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It was one meal, but the preparations started days in advance with many people working to provide a wonderful experience for everyone. It was also the time her father met with the youth in the region and talked to them along with his colleagues to provide educational and career guidance.
What her father and colleagues had done as a once-a-year gathering was now their retirement plan. She smiled at the thought of spending time in the village. “I’m so excited. I want to go right now.”
Her sister let out a cry of joy. “I wish I could, but my leave won’t start for another few days so I plan to get there by Thursday. Do insist with Jai that he join us so Surya and he can hang out.”
Sanjana rolled her eyes, knowing for sure her husband won’t be able to join her for the events, especially since she hadn’t seen him in three days. “Okay, I’ll message him.”
“Oh, right, you use all the time to talk dirty so everything else is only via texts,” Deepika teased, and Sanjana could only slap her palm to her forehead.
“Deepika, what are we, teenagers?” Sanjana snickered.
“We are not in our nineties either,” Deepika said, continuing to laugh. She and her sister never talked about each other’s love lives, mainly because she never had one, and her sister was always studying. Her sister probably felt it was okay to tease each other since they were both married. Unfortunately, only one was married for real.
“Okay, I’m gonna hang up.” Sanjana couldn’t help but smile and add, “Can’t wait for all the fun.”
“Bye, love you. See you soon.” Deepika was definitely pumped up, and she got Sanjana all excited too.
She ended the call and immediately texted Anjali to make arrangements for the trip. She only shared the details for the one-way trip and said nothing about the return. When she saw her head of staff acknowledge her message, she started walking back to their chambers to pack. Her travel was not for another two days, but she was ready to go now.
Sanjana texted her team to have a couple of bags packed for her, one with traditional clothes and another with casual ones. She had to execute her return seamlessly. She had to go to the flying club in the same city as their parents’ house. She added a reminder to call and schedule the flight times with the club.
What if her husband wanted to know? Would he care where she was as long as she was around for the events he added to her calendars?
She paused for a moment and realized she was yet to inform Jai about her travel.
Sanjana:Hi Jai, I need to visit my grandparents’ village for an event, and I’m planning to spend some time with my parents after that. Anjali is taking care of my travel. Hope everything is going well with whatever you are working on.
She hit send on a message that was as long as an email and stared at it like she expected an instant response. A moment later, she put her phone away, knowing he must be neck-deep in his work, so she had to get on with the things she had to do.
This arrangement was turning out to be a perfect one for her!
*****
The day of her travel finally arrived. She had truly hoped for Aish to join even when the king and queen declined her invitation to her grandparents’ village due to a prior commitment. Aish took a rain check as she was in the middle of designing a wedding outfit for a client abroad.
She held her bag in her lap and quietly looked out the window when all she could think about was sticking her head out and crying out with joy. It felt good to get out on her own. She was glad she had the palace guards accompanying her to the airport because of the paparazzi. She hoped to quickly get out of the car and slip into the terminal.
More than looking forward to seeing her parents and attending the event, she was stoked about being able to fly again after almost a month. She only hoped her skills hadn’t gotten rusty in a month.
Even as the car approached the terminal, the excitement had a strain of concern. What it was, she had no idea. Was it the fact that she was secretly planning to go to the flying club? She wondered why she was keeping it a secret, even from the man who understood her goals most. She made a mental note to text him about her plans once she left her grandparents’ village and arrived at her parents’ house.
Her heart dropped to her stomach when she saw a large group of reporters gathered at the terminal where she was supposed to go. Was it going to become national news that she was traveling alone without the Yuvraj? What if they spin a controversy out of nothing?
She started to breathe heavily and was so lost in what the media would say about what she wore that day and what bag she carried that she started to panic. A month ago, it didn’t matter to her what they said about her but now, whatever it was about her tied back to the palace. She only hoped she wouldn’t create any drama that Jai would have to deal with later, not when he was so busy.
Sanjana was panicking and stared out of the window at the reporters as the car approached them. She braced herself for the unpleasant experience of being blinded by the camera flashes, but the car slowly drove past the group. She looked at the man behind the wheel and then toward the back and saw the confusion swarm the paparazzi.
A moment later, the car stopped, and the door on her side opened before she was ready to go.
“Let’s go.” The all-too-familiar voice made her look up, and she froze when she saw the prince standing in front of her, his hand held out. “Don’t look so shocked. Your husband just gave you a huge surprise.”
A laugh escaped her as he pulled her to him, and the worry that was lingering in her head melted away. She wrapped her arms around him as he slid her off the back seat.
Her breath hitched when she felt his lips on her temple, just like they had in that picture. The sizzle she felt was a familiar one, like her body remembered his touch, even if her mind didn’t register it the last time. “What are you doing here?” she asked as he briskly walked her toward the private terminal.
“Where do you think I’m going? Wherever you are headed.” He nuzzled her ear before waving at the reporters who had managed to run down to where they were.
Was this all a show for the cameras? Showing up unannounced after ignoring her for days? Whatever it was for, it made her heart flutter, and she felt good with the attention from the Yuvraj. “Are you really going with me to my grandparents’ village?”
