She placed her little hands on my chest and tried to push me away, but my eyes were busy staring at her red, plump lips.“Stay away,” she tried to force me away again.
I noticed she was wearing a beautiful yellow dress.
“Nandani, hey, look at me,” I said, staying in the same position, and gently holding her wrist. I removed each of her bangles one by one.
She calmed down a little in the meantime and exclaimed,“I hate you, Rudra!”
I focused on removing her bangles.“Stop, please, these are wedding bangles. I shouldn't take them off until forty-five days of our marriage,” Her voice turned a little soft, but she persistently kept pushing me with her other hand.
“And, I don't want to break them either before forty days,” I removed all the bangles and took off her rings too, doing the same with her other hand. Her henna began to fade with all the work she did.
She looked at me, shaking her head.“Rudra, please, no,”
I looked into her eyes.“I have all the rights, Ranisa. To take off your bangles, every piece of your jewellery, your clothes, everything that covers you and I have more rights too.”
?? ? ? ?
Nandani
Iblushed profusely at his words and snatched my hands away from his hold.
“Apne adhikaaroan ka gyaan hai, aapke kartavyoan ka kya?”(You know just of your rights, what about your duties?) I mumbled, getting off the bed, but he clasped my dupatta. I tried to walk off his clutch, but he held the strings of my blouse.
Not giving up, I tried once more to move away from him, but he seized my wrist and drew me closer to him on the bed.
Seizing me by my waist, he lay me under him, and mouthed,“You want to fight? Come on, let’s fight,” I gave him an angry look.
How could he provoke me?
First, he was out all night without telling me, and now he was trying to make it up to me. He couldn’t just leave and then return, expecting that I would forgive him.
“I don't want to fight, I don't want to talk, I don't want to see your face. Just go away like you did last night,” I gritted, emphasizing every word, and tried to distance myself from him, but he held my wrist, twisting my hand behind my back.
We were mere inches away, and I noticed his eyes falling on my lips. My breathing suddenly turned heavier as he leaned closer.
“No,” I turned my face to the other side, and his face dropped onto my neck.
His breath fanning over my ear made me blink nervously when he murmured,“You're hot when you're angry.” I tried facing him, but he pressed his lips on the skin below my ear.
“Rudra, stop. Go away. How dare you leave the palace without informing me? You could've just told me. I got so worried for you,” my voice turned to a faint whisper by the end, his lips melting into me.
Moving his face away, he slowly muttered,“I’m sorry, Nandani. But it was an emergency,” he said, freeing my hand, and I held his kurta.
“Hum aapse din ka nahi pooch rahe, kintu humein ye baat katai sweekaarya nahi ki aap apni raatein humse door, kahin aur vyateet karein. Aapki raatoan par keval humaara adhikaar hai,”(I’m not asking for your days, but I cannot accept the fact that you'll spend your nights away from me, somewhere else. Only I have the right on your nights), I stated in a firm voice.
His face became serious, and he asked,“Why haven't you eaten?”
“I was angry,” I gulped and muttered in a low tone, looking away.“I’m still angry,” I instantly added, widening my eyes at him. He smiled at my remark, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me closer.
“I’m sorry,” he said. I tried to free myself, but he kept me detained, tightening his hold over me, and made me look at him.“A soldier needed aid. I had to take him to my Guruji. He is one of the best physicians,” He reasoned. My gaze softened, and all my anger melted away, calming my mind.
“How is he now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Letting out a sigh, he shifted a little to my side, weighing on his elbows and replied,“Critical. He has a one-year-old boy and his wife passed away six months ago,” he spoke with a heavy heart,“I'm worried for him, he is a friend to me,” His voice sounded rough and tired.
Inhaling a deep breath, he gently and slowly raised my chin with his fingers so I could meet his eyes. He slowly removed my nose ring and drawled in a low tone,“Kiss me.”
I immediately tried to shove him away, but he held my wrist and twisted my arm behind my back again.