Page 105 of A King's Oath

“Hume yahan aamantrit karne ki koi khaas mansha?[60]”

His eyebrow cocked up, that smile transforming into an amused grin. Why was he amused? Didn’t he see she had come with a man?

“Kuch khaas nahi, bas mere ghodo se milana tha.[61]”

“Bachpan se ladkiyon ko ghodo se hi milate rahe ho, Kunwar. Dekho kya haalat hai![62]” Hukum’s boisterous cheerful voice sounded from behind her. Before Avantika could even turn, he was in front of her and blessing Samarth with both hands as he bent to touch his feet.

“This is getting boring without the translation, Ave. And you didn’t even introduce me to your prince!” Ivor pouted.

“I am so sorry. Come.”

She took his arm harder and stood in front of the two men — “Ivor, meet the Prince of Nawanagar — Samarth Sinh Solanki. Samarth, meet Ivor. My copywriting partner at Van Cleef & Arpels.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Samarth extended his hand first, his face completely polite and even happy. Avantika recoiled when Ivor shook hands, equally thrilled — “What a game, Your Highness. You are a natural.”

“Thank you. You've known Ava for long?”

He knew she had joined Van Cleef & Arpels just this week.

“Oh, no, it’s new,” Ivor joked.Good boy.

“Aah,” Samarth nodded.

“Priyatam ne bhanda phod diya aur yeh kiya goal,[63]” Hukum pushed his hands behind his back, smiling benignly. Avantika glared at him.

“Ji?” Samarth frowned.

“We are wrapping up in 10, everybody!” Somebody shouted from the stables.

“I think you need to go,” Avantika took the opening. “And so do we. Thank you for inviting us today, Samarth. It was a good match. Congratulations.”

He looked bewildered as she stepped back, Ivor with her.

“Thanks for coming.”

“Hukum, aagya leti hoon,[64]” she touched her free hand to her chest, lowering her head.

“Ghar kaise jaa rahi hai, Raje?[65]”

“Taxi.”

“Meri gaadi le jaaiye…[66]” “I have a car for you, Ava.”

Ivor chimed in, reading the room — “Oh I’ll drop Ava. Don’t worry, gentlemen.”

That’s when Avantika got the reaction she had been hoping for. Even if for a split second. The stuttering of something confident in Samarth’s eyes. Good. She had a lot of stutters since last evening. He deserved one at least.

With that, Avantika took the three mandatory steps back from a king and a prince, turned, and added an extra swing in her hips as she walked away with Ivor as her arm candy.

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“Whatever this was today, it was fun,” Ivor leaned out from the window of the taxi. “Let’s do it again.”

“Sure,” Avantika rolled her eyes. “You wanted to come watch polo, you got it.”

“Tell me again, you and that prince have a history of how many years?”

Avantika pursed her lips.

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