Page 179 of A King's Oath

“Come, Samarth,” Maarani called out.

He pushed the door open — “How did you know it’s me?”

She came out of her bedchamber folding some bedding, smiling, and her eyes froze on him. Samarth began to open his mouth to explain when her smile widened. He hadn’t seen that expression on her face in long days.

“This is good,” she nodded at his attire. Joy suffused through him. He glanced down — “It has not been long but…”

“But you boys will move on.”

His head whirled up in surprise. She had folded the bedding and placed it on her sofa.

“Sit, I wanted to talk to you.”

He sat down on the single armchair and she took the long sofa, ready for the day in her pale saree.

“Now that you are the king, you must live like one.”

“What do you mean, Maar… Rajmata?”

“I mean,” she emphasised. “Move into the King’s Chambers. These chambers. I would like to shift closer to Sharan’s chambers.”

“No.”

“Samarth, that’s protocol.”

“No it’s not. Dada Sarkar’s chambers are the original King’s Chambers. He never moved out.”

“Because your Dadi Sarkar was there and Papa did not want to disturb their routine…”

“I do not want to disturb your routine.”

“But I don’t have a routine set with these rooms.”

But you must have memories,he thought.

“No, Rajmata. I understand where you are coming from, but you will not leave these chambers. They belong to Papa and you. I am perfectly happy in mine.”

“Then we need to renovate yours, pull in Sharan’s to make it bigger and give Sharan a new room.”

“Sharan is happy where he is, just as I am. My chambers are enough for me.”

She sighed. The patient smile drained from her face — “We need to change and move into a new world, Samarth.”

He held his arms up — “See?”

Rajmata laughed. Laughed! He smiled, his eyes misting at the sight of her wet eyes laughing. With sorrow and joy and hope. That this could become ok.

“Alright!” She rolled her eyes. “And way to go with that silent sense of humour. It’s going to take you very far in life.”

“I know,” he grinned cheekily. “I practise every night.”

“I know your practise. Every night you bring your papers and files and do nothing but study here,” she pointed to the king’s chambers. It was their nightly ritual. All three of them would gather there after dinner. She would work on her thesis, Sharan wouldallegedlydo his homework, and he would catch up on all the businesses and administration history that he was not marked on for all these years.

“Sharan studies too,” Samarth pointed.

“Ha ha. One more joke,” Rajmata deadpanned. “Now go. You need to collect more study materials for tonight.”

“I like reading,” he got to his feet.

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