He just stared at me with a smile and whispered, leaning closer,“Hum kuch aur khaayenge,”“I’ll eat something else.”
I immediately looked and saw Badi-maa walk back to her place. One by one, everyone came forward to give me gifts as part of the ritual, and I kept passing those gifts to the attendant standing beside me.
When Nandani stepped before me, Princess Rudraja looked at me closely and puckered her lips.
“Su-ma-ah…” she babbled, stretching her hand out to me. The attendants standing beside me helped me with the things in my lap; then, I reached out and took Princess in my hands.
“Aww… is my princess missing her Maasi-maa?” I murmured softly.
She responded with a toothy and unmistakably mischievous grin, and before I could fully register what that meant, she leaned forward and bit down on my nose.
“Ow!” I yelped, wincing at the sudden sting.
He chuckled, clearly amused.“I taught her that,” he announced proudly.
I shot him a sharp glare.
“What?” Nandani exclaimed at once, loudly.
Startled, he snapped his head toward her a little too fast.
“Oh—nothing,” he rushed to cover up.“I was just saying.”
That was when, probably, Princess Rudraja noticed Kunwar-sa and began calling for him.
“Aa-ta-ta,”
He smiled at me as he took her from my hands, and she immediately squealed with delight.
“Aa-ta-ta-ta,” she cooed sweetly, trying to pronounce his name.
“Agastya,” he corrected. She looked at him with wide eyes.“Agastya,” he said again, while she listened carefully.
“Agata,” she said, tilting her head as if asking if this one’s right.
He smiled.“Yes, better.”
She laughed and looked back at Nandani.
“Rudraja, please stay in one place for some time,” Nandani said wearily.
She wailed in response to that reply.“Nana…”
Nandani sighed deeply and took her from Kunwar-sa’s lap. She then walked toward Ranaji, who was sitting with King Abhinandan, engaged in conversation, and handed the Princess to him. He looked at her in shock.
“Handle her for some time,” she said.
He smiled at Princess Rudraja, then handed her his small dagger. She indulged herself, playing with it, sitting on his lap.
I just smiled, looking at this little but adorable interaction. That’s when I noticed Princess Aishwarya walking toward me along with Queen Trisha.
“So, Suman, you’ve now officially become ours,” Princess Aishwarya said.
Queen Trisha muttered.
“Ek baar panditji vivaah ka sahi muhurat nikal dein to hum haldi va anya rasmoan ki tayyariyaan praarambh kar denge. Haldi lagne ke paschaat aap dono ek dusre ko dekh nahi sakte.”“Once Panditji determines the auspicious time for the wedding, we’ll begin preparations for the haldi and other rituals. After the haldi ceremony, you two won’t be able to see each other until the wedding day.” Queen Trisha explained softly.
“Why?” he intervened abruptly.“Look, if it’s something like that, I’ll not marry,”
