Page 16 of A Royal Deception

“But why would you do that to Zarna?” I asked, unable to believe the cruelty of this woman. “They’ll throw her out of the school.”

My sister’s school was famous in Jaipur for being very strict about their code of ethics. And if Zarna was expelled from that school, no other good school in the city would take her. Why would Rani Sa play with Zarna’s future like that?

“Ladki, I rewarded your father’s loyalty to my family by giving you and Zarna a roof over your heads, and now I’m going to punish you for your disloyalty to me. Diggi, throw them both out into the streets right now,” she said sharply. “If my daughter’s life is ruined today, I’ll make sure yours and your sister’s lives are ruined too.”

She gestured sharply to Diggi Mausi, who moved towards me reluctantly.

“Maan jaa, beta. It’s for the best,” she whispered in my ear when she led me out of the room.

“It’s wrong, Mausi,” I said tremulously. “It’s a sin.”

She cast a quick look at the room we’d just left.

“These people are used to sin by now, beta.”

“How can I let them drag me into it with them? I can’t do it, Mausi.”

I sank to the ground and sat with my back to the wall. I was shaking like a leaf because Rani Sa was capable of carrying out her threat. I tried telling myself that she’d have to prove Zarna’s crime and that she hadn’t a shred of evidence because my sister hadn’t stolen anything.

“What choice do you have?” asked Diggi Mausi.

“I’ll fight her! I’ll tell her to call the police and ask them to prove my sister’s crime,” I said defiantly.

“Do you think the school is going to wait until the police finish their investigation? And where are you going to live? You have no job, no house. This city is not safe for two naive girls like you and Zarna, laado.”

“Diggi, get me my diary,” called Rani Sa.

Blast the woman! Why was she hell-bent on ruining my sister’s life? Didn’t she have enough to worry about right now?

Diggi Mausi walked back into the room with one last look at me, and I knew there was no way to fight this. I followed her into the room.

CHAPTER 6

SHIVINA

Rani Sa shot me a knowing glance.

“Changed your mind?”

I nodded shortly.

“I will do as you ask. But on one condition.”

“Nonsense! You will do as I say and be grateful for my kindness,” she said triumphantly.

“If you don’t agree to my condition, I will walk out right now, and you and your precious daughter can burn in hell,” I said firmly.

She strode over to me, hand raised to slap me, but I shook my head in warning, and her hand froze mid-air.

“Don’t even think about it, Rani Sa. I can blow this whole endeavour at any moment from now until the bidaai. If you want Baisa a chance to go home with the man of her dreams, you have to compensate me for the unpardonable sin you’re forcing me to commit.”

She was taken aback at my belligerence, but I was done with being a doormat. I was grateful to the royal family for helping me out when my father died. But that didn’t mean I had to sign my soul over to them. If I had learnt one thing today, it was that I couldn’t allow Rani Sa to use my sister as a pawn ever again.

“Compensate you how?” she asked warily.

I raised my chin and stared her down calmly, even though that facade could crumble any minute.

“I want you to give me five lakhs in cash right now, with an invoice stating that it is a gratuity for my father’s service to your family.”

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