“Don’t you feel suffocated in this?” he asked, adjusting the skirt before lying down, propping himself on his elbow.“It’s so tight. I can barely breathe. How do you even walk in this?” he added, savouring the grapes.
I smiled, lying opposite him on my elbow.
“Women can do anything,” I said, sliding the fruit basket toward me.“And who said you could eat fruit? Don’t you remember? You’re supposed to behave like Suman, like a helper. Come on, help me take off my jewellery.”
He sat up.“Ji, whatever you say, Princess.”
I smiled.“You see, my husband is very ill-tempered. If he finds out you’re not doing your work right, he might kill you,” I whispered the last part, gesturing across my neck.
He raised his brows.
“Wow!” he said, using a fake sweet voice.“Interesting man.”
I just laughed upon hearing it.
“So, I got to help you take off this jewellery, right?” he asked.
I nodded, popping a grape in my mouth, shifting onto my back.
Momentary silence followed before he began removing my bangles.
“These are heavy,” I said, placing my feet on his lap.“Take them off, too.”
He frowned, which made me smile.
“What? You don’t want to do your work?” I asked.
He clicked his tongue.“Does your husband know you’re taking off his gift?”
“No,” I shook my head.“I don’t know where he’s been since the afternoon. I bet he’s busy flirting with women.”
He unclasped my anklets, saying,“Wow, you know him so well. Tell me more,”
I slid closer and rested my head on his lap. He stroked my hair gently.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, then looked into his piercing emerald-like eyes.
“Kunwar-sa,” I called slowly, carefully, as I knew the weight of my words.“If you’re worried our child might take a place not meant for him, then we won’t have children. I’m with you.”
He leaned backwards on the pile of pillows and shook his head while his hand lowered down to touch the end of my braid to open it.
“I don’t know, Suman, it feels wrong,” he muttered.“It feels wrong for so many reasons. I mean, Bhai-sa was always the deserving one, and because of our uncle’s ego, he had to slit throats to claim what he deserved, what was his. I know our children will grow up with what we teach them, but there’s no guarantee.”
I frowned, not getting his words.
“Urgh… I don’t even know what I’m saying. I mean, the baby is not born yet, and who knows whether that prophecy or those blessings are going to be true or not,” he said.
I nodded in understanding.
“Perhaps he may become a king,” I suggested.“But of a smaller state under our kingdom. That could be possible, right?”
He hummed as he undid my braid and brushed his fingers through it.
I moved closer, resting my chin on his chest.
“It feels surreal, Suman,” he murmured.“From seeing you standing in a corner to having you in my arms. A lot of things have already changed, and seven days from now, everything will change.”
“And once the rituals begin, we cannot see each other,” I said, and he chuckled.
