Page 3 of A Royal Deception

“That’s exactly what you are, Sangram Singh Rathore,” said Isha fiercely. “And if I see you anywhere near that girl, I will kick you in the samosas just like I did when we were fifteen.”

Sangram sneered at her, but when she took one step closer to him, he took off like a rocket. I sighed because I knew his motherwas going to complain to mine, which meant I was in for a very uncomfortable conversation with my mother.

“Samosas? Why did you have to ruin samosas for me?” complained Veer.

“Suck it up, Lajwanti,” she retorted. “Now, I want to see this Shivina. Somebody point her out to me quickly!”

“Why?” I asked, tensing at the thought of anyone picking on her.

Isha shot me a long, thoughtful look.

“Because I want to see this woman whose name you remember more than your fiancée’s,” she replied. “Who is she?”

“She’s nobody,” I said hastily, ignoring the voice in my head that called me a liar.

Isha was way more perceptive than she appeared, and I had to throw her off the scent before she uncovered facts that were best left buried.

“Rubbish! She’s clearlysomebody,” insisted Isha.

“She’s just a member of the staff, Isha,” I said, trying to sound bored.

“Then why do you remember her name?” she demanded.

“I remembered your name as well. In fact, I remembered everyone’s name, but Ram… I mean, Kavya’s. I forgot her name because her beauty left me speechless,” I improvised hastily.

A loud snort of derision was Isha’s only response, but I was relieved when she dropped the topic. Ma beckoned me over, and we headed for the small dais that had been set up in the centre of the terrace. There was a huge cake on the table and champagne on ice next to it. It looked beautiful, and yet, I felt like I was walking to the hangman’s noose.

“Stop scowling,” muttered Veer from my left. “You’ll scare your fiancée.”

I tried to smile instead, but Isha groaned softly from my right.

“God, no! That’s even worse. Go back to scowling,” she hissed.

I thought fondly back to my days in the US when I had no friends. There was something to be said for loneliness.

My mother smiled at me mistily when I reached the dais, and I remembered why I was doing this. It was all for her sake. I had chosen to walk down a very dangerous path in life when I decided to help Dheer and Veer fight the local mafia. If something happened to me, Ma would be left all alone and at the mercy of Sangram and Kumudini Kaki Sa. Whether I liked it or not, I had to create a family that would outlast me.

Ma hugged me tightly.

“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered.

I grunted in reply because I knew her hopes for my marital happiness were soon to be dashed. Kavya and I would probably settle into the same pattern as Devika and I. We’d spend most of our days and nights apart. She’d remember me when her allowance ran out, and I’d forget her after she delivered my heir. My cynicism was far too ingrained to allow anything else.

There was a loud cheer from the guests, and the crowd around us parted to allow Kavya to walk towards me. I tried to keep my eyes on her, but against my will, they strayed to the woman walking behind her, holding a big tray of sweets.

Shivina Kedia. The woman who had haunted my dreams since I set eyes on her a week ago.

I didn’t know what it was about her that held my attention when Kavya didn’t. They were both a head shorter than me and curvy, but the sight of my fiancée did not make my heart slam against my ribcage as if I’d just power-slammed three Red Bulls. This simply wouldn’t do.

I tried to drag my eyes away, but she looked up just then. As her eyes met mine, she flushed brightly, and the tray in her hand wobbled dangerously.

CHAPTER 2

SHIVINA

This man would be the death of me.

The Rani of Sajjangarh turned her gimlet gaze at me when the edge of the tray in my hand poked her in the small of her back, and I quaked in my Kolhapuri chappals as I dragged my eyes away from the bridegroom and steadied the tray.

---