Page 137 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Bhabhi-sa, you’ll never catch me!” he taunted. I narrowed my eyes, ready to launch at him again, before my eyes landed on Ranaji and Ranvijay, standing beside my father.

Rudra gave me a blank look, while Ranvijay looked utterly shocked, his mouth slightly open.

Oh no! I wasn’t a child anymore. I was the queen.

I quickly pulled my dupatta over my head, which had slipped off during my chaotic chase, and stood there, shy, shrinking into the moment.

But suddenly.“Bhabhisa, pakad liye humne, aap lagaiye inhe rang,”(Bhabhisa, I have caught him, now colour him.)

I looked at Ranvijay, who had caught Agastya by the hand from behind, and Agastya yelled,“Bhaisa, this is all cheating!”

A wide smile spread across my face instantly, and I ran to the table and grabbed two plates of different colors. Without wasting a second, I hurled the yellow colour at him, covering him from head to toe.

Trying to escape, he almost crouched to the floor, but I was faster. I emptied another plate of green colour right onto his head, turning all his hair bright green, and laughed loudly.

“Ek varsh tak saari baatein maanenge ab aap humaari,”(Now, you will obey everything I will say for one year.) I said, and he looked at Ranvijay.

“Bhaisa, Aap bhi na,”(Bhaisa, you.) he whined and stood up to dust the colour off his white kurta.

I smiled, but suddenly the voice of my grandmother caught my attention.

“Ye kya Nandani, sawere-sawere shuru ho gayi…”(Nandani, what is this? You started early in the morning…) She scolded, making a face at me.

I looked at her and my mother, standing beside him and said,“Daadi-sa, hum nahi ye Abhinan…”(Daadi-sa, it’s not me, it’s Abhinan…) I stopped midway, realising what I had said.

My heart instantly sank the moment I realized it wasn’t Abhinandan. He wasn’t here, and my smile vanished at once.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I tried not to let them fall.

Baapusa stepped closer and immediately pulled me into a tight hug.“Prince Agastya is also like our Abhinandan, Nandani,” he said, trying to comfort me, and I closed my eyes, hiding my face in his chest.

“He’s okay. He’s doing well. I’m keeping an eye on him through our secret agents,” he assured me gently. I nodded faintly.“Don’t worry. He’ll soon understand everything,” he said, patting my head softly.

“Abhinandan ki chinta mat karo Nandani, wo theek hai. Humein patra likhta rehta hai,(Don’t worry about Abhinandan, Nandani, he is doing well. He keeps writing me letters.) Daadisa said, walking closer, and I released the hug.

“Lekin humaari chinta to karni padegi,” (But you have to worry about me.) She said dramatically and brought her colour-filled hands to me, rubbing them against my cheeks gently.

I chuckled weakly and exclaimed,“Daadisa! You too!” She laughed, and suddenly, my father threw colour at me.

“And me as well!” he said, laughing with joy, and I burst into laughter.

“A very happy Holi, Nandani,” he said warmly, his eyes twinkling. I looked at myself, all covered in colours, and he smiled at me, then added gently,“You all must enjoy. Rudra and I have something to talk about.”

I looked at Rudra, who was looking at me. A small smile played on his lips, and I instinctively lowered my gaze, suddenly shy.

I gave a slight nod and watched them both walk away.

?? ? ? ?

? Rudra ?

She ran after Agastya, and I just smiled, feeling ecstatic to see her like that again.

Once she left, I stepped into the bathroom and quickly refreshed myself. I took a quick bath and finished my morning routine.

Just as I came out, I saw Ranvijay waiting for me.“Here it is,” he said, handing over the extra pairs of clothes I had asked him to bring yesterday.

I changed into a fresh white kurta and ran my fingers through my damp hair. And just as I was ready, my eyes caught her father entering the chamber with a few officials.

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