Their eyes met each other again realizing what they have been thinking of each other made their face heat up.
Their breaths hitched and arya took the initiative to leave the bed first.
Just as arya disappeared into the bathing room Massa spoke up, "good morning kaya. Did you think about the proposal I made yesterday? If you're willing then we can send a letter to your parents asking them to come here for further discussion" she ended with a sweet smile. Her voice was laced with the hope that she would say yes.
"jiji! Say yes!! You both would make a good couple together." Kriti hopped on the bed, nudging kaya who was at a loss for words. "kriti.." kaya pleaded and kriti nodded, " okay okay. I won't yeast you anymore but you have to say yes!" she made a pout grabbing kaya's hand.
"Massa i-"
The door to the bathroom opened and a damp black hair woman came out. Arya!
Damn!!
Her wet hair reached her waist, and her cheeks flushed red, she had a hot shower...
Water droplets rested on her lashes as if decorated with beads. Her dupatta hung on her left shoulder and a droplet ran down her milky waist...
She looked ethereal...
She turned to the mirror and her back faced kaya who stared at her with an unknown feeling...
"maasa, what happened why did you all went quiet?" arya asked casually drying her hair. Her finger brushing her wet hair down.
"Arya, what do you think about kaya getting married to your Rudra bhaisa? your bhuassa and I have been waiting for kaya's answer since yesterday."
"..." the towel for her hand dropped to the floor and her mind went numb. Arya snapped her head to kaya who sat bewildered starting back at arya.
"You are going to marry Rudra bhaisa?!" her face turned ugly as her voice raised. She was furious.
How could she marry him?
Arya was the one who found her and if she was not introduced as her friend then maybe that would have been better.
Was this what kaya was aiming for since the beginning..
Entering the palace with an unknown identity and pretending not to remember her parents?!
" no maasa, she can't marry him" arya declared in a stern tone.
Kriti and Massa who was folding the blankets were shocked by arya's announcement.
She never raised her voice like this in front of her mom then why was she furious over her friend marrying her cousin.
" maasa that! Arya had a fight with me so she's probably still upset about it. You guys go ahead, I will have a talk with her" kaya gently pushed them both out the door while giving them a reassuring smile. Kriti coordinated as Massa said, "okay, but remember no more fights after this."
Kaya nodded and she closed the door after them.
She turned to arya who stood there with her head down, glaring at the floor.
"how dare you go after my brother. I let you live here, eat and gave you a place to sleep ...wasn't that enough? Why would you ask to marry my brother now?" arya wasn't sure if getting betrayed was the only reason behind her own behaviour. She felt uneasy when she heard what Massa said.
"no. Arya your are getting it wrong. I never asked-" kaya reached out to hold her hand to calm her down but she jerked her hand away making kaya's back hit the mirror. The glass broke and a few pieces sliced her skin of her back. "ah..ck, fuck" kaya groaned at the seething pain.
She tried to got up and said "at least hear me out!" " how dare you shout at me, the princess! Do you know what's the punishment-"
As arya turned around her eyes landed on kaya who was on the ground, trembling in pain.
"wh- what happened? Are you okay?!!"Â her eyes were now tainted with panic instead of anger now. She squatted till her level and gawked at her face for any sign of injury.
"when you pushed me.."Â kaya realized how close they were. " you mean to say it was my fault. I just jerked you a little and then you decided to go and crash yourself with the mirror. You can't blame me for your own doing!" she got up and crossed her arm as she appeared to looked arrogant once again.
"..."
Kaya stared at her in disbelief. How could someone behave like this when there was a wounded person next to them. She clenched her teeth and tried to get up yet failing to do so. Her back hit the mirror again and she hissed in pure agony.
No matter what arya couldn't leave her be. Even if it was not her fault she'll still try to help since she was the mature one here. She pulled kaya up who unwillingly gave her hand to stand. She made her sit on the bed and turned to the door leaving the latter all alone.
How will she clean her wounds herself now?
Soon the door opened again and arya came in with a wooden box and a small bowl in her hand.
Kaya sighed.
She can never understand this woman. It looks like she does have a personality disorder. If she was in her era she would first get her checked by a psychiatrist .
"here! Massa made this paste to apply on the wound. Don't think I'm helping you. I won't trust you till you tell me the truth."
"Thanks.." kaya smiled at her antics. She could clearly see the hand that was coloured faintly yellow. It was because of turmeric.
What a liar
"maasa made this paste?" kaya scoffed and took the paste from her hand and applied it to her back. She carefully covered some of the wounds but the biggest one, she was not able to reach.
"yes! You have a doubt at my mother's skill. She can heal you and at the same time is capable of killing you. There's no one like her in the whole universe" that's a mommy's kid right there.
Kaya couldn't help but giggle at her childish talks. How childish!
" Are you laughing at me?! " arya took the bowl from kaya's hand and applied it on the remaining wounds. arya felt guilty of pushing her too hard.
"would I dare? You are the princess" kaya said in a playful plight
As soon as her cold hand grazed against her back, kaya felt a shiver running down her spine. She squirmed in her seat and allowed her to continue to apply the paste.
"princess, I believe that it's not just the mother but also the daughter who is capable of healing someone.... You made the paste right?"
Arya's hand froze on her back. How did this stupid woman came to know this? Does she has spies around the palace?
"shut up! And apply it yourself. " arya stormed out of the room embarrassed. Kaya couldn't help but burst out into a laughter.