Page 70 of Sumanika

"Well, it’s pretty evident on your face," his words made me cup my cheeks, and I shook my head.

"No."

Then he moved closer to me. "Yes."

I shook my head, leaning back against the armrest of the couch. "No."

He hovered over me, and I quickly placed my hand on his chest. "Yes," I tried to say.

"Agastya," but suddenly a deep voice caught my attention. I turned to see the head commander of our army parting the curtains and looking at us.

His face turned bright red, and he fumbled.

"Oh... umm, sorry, I should... uh, come back."

I turned to see his annoyed expression.

"You already spoiled it, Eklavya," he said.

He sat back, and I immediately stood up, placing the dupatta on my head. I watched him walk in and bow slightly with a smile. "Pranam, Sum... umm, I mean, Bhabhisa," his words made my cheeks flush, and I quickly walked past him, rushing back to my chamber. My heart raced that night. Everything that happened clouded my mind the whole evening. The image of him, the memory of me sitting in his lap, swaying my hips against him, feeling his intense warmth—it was overwhelming. I couldn’t sleep properly because I felt hot all night.

I woke up in the morning and returned to my work, trying to act as if nothing had happened the night before. "How are you?" Nandani asked as I walked to her chamber. She was now walking, holding the baby in her arms.

"I should be the one asking you that," I said, motioning for the attendees to start cleaning her chamber as I approached her. "How is the little princess doing now?"

I looked at her sleeping peacefully in her mother's arms, and I couldn't help but smile widely at her.

"She’s having a hard time adjusting to her father’s rough hands, which feel like bricks to her compared to her mother's," Nandani said, and I suddenly chuckled.

"Who has brick hands?" I heard Ranaji abruptly enter the chamber, walking closer to her. I instinctively took a step back.

"She said you do," Nandani replied, slowly handing the baby to him. I watched the smile on Ranaji's face as he cradled her in his arms. I would bet that everything paled in comparison to this feeling for him.

"Suman, I really need to take a bath," she said, catching my attention, and I nodded. "Okay, I’ll get your water prepared."

She nodded and suddenly pulled me aside. "Come here." My eyes widened in slight shock as I looked at her with confusion.

"Did you see Rashmika?" she asked, and I shook my head slightly.

"Why?" I asked.

She sighed deeply. "I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about her. You weren’t here when Aishwarya and I met her. She seemed so disoriented around us. I mean, what kind of princess doesn’t want to know about her husband's family and kingdom?"

She said, and I furrowed my brows.

"What? Really?" I tried to pretend, but it was an excellent opportunity to tease her about Rashmika potentially not being a good person.

"Yes, I don’t know, maybe it was her first time. And what kind of princess visits her in-laws before the wedding? It’s not our tradition," she said, and I shook my head.

"I don’t know what to make of it," I replied. "But I can keep an eye on her if you want."

She nodded immediately. "That would be perfect. You know, I could even tell Aishwarya about this," she said, to which I asked slowly, "But why?"

"I don’t know, she doesn’t seem very perceptive when it comes to reading faces," Nandani said, looking at me.

"And you think I am?" I asked back.

She nodded. "You understand me and my mind," she said, and I chuckled.

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