Page 37 of Sumanika

“I’m not blushing,” I shot back, feeling his face move closer to the side of my neck as his dangerously sensual voice dripped from his lips.“You are.” His words stirred a warmth deep within me.“Your cheeks have a rosy tint, and your lips… resemble a freshly sliced… berry.”

I was unsure why I felt hot around him. Gulping nervously and blinking, helplessly, I replied.“I’m not, Kunwar Agastya.”

“Really?” he asked, bringing his hand around my waist.

Why was he doing this to me?

The back of my head rested against his chest, my brows furrowing, lips parting, and eyelashes growing heavier as his rough, large, tanned fingers brushed the bare side of my waist.

Feeling the tickling touch of his finger, the hair on my body stood on end in anticipation. His fingers slowly traveled along the curve of my waist, reaching my navel.

I exhaled deeply.

The words caught in my throat, and my eyes closed tightly from the manly touch that had never felt this comforting and tender before. I sensed his lips drawing near to my ear, pulling me back to reality in an instant.“Hence, proved, half wife,” he drawled.

I quickly pushed his wrist away from my waist. He chuckled softly, and I couldn’t help but exclaim in a single breath.“Please leave me; Nandani is in labor. Ranaji asked you to write a letter to Mahableshgarh. That’s the only reason I came here.”

“What?” He tilted his head to the side and asked me with a broad smile,“What did you say?” He inquired cheerfully and moved the dagger away from my neck. I quickly touched my neck with shaking fingers and took a few hurried steps back from him.

Tears welled in my eyes. He stood half-naked, and I shook my head, mentally screaming at myself to indulge his foolish adventures.

“Ranaji asked me to tell you to write a letter to Mahableshgarh,” I repeated, stepping away from him before running off.

It couldn’t happen. No.

I couldn’t feel that way about him.

I shouldn’t have gone there.

I hurried back to Nandani’s chamber and found her lying on the bed, the curtains drawn, her loud, agonizing screams echoing through the chamber.

"Aaaaahhhhhhh," she screamed in pain, and I glanced at the physicians beside her.

“When will she be able to deliver?” Ranaji asked, worry evident in his eyes. I turned to the physicians for their response.“The baby’s feet are on the left, while the head is on the right. We need to wait until his head moves down.”

Ranaji inhaled deeply and gently stroked Nandani’s head.“Until then, will she endure the pain?” he asked, and the physicians nodded.“Yes, we will have to wait until the child turns around.”

“Aahhhhhhhhhhh,” she screamed even louder, and I walked toward her with trembling steps. I held her hand. She looked at me.

"Sumannnnnnn," she burst into painful cries, and I attempted to caress her hand with my shaky fingers.

“It’s alright, it’s alright, just calm down,” I attempted to say. She breathed in deeply, her chest rising and falling.

“We should have her change her clothes first,” the physician said, and I quickly responded.“I’ll find something loose for her to wear.”

I got out of bed and rushed to her dressing room. As I searched through her trunks, I found the gown she needed and brought it back to the bedroom.

“Jiji,” Princess Aishwarya called out, dashing into the bedroom. She adjusted the dupatta on her head, noticing Ranaji, and settled onto the bed beside me.

Ranaji left Nandani’s hand, saying,“I will be back.”

She nodded at him. Princess Aishwarya and I helped her sit up. She groaned in pain as we removed her jewelry and other belongings. Princess Aishwarya untied the strings of Nandani’s blouse while I pulled the strings of her skirt.

I assisted her in putting on the gown before she lay back on the bed.

Her screams persisted until midnight. We tried to feed her, but she was too weak to eat. However, Ranaji insisted she consume something while the physicians worked to reposition the baby in her womb.

"Get warm water," the physician instructed. I immediately stepped off the bed and hurried to the kitchen. It was late at night, and no one was around.

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