The Maharaja And I : Inspired by Bridgerton

A Heartbeat Longer

As golden twilight settled over the kingdom of Vijayanagara, Devika and Suryadev found themselves alone in a secluded temple dedicated to the goddess Parvati. The cool stone walls, adorned with intricate carvings of celestial figures, offered a moment's respite from the world outside - a world where they played their parts, concealing the emotions that hummed beneath the surface.

"Devika," Maharaja Suryadev murmured as he held an oil lamp between his long, elegant fingers, "would you mind assisting me in lighting these lamps? It is said that in doing so together, our prayers shall resonate louder with the divine."

"Of course," she replied, her voice soft and lilting like the melody of a bamboo flute. She picked up another lamp from the altar, feeling the weight of the brass in her hand.

As they stood side by side, their hands brushed against one another, igniting a spark that seemed to set the very air ablaze. Their gazes met, and for a brief moment, the façade slipped away. Devika's heart thundered in her chest, her breath caught in her throat. Though she tried to maintain an air of composure, she could not deny the tension that crackled between them.

"Forgive my carelessness, Maharaja," she whispered, averting her gaze and willing her pulse to slow.

"Think nothing of it, Devika," he replied, his voice a velvet caress that sent shivers down her spine despite its formality. "After all, we are but two souls seeking solace in this sacred space."

They returned to their task, striking flint against steel until the wicks flickered to life, casting shadows that danced upon the walls like ethereal courtiers. With each successive light, the atmosphere grew denser, laden with unspoken desires and yearnings that they dared not give voice to.

"Maharaja, do you truly believe that lighting these lamps together will strengthen our prayers?" Devika asked, attempting to dispel the tension that had built between them.

"Perhaps," Suryadev replied, the corner of his mouth lifting into a sly smile. "But even if it does not, there is a certain beauty in the act itself, don't you think? Two souls, united in reverence, casting their hopes and dreams upon the celestial canvas."

"Indeed," Devika agreed, her heart swelling with the poetic imagery he'd painted. "Yet it seems we must maintain a delicate balance, lest we allow our true selves to be laid bare before one another in such vulnerable moments."

"Ah, but therein lies the challenge," Suryadev mused, his eyes alight with mischief. "For how can we ever truly know one another if we hide behind masks of propriety and decorum?"

"Perhaps we must be content with what little truth we can glean from these fleeting encounters," she suggested, feeling the bittersweet weight of their circumstances.

"Perhaps," he conceded, his gaze lingering on her for a heartbeat longer than was proper. "But I, for one, shall treasure each stolen moment we are granted within this sacred space."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the temple in a warm, golden glow, Devika and Suryadev stood side by side, their hearts entwined by a thread as delicate and unbreakable as a strand of silk. And though they knew that the world beyond would soon beckon them back to their respective roles, they allowed themselves, just for an instant, to revel in the magic of the moment.