“Aaj to keh diya, yadi punah kaha to sach mein chod kar chale jaayenge tumhe. Humaara mukh dekhne ke liye taras jaaogi,”“You’ve said it now, but if you say it the next time, I’ll really leave you. You’ll long even to have just a glance of me.”
I sighed softly and shook my head.“I was just joking,” I murmured, and the tension in his face eased as well.
“Then it’s fine,” he grinned.“I was kidding, too.”
I knew very well he wasn’t kidding. Just a few words from him were enough to tell me how serious he was about me. The possessiveness in his tone, the hunger in his eyes, the dangerous edge to his love—I could feel all of it. Every bit of it.
I smiled and sat back on the bed.“Come on, do it quickly. Everyone must be waiting for us.”
He knelt before me again and placed my foot back on his knee.
He glanced up at me once and smiled.
“Aaj atyant sundar lag rahi ho tum—chaand se bhi adhik. Humaare netra tumhaare mukh se hatt hi nahi rahe. Jee karta hai, abhi vivaah kar le jaayein tumhein,”“You look exceptionally beautiful today—more than the moon itself. My eyes refuse to be torn apart from your face. It makes me want to marry you this very moment and take you away with me.” he murmured, hooking the anklet in its place.
“Only seven days, Kunwar-sa,” I assured him softly.“Then we’ll be each other’s for this lifetime. There’ll not be anything between us anymore.”
He bent forward and kissed the bruise on my foot from where he’d bitten me.
My toes curled at the touch, yet I remained still—because I knew… I knew that the more I resisted, the moredetermined he’d be to do things his way.
And even if I tried to set that aside, I couldn’t deny how he made me feel—as if I were worthy of him, as if I deserved it.
I drew my foot back and carefully put the other one on his knee, and his lips stretched in a wide smile instantly.
“Haan, bilkul aise hi patni bankar rehna—jo humaari cchaati par apna paanv rakhe aur humaare sar par sawaar ho jaaye.”“Yes, be my wife exactly like this—one who’ll have me under her feet and breathe down my neck.”
I laughed at his sarcastic remark while he tugged another anklet.
“I didn’t know what to give you,” he said, caressing my toes.“So I thought, maybe the anklets could be a good start,”
I rose from the bed and walked around the chamber. Every jingle of the silver bells had me giggling.
He sat up on the bed and chuckled, watching me.
“Ah… they sound so nice!” I squealed.“They’re amazing.”
Suddenly, he stood, wrapped me in a hug, and kissed my forehead.
“I can’t wait to see you in bridal attire, Suman,”
I smiled at the admiration hidden beneath his words.
“Um… I can show you how I’ll look in bridal attire, but…” I deliberately dragged it out to see his reaction.
“But what?” he asked, pulling away.
I bit my lower lip. “… but you’ll have to try it first.”
His eyes widened.“What???”
I nodded.
“Yes, you’ve got such a liking for changing personalities. How about you become Suman for a day?” I asked.
He blinked at me for a moment.
“Um… what if I pass the test?” he asked, biting his lower lip.“What will I get?”
