Page 28 of Trapped By the Maharaja
Sanjana stared at his hand for a long second before placing her trembling fingers in his.
His grip was firm and possessive as he led her back through the temple corridor.
Right outside, Ram’s assistant waited with a file in his hands. Ram took it and signed on it before passing it to her.
“Sign here,” Ram softly commanded.
When Sanjana read it, she saw that it was a form to register marriage. With slightly trembling fingers, she signed next to Ram’s bold signature.
Ram took the document and handed it to his assistant. “Have the formal procedure completed by the time we return to the Devara palace this evening,” he instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
Ram held her arm and led her out of the temple premises.
The sound of bells faded as they descended the steps and went towards the waiting helicopter.
He helped her get inside first and then climbed in and sat next to her. Inside, the cabin went silent as the doors shut. The rotor blades started, and the temple bells faded into the distance.
She looked down at her hands, trembling under the weight of gold bangles.
When the helicopter lifted into the sky, reality hit her hard. She was married to Ram Devara.
CHAPTER 12
The pillow under her cheek felt too hard and warm.
Her eyes fluttered open, and for a disoriented second, she couldn’t remember where she was. Then the soft, rhythmic whirl of rotor blades returned to her ears, and she realized she was in a helicopter.
Not just in a helicopter, she was sleeping on a broad shoulder. Ram’s shoulder.
Her cheek was pressed against the expensive silk of his wedding attire. She could feel a slight dampness where she must have drooled on him.
She straightened immediately, her heavy bangles and jewelry clinking with the sudden movement. Heat rushed to her face. She wasn’t supposed to fall asleep, especially on him.
How long have I been asleep?
She glanced at Ram, who was watching her with unreadable eyes.
“I didn’t sleep well last night and was woken up early by your hired team,” she mumbled. She didn’t want him to think she had willingly touched him.
Ram didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
Her cheeks burned, and her stomach fluttered nervously, knowing there would be a lot more happening between them than just touching.
The sudden dip in her stomach indicated that the helicopter was descending. Tearing her eyes away from Ram’s face, she looked outside the window.
Sanjana’s breath caught when she a sprawling estate with a huge fortress-like structure next to a flowing river. From above, Sanjana could see gardens, water fountains and shaded courtyards.
It was a palace. She had never seen a palace before, except on the news or in magazines in the hospital staff rooms. And now, she was about to step inside a palace as Ram Devara’s wife.
The thought made her stomach twist nervously.
As the helicopter circled briefly before descending onto the palace grounds, she realized it wasn’t the Devara palace, which was situated on top of a hill. This one was next to a river and fit the description Ram had described to her in the past as the place he had spent majority of his childhood in.
It was the Rewa palace.
Soon, the helicopter landed on the palace grounds. Ram stepped out first and then extended his hand towards her. She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. His hand gripped hers as she stepped out.
