Page 9 of Sumanika

I timidly lowered my gaze and shook my head.“No, not my own,” I said, biting my lower lip.

He asked.“Then who are these lent ones?”

A smile dared to appear on my face.“Teenagers of my late husband and his late wives,”

He raised his brows with a smile.“Wives?”

I nodded.“Three.”

"All dead?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Interesting man," his smile broadened, adding after a brief pause,“I’m glad he’s dead.”

A soft chuckle escaped my lips.

“That’s why you didn’t like him.” He asked.

I shook my head, gazing at him and replying,“I didn’t have any issues with the past, but he was with me for only three months before leaving for another woman, claiming that I am not good… I mean, he said… there’s something wrong with me… that I’m not a… good… woman for a man.” The last few words came out hesitantly, and he exhaled deeply, looking away.

“Sorry…can’t relate. I was born a man,” he spoke, causing me to lower my gaze. Of course, he was a man. A True Man.

There was a long pause, and suddenly, he asked in a soft voice, "So, you haven’t been... touched... I mean... for the last sev-,”

I gulped, shaking my head, lowering my gaze, feeling warmth in my cheeks and mousiness. This conversation didn’t seem normal at all.

“And you never wanted to...? I mean...” he paused, curiosity clear in his voice, and I shook my head in response.

“Married women are not allowed to...”

He chuckled softly, shaking his head.“Then you haven’t met many,” he said.

I hadn’t. But his words twisted my stomach, and I looked at him.

“You’re getting married in just six months…you should stop meeting so many women now. Women appreciate loyalty.” I couldn’t stop myself from saying.

His eyes darkened.

I felt fear run deep in my bones. A soft nod followed by him,“Don’t worry, you’ll never come in many.” His words crushed my gut. I immediately shook my head,“I didn’t mean th—”

“And I don’t have much experience with women,” he cut me off, pulling out a golden-brown sheathed dagger from behind him,“It has...”

A shiver ran down my spine.“You’ve killed women!”

He chuckled softly, lying on the floor, covering his face with a small cotton cloth, and adding,“Let me know if you ever want to get killed too. I’ll gladly assert my rights.”

I furrowed my brows, unable to comprehend what he meant. Why would I ask him to kill me when he had just saved me? I ignored him, lay in my corner, covered myself with my dupatta, and tried to fall asleep.

I woke up with chilling shivers coursing through my body and in the same place. My gaze immediately found him gone, racing my heart.

Standing up and placing the dupatta over my head, I approached the door. But before I could even touch it, it pushed open, revealing his towering figure.

I instinctively stepped back, watching him lower his head to enter the cottage.

“Where did you go?” I asked, unaware of my loud voice. He furrowed his brows, looked down at the floor as if searching for something, and then spoke.

"Sirf praan bachane ke liye maang bhari thi, patni nahi ho hamari."“I only filled your parting to save you; you are not my wife,” his voice was dry, and I immediately covered.

“I know, I know, Kunwarsa. I just got scared of being alone. I’m sorry.”

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