“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
I heard a wave of giggles erupt around us.
“To the bathing area,” Rudra Bhai-sa replied.
Suddenly, Nandani Bhabhi-sa’s voice rang out.
“What are you two doing here?” she asked, and I didn’t miss the astonishment in her tone.
“What’s happening?” I demanded again, suddenly nervous. I had barely any clothes on, just a long cloth wrapped around my waist, and a cold breeze brushed my skin, causing me to shiver.
“We’re definitely not going to the bathing area,” I exclaimed.
I suddenly felt an urge to run away, but with my eyes closed and face completely coated with haldi, I couldn’t help but follow their lead.
“We’re almost there,” Ranvijay Bhai-sa said.
“What are you doing?” I repeated before a familiar voice reached me.
“What’s happening, Nandani?”
I heard Suman’s voice.
Though her voice sounded faint, I still tried to call out,“Suman?”
“What the hell are you doing, Bhai-sa?” I shouted.“And why is this bathing area so publicly accessible?”
Before I could react, someone suddenly grabbed my legs and lifted me off the ground.
I screamed, and in the very next second, two firm hands caught my shoulders. I struggled, shaking wildly.
“No! What are you doing?” I yelled.
Suddenly, they swung me left and right a few times. My body was moving helplessly through the air, and without warning, they tossed me straight into the water.
I sank deeper and deeper.
The laughter above muted instantly as the water closed around me. I instinctively wiped my face and kicked upward, swimming back toward the surface. The water was cold; I saw the sunlight filtering through it in waves.
I broke through the surface, pushing my hair back and blinking rapidly.
The sight awaiting me made my teeth grind.
My entire family was laughing.
I slapped the water angrily, glaring at both my Bhai-sas, who were bent over, clutching their stomachs in laughter.
This is not done.
I swam toward the edge of the pond just in time to see Rudra and Ranvijay Bhai-sa walking away smugly when my eyes landed on King Abhinandan.
He smiled knowingly. I raised my brows, signalling him to push them both.
Moving slowly toward them, before either of them could decipher, he shoved both straight into the pond.
“Abhi!” Rudra Bhai-sa shouted as he fell in.
I burst out laughing. Ranvijay Bhai-sa tried to steady himself but slipped and splashed in as well.
