Page 273 of A King's Oath

“Then I insist you come for those two weeks.”

Avantika swallowed.

“What is it? You can tell me.”

She searched for the right words. The right thoughts too. Couldn’t.

"What transpired between you and Samarth over the last twenty years is not fully known to me yet,” he filled the silence solemnly. “But what is clear to me is that there is nothing but a future for you three together now. Have I read that wrong?”

“No, you haven’t.”

“Good. Then it is only right that steps are taken to create that future for you.”

“Uncle… Bade Rawal, my parents don’t know. Not about Samarth. Not about anything…”

“Samarth told me. With your permission, I would also like to extend an invitation to your parents to come to Nawanagar. Ava — yours, Brahmi’s and Samarth’s life needs to start now. Nawanagar must get its Maarani and Kumari who have been waiting in the shadows.”

But I am not Maarani and my daughter is definitely not Kumari.

“Would you prefer to speak to your parents first? They would get the shock of their lifetime if I called them out of the blue. I can. But it wouldn’t look right.”

“Yes, it’s better if I talk to them first.”

“Alright, then. You speak to them and let me know once you have. I will call them tonight.”

Avantika closed her eyes, breathing the light, lavender-scented air in. The more she procrastinated, the more it would needle her insides. She had to become the old Ava and jump into a murky whirlpool.

“Ok, uncle. I will speak to them and let you know.”

“Fantastic! Is Brahmi awake?”

“No,” Ava glanced behind her at the closed bedroom door. If she woke up, she came scuttling into her bedroom and slipped into bed beside her. “Yesterday exhausted her.”

“It was a difficult day. Let her sleep. When she is ready, bring her to the hospital. Her bat and ball will be delivered in one hour.”

Avantika bit back a smile — “I tried with the bat-ball thing. She never caught on. It’s only horses and eclairs. No cricket.”

“Now there’s the two of us. We’ll covert her one way or another.”

She chuckled, giddy, and suddenly excited about whatever was to come.

“The doctor is calling me. I’ll see you in a while.”

“Yes, see you, uncle.”

Some rustling, and Samarth came back — “You and Papa planning to turn my baby into a cricketer?”

“Scared?”

“Not at all. Try your best. She is in love with horses.”

“Mama…” her door cracked open and in slipped Brahmi, her snuggly under her arm, hair all over her face.

“Good morning, baby,” Avantika turned, opening an arm for her to snuggle into her side.

“She woke up?” Samarth asked.

“Mmm,” Avantika caressed her hair, combing the strands through her fingers. Brahmi was still half-asleep.

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