Page 165 of A King's Oath

Ajatshatru Kaka looked at him. Samarth didn’t have time to even orient his head. He just took a deep breath. If they were to find Rawal, they would need to tell some of his courtiers. These were the most reliable. He nodded.

“Aava do,” Ajatshatru Kaka hollered. The two old men walked in, concern and a steadfast will to work through this on their faces. That gave Samarth hope. He would find Rawal. Rawal wasn’t gone yet even if some DNA samples were found. It could be blood and sweat.

“Kunwar,” they folded their hands to him. “Is it true?”

“No,” Samarth announced. “Nothing except DNA samples have been found. They are not enough. If the authorities in Argentina do not launch another search operation, the Indian Naval Command will do it. These are international waters. Kaka, get me in touch with the…”

Ajatshatru Kaka’s phone rang. “It’s our embassy in Argentina.”

“Take it.”

The room fell silent. Ajatshatru Kaka just listened. His eyes blinked. His face remained steady, eyes fixated in the distance. Then — “Thank you for calling.”

He locked his phone and cleared his throat — “Kunwar, flesh pieces have been identified. It is Rawal. The water was -4. They are saying nobody could have swam in that water, forget survived beyond a few minutes.”

“We cannot take these snippets sitting here like this!” Bhogi Saheb argued. “Call the Argentinian embassy directly.”

“But our embassy is in touch with the Argentinian government.”

“Our High Commissioner is already there at Ushuaia or no?” Nanu saheb questioned.

“And what about the body?” Bhogi saheb asked the most relevant question. Samarth’s head was spinning but he held his body in check, standing straight and keeping his burning eyes open.

“No remains are found yet but blood and flesh samples have been identified,” Ajatshatru Kaka repeated. It was the same thing. All over again. “The search operations have concluded. The capsized Zodiac is found in tatters, body parts of two out of five researchers were recovered. But a storm is blowing, they have called everyone off.”

Maan bhai finally spoke up — “Is there no way there are survivors? Is Siddharth’sbodyamong those found?”

“No,” Ajatshatru Kaka repeated all over again. The repetition was calming Samarth’s turmoil. He took a deep breath, listening to those same words again. And again. And again. What if he had to believe them? Make Maarani believe them? Make Sharan believe them?

Maarani staggered out of her bedchamber and all conversation ceased.

“Tara!” Meena Kaki pushed towards her, grabbing her arm. “Sit down.”

“No!” Maarani shook her head violently. “No. Where is Sid? Call his mobile.”

“Tara,” Samriddhi bhabhi went to her.

“No!” Maarani asserted, pushing her arm off. “No. He knows all the survival tactics. Tell them to search again. Tell them to search again!”

“Tara!” Kaki tried to take her back into her bedchamber but she resisted. Finally Samriddhi bhabhi grabbed her shoulders and held her steady — “Shhh, breathe. Tara, breathe…” she scolded through her own sobs. The first sob since this news had blown, Samarth observed impassively.

“No! You are crying! No, Rani saheb. Rawal saheb? Just…” Maarani trailed. Her eyes came to him and Samarth lowered his gaze. He had no answer to her questions.

“Sitting here and talking will do nothing!” She yelled. “Ajatshatru, book my ticket to Ushuaia.”

“I cannot do that, Maarani.”

“Do as I say. Book my ticket or I will book it myself.”

“Tara,” Samriddhi bhabhi called out — “It has been confirmed. Blood DNA samples have been identified in the remains. The water was -4 degrees. Nobody could have swam or survived.”

“It can’t but… he couldn’t…”

Samarth glanced up and she was pulled into Samriddhi bhabhi’s arms. Maarani did not cry. Samarth saw that, but he did not cry either.

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It came in trickles — the news. The confirmations. Reports of DNA. Pieces of samples identified. Pictures of the boat in tatters. Video evidence of those already declared dead. Another search operation was launched, this one led by the Indian Ocean Naval Command in tandem with International Patrol. An independent search operation was launched by NATO for their own lost scientists. Nothing.

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