A Royal Affair: The Sravanapura Royals

by Preethi Venugopala

  “What the hell is this? Can’t you be at least discreet? Is this the same girl who is living as your guest in the palace right now? Read what is written here. What will I tell Tejaswini’s parents?”

  The questions irritated Vijay. He met his father’s gaze boldly. “Tell them whatever is written is true. I'm in love with that girl and won’t marry their daughter. That alliance was a mistake from the beginning.”

  “What mistake? You and Tejaswini are perfectly suited for each other. Don’t you know we royals marry only other royals? And who is this new girl?”

  His father’s words were unravelling the knots holding his anger in place. He bit his inner cheek to control the anger. He had no right to get angry at his father. He had never talked about Jane with anyone in his family, except Kritika. It had been his sacred secret.

  “She is not anyone new. We were in a relationship while I was at the university. I lost her due to my mistake and the then circumstances. I won’t allow it to happen again.”

  “You had a girlfriend while you were in university? That is news to me.”

  The genuine surprise on his father’s face forced him to calm down. He briefly narrated their story and explained the circumstances that had led to their separation, how Kritika’s kidnapping had turned his own life upside down. From the sudden silence that filled the room, Vijay suspected that the incident was still fresh a festering wound in Rudra Dev’s mind as well. After remaining silent for a full minute, he sighed and addressed him.

  “Bring her to the party. I would like to meet her. What did you say was her name?”

  “Jane Worthington.”

  “Worthington? Oh God, not another Worthington!” His father got up and walked towards the window.

  Vijay stared dumbly at his father. Did he know the Worthingtons?

  “Dad, what do you mean by that? Do you know anything about Daniel?” he asked tentatively, immediately connecting his father’s reaction to the recent discoveries about Daniel.

  “Of course, I know him. He eloped with my favourite aunt. How will I ever forget that?”

  Vijay got up and walked towards him.

  “Tell me, Dad. Do you know where they are now?”

  “I have no clue as to where they are now. My father searched for them until his death three years ago. As far as I know, he got no clue as to where they were. He loved his sister and never forgave the fellow who messed up all his grand plans for her.”

  “But how did Daniel meet great-aunt Devika? From what I’ve heard, he rescued her from bandits.”

  “Yes. My mother and I were with her when that happened. I don’t remember the incident as I was just five or six years old then. But my mother has often told me about it. We had gone to the Kote Venketramana temple to offer prayers on aunt Devika’s birthday. Somewhere along the highway, a group of masked robbers surrounded our car. Those were troubled days. We mostly had soldiers around us whenever anyone from the family went out. But that day, there had been no soldiers accompanying us because of some reason. My mother told me how this brave, young British soldier on horseback, who happened to pass that way then along with a few of his other mates fought off the robbers. Daniel went after the robber who had dragged off aunt Devika and rescued her. He was badly injured in the ensuing scuffle.”

  “Oh! What happened after that?”

  “My mother had him brought into the palace to recuperate. He fought for his life for long. He was treated by the royal surgeons and doctors. He was our guest for almost two months. My father showered him with gifts and recommended to his superiors to give him a promotion for the good deed once he recovered. Between all this, Aunt Devika had fallen in love with the handsome British soldier who almost lost his life trying to save her. My mother told me that I was the messenger boy who carried their love letters to and fro. Apparently, they would hide their letters in my pocket and bribe me with sweets to do the job. Imagine that!” Rudra Dev said and laughed. His stomach joined in and Vijay snorted.

  “Oh! But why did Grandma refuse to tell us any of this when we went asking for help?” Vijay asked once the laughter subsided.

  “She received enough flak from father for encouraging their relationship. She now refuses to talk about that topic. By the way, how is Jane related to Daniel? And how did you know about him?”

  “Her grandfather and Daniel are twins. Grandpa Bill sent her to find Daniel. It is kind of his last wish.”

  “Oh! Why didn’t you tell me about Jane while you were in University? I thought we were more like friends than just father and son. I had always thought your years abroad had changed you. But I never thought the reason was a heartbreak. I would have found a solution for it, son.”

  “It is okay, Dad. It doesn’t matter anymore. We are together again. And this time, I won’t let her go. Please, Dad, don’t force me to marry Tejaswini. I love Jane.”

  “Okay. But this will be a huge scandal. Especially with elections around the corner. However, don’t worry. I will find a way.”

  Vijay heaved a sigh of relief hearing his father’s words.

  “I'm sorry I have landed you in a soup.”

  “It is okay, Vijay. This is no trouble. Marriage without love can be hell. Been there, done that. Your mother never loved me. Ours had been one of those pompous alliances where love had no role to play. I suspect she was in love with someone else but was forced to marry me. There was a huge age gap between us. I was thirty-five and she was just nineteen when I married her. We had you when I was forty. For that, I'm really thankful to her. After Kritika was born three years later, she told me openly that she hated me. Went off to her home whenever she felt like. Vanished for months at a time. And then one day, she never came back. Her family told me it was a freak accident. But my enquiries told me it had been a drink-and-drive incident. I didn’t even know that my wife drowned in alcohol on a daily basis.”

  Rudra Dev slumped in a nearby chair and leaned back, closing his eyes as if to shut out the unpleasant memories.

  Vijay frowned. He remembered how cold his mother was towards him and Kritika. He didn’t have any pleasant memories associated with her. They had spent most of their childhood away from home, in boarding schools. But he did remember smelling alcohol in her room sometime during his teens while he was experimenting with it himself. He also remembered hearing about her death. It had come unexpected yet it had not affected him much. Perhaps she didn’t love her kids either. At least, she had never made them feel so. Their nannies had raised them while their mother flitted from party to party. But he hadn’t known the depth of hurt his father held within him. Vijay squeezed his father’s shoulders.

  “I'm sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be. I'm trying to forget all that. I'm sixty-six. All I wish nowadays is to see you and Kritika settled happily. I'm proud of how you have expanded our business empire. I believe you don’t need an arranged marriage to expand it further. Your Jane can be the driving force behind you.”

  Vijay smiled.

  “Dad, I need your help to find Daniel. Jane’s grandfather is dying. He wishes to see Daniel one last time.”

  “I want to see Aunt Devika too. I will help you in your quest. Will see you at the party, son. Bring your Jane, okay?”

  “I will. Thank you so much. I love you, Dad.”

  Rudra Dev got up, hugged his son and walked away swiftly.

  Vijay sat there for another half an hour, planning furiously about what he hoped would be an eventful day in his and Jane’s life.

  Chapter 16

  “You can choose from any one of these. Or do you need me to help you decide?”

  Jane stared at the many Indian designer dresses hanging on the dress trolley the palace stylist had brought into her room. Wow, they had their own stylist!

  “I think I will use your help. I cannot decide. They all look fabulous.”

  “Okay, I suggest you wear this off-white lehenga with the blue zardosi applique border and satin blue top with golden thread work
to go with it. It comes with this off-white net drape that has blue and gold lace trimmings.” The stylist held the lehenga and the top against her own body so that Jane could get an idea.

  “Wow! It sure looks great.” Jane ran her finger on the delicate and exquisitely decorated lehenga.

  “It will also bring out the colour of your eyes. Do try it on. I will do any alterations if required.”

  Jane had never worn Indian wear before. But when she tried it on, the dress hugged her curves as if it was stitched exclusively for her.

  “Amazing! It fits you perfectly. I will bring a few accessories to go with it. I’ll also get the beautician here, in about half an hour. Will that be okay, ma’am?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Jane sighed in relief as the stylist walked out of the room. So, this was how it was to be a royal. Phew! At least she wouldn’t make a spectacle of herself dressed in her casuals. This was supposedly a party that marked the beginning of the spring season in the kingdom. It was a 500-year-old tradition where the king would invite all his influential landlords and tenants to join him to welcome the spring. From what Kritika told her, there would be music and dance performances the whole night and a huge bonfire would be lit in the early hours of the morning to ward off all evil from the kingdom.

  Vijay had not returned yet after his meeting with his father. Kritika had asked her not to worry about that as both father and son were always a team. They apparently never really had a bad moment with each other. Did that mean that Vijay’s father would approve of their relationship?

  She went to take a leisurely bath during which she brooded about all that had been happening in her life. Finding Daniel still seemed like a distant dream. She desperately wished for a miracle or a clue that would lead her to Daniel. She was blissfully happy because of Vijay but she wanted happiness for Grandpa Bill too.

  She dressed herself up in a silk dressing gown and stepped out of the bathroom after tying up her hair in a bath towel.

  When she stepped into the dressing room, the connecting door to Vijay’s room opened suddenly and she shrank back in fear. Her shock turned to happiness as Vijay stepped into her room.

  “Are you feeling nervous before your first royal ball, my princess?” Vijay asked, imprisoning Jane in his strong arms.

  “No. Because I know you will be near me,” Jane whispered to him.

  “I have something for you and I want you to wear it tonight.”

  He handed her a jewellery case made of velvet and she opened it. A gold necklace, encrusted with big sapphires that were surrounded by tiny diamonds, lay inside. There was a pair of matching cascading earrings and bangles too.

  “Oh my God, they are so pretty! Thank you.”

  “Only thank you?”

  Instead of answering that verbally, Jane stood on her toes and slipped her arms around his waist, tilting her face and offering herself for a kiss.

  Tenderly, he cupped her face with his palms and kissed her. It began as a soft, mild kiss, but soon it sizzled and smouldered. And just when his hands started roaming hungrily over her, they heard Kritika calling her name. Swearing, Vijay released her.

  “Go, sweetheart. See you at the party.”

  He returned to his room reluctantly.

  ***

  Kritika was all dressed up for the party. The stylist and another lady, who Jane assumed was the beautician, had accompanied her.

  “He waylaid you again, right? I heard voices. I don’t blame him. You have tortured him for so long,” Kritika whispered in her ears and Jane blushed to the roots of her hair. She would have preferred to spend time in his arms rather than getting ready for this party that was already giving her jitters.

  “Do you prefer to straighten your hair or leave them to their natural curls, ma’am?”

  “Leave it as it is,” said Jane, remembering how much Vijay loved her curls.

  The beautician misted on a shine spray to revive and set her curls and then allowed it to cascade down her back with a centre partition. Then she started working on her face. The lady sure was talented. Jane looked like a diva by the time she was done with her.

  After that, Jane changed into the outfit of the day. When she came out of the dressing room, Kritika whistled.

  The stylist stepped forward and opened a box with the accessories to go with the outfit.

  “I want to wear these,” said Jane opening the velvet case Vijay had given.

  Kritika whooped in delight and the two women helped her wear the jewellery.

  “I think you need one more accessory,” said the stylist and after rummaging through her box, came up with an accessory that resembled an ornate chain with a decorative pendent at one end. She explained it was called a nethi chutti or maang tikka, and was a hair ornament. She placed the pendant over her forehead and pinned it to her hair, stretching it and covering the hair partition. The blue stones on it matched Jane’s outfit perfectly.

  “Oh my God! I can’t wait to see the reaction of my poor brother. He will be toast. You are looking amazing, Jane.”

  Jane laughed nervously and smoothed the lehenga one more time. The stylist laid out a pair of golden ballerinas and Jane felt like Cinderella getting ready for her first ball with the prince. And she was indeed in a palace. Everything felt so surreal.

  “Best selection, as you will need to be on your feet the whole night,” said Kritika, indicating the ballerinas. By then it was time to go down.

  Kritika led her through multiple corridors and wings in the palace. While she walked behind her, Jane couldn’t help but wonder whether Daniel had walked along these very corridors decades ago. Did he also look at these paintings and wall art all those years ago? Was he as nervous as she was feeling now?

  Thoughts about Daniel led her into thinking about Grandpa Bill and she felt guilty that she was pursuing her own happiness when she should be looking for Daniel. But what could she do when all the leads were going nowhere. She sent up a quick prayer for Grandpa Bill just before they reached the top of the stairs that went down into the royal ballroom. The stairs were used only by the royals, Kritika told her, as they waited for the footman to announce them.

  Jane wiped her clammy hands on the inner pleats of her lehenga surreptitiously. She bit her lips to calm down her nerves and then she saw Vijay waiting for her down the stairs. His eyes smouldered when they met hers and all her nervousness vanished in a whoosh, replaced by the confidence that was spurred on by the open admiration she found in his eyes. She walked down the stairs, her eyes focused only on him.

  She had never seen Vijay in ethnic wear. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored, black, velvet knee-length jacket, which Kritika told her was called achkan, over ivory breech type trousers called churidar. Every inch of him screamed grace and power. He was indeed a sight for sore eyes. Her heart thudded and jigged happily at the thought that this man belonged to her and only her.

  Chapter 17

  Mesmerized, Vijay stared at the vision coming down the stairs. How had he become so lucky to belong to this beautiful young maiden walking towards him? With every step that she descended, he fell a little more in love with her.

  The sway of her hips and the tantalizing view of her midriff bared by the two-piece lehenga shot zings of lust right to his groin. Her mesmerizing curls had taken on a magical aura. The traditional Indian attire, the jewellery and the nethi chutti on her forehead made her look like an exotic Indian bride. The entire look was befitting a medieval princess. Her prince would have given anything to be free of all obligations and escape with her to some faraway island where he could fulfil all the wild fantasies that popped up in his mind one after the other.

  The guests had fallen silent too and were staring at Jane. Had his interest in her piqued their interest or had they recognised her from the tabloid? He held out his hands to her and when she placed her hand in his outstretched hand, he felt as if he had conquered the world.

  “You look like a dream, sweetheart,” he said and m
anaged to restrict himself to just a lingering kiss on her knuckles.

  Murmurs started to buzz and he knew they were discussing them. How would they react when they knew he had broken off his engagement to Tejaswini? He didn’t really care. All he wanted was Jane by his side, throughout his life.

  “Who is she, Vijay? Won’t you introduce her to us?” His cousin Pranav, the son of his father’s youngest sister, came forward. Vijay wanted to shred him to bits for the way his eyes were devouring Jane. He glowered at him.

  Vijay slipped his arms around Jane’s waist and pulled her closer as he said, “You will soon know.”

  Ignoring Pranav’s bewildered expression, he walked forward looking for his father. But to his surprise, his father was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he had walked out to attend an important call. That seemed strange. When a royal party was going on, all the calls were attended by his assistant, who had strict instructions not to disturb him unless it was really urgent.

  Kritika came towards him and grabbed Jane’s arms, pulling her away from him. With a chuckle, Jane followed her. Vijay scowled at them. Jane looked at him over her shoulders and held his gaze. She smiled and he felt his world warm over under its warmth.

  He looked around. Most of the guests stood staring in his direction uncomfortably. Perhaps they were waiting for him to direct them to their seats. The musicians were waiting for his instruction to begin and the butlers stood in the corridor, waiting to deliver the snacks and drinks.

  Sensing his duty, he walked to the dais and welcomed the guests, making excuses for his father. He asked them to join him and his family as they welcomed spring in all its glory. The festivities, he informed them, would continue all through the night. This would be one of the most memorable nights in their lives. His eyes flitted to Jane’s and he was dazed momentarily, caught in the many hopes he held for the night.