Page 160 of A King's Oath

“Sleep for now,” she yawned, pulling him down with her and under the duvet. “I’ll play your third chukker in the morning, score my points, and then order you poha with sev.”

“You mean sev with a garnish of poha?”

“Yes, that one,” she held him down and put her head on his chest. “Thank you, Samarth.”

“For what?”

“For falling in love with sev over poha.”

“I promise I’ll eat it for a lifetime to come.”

“I know now.”

A pause. A beat. Then his arms came to cocoon her tight into his body — “Goodnight, Raje.”

28. Rawal Is Gone

— SAMARTH —

Life had meaning again. That was the dominant thought in his head as he walked down the Al Maktoum International Airport to catch his connecting flight. Argentinean citizenship primaries in his bag, Ava’s kisses still tasting like peppermint on his mouth, and the excitement to break this news to his Papa mingling with the dread of revealing that he would be moving away. But Samarth knew it — his Papa would let him go. He was so desperate to get him married that he would let him go and live abroad for the majority of a year if that’s how it happened.

His phone buzzed. Samarth frowned at the alarm.Shit.Papa’s flight would be taking off in exactly 4 hours and 30 minutes. He switched tabs and checked his own flight status. Twenty minutes delay.

“Harsh, ask Ajatshatru Kaka and confirm if Rawal’s flight will be taking off on time,” he relayed, clearing his tabs and opening his call log. Samarth searched his contacts list and tapped on Maarani’s. One ringer, two ringers, three ringers.

“Bhaiii!” Sharan’s excited yell deafened his eardrum. Samarth squinted, pushing his phone off his ear.

“Hello, Sharan,” he laughed. “Why so quiet, today?”

“Nana is sleeping.”

“How is Nana?”

“Amazing! We blow into his ball exercise machine together! It’s so much fun.”

“Alright, is Mummy around?”

“Here, here… and, Bhai, did you get my toco toucan book?”

Samarth checked his backpack. The solid encyclopaedia-like weight was heavy. It was a practise to carry any and all of Sharan’s orders in his hand luggage. God forbid his check-in luggage got lost in transit or arrived late!

“I have it. Now give the phone to Mummy.”

“Ok bye… It’s Samarth bhai.”

“Samarth?” Maarani’s voice was concerned. “Are you not on the plane? Your father’s flight is going to take off for Ushuaia soon…”

“Maarani, my flight got delayed and it is still showing a 20-minute delay. Can you take Sharan and drive to Nawanagar?”

“From here…?” She sounded sceptical.

“I know Kaka is recovering from his bypass… but if you can send Sharan with the driver? I won’t be able to reach Nawanagar in time to see him off. At least he should get Sharan to do it.”

“Hmm… let me see if we can reach there in time. Where are you?”

“I am at Al Maktoum. Waiting to board.”

“Ok, I’ll take Sharan and leave. Let me know when you land.”

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