Page 93 of Trapped By the Maharaja
Her jaw tightened. “The attack was on you,” she said. “No one cares about me. I’m not that important.”
His brow arched. “You are important because you are the Devara Maharani.”
She glared at him, knowing he was right. Her life was going to be irrevocably changed, thanks to the ruthless Devara Maharaja.
???
The SUV door opened, and before Sanjana could move, one of the men in black suits, who was the new addition to her security, was already scanning the area with sharp, calculating eyes. Another stood just behind her, a living wall between her and the outside world.
When she finally stepped out, she froze.
A crowd was waiting.
Nearly the entire hierarchy of the hospital, consisting of the board members, senior doctors, nurses, interns, and the administrative staff, was lined neatly in front of the main entrance.
Her stomach dropped.
Dr. Kolli stepped forward with a wide smile. “Dr. Shetty—Your Highness,” he corrected himself with a small chuckle, “welcome. We’re honored to receive you today.”
There were murmurs of “Devara Maharani” and “Congratulations” echoing up and down the line followed by wide smiles.
Her cheeks heated as she nodded in acknowledgement. The royal announcement from the event must have spread like wildfire.
She forced her lips into a polite smile. “Thank you,” she murmured, knowing all of them meant well. “Nothing will change,” she said, letting her gaze sweep the line of faces. “I will continue here as a doctor. That remains my priority.”
There were nods of approval.
The security detail closed in behind her as she stepped forward, their presence a constant shadow, as if to remind her of the life she had walked into and how impossible it would be to step back out.
At the hospital entrance, she turned to the Devara security detail, lowering her voice so the board members and staff wouldn’t overhear.
“Please continue to wait outside the building,” she said firmly. “No following me into the wards, no hovering over me in the corridors, and no interrupting my work unless there’s an actual emergency.”
The head of security, who was an imposing man with a buzz cut and the kind of build that looked unmovable, hesitated. “Your Highness, the Maharaja has instructed—”
“I know what he instructed,” she cut in. “But I can’t work with half the hospital staring at your men all day. Please wait outside.”
His jaw flexed, clearly torn between obedience to her and to Ram. Finally, he gave a tight nod. “As you wish. But we’ll remain in the vicinity.”
“Fine.”
She knew Ram was not going to be happy, but she was not going to budge, especially when her life wasn’t in danger.
Sanjana threw herself into her routine of rounds, consultations, and test reviews, feeling grateful for the comfort of familiarity.
By mid-morning, she slipped into the staff room with her coffee, hoping for a quiet moment. But almost at once, the door opened and a cluster of nurses, junior doctors, and interns filed in, their faces glowing with barely contained excitement.
“Dr. Shetty!” one nurse beamed, clasping her hands together. “How does it feel to be the maharani of such a handsome maharaja?”
Another leaned closer, eyes wide. “It’s like a fairytale come true.”
An intern added eagerly, “They say that His Highness must have fallen for you the first time he saw you… When he rescued you from being arrested. That’s so romantic.”
A chorus of dreamy sighs followed, their smiles wistful and bright.
Sanjana lifted her cup, buying a moment with a slow sip. She managed a small, polite smile. “Yes,” she said lightly.
She didn’t want to shatter their illusions by telling the truth. That it was less of a romance and more of a trap.
