Page 232 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“You’re stupid!” she scolded, half-frustrated, half-amused.

I grinned and gently placed her feet back on my knees, unhooking the heavy anklets carefully with my teeth. She giggled at the gesture.

“Honestly,” she said between her laughter,“I didn’t know you could be this romantic,”

“Neither did I,” I admitted, smiling.

She leaned forward a little, helping tighten the hook of her new anklets. Her cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of pink. She playfully tapped my cheek with her foot, making me laugh quietly.

I took her other ankle and repeated the process.

“You should change your kurta,” she said, noticing the red stains.“It won't look good if you roam around the palace with your wife's Mahavar imprinted on you,”

I chuckled and nodded, pretending to agree, though I had no intention of removing it.

Just then, another knock came at the door.“Ranisa,” an attendant called.

“Yes?” Nandani answered.

“Ranisa, your family has arrived,” the attendant informed.

She immediately stood up from the chair, her face lighting up with pure excitement.“Really?!” she exclaimed, looking at me with sparkling eyes.“Rudra, Maasa and Baapusa are here!”

I smiled at her wide, innocent happiness and nodded.

She laughed joyfully and rushed out of the room. I glanced at the mirror one last time, my eyes falling on the bright red imprint on my chest. I smiled. It looked... perfect.

I followed her out and quickly checked the arrangements in the guest chambers. This was her family’s first visit to Suryagarh, and Iwanted everything to be perfect—no complaints.

After a few moments of briefing the staff, I walked toward the main entrance.

There, my sight fell on Nandani, hugging her mother tightly, her face glowing with love and emotion. I smiled warmly at the sight.

“There he is,” her father’s voice said faintly.

Everyone—Nandani, Ranvijay, Agastya—turned toward me. Their expressions shifted into surprise.

I walked forward and stood beside Nandani, joining my hands respectfully.

“Pranam, Rajaji,” I said.

Her father chuckled, and I smiled as I bent forward to touch his feet, but he stopped me midway, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“We should hug Rana Rudra Dev Singh,” he said with pride shining in his eyes, pulling me into a firm hug. I returned it with warmth.

I then touched Daadisa's feet. She smiled, blessing me with a hand on my head.

“God bless you, Rudra,” she said, and I smiled as she made a gesture of warding off evil.

“Last time you forgot to give me that thing, you know?” she started.“I’ve been feeling a lot of pain in my body. Can you show me Ra—”

“Daadisaaaa!” Nandani interrupted loudly, rushing to hug her grandmother, cutting her off.

“I missed you so much, Daadisa,” she cried feigningly, pressing her face against her shoulder.

Everyone stared at her in confusion, and I laughed.“She’s lying,” I teased. I bent to touch her mother's feet, receiving her blessings warmly. Next, I spotted Abhinandan standing beside his father.

“Abhi!” I called out excitedly, moving toward him.

---