'But what about Rudra bhaisa? He'll be heartbroken if this marriage is called off, this is the first time he's ever decided to chase a woman..' another voice said.
Arya was in a state of conflict. She didn't know who to support. Rudra's feelings or Kaya's rebellion towards those...
....
Arya did not even realise but she was already downstairs and only came out of her thoughts when she bumped into someone.
"Ouchhw...princesss" Kaya rubbed her forehead as Arya did the same.
"I'm sorry, Are you hurt?" Arya examined her temple and looked at the faint red mark which was almost unnoticeable.
"No-o I'm okay-" "Shut up and let me see."Arya tiptoed and blew softly to her skin.
They were almost of the same height but the way Arya was on her toes seemed funny to Kaya.
However, she was not in the mood to laugh. There was a more serious problem here....they were too close!
She didn't know about Arya but Kaya had a dirty mind. How could she have ignored it when her heart was thumping loudly? It was not the same kind of feeling that she felt when Rudra was around, but something even stronger and which her made her heart flutter continuously.
She felt her body going into a state of paralysis. Was she paranoid enough to think that Arya was doing all this willingly? She noticed how her bosom heaved up and down as she blew air on her skin but a pity that all of it was covered with the embroidered maroon blouse.
"That's enough princess" She couldn't take it anymore when she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Does it still hurt? I'm sorry I did not pay attention while I was walking.."
"...."
"I think the princess is more hurt than I am! " Kaya said with amusement.
"What do you mean? I'm alright." arya was unable to comprehend what Kaya meant by it. She checked herself and glanced back at her when she found nothing wrong with herself.
"you just now said sorry to me! That too twice!!"
Is it truly the princess
"..." "Huh, I said sorry..? No..I was just asking if you were alright. I did not say sorry at all, you must have misheard me" She diverted her gaze to the ground and went to kahini who was looking at a set of bangles.
"Can't even admit it? A day will come when you'll apologize to me leaving all your arrogance behind," she said with a grin.
"Princess arya, try these on, girls of your age are all wearing these." Kahini grabbed her hand gently, slipping a thin red bangles on her wrist.
"Yeah yeah Princess Arya, try them. They'll look great on you!" Kaya teased her.
Arya glared at the mischievous lady and then looked away again.
"Ma, can I also try them or all your love is only for this princess?" Kaya sat down, she leaned in to look at a basket full of colorful bangles made of laakh (lac).
Kaya remembered how her mother used to wear them but she never tried them. But when she looked at them in arya's hand, she felt a tinge of unknown jealousy.
Why do they look so good in her hands? Is it really the bangles or her wheatish complexion that complemented them?
She took a pair of black and yellow bangles and kept them near her so that she could try them out.
Arya glanced at Kaya and then assured Kaya, "Kakisa does like me more, I'm a Rajput princess after all", she teased back while slightly sticking her tongue out.
Kaya squinted her eyes when she was not able to wear the bangles. They were not ready to tinkle on her wrist, she concluded.
Arya chuckled lightly when one of the bangles broke while Kaya was struggling to wear it.
"Even the bangles don't like you" she grinned.
*clink* *clink* arya jerked her hands together in front of Kaya.
Kahini and arya broke out in laughter when arya further mocked her.
Kaya pointed feeling helpless.
"Kaya, my daughter, which set do you need, Tell me. I'll help you wear it later on."
"oh? Can I choose?" she excitedly searched the woven basket.
"The green ones, they'll suit you." arya suggested when Kaya's excitement had turned into confusion.
"Ma! I'll take the ones the princess suggested, they look nice."her eyes sparkled up when she saw the set being picked out for her. She noticed how she had started to like getting dressed up in this era. In the 21st century, she had almost no interest in trying to dress up instead she lived a life where the only thing she did was ,travelling from her hostel to college and back forth.
Her excitement didn't went unnoticed by arya. Is she a child, getting so excited over a set of bangels?
2 days later--
"Kakisa, I'll ask the servants to make a cooling drink for you. You shouldn't be working this hard at your age!" Arya nagged, her hand resting on her hip.
The servants carried the new furniture inside the new house. Which was no less than a haveli. The house was built of red sand stone, which were common in Rajasthan having windows with an arc at the top. It was a beautiful building.
"Arya, your brother and you have already done so much for us. I'm not even sure if me and kaya will ever be able to repay you with anything. Atleast allow me to do this."
Her wrinkly eyes watered with gratitude, her face still looking beautiful.
Arya only smiled in return at the old lady. "There's no need to feel great ful maasa, we soon are going to be a family. This is the least that I can do! But.." rudra interrupted.
"But what beta..?" The soon to be son in law was going to demand something. Something which the old lady would not have. Kahini was wanting that the royals wouldn't ask for dahej(dowry) because if they had, she didn't had anything with her to give. It would be a crisis! Oh god.
Noticing how her expression changed, Arya frowned.
Rudra gave a charming smile as he looked down on the floor, a blush creeping up and his ear turning crimson red. "Your daughter... let's fix a date for my and kaya's marriage. It would be great if the wedding takes place with my sister's wedding."
Rudra scratched his head lightly and looked up at kahini who was once again at relief.
She wondered if there could be a better son in law than this young man.
"As you like it beta! I believe that my daughter can only be Happy with a person like you."
Rudra nodded at her with the same charming smile.
While a deeper frown appeared on arya's face..
'she won't be happy! I know it all. Now would my brother be happy with her once he knows the truth about her. It's for the best if this marriage doesn't happen." Arya didn't realise her underlying jealousy .