Page 232 of A King's Oath

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Really.”

Her palm clapped his and he shook it.

“Talk to her about your interest rate,” Ava cued.

“No interest for her,” he continued to smile at her already leaving his hand and lunging for the coat. When he turned back,Ava’s mouth had dropped open. And was that a burst of amused envy he saw in her eyes?

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After shopping for hours, and wandering around the Eiffel Tower like he was a tourist and they were his hosts, as the sun was turning softer in the sky, tiny stomachs were beginning to grumble and legs were beginning to drag, Samarth offered to carry Brahmi. She immediately jumped up on him and he laughed, hitching her up and on his chest. Her little legs wound around him and suddenly the energy was recharged.

Ava walked beside him — “We will grab dinner from a cafe by…”

“Actually,” he cleared his throat. “I took the liberty of ordering a basket for us.”

“When?”

“While you were busy debating on the helmet’s size.”

Her mouth compressed.

“You liked it last time,” he reminded her.

She sighed. That is when he noticed that she was tired of walking and shopping too. He had been here this time to carry the bags and now carry Brahmi. How many shopping trips had she spent exhausted carrying the bags and their tired daughter? Arguing clothes and colours and teaching spending values and figuring out dinner and still giving Brahmi such a splendid time that picnic by the Seine was her ‘favouritest.’

“You drove, took care of everything all day. Let me at least take care of dinner, Ava,” he pleaded, conscious of Brahmi’s head by his other ear.

“Sure. What did you order?”

“Now that’s a surprise.”

“Poha and sev will be a surprise for me but a shock for somebody else.”

“There’s poha and sev?” Brahmi’s head popped up and gave him a betrayed look. He chuckled, jiggling her on his hip until giggles reverberated.

“I think you’ll like what I ordered.”

“Not if it’s poha and sev,” her chin rested on his shoulder, her hands around his neck. Samarth felt like his body was caving in for her. Or it had caved in already like it knew the puzzle piece was coming there to fit.

“Rawal.”

Samarth stopped short at the sound of that title. The chef he had ordered the food from was waiting by the quay, a wicker basket in his hand.

“Thank you, Parmeshwar. Badhu laayva chho?”[92]

“Tame je pan mangavelu e badhu chhe.”

[93]

Samarth accepted the basket on his free arm and took his girls to the edge of the pier — an empty spot close to an outdoor play area as well as a good view of the sunset. He set Brahmi down and grabbed the blanket, spreading it wide and helping both of them settle.

“Alright,” he rubbed his palms — “Game time. Guess what’s in the basket before I reveal.”

Mini Ava’s nose went straight to the top of the basket and he tipped her forehead back with his finger — “Cheater.”

She pushed back with her forehead on his finger, surprisingly strong for her age, and took a deep whiff. He glanced at Ava with wide eyes and she looked downright proud, even a little smug.

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