Page 34 of Sumanika

I cut him off.“It’s not what I think. My reality is different, and I can’t be with—”

“Why?” he asked, gulping.

I gazed up shakily into his eyes.“I am a…” My words hung in my throat as I slowly drowned into the intense, wild waves of the green ocean that surrounded me, swallowed me, and added a layer of hope. No!

“I am a widow,” I finished. Hope was the last thing I should have, or lives would be burnt.

“Seriously?” he asked, his gaze dropping to my lips.

I reminded him,“I should stay away from celebrations, colors, pregnant women, and marital rituals—”

He cut me off.“Happiness,”

I gulped, feeling weak in my knees. His intense gaze warmed my cheeks.“Happiness,” my voice came out shaky.

His gaze fell to my bare feet before returning to my eyes. I blinked nervously, and my entire body shivered when his elbow bolted the plate of colors. It slammed to the ground with a metallic clang, splattering colors across my face, shoulders, arms, and clothes. I shut my eyes in fear.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” he exclaimed, prompting me to open my eyes and notice a few splatters on his jaw and a broad smile.“I’ll clean it!” He chuckled, hurrying his palm closer to my cheek, but I instantly pushed him away, letting a tear roll down my cheek, and walked away.

He was playing with me.

But before I could go far, he held my hand, stopping me. His grip glided from my wrist to my hand, smudging the red between our palms.

I looked back at him. His gaze softened as he said.“I will be responsible if anything happens to anyone in your presence.”

Inhaling a deep breath, I struggled to pull my hand from his.“I can’t take risks with anyone’s life,” I replied slowly.

He gulped, tightening his hold on my hand, and pulled me closer to him. I almost jumped, crashing into his chest.“Nothing happened to me.”

“Should I wait for something to happen to you?” I asked, letting another tear fall. He was making it hard for me. I wanted him to go, but I also wanted him to stay.

“What will happen to me?” he asked.

I inhaled sharply, shaking my head.“Anything can happen to you. Didn’t you hear, the man who married…” I halted, my tongue unable to roll out the following words. I couldn’t even imagine anything happening to him.

“What?” he asked. I didn’t know why he wanted to hear things from my mouth; I didn’t want to say.

“I am inauspicious now,” I made it simpler.

A smile lingered on his face.“If I touch you, will something bad happen to me?” he asked. I stood frozen under his intense gaze. My brows furrowed as he placed his palm on my cheek, his long fingers gliding down to my ears, almost reaching my neck, with his thumb gently brushing over my cheekbone.

“Nothing happened,” he stated after a brief silence.

My heart raced. His cologne wrapped around me, and his words spun my world.

What was I doing?

No!

No. This was wrong.

What was he doing here? He shouldn’t be here.

I immediately pushed him away. Overwhelming tears streamed down my face as I noticed the red color on his fingers. He couldn’t do this to me.

I couldn’t do this to him.

He stood, shocked, as waves of reality visibly washed over his face. I shook my head before running away to my room.

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