Page 73 of A King's Oath

The applause went louder. But he didn’t go. Couldn’t go.

He had thought he had a long time to tell this to Papa. That the explosion would happen someday, in the far-off future. That day was today.

————————————————————

He sat on his Papa’s bed in the King’s chamber. Maarani sat beside him. Like two criminals they waited — the King’s back turned to them as he stared outside the window. Samarth wanted to shout out loud that Maarani was not at fault. But without his Rawal’s permission, he could not open his mouth. And his Papa? He looked cold. Cooled down. Without any expression on his face. The look he used when he went into crisis mode.

“You thought you would take this oath, hide it from me and go on without any repercussions?”

Samarth remained silent.

Papa turned and stared at him. Still no expression. Not even anger.

“Papa…”

“How old are you?”

“Papa…”

“Answer me.”

“Fifteen.”

“And are you a major?”

“No.”

“Are you free to make your own decisions?”

He glanced down, then back up — “This was in my hand…”

“Answer me.”

“Not as a regular teenager, but as a Kunwar of Nawanagar…”

“No,” Papa clipped, stepping towards him, binding his hands behind his back. Samarth reared back.

“As Kunwar of Nawanagar you are answerable to your kingdom and your king. Did you ask us?”

“It was the only way,” Samarth relayed the truth. “I tried everything but Kaka wouldn’t listen.”

“Then you should have come back!” Papa thundered. “Better yet, you should not have gone! You spied on my matters,went behind my back, made decisions arbitrarily and then you had the audacity to lie to me? What did you say? That you talked to them and they agreed? I told you that day also that I don’t like this. Now I discover that was the tip of the iceberg!”

“Sorry, Papa, I am sorry that this hurt you…” Samarth tried to get to his feet.

“Be seated,” his father commanded. He sank back down. Seconds ticked. Minutes of silence. Papa’s eyes remained on him, and Samarth finally looked down.

“Leave us, Maarani,” Papa commanded again.

“Sid…”

“I said, leave us.”

Maarani left the room in silence.

“Justify yourself.”

“Justify myself?” Samarth raised his eyes up to his father’s tall, imposing figure.

---