Page 187 of A King's Oath

“Nobody is stopping you,” Papa intoned. “Go and travel, play as much as you want. I traveled for my thesis, research and then the Ministry too. I was working remotely, and singlehandedly. But you have me here so you can remain relaxed.”

He was left speechless. His father got to his feet and crossed the distance between them.

“You have me, beta. I am not going anywhere. But very few kings are fortunate enough to get to see their sons ruling. I get to see your rule, I get to see Nawanagar achieve new heights in your reign. I get to live in it.”

Samarth heard what his father did not say.And make sure it remains that way.His greatest dream had come to fruition.He wouldn’t be the king he was if he let it go backwards now.

Samarth swallowed. This would be it. Trampling that last spark of hope under his foot. However impossible it had been, now itwould cease to be. Ava would completely cease to exist for him. How many times would he have to let her go?

“I think it’s a great idea,” Maan bhai joked. “Think about it, your father is old. Let him take a back seat. He needs to retire now.”

“Like you retired from polo,” Papa ribbed him.

“Because of my eyes.”

“Blame it on the eyes when your age catches up.”

They went back and forth but Samarth was stuck on that one name. The name he had allowed himself to utter in his mind for the last time. His life would now truly be Nawanagar, this throne and its flourishing future for Sharan.

He glanced down at his shoes, took a deep breath and saidJai Dwarkadhish.

This was best let go.

He glanced up at his father — “As you wish, Papa.”

His father’s happy smile split into an even bigger grin. His eyes lit up bright and his hand landed atop his head. Samarth found his head bending under the weight of his father’s hand as he shook it playfully like he always did. And then, Papa did what he rarely did. He pulled him into his arms. Samarth pushed his head into his father’s shoulder and his eyes fell shut.Ava,he muttered for the last time in his life.

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Ava’s name came to his lips one more time. This time out loud.

It was on the eve of celebrating Maarani’s… Rajmata’s belated birthday. Her actual birthday had been strangled in the dreadful news from Antarctica that fateful day. As the Devgadh familyand their family of four traded Pictionary insults in the thickets of Anand Baag, his mobile flashed with Gopi’s name.

Samarth was instantly up, scooping the phone from between him and Rajmata. His eyes met hers and he smiled. She looked at him like she saw through his ruse.

“Excuse me,” he bowed his head and walked down the pergola, away from the crowd, down the pomegranate trees. He walked and walked until he was far enough for even his loudest conversation to not carry there.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Samarth. Hi. How’s it going?”

“All good, Gopi. How are you? Are all the marriage festivities over?”

“Yes, yes,” he chuckled. “Thefestivitieshave been on for three months. I couldn’t wait for it all to end and escape to the honeymoon.”

“I can imagine…”

“Hey, your dad is back. I don’t know if to say congratulations or what…”

“Yeah, you can say congratulations. It’s been the best feeling.”

“The plot twist was something else but I am so happy you have him back, man. How is he doing?”

Samarth glanced at his father, fighting for one point in Pictionary with Maan bhai, Sharan backing him up like a good second-in-command. He smiled — “He is doing great.”

“That’s good… good…” he hesitated. Then blurted as if somebody had lit a fire under him — “Listen, did something happen between you and Ava?”

Samarth closed up.

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