AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Considering the royal family member was involved, there were people taking advantage of either gaining support or provoking an argument online. She remembered hearing him talk on the phone as she slowly dozed off.
The large clock told her it was too early for Aish to be awake, so she skipped the idea of messaging her. Instead, she rushed into the bathroom to shower so she could go spend time with Aish that morning.
The shower was the quick option, but the bathtub was calling to her, and a moment later, she gave in. There was so much tension from everything that transpired, she knew she would benefit from it. She had enjoyed a few such baths with just the hot water before washing off quickly in the shower. She didn’t feel guilty about the water she used because filling up the tub, she knew the water would be recycled to be used in the gardens.
Shedding the last of her clothing, she slipped into the hot water and let out a sigh as she was enveloped in the warmth. Her eyes rolled shut, taking in the soothing effect of the water, and rested her arms on the rim of the marble-lined tub. She felt the stiffness in her muscles ease away.
Barely any time had passed, and she was slowly slipping into a slumber, which was a sign for her to get out of the tub and wash off quickly. She was talking to herself about being a good person and getting out of the bathtub when she heard movement outside the bathroom.
It was not the time for the cleaning crew to be there, and it meant it was Jai. “Oh, shit.” She groaned when she realized her robe was not next to her but was hanging on the door instead of the counter space between the shower and the tub’s rim.
She hurried out of the tub, splashing water all over the floor, tiptoeing to the door. Just as she thought, she reached for the robe on the hook, her hand moved away, and her foot slipped. The next thing she knew. her bottom hit the floor and a cry escaped her.
“Sanjana, what’s wrong?” She heard Jai outside the door, and in her utter desire to not be discovered wet and naked, she gathered the strength to get up and reach for the robe. The toweling material was barely on her chest and hips when the bathroom door opened, and he stepped in, looking shocked at the sight in front of him.
He kneeled next to her, inspecting her shaking body. “Sanjana, are you hurt? Where is the pain?” He gently touched her as he continued to check for injuries. She was still too shaken to talk, but she managed to show him a thumbs-up. He pulled out his phone and spoke into it. “Send the doctor to our private chambers. Quick.” He put his phone away and looked at her. “I’m going to pick you up. Tell me if anything hurts.”
She nodded. “I’m okay.” She wanted to tell him she could walk, but before that, he pulled her body off the water, his dress shirt getting wet as he stepped into the bedroom to gently place her on the bed. “Jai, I need clothes.” Her voice shook as she started to shiver from the cold.
He was gone for a second but came back with a couple of fresh towels. He paused to look at her. “I’m going to take your robe and wrap you in these towels.” He held her gaze. “I won’t look.”
She couldn’t help but smile as he looked away, taking off the robe partly before placing the towel over her chest, along her length, before dropping the damp fabric to the floor. He then draped the lower half of her body with another towel and let out a chuckle. “Fine, I looked, but only for a second.”
Heat crept up her cheeks at his confession, and her heart started to flutter as she smiled at him. “You are my husband, so I guess it’s okay.”
He shook his head. “What were you—” His voice was interrupted by a message on the intercom about the doctor’s arrival. “Stay put, please.” He left her side to go to the door, and she took a moment to adjust the towels over her body for maximum coverage.
Shortly after, she heard voices and let out a sigh of relief when she heard a woman talking to Jai. It wasn’t like it was going to be any less embarrassing explaining to the doctor how she fell but hoped it would be a bit more comfortable having a woman inspect her injury.
She felt fine for the most part, except for how her bottom jittered in pain. She looked in the direction of the double doors when one of them opened, and a woman who seemed to be in her fifties stepped in, a broad smile on her face. “What have you kids been up to?” She laughed, and Sanjana wanted to hide under the sheets.
What did the woman think they were doing?
“I was… I slipped and fell while getting out of the bathtub,” she managed to say as the doctor walked to her and smiled knowingly.
“Sanjana, this is Dr. Swaminath, and she is the chief doctor at the palace hospital. Sanjana nodded at the older woman, wondering how she had missed the fact that there was a hospital on the premises. It wasn’t on the map she was given when she arrived at her new home.
“It is good to finally meet you, Sanjana.” The woman smiled and added, “Will you tell me where it hurts most?”
She nodded and said, “On my bottom, mostly on the right.” Her eyes flew to Jai as he stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes on her, and his hand covering his mouth. His expression was unreadable, making her wonder if he was having a good laugh out of this or was he worried.
“I moved her from the bathroom onto the bed. I hope I didn’t make anything worse,” he said, and that made her warm in the chest. He was concerned about her—his fake wife.
“I don’t see any swelling from the sides, and based on how calm she is, chances of a fracture are slim.” The doctor continued her inspection and added, “Sanjana, can you turn over and lay on your tummy?”
Sanjana stiffened. “I… I need to put on some clothes.” Her eyes flew from the doctor to Jai. She was suddenly conscious about being naked in the room with him.
The doctor smiled and stepped away. “Jai, she is feeling self-conscious. Why don’t you roll her over and cover her body except for her bottom.”
She heard his scoff as she let out a gasp. “I think I can roll over myself,” she said, but the doctor wagged her finger.
“Sanjana, no sudden movements. Jai will move you slowly according to my instructions,” the doctor insisted, and she nodded, looking at her husband. He had his eyes trained on hers, and she held his gaze as he slowly lifted the sheet and held it with one hand while turning her slowly as he slipped his hand under her back.
All along, he kept his eyes on hers, and her mouth went dry as her heart went crazy in her chest. He did not avert his eyes until she looked away when her body turned away from him. A smile formed on her face as she felt him adjust the towels over her body with the sheets covering her.
Once he had turned her over, she heard him excuse himself to make a phone call. Her eyes followed him through the sheer material that hung from the top of the canopy bed as he left the bedroom.
As if he felt her eyes on him, he stopped at the door, and turned to look her way, making her smile. “I’ll be right outside,” he said before closing the door behind him.
