Page 170 of Sumanika

I did not know what to do now.

After putting Ashwait in the stable, I walked through the galleries. The attendees smiled and bowed to me. Officials recognized me and inquired about my well-being.

It was merely a formality; nobody cared about my feelings.

I sighed deeply and walked straight to Bhaisa’s chamber to meet my princess. As I entered the expansive chamber, my steps slowed as if my heart instinctively knew she would be there. I could hear my heart pounding loudly.

Yet, a part of me wanted to meet her, ask if she was okay, and discover if she was feeling better without me.

My heart sank even deeper, and eventually, my heartbeat stopped when I saw her step out of Bhabhisa’s bedroom with Rudraja in her hand. She was smiling, and just seeing her smile caused a grin to appear on my lips out of nowhere.

She looked beautiful, as always, in her simple clothes. There was a fresh glow on her face, and the moment she laughed with Rudraja and wiped Rudraja’s tears, I couldn’t help but bite my lip to keep myself from smiling.

My babies were close to each other.

She didn’t notice me watching her place Rudraja next to her before she sat down to make ladoos. The other attendees saw me and walked away at my signal.

Rudraja squealed, turning her head to me. I grinned. And, as I stepped closer to her, she started laughing.

She turned her head back to the ladoos and picked one up. After tasting it, she smiled at Suman, and I couldn’t help but think how great she was with babies.

As I approached them, Rudraja stood on her feet. She had even pulled her dupatta down—mistakenly—and I couldn’t help but gulp as I gazed at her back, sparkling in the sunlight. A deep black mole on the side of her waist caught my attention.

My lower lip curled inward, pressed between my teeth.

Rudraja fell. Suman chuckled softly. I adored them in silence.

I sat down behind her and looked at Rudraja, who tried to stand up again and look at me. She pulled herself up with the help of Suman’s thighs, back, and arms. She gripped her tiny fingers on Suman’s blouse’s knot.

As she glanced at me, she nearly stumbled again. I gestured for her to grab the string of Suman’s blouse while holding onto the strings of my overcoat.

"Tataaaaattaaaaa," She squealed, asking me in nods. I nodded back and she laughed even more. Suddenly, when she was about to fall again, she pulled the string off her blouse.

I couldn’t control my smile.

Suman flinched and turned to face her. Rudraja laughed, slapping her hands against the floor, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

She may have sensed Suman’s anger as she quickly crawled toward me. I pulled her into my arms and lifted my gaze to look at her shrinkingKaakisa.

Her expression shifted from surprise to shock when her eyes met mine. I froze for a moment, watching the glow of her face fade to pale, and suddenly I heard myBhaisa.

She immediately ran away, and I felt my heart ache.

I tried to stay composed in front of my Bhaisa as he took me to meet the officials of the Kingdom. Rudraja, in my arms, started playing with my face and laughing. But as soon as she spotted herBade Kaakusa, she leaned toward him.

“How are you, Agastya?” Ranvijay Bhaisa asked as he took Rudraja from my hands. We hugged tightly.

“I’m doing well, Bhaisa. How about you?” I asked, and after a while, the layer of formality between us tore away.

I met King Abhinandan, Queen Trisha, and all the guests. After meeting Aishwarya Bhabhisa, I learned that she was expecting. My happiness soared to such heights that I couldn’t help but lift her into my arms. She squealed, and I quickly set her down. She gave my cheek a gentle slap, and I felt like I was on cloud nine.“Finally, another baby; it’ll be a boy, I know,” I said, and she chuckled, shaking her head gently.

"We cannot say yet," she said, and I nodded silently. I asked her how she was doing and watched her play with Rudraja.

Rudraja was everyone's favorite. Her unique quality was that, at such a young age, she knew who her family was. She would reach for her Maamusa, Naani, or grandmother's hand, recognizing everyone. She even knew Eklavya.

The craziest thing about her was that she was trying to call everyone by their names.

I laughed so hard when she attempted to call Bhaisa 'Luuuuullllllll.'

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