Page 131 of Sumanika

Kunwarsa hadn’t cheated on me; he hadn’t even looked at another woman since me and had shared everything about his past, yet it still hurt. Something was happening inside me; it felt as if history would repeat itself, like another, even more brutal pain was waiting for me. I didn’t know how to trust him. What if he slept with another woman again for information? What if he fell in love with someone else and returned to a brothel

What if I couldn’t please him like I couldn’t please my husband?

I shook my head and wiped away my tears. A headache started to form, so I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself.

I didn’t know what to do.

I wasn’t sure when I fell asleep.

I woke up to the sounds of daily chaos and the tinkling anklet bells of attendees rushing through the galleries.

My eyes flew open, and I quickly ran to take a bath and freshen up. I was already late.

I hurriedly bathed, changed into a regular outfit, and headed to Nandani's chamber. The sun was shining directly overhead, and my head throbbed.

The conversation we’d had last night kept replaying in my mind.

I entered Nandani's chamber and saw her sitting with Ranaji on the couch. She noticed me and turned back.

"Pranam, Ranaji and Ranisa," I said, placing my hands together, and she smiled at me.

"How are you?"

She asked, and I gulped silently, nodding as I tried to respond.

"I’m good," I finally said.

I watched them having lunch as she continued, "The sunlight is nice today. I’m planning to give Rudraja a bath. Can you give her an oil massage? She’s outside with her Kaakusa."

My brows furrowed slightly, but I nodded.

"Okay," I replied.

I walked away and asked an attendee to bring me the baby massage oil before heading to the meeting area where the baby was enjoying her sunbath.

I saw the princess lying on the carpet, wrapped in her baby comforter and velvet outfit, with Kunwar Agastya hovering over her and talking to her

"Aoooouuuuuhhhhhhhhhh, my baby," I heard him exclaim, and the princess squealed, reaching for his face.

Lowering my gaze, I walked towards him silently, and suddenly he lifted his gaze, noticing me, and murmured,

"Kaisi ho?"

"How are you?"

His gaze softened as he looked at me. I knelt to place the massage oil beside him, trying not to meet his eyes.

"Good," I replied softly, remaining silent.

There was a slight uneasiness between us, and I couldn’t understand why I felt different. Why did I feel trapped?

I had happily lived the last seven years without a man, and suddenly this man was making me feel everything I had feared feeling.

"Nandani asked me to massage the princess," I murmured, and he inhaled deeply, shifting a little away from her.

"Oh, okay," he said.

I silently gulped as I looked at the princess, who smiled at me.

---