CHAPTER 28
The helicopter touched down on the Jogra palace landing pad just as the last light left the mountains.
Yamini stepped out with her camera bag slung over one shoulder.
“Good night, Mr. Tikku.”
The security head returned the greeting with a small nod. “Good night, Your Highness.”
Yamini was looking forward to the quiet meal in her bedroom suite. She was exhausted and hungry after the long day at the studio.
She was still thinking about Pooja's enthusiastic but largely unhelpful conversation when she noticed something.
There were more guards than usual.
There were four additional men at the landing pad. Another four flanked the main entrance, where normally only two stood.
Bharat Jogra must have returned home early. He rarely returned before dinner.
Before she could decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing, the main doors opened as she approached. Inside, the palace staff seemed to hurry with excitement.
Although the staff respected their maharaja, she had never seen them brimming with excitement at his presence.
Strange.
Kamla stepped forward. Kamla, who was normally composed, was also brimming with anticipation.
“Maharani,” Kamla said. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Kamla.” Yamini unzipped her coat. “Please send dinner early tonight.”
Kamla took the coat with a smile. “Oh, but you’ll be having dinner at the dining hall tonight.”
Yamini frowned, feeling annoyed that Bharat Jogra had issued a command to have her join him for dinner.
Bossy jerk.
She was about to tell Kamla that she won’t be joining him for dinner when Kamla’s smile widened slightly.
“The cooks are preparing several specialty dishes. Some of your favorite dishes, and the rest are Rani Ma’s favorite.”
Yamini frowned. “Rani Ma’s?”
“Rani Suchitra Devi is here, maharani,” Kamla said with her eyes shining. “She arrived early this evening.”
Yamini froze.
Rani Suchitra. Here. At the Jogra palace.
Nobody had warned her.
She looked down at herself.
She was wearing faded jeans and an oversized white t-shirt that held pencil marks. Her hair was carelessly tied into a knot after spending most of the day hanging photographs.
She looked more like an exhausted photographer returning from work than a maharani receiving her mother-in-law for the first time in the palace.
Oh God.
Before she could think of a way to slip past and go to her bedroom from the back of the palace, the large doors opened.
The formal sitting room off the main hall glowed with warm light.
Rani Suchitra Devi sat on the large ivory settee. She was wearing a deep teal silk saree with a gold border, her silver-streaked hair in an elegant bun, a single strand of pearls at her neck.
Mira, Rani Suchitra’s longtime assistant, sat across from her, a slim folder open on her lap, mid-sentence when she saw Yamini frozen at the doorway.
For a brief moment, Yamini still considered retreating and escaping to her room through the back entrance. But taking a deep breath, she stepped in.
Mira smiled warmly. “Maharani Yamini.” She rose slightly in greeting. “It is lovely to see you.”
“You too, Mira.” Yamini was grateful for the warmth.
She looked at Rani Suchitra. “Rani Ma,” she greeted with her heart thudding.
The queen mother's gaze moved over her once, taking in the faded jeans, oversized shirt, escaped strands of hair, and pencil marks with the same regal composure she used during charity galas and political meetings.
“Yamini,” she said with a single, dignified nod.
Yamini stood there awkwardly, not knowing whether to sit or apologize for her untidy appearance.
“Sorry, I wasn't here when you arrived, Rani Ma,” she said. “I was at the studio and didn’t know—”
A sound interrupted her.
Small. Insistent. Deeply familiar.
A soft mew.
Yamini's stomach dropped, and she turned slowly.
Not now. Oh God, not now.
Sheru must have decided that it was an excellent evening for a palace tour. True to his name, the grey-and-white kitten trotted across the marble floor with the confidence of an animal that had never once been told it did not belong somewhere.
He made a beeline directly for Rani Suchitra.
Yamini watched in horror before she moved. But she was not fast enough.
Sheru reached Rani Suchitra’s feet, sniffed the hem of the deep teal silk saree with great interest, and then, apparently satisfied with what he found, began rubbing the side of his small face against it.
Yamini crossed the room and scooped Sheru up with both hands.
“I'm so sorry,” she said.
The kitten made a sound of mild protest at being interrupted mid-investigation.
Yamini turned and held Sheru out to Savita, who was already moving forward. “So sorry, maharani. He must have escaped while the staff was busy.”
Yamini nodded. “It’s okay. Please take him downstairs and give him a fresh bowl of milk.”
“Yes, maharani.” Savita took Sheru and retreated.
Yamini turned back to Rani Suchitra. “I apologize. He is not usually in this part of the palace.”
Rani Suchitra looked at the doorway through which Savita and the kitten had disappeared. Then she looked back at Yamini.
“Is the kitten yours?” she asked.
“Yes… I found him outside. He was freezing.”
There was a brief loaded silence.
“It seems,” Rani Suchitra said calmly, “the palace has changed considerably since my last visit.”
Yamini couldn't tell whether that was criticism.
Or amusement. Or something else entirely.
Five years ago, Yamini would have laughed and proudly told Rani Suchitra about rescuing the kitten. Now, she wasn't entirely sure.
“I’ll…” Yamini began awkwardly. “I'll freshen up and join you both for dinner. It won't take long.” She looked at Mira. “Please ask the kitchen for anything you need in the meantime.”
“Of course,” Mira said pleasantly. “Take your time, maharani.”
Yamini smiled once at both of them and walked toward the staircase.
She forced herself not to walk too quickly.
As soon as she was out of their sight, she ran through the corridors and then towards her room.
She entered her bedroom and closed the door.
She leaned back against it as her heart still raced.
Oh God.
She had expected her first meeting with Rani Suchitra inside the Jogra palace to go differently.
Instead, she had received Rani Suchitra wearing jeans.
Allowed a kitten into the formal hall of the palace.
And the kitten had rubbed itself against Rani Suchitra’s silk saree.
Yamini closed her eyes.
She had definitely made a terrible impression as the Jogra maharani.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed off from the door and went to the wardrobe.
She had approximately thirty minutes to take a quick shower, find something presentable, do something functional with her hair, and return downstairs.
Which, unfortunately, wasn't a lot of time.