Page 22 of A Royal Deception

“Do you think the Goels had something to do with this?” whispered Isha. “Maybe they kidnapped Kavya just before thewedding and supplanted her with another woman in an act of revenge. Should we tell her parents?”

I snorted in derision.

“Her parents are part of this deception, Isha. They knew exactly what they were doing. Didn’t you see how Kavya’s mother held on to that thick veil? She didn’t let me raise it enough to see the bride’s face. The only conclusion we can draw is that I have been scammed.”

“What do you want to do? We can ask them to call the bride here right now and show her face,” said Veer.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” chimed in Isha. “Let’s make a scene of epic proportions.”

I smiled. It was a nasty smile that made Isha and Veer take a step back warily.

“Let’s do one better,” I suggested. “Let’s catch them unawares. Cover me.”

Before either of them could react, I jumped off the mandap and headed for the stairs.

“Stop him,” cried Kavya’s father, trying to follow me. “Move out of my way, boy!”

“It’s okay, Raja Sa. Ranvijay is simply eager to see his bride again,” said Veer sweetly, blocking his way. “Here, have a glass of mosambi juice.”

Isha and Raksha kept pace with me as I made my way down the crowded corridor that was suddenly full of women who tried to block my way.

“Jamai Sa, please wait,” stammered a woman. “Baisa is still changing into her bidai outfit.”

Raksha shoved her out of my way, and I ploughed along determinedly.

Another woman barred the door, and Raksha pulled her out of the way as I put my shoulder to the door and threw it open with a bang. Someone shrieked loudly.

“Who let him in?” screamed Kavya’s mother. “Please leave, Jamai Sa. Kavya will be ready for the bidaai in five minutes. I beg you to leave.”

Her words barely registered with me as my eyes travelled all over the room. Kavya was sitting in a big chair in front of the dressing table, frozen in fear as my eyes met hers. She was dressed in an elaborate outfit, and I checked her hands just to be sure. As expected, they were covered with maroon mehendi. Yeah, that wasn’t the woman I had married.

My eyes swept past Kavya, and I smiled in dark satisfaction as I spotted the woman I was looking for in a corner. My bride.

She hadn’t had the time to change out of her outfit yet. A maid was helping her take off her jewellery, and it was kind of funny to see the way they were both frozen in the act of pulling off her bangles. She hadn’t even had time to take off her veil.

I took a step towards her, and Kavya unfroze.

“Baby, I’m right here. Where are you going?” she cooed, trying to sound unfazed. But I could hear the terror in her voice.

“I’m going to my wife,” I told her with a feral grin.

She blanched and let out a low wail.

“But… but…Iam your wife, baby,” she tried again.

This time, I let out a loud laugh and everyone in the room flinched with fear. All except her. My bride. She stood tall and watched me walk up to her. Her face was still hidden, but I could tell by her stance that she was bracing herself for an explosion.

Defiance in the face of extreme danger.

If I wasn’t furious enough to burn this whole fucking place down, I would have admired her pluck.

I raised my hand and touched the mangalsutra I had tied around her neck not ten minutes ago. And that’s when she flinched.

I was done with this farce. I lifted her veil roughly with both my hands, eager to see this woman who thought she couldscam the Maharaja of Mirpur. And just like that, all my illusions shattered.

Shivina.

I had liked her. I had protected her. I had been kinder to her than I had been to my fiancée. And she had betrayed me.

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