Page 311 of A King's Oath

“Ava…”

“Quick, my bum is cold…”

He laughed and pulled her atop his lap. She threw her legs to the side, snaking an arm around his neck.

“Avantika,” his voice went all formal, that name falling from his mouth after ages. Maybe after that first time he had called her that as his surprise/ shock bench partner.

“Will you be my Maarani?”

She stilled. She had expected him to ask her to stay back for some more time.

“Hmm?” His throat hummed, his hand caressing the knuckles of her hand. She shook her head.

“Are you crazy?!”

He gazed at her serenely, as if she hadn’t flipped out.

“I thought you had a nice family moment and convinced them that we are going…”

“I can go with you. I will go with you if that’s what you want. But there is another option too here.”

Her tongue was tied. Life in Nawanagar? In his palace no less? As his…

“I can’t do it.”

“Why?”

“Why? Oh my god! It’s been ages since I left my palace… and even though I know how to behave like a princess, a queen is a different ballgame. My Kaki Maharaj is the only queen I ever saw and you know my thoughts about her.”

“See Rajmata then…” he offered. “I mean, if you don’t see her as a… what do you call her? Whacko, anymore…”

She puffed her cheeks up.

“How can I decide like this?!”

“I know. I also know it is hypocritical of me to ask you to think of staying back when all our lives I have only ever talked about leaving. You would think I am fickle-minded…”

“No,” her panicked breaths calmed. Her palm rubbed circles over his chest. “No, Samarth. I don’t think that. I think you have the most steadfast mind of all men I have seen. And your Rajmata has done a really good job of changing it finally. I…” she sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Is there any part of you that wants to live in India again?”

“It’s not about living in India. I love India and everything about it. If I had a choice, I would never leave it in the first place…”

“Is it my family?”

She shook her head.

“Papa believes his cricket stadium is enough to make you stay.”

A reluctant chuckle left her mouth.

“Is it life in the palace then?”

“I don’t know. I never imagined becoming a queen, forget remaining a princess…”

“Is it public life that concerns you?”

“No. I have lived under public scrutiny for the first 25 years years of my life.”

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