Page 75 of A Royal Redemption

“Should I be asking why you’re scandalising the Aunties by dropping truths about your eating disorder?” asked Diya gently, as she coated her paneer tikka in the spiciest green chutney I had ever eaten.

“Should I be asking why you’re trying to burn a hole in your gut a month before fashion week?” I countered.

“Nothing tastes spicy enough, for some reason. Maybe I should eat this mirchi,” she muttered.

I grabbed the mirchi from her hand before she could bite into it and threw it into a flower pot.

“Also, why did my brother drive you to the desert instead of bringing you here on Pasha?” I asked curiously.

Diya looked around to make sure no one was listening, and then she leaned in.

“Swear you won’t tell anyone,” she hissed.

I nodded and held up my little finger in a pinky swear.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered anxiously.

I squealed with delight and Diya hissed at me to pipe down.

“I said don’t tell anyone. We haven’t told the parental units yet,” she snapped.

I was ecstatic for my best friend and my brother, who both deserved every bit of joy in the world. Especially after the harrowing experience they had faced, with goons trying to kill Diya because she witnessed a murder. Thankfully, all that was behind them now, and Ayush Goel was rotting in prison for life. I was relieved we were past all that.

At the same time, I felt like even more of an outsider in their world. It wasn’t their fault. They did their best to include me, but there was only so much I could intrude on them without feeling like the third wheel.

Still, a new baby in the palace was amazing news even for me. After all, it wasn’t as if I was going to have one anytime soon because I was lacking in the most important requirement to make a baby - a husband. I swore to shower my little niece/nephew with all my love, and be the best aunt she/he would ever have.

“This is the best news ever,” I said, hugging Diya tightly. “And you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

She yawned widely and scowled as she looked around.

“When will all these people leave, Isha? I need a quick nap. It feels like this baby is draining my battery at double speed.”

“Well, they are going to be here for the next four days, and you cannot slip away for a nap now because you’re the star of the show. But we’ll build nap times into your schedule from tomorrow.”

Diya and Dheer had had a quick and simple wedding, so they were going all out for their first anniversary. They were recreating the big, fat Indian wedding that they missed the first time. Today was the cocktail party/desert safari.

After all the guests had returned to the palace, I decided to head back in as well. Dheer had taken Diya for a drive along the dunes. There was only one ATV jeep left, and I jumped into it and was about to drive away when someone hailed me from the tent.

“Hold up! I’m coming, too. This is the last jeep going back.”

Ugh! It was the one person I had done my best to avoid all day. His Highness Veerendra Singh Sisodia, Yuvarajkumar of Jadhwal.

Veer was the rudest, most chauvinistic and misogynistic pig I had ever met. Unfortunately, he was Diya’s brother, which meant he was always welcome at Trikhera Palace. Which, in turn, meant that I had to be polite to him when all I wanted to do was bury him alive in the sand!

I was so carried away by the thought of burying him alive that the jeep swerved dangerously to the left. Veer grabbed the steering wheel and turned it around. I growled softly under my breath because I hated guys who felt the need to grab the wheel at the slightest issue, especially when it was a woman driving. I mean, it wasn’t as if the Jeep had crashed or anything. He was just being a little drama queen. As usual.

“You’re welcome,” he said pointedly.

I exhaled sharply and turned to him with a glare.

“Do you fancy walking to the palace in the dark? Because I can kick you out of my jeep right now!”

“Aww, is the princess sensitive about her bad driving?” he mocked.

I reminded myself that Veer was a guest in my house. And that I was raised to be polite to people, no matter what. I was calm and rational and in full control of my emotions. I was a well-behaved girl.

Which was why when we eventually pulled up at the palace, all of Dheer and Diya’s guests got to witness the spectacle of the Shekhawat princess screaming like a fishwife at the Sisodia prince, who was yelling right back at her like a drunk fisherman.

Oops!

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