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Sanjana shook away the thoughts as she, along with her sister, approached the banquet hall where the family meet and greet was set up. She and her sister had a transparent veil over their head, covering their faces according to tradition until the marriage.
She raised her eyes slowly and scanned the room, and it took her a split second to spot him. He was tall, and it was hard to miss him, even in a room full of people. He was turned away from her as he spoke to her father, and as if he sensed her eyes on him, he turned slowly, his eyes locking with hers through the transparent veil.
A low gasp escaped her as her heart started to thud when he began to walk toward her. She could not get herself to avert her eyes from his, even as he walked through the family, standing and looking at the two brides in awe.
In her peripheral view, she saw her sister’s fiancé, Surya, approach his bride-to-be to lead her to where his family was gathered for the meet and greet. A sudden panic gripped her when she realized there was more to what she was about to get into with this marriage.
The handsome man seemed to be promising her a new world after a year of being married to him, but she wondered what her life would be like. She was going to be a part of the region’s royal family, and she had no idea what that meant.
And why her? Why did this guy want to marry a girl out of the royal family like every other royal?
Something was way off, and she needed to know what the guy was up to and why she was getting added to the mix.
Even as her thoughts reeled with doubts, the moment he smiled, her lips curved up as he approached her. He held his hand out, and as if she trusted him with everything, she placed her hand in his and followed him to the center of the room.
She was nervous as she followed him but smiled as they were greeted by the guests who had gathered that morning. Suddenly, there was no crowd, and her eyes fell on a couple seated on a couch set to one side of the banquet hall.
Her steps faltered when she saw the royal couple—his parents—dressed in traditional attire. She was suddenly overwhelmed that she was in the presence of the family who had been leading and governing the region and doing everything needed above and beyond what the government was providing.
As if he sensed her panic and apprehension, he squeezed her hand as he led her closer to the couple. As if starstruck, she looked at the older couple even as he bent to touch their feet for their blessings.
A moment later, she lowered herself to her knees and touched the royal couple’s feet, and they seemed to be taken aback by the gesture. “God bless you both.” His mother, the queen, let out a chuckle. “Jai, when did you get into the habit of touching our feet? You got the poor girl to bend too.”
“Traditions, Ma,” he said and looked at her. “Sanjana, this is my mother and father.”
Sanjana was in a daze as she pressed her palms together in a traditional greeting. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness and Queen of Devaraya.”
His mother smiled, taking Sanjana’s hand in hers. “We are going to be one family. Please don’t be so formal with us.”
Sanjana nodded. “It’ll take me some time.”
The older woman let out a laugh. “Take all the time you want. I’m just glad this guy convinced you to marry him.”
Convinced her? Like he would have trouble convincing anyone to marry him. Did the queen know about the deal? What was the entire family up to?
“We finally get to meet her,” an enthusiastic woman’s voice cut through Sanjana’s thoughts. She looked in the direction of the voice to find a woman clad in a beautiful yet modern saree approaching them. “Sanjana, I’m Aishwarya.”
Sanjana shook hands, wondering who she was, and a moment later, she placed her. The Princess of Devaraya. The adopted daughter of the royal couple. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”
The young woman wagged her finger, a smile on her face. “Aish, please. I insist. You are going to be my sister soon.”
“Sure.” Sanjana flashed her a smile.
“You are so pretty. No wonder my brother fell for you when he saw you at your friend’s wedding.
What?
Sanjana was stunned to hear what Aish said, but before she could ask what she meant, she was whisked away by her fiancé to meet the extended family. She was introduced to many others, but none of the names or relationships registered as she processed his sister’s statement.
Where the heck did he see her, and what wedding was it? And he fell for me? What crap!
As they moved around the room with all his introductions and her smiling, she was becoming increasingly impatient. She took the moment when she was supposed to take him to her family to introduce him, and dragged him toward one of the open patio doors. “We need to talk.”
She needed answers before it was too late. No matter what he had said, if she didn’t feel like she could trust the guy, she had to make another attempt at escaping the marriage.
“What is your sister talking about?” Sanjana chose to ask that first before any other question because that was bothering her the most.
The handsome face did not falter. “What are you talking about?”
