Page 28 of A Royal Deception

It only made me laugh more.

I was still laughing when we drove through the palace gates.

“We’re home,” I said curtly, and she hastily pulled down her veil to cover her face.

The courtyard was bustling with my household staff, all of whom were eager to see their new Rani Sa. Sannata stood proudly at the forefront, with the pooja thali and her army of helpers behind her, holding trays of rose petals and mithai. The nagada, dhol and tutari players stood at attention, ready to break out into music as soon as we stepped out of the car.

I turned to Shivina and took her hand gently as a valet rushed to open my door.

“Welcome to hell, Rani Sa,” I murmured as the dhol struck up a merry beat and the tutari played a welcome tune.

Her hand tensed in mine, but she followed me out of the car without a fight. There was a long red carpet stretched out from the parking lot to where our welcome committee awaited us. And more staff showered us with rose petals from the upper storeys of the palace as we made our way to the door.

Ma and Kaki Sa straightened their limbs from the long car ride and got ready to welcome the new Maharani into Mirpur Palace. I wondered how they’d react when they discovered the deception. Ma was probably going to say I told you so because she hadn’t liked Kavya in the first place.

And Sangram was probably going to wet himself in fear and jealousy when he discovered whom I had married. I glared at him as I walked past him, and he gave me a weak smile in response. The cowardly little rodent!

Isha jumped out of her car before Veer could stop her and ran to my side.

“What the fuck are you doing, RV?” she whispered.

“Stay out of it, shortcake,” I growled.

“No, I won’t,” she argued. “You’ve terrified this poor girl enough. Now let her go before this little farce takes on operatic proportions.”

“I agree,” chimed in my dear wife from my other side. “Yuvarani Sa is right. You should let me go.”

“Tough titties,” I said crudely. “I’m never letting you go, Rani Sa.”

“Language,” hissed Isha. “Don’t make me bring out my Basanti, RV.”

Shivina leaned across me and raised her veil as she asked with interest, “Who’s Basanti?”

“My gun,” replied Isha, with a smile.

She was such a traitor! The only person she should have threatened was the woman who duped me. Was there no justice in this world, I wondered angrily.

Shivina cast me a quick glance.

“Do you lend this Basanti out to the public? You know… under special circumstances… for personal protection?” she asked Isha.

“You won’t need any gun while I’m around you,” I said, offended that she would even suggest such a thing.

“That’s exactly why I need protection,” she said angrily. “I have no idea what you’re going to do to me in that big mausoleum of yours. I wouldn’t put it past you to throw me to the gharial in your moat.”

“This is Rajasthan,” I pointed, my tone oozing sarcasm. “There’s no water in the moat, let alone a gharial. Icouldthrow you to Isha’s hyenas, though.”

“You have hyenas?” asked Shivina, wide-eyed. And Isha nodded.

“But I won’t let them anywhere near you,” she promised.

“Beta, we’re waiting to welcome our bahu,” Ma called out in exasperation. “You can all talk later.”

“Enough chitchat,” I growled, speeding up until the mad women on either side of me were forced to hurry to keep up with my stride.

“Slow down, Hukum. We’re wearing heavy lehngas,” grumbled Shivina.

I threw her a menacing glare. How many times did I have to remind her that she was never to call me Hukum? She was not my staff. She was my fucking wife!

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