Once Kshitija stood up to leave, Suman shifted off my lap and sat beside me, and my eyes never left her face as she smiled politely at Kshitija.
“Princess Kshitija, please stay,” Suman said warmly.“Are you friends with Agastya?”
I lifted my brows slightly in both pride and surprise that she addressed her so calmly and called me by my name.
“Um… yes,” Kshitija replied hesitantly, sitting back.“We’re… kind of friends.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Suman said.“I always wanted to meet his friends.”
She placed her hand lightly on my thigh and turned toward me.“Did you have dinner?” she asked softly.
I shook my head.
“Why not?” she asked, already leaning forward to arrange a plate for me.
“How did you two meet?” Kshitija asked.
Suman smiled.“We?” she echoed playfully, taking a bite of food and holding it out toward me.
“We met through an incident,” she continued lightly,“and since then, I lost my heart to him. I tried very hard to win his in return, but he’s quite difficult to pursue.” She chuckled at the end.
I took the bite slowly, chewing as I watched her. She looked breathtaking. Her long curls cascaded down her back, with a few loose strands resting against her chest and face. The faint glow of haldi and milk still lingered on her skin. My fingers ached to tuck that stray curl behind her ear.
She suddenly turned toward me, laughing at something.
I snapped out of my thoughts, realising I hadn’t heard a word they were talking about.
“Alright,” Kshitija said, standing.“You two should talk. I’ll go to bed.”
Suman stood immediately.“Let me walk you to the door.”
I watched them go and inhaled deeply. Absentmindedly, I picked up a fritter and ate slowly until Suman returned.
I didn’t know what to expect. A fight, silence, or laughter.
Coming back, she sat beside me, picked up a grape, and chewed quietly.
I swallowed nervously when she inhaled deeply and rested her head on my shoulder.
“You don’t have to be scared,” she murmured.“I trust you.”
A weak smile curved my lips, and I rested my head gently against hers.
“Are you okay, love?” I asked.
She shook her head slightly.“I feel impatient.”
“Why?”
“I want to marry you as soon as possible.”
I chuckled softly and kissed her forehead.“Looks like we’re finally on the same page.”
She giggled.
“Well… that was childish,” I said teasingly.
“I know,” she admitted.“I felt something… maybe jealousy, maybe possessiveness. I don’t know what to call it.”
