She was tempted to say it out loud. But she didn't.
“How was your announcement event at the Devara region?” she asked. “Was there a ceremonial sword too?”
Sanjana shook her head. “There wasn’t a ceremonial sword event, but there was a similar event. Ram raced a bull. And it was quite nerve-racking and… exciting. I had to clean and bandage Ram’s wounds after.”
Yamini saw a blush spreading through Sanjana’s cheeks as she discussed Ram Devara racing a bull.
“Yes, then it must definitely be exciting,” Yamini teased with a smile.
Sanjana laughed as her blush grew further.
Yamini smiled. “I went to a bull race at Devara with my brother many years ago. I was sixteen.”
Sanjana was surprised. “Oh. Ram didn’t tell me he had known you for that long.”
“We didn’t really meet. Ram, Bharat, Samar and Viraj weren’t around when I visited Rewa during my summer breaks with my mother. My family was invited to an event in the Devara region when I snuck out to watch the bull race with my brother. My mother wasn’t happy.”
Sanjana laughed. And then a small yawn escaped her.
“Sorry,” Sanjana said with a sleepy smile. “I had a surgery that lasted until after midnight yesterday, and then Ram and I flew out early morning for the Jogra temple ceremony. I guess I am tired.”
Yamini put the tea cups away onto a tray and got up. “You should get some rest. I’ll get going too.”
Sanjana stood too. “Good night, Yamini.”
“Good night, Sanjana.”
Yamini walked with Sanjana through part of the corridor before they separated toward different wings of the palace.
The palace had grown quieter.
When she entered her room, warmth greeted her immediately.
The mountain night outside had turned dark, snow glowing faintly beneath moonlight.
She shut the door behind her. And immediately looked toward the connecting door
Her eyes remained on it.
She thought about the stallion. The way Bharat had taken the reins without hesitation, the horse wild and straining, and how one low command had stilled it completely.
Her cheeks heated as she recalled his low commands during midnight. He didn’t soothe, whisper, or coax her either. He commanded her to come. And she always did.
Commanding jerk.
She hated him for his control and indifference, but she couldn’t escape the fact that she was strongly drawn to him.
Annoyed, she changed into her nightclothes and slipped beneath the covers.
But once again, her eyes moved automatically toward the connecting door.
It was 11:10.
Will he come?
She recalled his words from the previous night.
“Do not wait for me tonight.”
