Page 66 of A King's Oath

“Yes, Rawal.”

“Where were you?”

Samarth swallowed.

“I am asking you something, Kunwar.”

“At Tara Devi’s house.”

Samarth noted the wordfuck, the first syllable of it, coming to the tip of his father’s lips before he swallowed it down. His demeanour changed. From angry, now he looked outraged.

“Run that by me again,” he ordered calmly.

“I am sorry,” Samarth blinked, tearing his eyes away from his father’s, glancing up again, then looking away again. “I went there without informing you, without asking for your permission.”

“How do you knowTara Devi?”

“I found out.”

“What did you find out?” His father clipped. “Do not try my patience and answer straight.”

Samarth’s palms turned clammy. He had anticipated this would be the most difficult. But now when he was lined up in front of the firing squad… he wished he could disappear.

“Samarth!” His father’s low hiss jerked him back. He sucked his drying tongue and held his head high. His means were not the most righteous but his ends were. He was a Solanki. He owned up to his actions.

“You were not yourself since that night… that first night when you returned from Antarctica. I found out about Tara Devi, and how her parents did not agree with you. I went there, met them, and convinced them.”

One second. Two. Three. He looked down. When nothing was said, Samarth glanced up again at his father and recoiled. The outrage was boiling hot lava.

“I am sorry, Papa. I am sorry. But you deserve the best of the world. You deserve to live your life. I know we spoke about this and I stopped talking about it because it sounded too much…but, Papa, I am growing up now, my life is spent away from the palace. You have given up your life for me and I don’t want to sound ungrateful by saying that it’s a debt. But, Papa, I am living my life now. I want you to live yours. I want you to start being happy, and not just happy inmylife’s achievements ormyvictories. Please, Papa, please. Tara Devi is waiting for you in Anand Baag. I don’t know how right or wrong this is… I have gone back and forth thinking whether it is embarrassing or not. It is not, Papa. It is not. Nawanagar needs its Maaranai and you were about to ask me about this only, isn’t it…?”

“You brought her here?” His father’s eyes widened. “With this crowd gathered? Samarth!”

“I did not remember, honestly. Her father agreed and I had to bring her with us. She is… she wants to see you too, Papa. Please, Papa. Sorry. But please…”

His father’s eyes squeezed shut. He took a deep breath. Samarth had learnt this from him. To take a deep breath before something overwhelming happened.

“Samarth,” his father opened his eyes.

“Yes, Papa?”

“I am the parent, not you.”

He nodded.

“You are not burdened to go looking for my life’s happiness. Becauseyouare my life’s happiness.”

“We can have more than one, no?”

A pause. Then — “What did you talk about with Tara’s parents?”

Samarth grinned, hoping he could hide the realities under the charm he was still learning. “Polo, Maan bhai, that Delhi Vaasudev Raje match, Kaki made dhokla…”

“You mean to say they sat you down in their house and fed you?”

“And heard Maan bhai’s polo stories. Did you know Kaka also is a Polo fan? But he hasn’t been able to go anywhere to watch it…”

“What else?” His father cut him off, a king for a reason when tactics like this were used.

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