Page 104 of Claimed By the Maharaja
“I wasthis closeto telling her exactly who you are,” she hissed. “Princess. Maharani. Bharat Singh Jogra’s wife. Just watching her face fall would’ve been worth it.”
Yamini laughed softly, the tension easing from her shoulders. She shook her head and nudged Pooja with her elbow. “You better not blurt out anything.”
Pooja scowled. “Can’t afford it? As if! Your husband literally owns the entire building. He can buy the entire collection without batting an eyelid.”
Yamini was touched and amused by Pooja’s outrage. “You need to shh,” she said teasingly. “Or we’ll start a scandal that lands me deeper into my formidable mother-in-law’s bad books.”
Pooja groaned. “Fine. I’ll wait until the announcement.”
Yamini smiled before her gaze drifted back to the emerald pendant.
Her stomach clenched with longing.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to step away from the glass.
Some things belonged to stories.
CHAPTER 23
The clock on the mantle read 9:01 when Yamini finally stepped out of her bedroom.
She had been ready since 8:50. She had stood by the door and waited deliberately until the minute hand moved past the hour before she opened it.
It was a small rebellion. She was aware of how small it was. But Bharat Singh Jogra commanded her to be at breakfast at sharp nine every single night before he left her room, and she had decided early in this marriage that she would comply with that particular instruction when she felt like it and not one minute before.
The fact that she could not apply the same stubborn logic to his other midnight commands made her face heat with embarrassment.
Pushing away the thoughts of midnight, she walked downstairs towards the dining area.
Yamini paused briefly downstairs before heading toward breakfast.
Sher Bahadur luckily remained exactly where the staff had arranged him, near a back room next to the kitchen. He now looked far healthier than the tiny, trembling creature she had found outside days earlier.
She crouched briefly and stroked the kitten’s head. The tiny creature immediately pressed against her hand before lowering its head toward the bowl.
Satisfied, she stood and continued toward the breakfast hall.
The snow-capped mountains looked slightly misty outside the tall windows.
Bharat was already seated when she entered, dark suit, crisp cuffs, phone in hand. He didn't look up. He never looked upwhen she was late, which was somehow more infuriating than if he had said something.
She crossed to her chair and sat down.
Savita, one of the younger maids, stepped forward immediately with a warm, shy smile. “Good morning, Maharani.” She set down the kahwa with a small bow. “There are aloo parathas this morning, accompanied by fresh achar with mustard seeds.”
Yamini smiled. “Thank you, Savita,” she said, making a note to thank the cook and the staff later that evening.
The Jogra staff had been making her favorite dishes during meals, even though she had never made any special requests. She was touched by their effort, which made her feel welcome and reminded her of her childhood home.
Savita's smile widened, and she stepped back with another small bow.
Across the table, Bharat had not looked up from his phone.
At least the staff likes me and pays attention, unlike their maharaja.
Dragging her eyes away from the handsome face, she looked at the breakfast dish.
The paratha was golden and crisp at the edges, butter pooling in the center, the way it only did when someone had taken their time. A small steel bowl of achaar sat beside it, deep red with mustard seeds floating at the surface.
