Page 244 of A King's Oath

“I would have.”

“Tell her you couldn’t because it was… it was…”

“Can I handle this?” He asked quietly, having collected his strength. “Do you trust me?”

Ava exhaled, then nodded very slowly. He kissed the corner of her mouth. Slow, deep, lingering. She inhaled. Their eyes met.

“Then take me to my daughter.”

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Samarth sat on the sofa, still as a rock. He had shrugged out of his coat and yanked open his bowtie. It hung around his neck, feeling still just as weighted as it had felt tied around his neck. The clock’s hand moved, nothing else. And then the silence was broken by two pairs of footsteps. He glanced sideways — Brahmi in her pyjamas, all traces of her lipstick and blush gone, Ava still in her ballgown. They came and sat down beside him, Brahmi looking sad but also confused.

Samarth turned his body towards her and held her gaze. Her tiny, sad, confused gaze.

“Did you enjoy tonight, Brahmi?” He asked, giving her his most nervous smile. That did the trick. She smiled back, if only to reassure him. Then nodded.

“I did too. It was the bestest night of my life as well, you know that?”

She looked down, her smile bittersweet.

“Did Mama ever tell you how we met?”

She looked up at him, surprised. Then shook her head.

“Can I tell you?”

She nodded. He spread his arm over the headrest and leaned into it, feeling her body come closer and her head fall under his arm in complete faith. Samarth glanced at Ava. She was nervous. He gave her a reassuring smile.

“I was studying in a school named Saraswati Crest. I was in 7th Standard and Mama was made to sit next to me on my bench.”

“Really?” She rolled her eyes up to her mother. Ava nodded — “Really.”

“Your Mama was the bestest friend I ever had. I rode horses and she played cricket in school. We went to temples together, danced together, made food together, she taught me Geography. I loved your Mama so much.”

“Do you love me too?”

He couldn’t contain the burst of joy inside him — “Yes, I do. So much.”

“Then can you tell my father to not come from South America? Mama doesn’t have his number. Can you find out and tell him no?”

This was his golden opportunity.

“I can’t.”

Her lower lip jutted out.

“Because I am already here.”

She frowned.

“You should have called me before I left South America and asked me not to come. Now I am here. What to do?”

Her eyes widened. Her little body tensed up. She glanced up at her mother. A long moment of silence passed between them and Samarth left that last decision to her. She took it.

“Sam is your father.”

“Real father?”

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