Page 74 of Sumanika

Honestly, I had never taken a bath like royalty. But Daadisa was a sweetheart; she liked to see women happy.

I stepped outside and noticed an attendee approaching me, touching my braid. She unbraided my hair, letting it fall loose down to my hips. The loose curls danced against the side of my face, making me feel unexpectedly shy.

I just wanted it to be wrapped up quickly so he wouldn’t even discover it. His teasing made it clear he would get mad.

I walked toward the pool with the attendees and stepped inside. They asked me to sit comfortably, but I felt uncomfortable.

Guests filled the Kingdom. A lot of work was pending, a feast was underway, the villagers were lined up to receive donations, and here I was, experiencing the princess’s treatment to marry again.

I exhaled deeply. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Should I just tell Daadisa that I couldn’t get married?

However, she would ask me why.

I didn’t really know why. I mean, from her point of view, she was doing the right thing by settling down a woman with a good man so they could spend time together, start a family, and be happy. But what she didn’t know was how eventful this woman’s life was.

I couldn’t believe that I was technically married to Prince Agatya, and no one except Commander Eklavya knew about it. Now, he was marrying Princess Rashmika, and I was seeing another man.

I sighed in frustration when an attendee caught my attention.

"Are you okay?"

I gulped and nodded silently, closing my eyes to feel whatever was happening to me. They began applying the cold paste that sent a shiver down my body. When I opened my eyes, I saw them rubbing the half-dry paste against my skin. They were cleaning the hair off my hands.

I felt the pain intensifying throughout the process and groaned a little. I had been doing this to Nandani, but experiencing it myself was incredibly different and more painful.

My skin turned red from it, and I tried to ask,“Is this necessary?”

One of them nodded and replied,“Yes, Daadisa asked us to take our time and help you get ready like a bride.”

I gritted my teeth a little. I could not believe it.

After they finished with my hand, they asked me to sit on the edge of the pool so they could do the same to my legs.

It felt even more painful on it.

And then came the most embarrassing and surprising event.

“Open your legs wider,” one of them said, and my eyes widened in shock.

"What? Why?"

"To clean you. It looks like a forest," one of them said, and a wave of laughter ran through us.

I couldn’t believe how Nandani was okay with letting them do that every two or three months. She didn’t like body hair much; she always felt uncomfortable with it.

I sucked on my lower lip and tried to ask. "Is it necessary?"

“You haven’t done it before?” one of them asked. I shook my head, and she continued,“You’re beginning a new phase of your life. Some experiences only happen a few times. You should make them special.”

Her words didn’t make me feel good, but I nodded my head in confusion.

I parted my legs more expansive, and one used a neem stick to apply some paste on my skin. It burnt a little and then she waited for it to get dry. When it got thick and dry, she looked at me and said. "Look at there,"

I gulped with fear and turned my gaze away. I knew what was about to happen. She pulled the dried-up paste with a single and quick move, and my body went on fire with the unbearable burning pain. I immediately pressed my thighs together and groaned louder.

"Urgghhhhh,"

They giggled, and I couldn’t help but smile too. Why on earth was I even doing that?

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