Page 271 of A King's Oath

“Why does he call you Rawal, Papa?”

“Umm…”

“Ok, next set of questions tomorrow morning,” Avantika interjected. “It’s time to go home.”

“No,” she hugged her grandfather’s leg. “We are staying.”

“Brahmi, it’s late. We will come back tomorrow.”

“Alright, listen to your Mummy and come back tomorrow. I’ll order a bat and a ball for you.”

“We can’t play in the hospital!”

“There’s a lawn outside.”

“Sid.”

“What? Thereisa lawn outside.”

“Fiiine.”

“What do you say to elders at night?” Avantika glared at her.

“Goodnight,” she looked up at Samarth’s father and grinned.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Dadi Sarkar,” she sent a matching beam to his stepmother and she went down on her haunches — “Good night, beta,” she tapped her nose. “Dream about all the things you love.”

“Mama, eclairs, my new white coat and Papa and…”

“In that order, huh?” Her grandfather chuckled. Brahmi glanced at her father, holding out her hand. Samarth, for the first time all day, smiled a genuine smile. He took her hand, glancing at his parents — “I’ll drop them and come back.”

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Her alarm went off and she pushed her eyes open with superhuman strength. It took her a second to remember what day it was and where she was. It all came flooding back. The pen. Sharan. The hospital. Avantika felt her heartbeat thud faster and faster in her chest at the thought of Samarth’s parents. And Brahmi.

She willed herself to relax and grabbed her phone. Samarth hadn’t called. The insecure part of her worried — what if he turned his back again? What if something else happened and he decided to go away with his family? Her heartbeat rose again and she pushed out of her bed. Avantika walked to the windows and threw them open. Sunlight and birdsong flooded in, bringing in all the perspective she needed in the real world.

She had experienced her share of mental health demons with her pregnancy, postpartum and then a few episodes here and there. Living in a foreign land as a single mother, even with the support and constant communication with her parents and sister, wasn’t an easy feat. She had chosen this life and lived it with her daughter, but the cost had been paid dearly too.

Avantika breathed in the cool morning air. The balm to any anxiety episode. She breathed out and soaked in the beauty through her eyes. Loire in summer was pretty. But Loire mornings in summer were glorious.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Samarth Calling…

Avantika swiped right and plastered it to her ear — “Hey,” she cleared her throat. “Hey. Did Sharan wake up?”

“Yes,” his husky, sleepless voice sounded. “He is fully alert. Very alert. The scans came clear for his brain and spine. His right arm has recovered but he cannot move his left hand yet. They are saying it should recover within 72 hours to 1 week.”

“Phew,” she exhaled, her heartbeat settling. “How are you?”

“Tired. But relieved. That boy can age anybody with his dramatics.”

She chuckled. “Your father must be dealing with him now.”

“Oh, he is livid. Rajmata is dealing with Sharan.”

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