It didn’t ring the first time.
She tried it a couple more times, and the same strange sound persisted.
Her heart twisted painfully when she realized her number was blocked.
Yamini’s father must have ordered it.
She had known it would happen. She had even prepared herself for it during the last heated call.
And yet, it still felt like a door shutting in her face.
She sat with that for a moment, in the quiet of the editing room with its smell of fresh paint and the muffled sounds of workers outside.
Pushing the hurt away, she began to think practically.
I have to inform them.
She realized the only way to inform them of her marriage was to go personally.
But she doubted if her father would allow her anywhere near the Gaur palace.
Unless Bharat Jogra goes with me.
Her heart jerked at the thought. She knew her parents would not only welcome her but also believe she was married to Bharat Jogra if he accompanied her.
Will he agree?
She wasn’t too sure. But she had to convince him.
She pulled up her phone, only to realize with embarrassment and disbelief that she didn’t have Bharat Jogra’s number.
They had been married for nearly two weeks. She let him into her bed each night. But she still didn’t have his phone number.
Her cheeks warmed at the absurdity of it.
After a moment’s hesitation, she scrolled and tapped the security contact saved in her phone.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” the security head said promptly when he answered.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Tikku,” Yamini replied. She cleared her throat. “I… I need Bharat’s number.”
There was only a short pause on the other end.
“Yes, Your Highness,” he said smoothly. “I’ll send it to you right away.”
She murmured a thank-you and ended the call, mortified by how strange the request must have sounded.
Less than ten seconds later, a message came through with a single number and no commentary.
She stared at it.
This is ridiculous,she thought.I’m married to him.
Still, her thumb hesitated before she tapped call.
She stood up from the chair without meaning to, the way she always did when she was nervous about something.
It was the middle of the day. He would be in meetings. Or at the steel plant. Or doing a hundred things that didn’t include answering calls from a wife he barely spoke to.
