Page 45 of A Royal Deception

“Ma, there will be no annulment,” I said bluntly. “Shivina and I have decided to stay married.”

There was a loud cheer from my friends, but my family didn’t look too pleased. Kaki Sa and Sangram looked downright furious, while my mother looked worried.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ranvijay,” she yelped. “You know nothing about each other. You married her believing her to be Kavya.”

“It doesn’t matter, Ma. Shivina and I know what we are doing.”

“Do you?” asked Ma sceptically. “Shivina, do you really mean to tell me that you want to stay married to the man who kidnapped you to punish you for deceiving him?”

“No, Your Highness. But I do want to stay married to the man who rescued me - a complete stranger - from his cousin’s unwanted advances. I want to stay married to the man who rode out in his chopper to rescue my sister, even though he didn’t have to.”

“Well, I’m sure his palace and his wealth were adequate compensation for your troubles,” said my mother coldly.

“Ma! Do not speak to my wife like that,” I thundered.

Shivina gave me a small smile before she stood up straight and stared my mother down.

“I know you won’t believe me if I say they weren’t. But how was it different when Kavya Baisa was willing to marry him for his money? Isn’t money the biggest consideration in all arranged marriages?”

“Because she’s from the same social class as we are,” said Kumudini Kaki Sa furiously. “Who and what are you? What doyou bring to the table? Kavya came from a royal bloodline. She had good breeding and class...”

“She was a promiscuous drug addict,” retorted Shivina. “But I guess those faults can be swept under the carpet when one is a princess. As for what I bring to the table, I bring loyalty and the capacity to work my ass off, which is more than can be said about your son, who tried to molest me during the engagement party. But I understand if that isn’t good enough for your family. I’m willing to walk away from this marriage right now if you can’t accept me as the new Maharani.”

It was fun to see Kumudini Kaki Sa reduced to a gobbling, incoherent mess as she tried to defend Sangram’s actions. I realised that Shivina didn’t need me to defend her. She could defend herself, but I didn’t like that she’d painted herself into a corner with her statement.

“My wife does not need anyone to beg for anyone’s acceptance,” I said, with a pointed look at my aunt. “If she’s good enough for me, she’s good enough for everybody. And I will not tolerate anyone implying otherwise.”

“I feel for you, Didi Sa. I truly do. But I will not stay here and be insulted by the likes of this con woman,” said Kaki Sa, drawing herself up angrily. “Come along, Sangram.”

That little rodent had jumped for cover behind a sofa the minute Shivina brought up his actions, and he sidled out of the room hastily behind his mother without looking at any of us.

“That man is not welcome in our palace anymore, Ma. Please make that clear to Kaki Sa,” I told Ma, who nodded immediately.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my sister,” said Shivina.

With a polite smile, she went upstairs, and I waited for the onslaught of protests from everyone in the hall.

“Let’s discuss this in the sitting room,” said Ma.

I didn’t want to discuss anything. I just wanted to go upstairs and get to know my new wife a little better. But I followed Ma into the sitting room because I owed her this conversation. Diya and Isha followed on my heels, even as their husbands tried to hold them back.

“Babe, this is a family matter,” hissed Veer.

“And we are family,” Isha hissed back.

“That you are, shortcake. Come along now and defend me,” I called out with a laugh.

“I’m glad you find something funny in this situation, Ranvijay,” Ma said bitingly.

“I didn’t take you for a snob, Ma. Don’t tell me you disapprove of Shivina just because she’s not royal,” I drawled.

“I don’t give a damn about that, and you know it! If you loved that girl, I’d be dancing for joy right now. But you don’t, do you?”

“Were you under the impression I was in love with Kavya when I was marrying her?” I enquired politely, trying to keep a lid on my temper.

“I knew you weren’t. Which was why I wasn’t happy about the marriage. But I also knew that Kavya was capable of taking care of herself. If the two of you chose to settle for a loveless marriage, that was on you. But Shivina is different. She’s not cold and calculating like Kavya. I’m worried that she’s blinded by the grandeur of the palace and by our wealth, and I’m worried that you’re taking advantage of that fact to trap her in a loveless marriage.”

My mother’s words cut me to the heart. Is that what she thought of me? That I’d take advantage of a woman?

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