Page 43 of Trapped By the Maharaja
Devi remained still, her silence absolute.
“He married the orphan girl.”
The words dropped like a bomb.
Devi’s mother continued. “She is the disturbance. She is the imbalance. The gods see her presence as a threat to the bloodline.”
Her mother’s eyes blazed. “You allowed it to happen. And now the stars have withdrawn their favor.”
Devi’s eyes didn’t move from the marigolds blooming in the silver vase near the window.
She said nothing. She didn’t defend her son or challenge her mother.
She simply sat in silence.
But inside, she knew she wouldn’t let anything happen to Ram. Not again.
CHAPTER 20
It was close to midnight when the helicopter landed in front of the Devara Palace. Sanjana stepped out, feeling tired from the double shift at the hospital.
The palace doors opened before she even reached them.
Lalita and Kumari stood waiting in the foyer, their hands clasped, eyes bright despite the hour.
“Maharani,” one said softly, “shall we serve your dinner?”
Sanjana paused, feeling shocked and guilty.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to keep you two awake.”
“It’s no trouble, Maharani.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head gently. “Please… don’t wait up for me after this. I already ate at the hospital. Please go to sleep.”
They bowed as she walked past them, murmuring polite goodnights.
Her steps quickened as she made her way up to the grand staircase and then to the master suite. Her shoulders were slightly stiff, and she was looking forward to taking a hot shower.
She pushed the double doors open and stepped into the master suite, and froze.
Ram stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone, his deep voice low and commanding. He was only wearing loose cotton pants.
Her eyes automatically moved over his bare chest, broad shoulders, defined abs, and then his darkly handsome face. Her heart jerked when she saw that his eyes were locked on her.
He didn’t stop talking. He didn’t even acknowledge her. He just kept speaking in calm, clipped tones in a language she didn’t know. But his eyes remained on her.
Sanjana stood frozen before she sucked in a breath and walked into the suite, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.
Her heart was pounding hard.
I am a doctor. Human form isn’t a mystery to me.
And yet, Ram’s powerful body made her heart race.
She shut the bathroom door firmly, leaned back against it, and closed her eyes.
The cool marble under her bare feet helped. But only a little.
