Page 187 of Claimed By the Maharaja
She felt Bharat's gaze on her and turned. He looked at her for a moment, and then, without a word, he reached across and brushed the corner of her lip where a trace of syrup must have remained.
Yamini froze.
The table went quiet for half a second.
Samar paused mid-sentence.
Viraj's brows rose slightly.
Across the table, Ram's expression didn't change. But his eyes did.
Sanjana's smile was wide.
Rani Suchitra calmly continued sipping her tea.
Bharat went back to the fruit platter on his plate as though nothing had happened.
Yamini's cheeks turned hot, and it wasn’t just from embarrassment.
The warmth didn't leave for a long time.
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After the long lunch, Rani Suchitra retired to her private quarters with Mira to rest.
Yamini and Sanjana chose not to rest. They walked toward the inner courtyard garden.
The weather was perfect for a stroll.
Jasmine climbed along the carved pillars, and sunlight came through the mango trees.
Yamini smiled as she recalled climbing those trees.
Next to the courtyard was a terrace where Bharat and his brothers stood talking.
“They're probably planning world domination,” Sanjana said with amusement.
Yamini laughed. “I wouldn't be surprised.”
Bharat stood slightly apart from his brothers, listening more than speaking. He was facing her, and his shoulders were slightly relaxed.
As though he felt her gaze, he looked towards her.
Even standing across the garden, she felt the heat in his gaze.
Her cheeks warmed, and she looked away first.
Sanjana's smile deepened. “I've never seen Bharat this relaxed.”
“He might look relaxed,” Yamini said. “But he's definitely still planning world domination.”
Sanjana laughed.
They sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the warmth. The Rewa spring was softer than Jogra's.
From somewhere in the distance came the sound of temple bells.
“I remember swimming across the river to ring those bells when I was ten,” Yamini said. “My mother was not happy when I came back dripping.”
