Page 46 of A Royal Deception

“Don’t mince your words, Ma. It’s not like I have any feelings,” I said coldly.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think she’s the right wife for you. Not until you learn to open your heart and take a chance on love. I don’t want you to break her heart, Ranvijay.”

“Well, I have news for you. Shivina is not some lovestruck fool. She knows exactly what this marriage is. It is a marriage of convenience, just like my marriage to Kavya. And she’s happy to settle for that, Ma.”

“You make it sound so sordid,” said my mother unhappily.

“I’m not, but you are,” I replied angrily. “Shivina and I can be perfectly happy if you just get off our backs. I won’t have you making her miserable about our situation, Ma. If you keep this up, Shivina and I will move out of the palace. Is that what you want?”

Ma stared at me for a long moment, and I wondered if I had gone too far.

“Are you upset because I might make Shivina unhappy, or are you upset because I’m messing up your plans for a cold and loveless marriage?” she asked eventually.

What kind of dumbass question was that?

“I don’t want you or anyone making Shivina unhappy or shaming her about the events that led up to this marriage,” I yelled. “As for your assumption that my marriage will be cold and loveless, Shivina and I are friends. We are very clear about what we both want from this marriage, and that’s a far better start than either of these two fools had when they got married.”

“Hey! What did we do?” asked Veer and Dheer together.

“You didn’t givethemany grief when you arm-twisted them into marriage, so I don’t get why you’re being so mean to my wife.”

“You idiot, Nandini Aunty is not being mean to your wife. She’s protecting her. From you,” said Diya, who was ensconced in the big armchair.

“My wife doesn’t need any protection from me,” I replied furiously.

“Doesn’t she? You’re currently treating her like a commodity,” snapped my mother. “As if she and Kavya are exchangeable.”

“Enough! Shivina and I know what we’re doing, Ma. Back. Off!”

“Fine! Do whatever you like. But don’t blame me when this blows up in your face, beta. I’m trying to protect you both from a lifetime of unhappiness. Treat the holy bond of marriage with a bit more respect, that’s all I ask. It is not a business contract,” said Ma.

But that’s exactly what our marriage was. And I couldn’t explain that to my mother or my friends, who were blissfully happy in their marriages. They’d never get it.

Besides, it had nothing to do with them. I had the right to live my life on my terms, and if Shivina agreed to the terms of our marriage, I didn’t think anyone else’s opinion mattered.

“This discussion is over, Ma,” I said, heading to the door.

“Where are you going?” asked Isha.

“To check on my wife,” I replied and ignored the whistles and hoots that followed me out.

When I walked into my bedroom, Shivina was standing by the window in a t-shirt and pyjamas. This had to be the most anti-climactic wedding night ever, I thought ruefully. She turned around to stare at me in apprehension.

“Has Zarna settled in all right?” I asked gruffly.

Damn it! Why did I have to sound like Darth Vader? I wanted to put her at ease, and growling at her was not the way to do it. Look how she jumped at a simple question.

CHAPTER 18

SHIVINA

Itold myself I was being ridiculous. I had no business reacting to his voice like this when he was only asking about my sister. But I was in his… our… bedroom, and this was our wedding night, and I had craved this man’s touch from the first time I had set eyes on him. Of course, his deep baritone was going to play my body like a violin.

I cleared my throat and nodded.

“Yes, Sannata Mausi settled her in right away. I think she’s already asleep.”

“Do you think she’ll sleep better if you’re with her tonight?”

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