“I love you so much,” he murmured.“I don’t know how much‘so much’really is, but it’s… a lot,” I sensed the faint tremor of vulnerability in his voice.
“Hey,” I whispered, cupping his cheek.“I know. I know you love me deeply, and trust me, that‘so much’means everything to me.”
He kissed my palm, and I couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward to kiss his forehead.
He closed his eyes for a moment, then smiled suddenly.“I didn’t mean to make you emotional. You should rest for a while,” he said.
I gulped. I hadn’t expected him to stop there,‘You should rest for a while before I take you,’lingered unspoken in the air.
I smiled and nodded, though something felt off. I could sense it.
“Do you want to go first?” he asked, just as someone entered, carrying a large plate and a bundle of clothes in her hands.
“Choti Beendni-sa70,” she addressed me, and a broad smile spread across my face. She was elderly, so I rose from my seat.“Rani-sa has asked you to change into this fresh pair of clothes for the ritual.”
I nodded, took the plate from her hands, and set it on the table.
“Thank you,” I murmured. Once she left, I turned to Kunwar-sa, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I think you should bathe first,” he said.
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
“And you’ll take a nap?” I asked.
He leaned back on the bed and closed his eyes.“Yes, gladly,” he replied.
I clenched my jaw and lifted my skirt slightly. I was carrying this ton-heavy attire for him, for our marriage, and all he cared about was taking a nap while I struggled to get out of it. Brilliant.
“Kunwar-sa,” I called.
He lifted his head.“Yes, love?” His voice was unbearably sweet.
“I think I should call someone to help me out of this. It’s too heavy, you know,” I said.
He knitted his brows for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Oh… should I call someone?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes.“No. I have my own voice.”
“Is anyone there?” I called out.
Three attendants came running in, and Kunwar-sa looked at me in shock.
I hate him.
I hate him most.
He wasn’t Kunwar Agastya Dev Singh at that moment.
“Ji,” the attendant replied.
I stood before the mirror and asked them to remove some of my extra jewellery, particularly the choker necklace. I wanted them to take off the rest as well, but I stopped myself. All of it was royal jewellery, and I didn’t feel right removing it unless Badi-maa or Nandani asked me to.
There were still guests in the palace, after all, and I might need to meet them during the rituals.
I exhaled deeply and then asked the attendants to help me out of my attire. Wrapping myself in a white cloth, I went in for a quick bath. I needed to wash the stress off my body.
