Page 245 of A King's Oath

“What is real father?” Samarth poked the top of her head. “You have a cousin father as well?”

She giggled, making his heart breathe easy. Ava’s laugh came on the heels of his and the atmosphere in her hall lightened marginally.

“Sam is your real father. He wanted to come to you so bad…”

“Then why didn’t you? Were the horses in South America so sick?” Brahmi turned to him.

“I was in South America and then in Nawanagar,” he confessed. Ava’s head rose but he nodded to her. He wouldn’t discredit her but he wouldn’t lie to his daughter either. Not if he could help it.

“In India, your home?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you come to me then?”

“Because I couldn’t.”

Kids were so easy to answer to sometimes. He had learned that with Sharan. You gave them a reason and they took that, without thinking and overthinking and asking counter questions. His daughter did just that.

Then she broke his heart by asking — “Will you come again?”

“Can I never leave?”

Her face lit up.

“Really?”

“If you want to keep me and give me some space.” Samarth shrugged. “Or a little more, since I am a little tall. I would like to stay.”

“Forever and ever and ever?”

“Forever and ever and ever.”

“Like a father?”

“Thefather, Brahmi.Thefather. One is always ‘the.’”

She giggled, rolling until her head was on his chest and her feet in Ava’s lap. She saw her mother and as if she had just realised that her mother called the shots, instantly shot up and crawled to her. Ava gathered her in her arms, like a little baby. In that moment Samarth pictured it — how she would have looked with a newborn Brahmi, what Ava’s face would have looked like in that tenderness of holding their daughter for the first time.

“Can Sam stay with us?” She asked Ava softly. Then went close to her ear and whispered — “If you want to say no then just shake your head.”

Samarth chuckled, as did Ava. She kissed their daughter’s head and cuddled her close. Her eyes met his — “If he wants to stay then he is free to stay.”

“Yay!” Brahmi broke free from her mother’s hold and pounced on him. He caught her in time, embracing her without guilt or fear for the first time. Without worrying about crossing boundaries or making her uncomfortable. Without thinking about pulling away because it was too long now.

This time he held her tight and close and squeezed her to himself, seeing Ava blink away quickly and pull the corner of her eye dry.

“You know, if you are family you can sleep in the same house!” Brahmi informed him.

“Can I?” He reared back shocked, raising his brows at Ava. “Mama and Papa sleep in the same house?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Yes!” Brahmi enlightened him. “Mama! Tell him! Family always sleeps in the same house.”

“Why not?” Ava deadpanned. “We have a very spacious guest bedroom. But sadly we have a rule — no sleeping in your day clothes.”

“What would you have me sleep in then?” He smirked. Her eyes widened.

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