Page 15 of A Royal Deception

“Yes! It’s not a big deal. The two of you are the same size and height. You just have to stand in for her during the pheras. I’m sure she’ll be back by then. She can change into her bidai outfit and take her rightful place. I wish this deception weren’t necessary, but the bloody baaraat arrived right on time! Bataao!Who’s ever heard of such a thing? If only they had kept dancing outside our gates for another hour or so, Baisa would be here on time. Hai na, Diggi?”

Even Diggi Mausi could not bring herself to chime in her agreement because neither of us had ever heard of anything so monstrous. The pheras were the most important part of the wedding, where the couple made binding vows around the holy fire. The woman who went around the fire seven times with the bridegroom would be tied to him in holy matrimony by the end of the pheras. How on earth could I stand in for Baisa?

“Maybe you could tell them Baisa needs one more hour to get ready,” I said desperately. “This deception is impossible, Rani Sa.”

“We have no choice, Shivina,” she replied grimly. “The Maharaja of Mirpur and his family went straight to the mandap as soon as they arrived. If this were a traditional wedding, there would be rituals for him to perform before the actual pheras, but Jamai Sa only wants a simple prayer and the saptapadi. It’s not as difficult as you think, pagli. You can wear a heavy veil over your face. Arre Diggi, why is this girl not wearing any mehendi? How can we pass her off as the bride with these bare hands?” she cried.

Because I’m not supposed to be the bride, I wanted to yell at her. But I stayed silent, hoping she’d realise this was a stupid plan. But Rani Sa was desperate to cover up Baisa’s absence.

“It’s okay. Just remember to keep your hands covered with your dupatta at all times,” she said, breathing heavily as she tried to think of anything that would tip His Highness off.

“But Rani Sa, she will have to push the veil back when it’s time to apply the sindoor,” pointed out Diggi Mausi. “Jamai Sa’s bound to notice he’s marrying the wrong woman.”

“He’s not marrying her, idiot,” shrieked Rani Sa, banging her hands on the edges of the sofa. “He can only marry mydaughter. Shivina is just the proxy. As for the veil, we won’t allow him to push the veil back. We’ll lift it by the edges, and he can put his hand under it to place the sindoor.”

“I won’t do it,” I whispered.

“What?” asked Rani Sa in surprise.

I took a deep breath and stood up abruptly, shaking my head vigorously.

“I won’t do it,” repeated loudly. “I will not allow Kavya Baisa’s fiancé to apply sindoor on me or tie a mangalsutra around my neck. Nor will I take the saptapadi with him just to save her skin. I don’t care if he finds out she’s late for her own wedding. I will not play such a monstrous trick on the man!”

Rani Sa stood up and loomed over me angrily.

“Are you out of your mind? You will do as you’re told, Shivina,” she exclaimed.

“No, I won’t,” I declared. “These rituals mean something to me even if they mean nothing to you, Rani Sa. If I perform those rituals, it means I am married to His Highness. Just putting on the bidaai outfit won’t make Baisa his legally wedded wife.”

“Arre, I told you Jamai Sa doesn’t believe in rituals. They will have a registered marriage in court two weeks later. Their marriage will be legally binding.”

“And what about me?” I asked in desperation. “How can the marriage be legally binding if he’s already married to me?”

She leaned forward and slapped me hard.

“Don’t try and get above yourself, you little bitch. You are nothing but a stand-in.”

“And that’s exactly why I will not do it,” I said defiantly as I rubbed my jaw.

“Oh, youwilldo it,” she sneered. “For your little sister, if not for yourself.”

I drew in a sharp breath.

“What do you mean? Keep your precious money, Rani Sa. I won’t let you hold my sister’s fees over my head anymore.”

“Hmm… grown a spine, have you?” she asked snidely. “Fine, if you won’t do it, you won’t do it.”

I stared at her suspiciously because I couldn’t believe she was giving in so easily.

“Get this ungrateful bitch out of my sight, Diggi. And while you’re at it, do get the principal of Zarna’s school on the line. His personal number is in my diary.”

Rani Sa smiled at me nastily.

“I think he’ll be very interested to know that I caught Zarna stealing from me. After all that we’ve done for these girls.”

“My sister hasn’t stolen anything,” I said furiously.

“Maybe… maybe not,” said Rani Sa, with a shrug. “Whom do you think he will believe?”

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