Page 151 of A King's Oath

“What number do you play, Kunwar?” Her father inquired.

“I have recently started playing at 1.”

“You are also ready to bulldoze into the top 10 International Polo Players’ list now,” her uncle turned to her father. “Vikram was telling me, Kunwar saheb will be the first Indian to breach the elite club after B. Rathod in 1933.”

“Is it? What’s your current rank?”

16,Avantika thought proudly to herself. She kept an eye on the list more than he did. With his current offensive plays and thenumber of matches he had been playing, and winning in the last five months, he would breach that elite club of top 10 in the coming three.

“You are doing great things for polo,” Kaka Maharaj’s loud, happy voice snapped her back from her thoughts. He stepped back and Gopi stepped up from the side. That’s when Avantika noticed that he was there too.

“Hey, man, thanks for coming,” they clasped hands.

“Congratulations! Of course I would have come,” Samarth slapped his back and pulled him into a hug. Harsh brought up his rear, taller than all other heads. His eyes zeroed in on them first and just as he had always behaved, he nodded at them both with respect. She nodded back, as Kresha did too.

“Where is Kirti didi?” Kresha whispered to her, close-mouthed.

“You can’t be serious!”

“If it’s a Badri gang reunion then everybody should be here.”

“Kreshaaa…” she hissed.

“Raje!” Kaka Maharaj turned, and all eyes fell on them. “Your friend is here. Come, take him to lunch.”

“Hi, Samarth,” Kresha said in a tight tone, walking the rest of the way down the hall and out onto the embellished porch. “Welcome to Gwalior.”

“Thank you, Kresha. And, congratulations.”

His eyes moved from Kresha and fell on her — “Hi, Avantika. How are you?”

So hot.

“I’m fine. Thank you for gracing our occasion, Samarth,” she nodded formally. “Everybody is already at lunch. Would you like to freshen up or join us there directly?”

“Happy to join you guys,” he smiled, eyes quickly moved away to Gopi. “I have a lot of stories to catch up on.”

They clasped shoulders like the old polo buddies they were.

“Aagya, Maharaj, Kunwar saheb,” Samarth folded his hands to the men, then the women. Avantika knew his manners were impeccable. That wasn’t what impressed her. It was the fact that he knew he was talking to his future in-laws and hence made it a point to be even better behaved. As if that was possible!

“Go on then, kids. We will be out of here now. Don’t have too much fun,” Kaka Maharaj warned. Then, after a dramatic pause, as she knew he would, added — “Set the palace on fire!”

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Avantika preceded the men with Kresha beside her, Ananya ready to announce them to Chattar Mahal’s courtyard where their crew was already mingling. A tinkle resounded and they all stopped.

“What fell?” Avantika’s fingers went to her earrings.

“Your bracelet, Raje,” Ananya pointed. She checked and found the tiny red clovers winking at her from the floor under her saree. Before Ananya could reach down for it, Samarth had bent and retrieved it. She didn’t meet his gaze as he handed it to her, his fingers brushing hers.

“Thanks,” she began to put it on but Ananya, as always, scuttled to help.

“I think I didn’t latch the safety clip earlier, Raje…”

“It’s alright,” she smiled, keeping her eyes away from Samarth’s as her bracelet was clasped. This time she double-checked the safety and turned to the door opening into Chattar Mahal’s courtyard.

“Come on!” She resumed walking and the gates pulled open to bright sunshine.

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