Shivina leaned forward and gripped my hand tightly before she whispered.
“Meher, maybe try and think back about where you got the hot chocolate. Did you order it from the kitchen? And where did all this happen?”
“It happened at Samrat’s palace. We were guests at the palace, attending a polo match. And we were supposed to return home after a leisurely breakfast the next day. But I woke up and found myself right in the middle of a living nightmare.”
“Speaking of nightmares, guess who’s coming over to say hi?” she murmured.
Without turning my head, I took a wild guess.
“Nilanjana?”
Shivina touched her nose in response, and I grinned at her under my hat.
“Chalo, at least someone wants to say hi to this pariah,” I muttered as Nilanjana swept into the enclosure.
“Fancy seeing you here, Meher,” she said sweetly. “I didn’t think you’d have the courage to attend after your cold reception at the party yesterday.”
“Babe, did you meet with a cold reception atmyparty?” Shivina interjected with surprise. “I thought you were the life and soul of the party.”
“Well,youwould think that, sweetie. But those of us who’ve been born into this lifestyle know better,” Nilanjana said with a sneer.
Shivina moved to rise, but I put out a hand and held her back.
“Some of us might have been born into this lifestyle, Nilanjana, but they surely haven’t been bred to it, and it shows,” I said pointedly, and she turned a deep, ugly red in anger.
It was a very low blow because everyone knew the Jhalas were penniless royals who only gained some social credibility after Nilanjana married Samrat’s brother. And she had funneled quite a bit of his money to her family before he cut them all off.
“I know you’re not here to speak to me, but Samrat isn’t here yet. When he gets here,ifhe’s in the mood to listen to your crap, we’ll send for you. Until then, please scurry back to your box because you’re not welcome here,” I said, in a bored voice.
“Why, you little…” she began shrilly, but I put a finger to my lips gently.
“Shh…shh…shh…This is exactly what I meant. After all these years, you still haven’t learnt that one never,but never, makes a scene at the polo club. If you don’t believe me, ask the steward,” I said, waving at the tiny man with the big moustache who had sidled into our box when he heard raised voices.
“Is everything okay, Your Highness?” he asked nervously.
“Everything’s great, Bhogilal Ji,” I said politely. “We’d love some strawberries to go with the prosecco, and please take the trash out when you leave.”
He gulped in fear and gave Nilanjana a weak smile.
“Your Highness, your guests for the day are waiting for you in your box,” he said nervously, and Nilanjana pursed her lips in anger before she stalked out of the VIP enclosure.
Shivina whistled softly after she left and turned to me with a wide, wicked grin.
“That was amazing! A masterclass in the art of putting people in their place. Do they teach that in your fancy finishing schools?”
“Of course! It’s a required course in the final year. With a 100% pass grade,” I shot back, with a grin as wide as hers.
“Well, well, well…if it isn’t my favourite girl in the world,” drawled someone, and I froze in my chair.
“Who the hell are you?” demanded Shivina.
Her voice reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this anymore. I had friends who supported me, no matter what. That gave me the courage to stand up and face the man who had ruined my life in one easy stroke. I looked down my nose at him and smiled coldly.
“Shivina, meet yet another of the loser Jhalas. Creep, waste of space, and sleazebag extraordinaire, His Highness Sanjay Jhala. Also known in polite society as Nilanjana’s useless brother.”
CHAPTER 13
SAMRAT
