Page 173 of A King's Oath

Yes.

What is this Garud Puran that they are telecasting live from your palace?

It’s the story of Garud, births, rebirths and moksh that is told when somebody passes in our families.

Is that Sharan crying?

No.

Things like that. He would always be tired and go to bed. She would try to sleep, consoling herself that she had heard his voice and he sounded ok.

“Raje?” She startled. Her eyes whirled up and Rajguruji smiled, holding a bowl of kumkum paste — “Swastik banaiye.”

She nodded, dipped the tip of her right ring finger in the paste and began scribing a red swastik on the brown mud. Petals and akshat were sprinkled atop it and she pulled herself up to her feet, holding her saree pallu tight around her shoulders as photographs were taken.

“Thank you, thank you, Raje. This daycare and many more like these will bring Gwalior in the race for tier 2 cities,” the MLA who had championed this movement bowed his head to her.

“You are right,” she smiled. “Women empowerment, employment and opportunities are not enough. Our women need to know that their children will also be taken care of by the state. I commend your efforts.”

More conversations, more photo-ops, more folded hands and bowed heads. Avantika nodded and smiled through them all. When it was over, she blinked at Ananya and they started walking towards the car. Her first instinct was to grab her mobile and call Samarth. Today was his Papa’s Terva. It would have ended by now. But she held her instincts. It would have to wait until she reached the palace and her bedroom.

They settled in the car and it turned out of the open property and into the busy street of their city. Avantika messed with Instagram, doom-scrolling to take her mind off its own doom. Her thumb scrolled then scrolled back up. She did a double-take. Was it… She zoomed in and itwas. She read the caption and itwas. How was this possible?

In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, Samarth Sinh Solanki — eldest son of the late HH Rawal Siddharth Sinh Solanki — has been crowned the next King of Nawanagar.

Speculation had long swirled around the royal succession, with many anticipating that the late king’s younger son would take the throne, allegedly backed by the Queen. But the kingdom witnessed a remarkable twist: the Queen herself initiated the sacred Rajtilak during a full court assembly of ministers, bureaucrats, and state dignitaries. Royal insiders say the succession decision may have been influenced by some family vultures ready to usurp the throne, but for now, the throne has found its rightful heir.

Rawal Samarth Sinh Solanki is the next king in the illustrious lineage of Solanki dynasty that dates back 800 years…

Stunned, Avantika took a screenshot of the image and zoomed in on the face. Samarth. In a white kurta-pyjama, sitting on the throne, head bowed… his stepmother smearing tilak on his forehead. The car zoomed in through the palace gates and she didn’t even wait for the guard to open her door. She pushed it open herself and dashed for her room.

Locking the doors shut, her breath swelling with every swipe of her finger, she pulled up his contact and pressed the call button. Ring. Ring. Ring.

Avantika scoffed, ending the call. She opened her chat to Harsh. He would reply. He always replied to her — promptly. She began to type a message when Samarth’s calling banner darkened the top of her screen.

“Samarth!” She plastered it to her ear. “What’s going on?”

Silence.

“Samarth? It’s you? Are you there?”

Silence again.

“Samarth? Are you ok?”

Bad thoughts hit her. Worse thoughts. Had something happened…?

“Yes,” his voice broke that crazy chain of paranoia. “I am here.”

“Oh my god, what is this? I just saw something on Instagram. Is it AI-generated? The photo looked legitimate… are you… the king of Nawanagar?”

A pause. Then — “Yes.”

“But… how? That woman has been after your life for all these years! How did she do this? Is… what’s the catch?”

“There is no catch. Sharan is very young. And there are forces that might become stronger under an unstable Rawal.”

“Like? Is the king in danger? Is that why that woman put you on the throne?”

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