I excused myself to attend to the preparations. My presence wasn’t necessary at the family gathering.
As I walked into the area where the feast’s food was being prepared, I asked them how much remained to be done. I motivated and encouraged them to be at their best.
After that, I arrived at the main compound where the ritual was to take place.
I looked at Ranaji and Nandani sitting in front of the hawankund30across from the priests with their baby. The atmosphere was spiritual and energetic. The chanting echoed around the place, and I sat behind Reva and the other attendants.
Suddenly, Nandani turned to me and gestured for me to come over. I tried to avoid attracting anyone’s attention as I approached her. She took my hand and led me to sit behind her.
I wasn’t aware, but in some ways it felt good, and in others it felt terrible keeping such a big secret from her.
Princess Aishwarya and Prince Ranvijay sat behind Ranaji. And I raked my eyes around to look for Kunwar Agastya, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Then suddenly, my gaze landed on him as he walked toward us with Princess Rashmika. He chuckled in response to something she had said, and his eyes met mine. I quickly scanned the room to locate him in his seat. There was only one.
Nandani was busy with the chanting and aahutis31, so I shifted back and cleared the place for them. They both walked closer and took their places behind Nandani.
I looked at Rani-maa playing with her twin grandsons. She looked happy. Although it was hard for her to be separated from King Rajvardhan, they brought light to their lives. It felt as if they had lost one and gained two. Still, no one could take his place in their hearts.
I watched Princess Rashmika smile at Kunwar Agastya, and my heart ached at the sight of her touching his arm.
I didn’t understand how these two could have nothing in common. They seemed happy together. Honestly, Princess Rashmika looked like such a sweet girl; she was beautiful and bubbly.
I couldn’t hear what they were discussing.
That’s when the priest stopped chanting and said,“Now, you can choose a name for the baby. According to the movements of the stars and the time of birth, it is advisable to keep her name starting with‘R’.”
A smile appeared on my face, and I looked at Nandani, turning to Kunwar Agastya with a smile.
“Kya naam socha hai aapne, Devar-sa?”(What do you have in mind?)
His lips widened in a smile, and he suggested,“Daughter of Rudra, Rudraja—fearless, queen of queens, and pride of Suryagarh,” he said, and I could sense how much he loved her already. His voice wavered with emotion.
“Beautiful name,” she said.
I looked at Ranaji, who asked,“Don’t you want your name in her name? I mean, why just mine?”
“It’s a beautiful name, Bhai-sa,” Prince Ranvijay said.
Nandani smiled.“Exactly, it’s a beautiful name, and she already has my name,” she said, and Ranaji furrowed his brows.
Rani-maa added,“Raj from Rajnandani. Moreover, the lineage she carries in her blood is so powerful that she doesn’t need any introduction.”
Nandani nodded, listening to her, and Ranaji nodded, too.
“Alright then, Rudraja—Princess Rudraja—what about Rudrani?” he asked, as the priest shook his head.
“Rudrani can be a name for Rudra’s spouse. Since your name is Rudra, only Princess Nandani can be called Rudrani, not your daughter.”
He nodded, and Kunwar Agastya smiled.“I did my research,”
I couldn’t help but smile. Princess Rudraja was already a blessed and loved child of northern Indira. But no one dared to call her by her name because only Nandani could call Ranaji by his name, and since his name was in her name, no one called her by her name either.
The naming ceremony came to a beautiful end with the distribution of prasaad32to everyone. Everyone was happy and showered the Princess with countless gifts.
Princess Ranvijay and Princess Aishwarya went to oversee the donations for the villagers while I returned to Nandani’s chamber; however, Daadi-sa stopped me midway.
“Suman,” Her smile filled me with dread, and I swallowed nervously.
