Page 157 of Sumanika

“How could you, Agastya? I trusted you,” she slapped him three more times, and tears filled my eyes.

He stood silently as she hit his chest with her fists, crying and breaking down, until he grasped her wrists and pulled her into a tight hug.

He placed his hand on her head as she broke into sobs.

My heart broke, noticing tears in his eyes. They loved each other.

“I hate you; I hate you so much. Why? They’re my family,” she cried louder, and he spoke slowly.

“They’re alive, Rashmika. I didn’t harm them,” he said. She pulled back and looked at him. He cupped her cheek with his wounded hand, saying,“They’re safe.” He kissed her forehead, consoling her, calming her down.

She cried even more and heard her; Princess Rudraja wept.

Princess Aishwarya stepped forward to him. He bent down and touched her feet.“At least hold her in your arms for once. I’m sure you two share some connection,” she said, and he chuckled as he looked at the Princess in her hands.

She began crying even louder, and he nodded.

I chuckled when he rubbed his hand clean on his clothes before carefully holding her in his arms, bringing her closer to his chest.

She cried momentarily, and when he kissed her head, she stopped.

I swallowed hard, standing completely immobile.

Nandani stepped forward to him, and he smiled at her before bending down to touch her feet, too. She encircled her fists on either side of his head before pressing them to the sides of her forehead and shielding him from evil eyes.

"Ishwar kare ki jindagi ke har yudh me aapki Vijay ho, Devarsa,"“May you win every battle in your life, Devarsa,” she said, and I broke into quiet sobs, watching him nod and move forward.

And his eyes met mine.

When our eyes met, my heartbeat slowed. My body froze, and my lashes stilled as he stared deeply into my eyes. For a moment, everything disappeared except his tired, hazy, dark green orbs. But my heart sank into a darker pit as his smile faltered, and he looked away.

Pain waves coursed through my heart as if I had smashed into a mountain.

He silently walked away, his feet trembling. I was lost—into him, by him, through and through—and an ache built in my knees, freezing me to the ground and swallowing me in.

Everyone followed him, and I couldn’t stop, either.

Everyone was busy celebrating his arrival, but I returned to the kitchen, thinking he must have been hungry.

My mind had stopped functioning. What if something had happened to him? What if he didn’t come back?

I shook my head, trying to dispel the dark thoughts, and prepared his lunch.

He was just tired. We'd talk alone, and I knew him well. He wasn’t angry—just worn out.

I nodded, grabbed the plate for his lunch, and hurried toward his chamber. A proud smile crept onto my face.

He had won a kingdom and a war, burdens that weighed heavily on his shoulders. My heart raced as I took the final turn toward his chamber.

But suddenly, the soldiers at the entrance crossed their spears before me, and I frowned in confusion."Hume andar jaane dijiye, Kunwarsa ke liye bhojan laaye hai,""Let me go inside; I have brought lunch for Kunwarsa," I exclaimed.

"No, Kunwarsa has instructed us not to let anyone inside.”

"Aap unse jakar kahiye to sahi ki hum aaye hain bhojan lekar, vo thake hue honge,"“Please let him know I brought lunch; he must be tired,” My voice now broke, fingers weakening around the heavy metal.

"He gave us strict orders not to let anyone inside," but they stood rigid on their grounds.

“At least tell him once; he will let me in.” I insisted again with my drying throat—nervousness built in me.

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