The Accidental Maharani of Mumbai

Chapter 3: A Deal is Struck (Fake Fiancée with Benefits?)

A stunned silence descended upon the Jaigarh Palace entrance hall. Arjun, his initial annoyance giving way to amusement, stared at the diminutive figure before him. Meera Sharma, the "accidental Maharani," looked anything like the wealthy socialite he'd envisioned. In fact, she resembled a startled sparrow trapped in a gilded cage.

"You're Meera Sharma?" Arjun finally managed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Meera, her cheeks flushed a becoming shade of pink, nodded awkwardly.  "Yes, well, not exactly the Meera you were expecting, I gather."

Rani Maa, ever the perceptive observer, broke the tension with a hearty laugh that filled the hall. "Well, this is certainly a turn of events," she declared, her eyes twinkling. "Come, child, let us get you settled. You must be exhausted from your journey."

Taking Meera's arm gently, Rani Maa led her away, leaving Arjun alone with his bewildered advisor, Rana Pratap.

"Your Highness," Rana began, his voice laced with concern, "what are we to do? The press conference is in an hour, and the Verma family's private jet is due to land any minute."

Arjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Tell them to hold the jet. We need to figure this out first."

The next few hours were a whirlwind of explanations, negotiations, and frantic phone calls. Meera, her initial nervousness slowly giving way to a sense of adventure, recounted the story of the email mix-up. To her surprise, Arjun listened intently, a hint of a smile occasionally gracing his face.

"So," Arjun said, leaning back in his study chair after hearing Meera's explanation, "you have no desire to be a Maharani or participate in any arranged marriage?"

Meera shook her head vehemently. "Absolutely not! My life is perfectly fine the way it is, thank you very much."

Arjun chuckled. "As much as I hate the idea of an arranged marriage myself, breaking off the engagement now would be a public relations nightmare. The media would have a field day."

Meera, her brow furrowed, considered this. "So, what are you proposing?" she asked cautiously.

A mischievous glint appeared in Arjun's eyes. "What if we… pretend?"

Meera's head snapped up. "Pretend?"

"Exactly," Arjun elaborated. "We pretend to be engaged for a while, long enough to save face and come up with a face-saving exit strategy."

Meera, her mind racing, couldn't help but be intrigued by the proposition. It was outrageous, yet strangely appealing. 

"But what about the real Meera Verma?" she questioned.

"Don't worry about her," Arjun said with a shrug. "According to Rana, her family is notoriously overzealous. They'll probably be thrilled to call off the engagement and find someone else for her."

A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of Meera's lips. "So, a fake fiancée with benefits?" she joked, referring to the "public relations nightmare" Arjun mentioned.

Arjun's smile widened. "Benefits?"

"Well," Meera continued, emboldened by a newfound sense of confidence, "you wouldn't want to disappoint the press, would you? Fake hand-holding, maybe a staged kiss or two?"

Arjun chuckled, his amusement turning into something more. The woman before him, despite being completely out of place in his world, possessed an unexpected spark. "Don't tempt me, Ms. Sharma," he said, his voice a low rumble.

Meera, her heart skipping a beat at his sudden seriousness, felt a blush creep up her neck. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture. "Alright, then," she declared, trying to sound confident. "Let's do this. But on one condition."

"Anything," Arjun replied, intrigued by the glint in her eyes.

"No fake kisses," Meera stated firmly. "Everything else, we can negotiate."

A surprised laugh escaped Arjun's lips. This woman, this accidental Maharani, was definitely more than he bargained for. Perhaps, he thought, this little charade wouldn't be so bad after all.

As the clock struck noon, Meera Sharma, dressed in a hastily borrowed silk sari that felt foreign but strangely beautiful on her, stood beside a regal-looking Arjun in the Jaigarh Palace ballroom. Journalists swarmed around them, cameras flashing and microphones thrust in their faces.

With a practiced smile and a hand resting lightly on Arjun's arm (strictly for appearances, of course!), Meera embarked on her accidental journey into the world of royalty.