Page 43 of Sumanika

“Shut up,” he whispered; a victorious smile remained on my face as we walked into the kitchen together.

As soon as we stepped through the door, we became strangers again.

I noticed him reverting to a serious demeanor. He asked everyone to pay attention before lecturing them about the sweets they needed to prepare. It was early morning, and no one had gotten any rest, not even for a moment. It felt like a festival in the kingdom.

"Suno,"“Listen,” he called, as always.

I didn’t know why, but I remembered him whenever anyone called me‘Suno.’

“Ji,” I replied, watching him animatedly count on his fingers.

“800 tons of gram flour for laddus?" he asked, furrowing his brows. I lowered my gaze, recalling that during Ranaji's coronation ceremony, we had ordered 200 tons of gram flour to accommodate all the kingdoms. This time, the feast would encompass six times as many people as the last one: the entire villages and Kingdoms.

I suggested,“One hundred nine villages will be invited, so I think we should plan for 1,500 tons,“

He noted this down with the help of an assistant who wrote everything.

“And dry fruits?” he asked, and I calculated the amounts of dried fruits while assisting him with the details.“10 tons of cardamom, 150 tons of almonds, 150 tons of peanuts…” I said, and he widened his eyes at me when I finished.

“I thoughtladooslooked smaller,” he remarked, making me chuckle softly. I shook my head.“Yes, only if a small group is eating, but not if the people from one hundred and nine villages are going to feast,” I replied.

He smiled.“You’re so smart. I thought you’d be dumb,”

I inhaled deeply.“I’m glad to hear about the changes in your perspective regarding me,” I murmured, and he stared deeply into my eyes for a few moments before responding in a similarly slow tone.“Want to know about any other changes?” he asked.

I sighed, rolled my eyes, and returned to assigning everyone their duties for the day.

Finally, when I finished, I told all the attendees to take a break since no one had slept.

However, I realized Nandani had welcomed her daughter, and we still hadn’t had the sweets.

I watched Prince Agastya leave with a few cooks and attendees toward the storeroom while I took out the pot to make theKheer(Sweet dish).

I tried to avoid looking at the fire. I selected the small stove to prepare the meal for the family. After boiling the rice, I made the Kheer and garnished it with dried fruits. I served five bowls for Ranaji, Nandani, Prince Ranvijay, Princess Aishwarya, and, of course, the youngest Prince, Kunwar Agastya.

I walked into Nandani’s chamber and noticed her sitting with Princess Aishwarya. The baby struggled to latch onto her nipple. She looked hungry, but it seemed difficult for the little princess to grasp her mother’s nipple.

Nandani raised her eyes and watched me approach the plate.

“Since it’s a celebration, we shouldn’t set the sweets aside,” I said, smiling. Princess Aishwarya stood up.“I will take the first bite,” she said excitedly as she picked up the bowl.

I smiled at her, sat beside Nandani, and looked at the baby. Seeing her made me feel I would never experience the feeling of holding my baby in my arms.

Some things are not meant for you.

“She is struggling,” I mumbled, and Nandani nodded, lifting her gaze to meet mine.

“She is. Here, Suman, take your baby in your arms, too. You cared for her better than I did to bring her into this world,” she said as she placed the baby in my hands.

The baby opened her eyes and looked at me, distressed, which made me chuckle.“She craves your scent, Nandani. Children recognize the smell of mother from the womb and seek it immediately after birth,” I said, leaning in to kiss her forehead.“May God bless her with all the greatness and love a girl deserves,” I added, returning her to Nandani.

Nandani once again put the nipple in her mouth and pressed her breasts, as the physician had taught her. Once the baby started tasting, she learned. I smiled, and a tear of joy rolled down my cheek.

"You should rest now, Jiji," Princess Aishwarya said, and Nandani nodded.“I’ll take the bowl for Hukum,” she added, taking one more bowl. I smiled at her as she left.

I set out another bowl for Ranaji next to Nandani’s on the bed and said,“I’ll send Ranaji in.”

Nandani smiled and nodded.“And you should rest too, now,” she said, and I leaned in to kiss her forehead.“You need rest, Ranisa,” I reminded her. She chuckled, realizing the deeper meaning behind my calling her by her title.

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