Page 299 of A King's Oath

“Get up now,” Samarth commanded. His brother huffed and glanced at her — “He has a secret chip installed inside you. Beware. I’ll run my next research on it.”

Avantika bit her lip as Sharan vacated the seat. It was taken by his elder brother.

“Papaaaa, see my mehendi!” Brahmi came shooting to him and he caught her by the forearms before she could smear her little hands all over his koti.

“Show me.”

“This is my flower,” she held her hand up with tiny round florals in the centre of her palm. “And this is Chloe,” she turned sideways to show him her little horse on her bicep.

“Wow,” he mouthed.

“But it smells too bad,” she sniffed her hand and made a face.

“Let me see?” He pushed his face close to her and she held up her palm. Samarth made a face, identical to hers. “It does smell.”

“Can we wash it?”

“Of course, come with me…” he began to stand up.

“No!” Avantika protested. “The colour won’t darken. Wait for another hour, let it dry and then wash it.”

“But it smells, Mama!”

“Brahmi, baby…”

“If she doesn’t like it we’ll wash it,” Samarth interrupted. She gave him a look.

“Come, baby…”

“I’ll take her, Rawal saheb,” Ananya offered.

“Thanks, Ananya,” Samarth smiled. “I’ll take her.”

“Ava is right,” Rajmata remarked from afar. “Brahmi, do you want a dark brown colour like mine and your Naniji’s,” she showed her own hands. “Or light orange like that?” She pointed to the mildly rusted leaves on a tree over the pool. Brahmi’s eyeballs rolled up to examine the leaves, then her Dadi Sarkar’s palms, followed by her Naniji’s. She finally made a face and shrugged.

“Like that,” she pointed to them.

“Then we will wait for another thirty minutes, then wash it. You, me and Dadi Sarkar. Ok?” Her mother cued. Were they best friends now?

Brahmi nodded. Samarth kissed the top of her head, picked her up and set her on his knee as he leaned back. Avantika knew she wouldn’t sit still for long and was proven right when Aniket walked across them with a stick of ice cream.

“I want! I want!” Brahmi jumped down and ran after him.

“Use your other hand!” Avantika called after her but stopped short as the song changed. Suddenly the beats went to full blast. Her heart thudded. She whirled her head to him —Are you serious?She mouthed. He smirked.

Bhabho kehdi hai pyara Singha velna le aa…

“Where is that video, Raje?” Ananya began clapping to the beats, her foot thumping.

“I don’t even know,” she laughed.

“Kresha Raje will remember the steps!” She grinned slyly. For all her sweetness, Ananya knew which buttons to push.

“No way!” Kresha pushed farther into her cushions.

“Gopi Jijaji!” Ananya waved to him.

“She remembers,” he blurted.

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