Page 303 of A King's Oath

“Avantika Kumari padharya chhe, Rawal,” he announced.

“Aava do,” came his instant response. He didn’t care about tongues wagging either, it seemed.

The door was thrown open for her and she strode in, the heavy closing of them an echo in the silent space. Samarth was on his bed, stretched out, his back resting against the headboard, head thrown back. He hadn’t changed yet, still in his kurta from their mehendi, his koti open all the way. She strode up to him, took his hand and tugged him up straight before pulling his head into her chest. His shocked breath warmed the skin over herblouse before he relaxed there, his arms coming around her. He squeezed tight, the weight of his head going heavy on her bosom.

“It will be alright,” she caressed the hair at the back of his head.

“Mmm…”

“Samarth, I mean it. Your Papa was angry today but it was a moment. Tomorrow everybody will be in a better state of mind to talk. Or maybe after the wedding…”

“He was this angry when I took my oath.”

“Rightly so,” she pulled his head back and held it between her hands.

“Ava, I knew this was coming. Anticipated it. I will tide over it tomorrow morning but I can’t help but feel guilty tonight.”

“Guilty for what?”

“For disappointing him.”

She didn’t have a response to that. He was torn between her, his promise and his family. There was nothing that could liberate him. Nothing she said or did could change his mind.

“Any change brings friction, hmm?” She stroked her thumb under his eyes. “This change too…”

“Rajmata padharya chhe, Rawal.”

The loud words made her startle back — “Fuck!”

Samarth, in spite of the morose mood, broke into a guffaw.

“Stop laughing! What will I do now? What was I thinking?!” She panicked, rushing around his room to hide. He got up from his bed, took her arm and escorted her into his walk-in closet.

“What if she comes here?!” She whisper-shouted.

“To do what? Select my nightdress?”

Avantika pushed him out and hid in the shadows, the slit in the door giving her a view of his bed.

“Aava do,” he announced.

The door opened, then closed. She waited, breathing slow, like she used to as a child while playing hide and seek. She could hear her own heartbeat.

“Eat.”

Avantika peeped from the slit and they were in his sitting area, on his sofa, a plate of food on his coffee table.

“I’m really not hungry, Rajmata.”

She sighed, then began to mix his rice for him with her hand.

“I’m doing it, I’m doing it!” He reached for the plate. “I am not a child.”

“Sometimes you act younger than Sharan and I have to question if you are.”

Avantika stood zapped as he pulled the plate to his side and ate. Rajmata sat silently by his side while he finished. He fisted his right hand and sat back — “Happy?”

A pause, and then she asked — “Do you think I am here in this palace, in Papa’s life, in your life because I want Sharan to become Rawal?”

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