate, especially when it’s a woman doing it; a woman who comes from the lowest background of society’s caste system; a woman who’s a petite maid working in the royal palace, and that same woman, ironically, gets married to a prince. I had no idea what challenges lay ahead. But I was sure of one thing: if he’d be by my side, I’d swim the vast oceans, climb the highest mountains, and walk through the storms.
“Suman,” suddenly Daadi-sa’s voice brought me back from my reverie. I looked at her, breathing heavily, probably from walking all the way to the garden.
“Daadi-sa,”I stood up.“Aap kyun chale aaye? Humein bulwa liya hota,”“Why did you come here? You should’ve sent someone to call me.” I spoke as I walked closer to her.
She held my hand and said,“Everything is prepared; let’s go. You take a bath, and then we’ll get you ready. They’ll arrive any moment today,” she said.
