Page 100 of Sumanika

I folded my arms and asked,“What do you mean by that?”

He bit his lips.“Ahh, it hurts,” he complained slowly, then turned to me.

“You’re acting like a mother, Suman,” he said, and I took a deep breath out of frustration.

He gazed at me silently for a moment before saying,“Okay, we should do something about this.” He got off the bed and walked closer to me, pulling me in and looking into my eyes. He was tall, and his veiny hand could wrap around a quarter of my arm whenever he held it.

"What?” I asked.

"Agastya,"

Suddenly, we heard Nandani’s voice, and we exchanged confused glances. Fear coursed through my veins as he stepped toward me when the curtains in his bedroom opened. A strange silence followed, and I could feel my palms sweating with anxiety. If Nandani found out, we would be done for.

“Agastya,” I heard Nandani let out a deep sigh, the sound of her anklet bells echoing in the bedroom as she came closer.

“Ji, Bhabhisa,” his voice sounded frightened as she suddenly asked,“Who is behind you?” Her words sent a chilling shiver down my spine, as if I had been struck by a mountain. He let out a small laugh.

“No one, Bhabhisa, hahahaha,” I heard her bangles clink as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“What? Hahaha! Who are you hiding from?” she asked, and he laughed again.

“Hahaha, it’s early morning; you must be hallucinating. You know that darkness is the time for ghosts, and you s-,”

“Just step aside,” she shouted at me, and I gasped when I saw Nandani standing before me, utterly stunned.

"Suman," her eyes widened in disbelief, and I could only cover my face with my palm and shake my head.

"No, I am not Suman. I am Bala... Rekha... Raveena..."

“What on earth are you doing here?” She placed her hand on her forehead.

"Agastya?"

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, his palm covering his mouth, and suddenly he said,“Ummm, nothing, she… ummm, she just… ummm, she just came to wake me up.”

A sharp slap followed from Nandani to his bicep.

"Aaauuuchhhhhh!"

"In your shawl?" she yelled at him.

“Nandani,” I tried to say, but her piercing gaze fixed on me.

“What? What the hell is happening between you two?” she shouted, and I shook my head in fear.

"Nothing."

“Do I look blind to you?” she demanded, locking eyes with me as he chimed in from behind,“Maybe.”

She turned to him instantly.

“What? What the hell did you say?” she yelled as he ran his fingers through his hair and replied,“I don’t know how you see Suman. No one is here. You’re clearly hallucinating. Maybe this is your dream. Wake up, Bhabhisa, wake up.” He said this as I lowered my gaze and shook my head

I couldn't believe it.

Nandani palmed her face in disbelief.“Seriously, Agastya? I gave birth a week ago, but I’m not mad. How can you even…?”

She gasped. "Wait a moment!"

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