Page 122 of Twisted Sins

“Rudra was angry this morning when he found out about yesterday’s fight with the Tadvi heiress. He said you got hurt.”

Nandini was shocked. “It was only a scratch!”

Rumi smiled. “Maybe so. But Rudra wasn’t happy. And people are worried that if you end up cutting your fingers or getting hurt during the tasks, they will be answerable to Rudra.”

The demon was being too overprotective.

She had always rebelled against such overprotectiveness when it came from her brothers. And with the demon, she wasn’t going to be any different. She would give him a piece of her mind when he returned.

But what if he didn’t return? What if my brothers shoot at him again?

The thought once again made her anxious.

Not wanting to return to the tent, she went to meet the seer. She was only able to check on the seer after the fire attack but couldn’t talk as the older woman was resting.

This time, when she entered the seer’s new tent, the old woman wasn’t asleep. The seer was sitting with eyes closed.

Nandini sat across her.

“You fought well,” the seer said with her eyes remaining closed. “Well worthy of being called a Thakvar tigress.”

Nandini realized the seer was referring to the fight with Chaya Tadvi.

“My brothers made sure I learned to fight,” she said.

The seer remained quiet.

Nandini felt uneasy. She didn’t believe in premonitions or destiny, but right then, her fear and insecurity made her want to hear from someone that everything would be okay.

“Rudra went to meet my brothers in the holy land. I… want to know if my brothers and Rudra will be fine… and that there won’t be any fight between them that will lead to a loss of life.”

The seer was silent for a moment before replying.

“No one is allowed to take a life in holy land,” the seer said. “Your brothers and Rudra will comply with those rules.”

Nandini exhaled in relief, listening to that rule. But before she could completely feel relieved, the seer opened her eyes. The old woman’s eyes were rolled up, and only the whites were showing.

A chill passed through Nandini.

“But you won’t comply with that rule,” the seer said in a hypnotic tone.

Nandini was shocked. “What? Whom will I kill?”

The seer began to breathe heavily.

“You will stab Rudra in his heart and watch him die in front of your loved ones.”

Nandini’s heart nearly stopped beating. “No… that’s not true,” she whispered, shaking her head in denial. “Why will I kill Rudra! I know he married me for the fourth alliance and for peace in Singoor!”

The seer didn’t say anything. Her eyes remained open but unseeing.

Nandini stood up on her shaky legs and ran out of the seer’s tent, shocked and upset.

Skandamai is wrong! I won’t kill Rudra.

Her heart thudded as she told herself that premonitions and destiny were not true. But the fear didn’t leave her.

She was too upset and shaken.

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