Page 101 of Sumanika

She turned to look at me, then back at him.

“What’s on your lips?” she asked, and I quickly wrapped my shawl around myself. He bit his lip, and she glanced back at me.

"Suman, did you do that?" she asked, surprised, and I shook my head innocently.

"Why would I?" My voice trembled, and she inhaled deeply, walking toward the couch. She sat down and shook her head.

“I can’t believe this was happening right under my nose in this kingdom.”

He stepped forward and shook his head.

“No, Bhabhisa,” he paused before continuing,“Actually, our chambers are in a line, so it wasn’t happening right under your nose, but technically beside your nose,”

Nandani’s eyes blazed with rage as she hurled a couch pillow directly at his face.“Shut up!”

“What? I’m just correcting you!” he said, chuckling slightly.

“Leave him alone, Suman. Can you tell me what’s happening? What are you doing in his room so late at night?” she asked, and I lowered my gaze in shame.

I couldn’t help but say,“I’m sorry.” My voice broke as she quickly stood up from the couch and walked toward me.

"How dare you?" She raised her hand, but before she could touch me, he stepped in and muttered,

"Don't you dare, Bhabhisa." The anger in his voice was evident, though the pitch stayed low.

“Are you out of your mind, Agastya? This is cheating. You’re going to marry Rashmika in a few months. The friendship between Mehrangarh and Suryagarh relies on this alliance. And she was sleeping with you-“

“She was sleeping with her husband!” he interrupted, and I shut my eyes, allowing tears to flow down my cheeks.

“I’m really sorry,” I whispered softly.

“What?” Nandani asked in a slow, shocked voice. Her feet trembled slightly as he stepped forward.

“Be careful,” he said, holding her, but she shot him an intense, glare.

“What do you mean she was sleeping with her husband? What the hell is happening here? And what are you two up to?” she asked, and I broke down in tears.

"I'm sorry, Nanda-,"

“You heard that right, Bhabhisa. She was sleeping with her husband, who is me. We were just cuddling, and yes, of course, a few kisses—nothing more,” he said, and she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. He wasn’t helping her.

“I’m not asking for details, Agastya,” she gritted her teeth in anger.

“Suman, what’s happening here?” she asked, turning her gaze toward me. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke.“Did he force you to do something? Are you opposed to it? Did he ask for your consent?” Her voice broke, and I knelt before her, nodding.

“Yes, I know what I was doing,” I managed to reply.

She sighed deeply and palmed her face. "My brother-in-law and my sister are like best friends? Seriously? Do you two not care about what people will say? The cast is different, and the statuses are worlds apart. Our kingdom would be nothing but a joke. This is what your father did, Agastya, and this is what you are doing. You are using her," she said, looking at him while holding my hand.

His face flushed upon hearing this, and he lowered his gaze.

"No, he is not using me, Nandani. Stop hurting him," I couldn't help but say.

She turned her shocked gaze to me, and I let fresh tears fall from my eyes.

"I didn’t tell you something," I said, turning my gaze to look at him. He nodded silently, and I looked back at her.

My voice broke as I began, "When my husband died, the old one..."

---