Page 50 of A King's Oath

“Papa?”

“Yes?”

Samarth swallowed. “I wish you had somebody to talk to too.”

His father said nothing then. Samarth wondered if he had offended him. If he had gone out of line. After all, he was his son, his prince and his subject. True, they talked about everything and Papa had always encouraged him to say anything he wantedto, without fear or protocol, at least in the confines of their chambers. But this…

“I did not want to make this weird, Papa…” Samarth grated, tears coming up his throat. His father was too far away for him to go and sort this out face-to-face, apologise…

“No, nothing weird about it,” Papa’s sturdy voice came. “I am glad you have a friend you can share everything with.”

Samarth took a relieved breath. Alright, Papa was not offended. He did not sound it, at least.

“Yes,” he smiled, huffing out a breath. “I hope you have one too.”

“Come on now, tell megood bye, I love youandI miss youso that I can go,” Papa joked again. He was back. Samarth rolled his eyes — “Bye, Papa. I’ll see you back at home.”

“7th.”

“7th.”

A click, and the crackling call disconnected. Samarth kept lying there on his single bed, staring up at the ceiling. Two thoughts ran parallel in his mind — 1. Maybe his Papa would think about himself now, and 2. Ava would be so proud of him for doing this. He couldn’t wait to tell her all about it!

10. Nawanagar

“You promise we’ll chat every day,” Ava clung to his collar, so unlike her usual self.

Samarth nodded.

“And if you are selected to play for the March tournament then you will tell me immediately. I want to come and see you,” she added.

Samarth nodded.

Her round mouth pressed into a thin line, the hair he had pushed behind her ears blowing in the wind and again falling down her sides. The mid-morning sun shone bright on this cold January day and as the campus was starting to empty out, this farthest edge of their school, ‘their’ spot, felt even more quiet. The horses had been let out to run in their pen, not even their neighs to keep them company.

“Ava,” Samarth pushed her hair off her cheeks again and cupped her face, pulling it up so that she looked steadily at him — “Your WhatsApp is working?”

She pouted — “Yes. Why?”

“Your FaceTime works fine?”

“Hmm…” her frown intensified her pout.

“Your cellular data is good?”

“Yes, Samarth.”

“WiFi in your palace?”

“What is your problem today?! Out of all days… I am sad here and you… you have been crying about separating for weeks and now…”

“Quiet,” he tipped her chin up and closed his mouth around hers. Her hands slapped weakly at his shoulders, like little wings fluttering. But then he banded his arms around her tiny waist and she rose on her tiptoes, twining her arms around his neck and pulling him flush, opening her mouth fully and letting him kiss her.

Samarth palmed the back of her head, holding her ponytail in his hand and pulling back from her — “We don’t live in the 17th Century, Ava. I am in Nawanagar and you are in Gwalior. Even if we travel on this vacation, we will be allowed our phones and iPads. I’m not going to stop texting you or FaceTiming you. Are you?”

She shook her head, her round lips glossy and red. And smelling of the best peppermint he had ever had. His lips tasted of it too. Samarth ran his tongue over them to absorb it all.

“Then it’s settled. It’s a matter of two months. We are meeting back here in March-end. And who knows, if a royal event or function crops up… we can cross paths even before that!”

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