Page 329 of A King's Oath

His daughter nodded, always sold on dreamy stories. Samarth smiled — “Then she is. That is why they still call this place by her name.”

He took Ava’s hand to let her slide into her shoes and then put his own on. They turned to the temple one final time before getting into their car.

“Fold your hands and say ‘I’ll come back again,’” he taught his daughter what his Papa had taught him when leaving a temple or a deity. She folded her hands and murmured it like shewas chanting some super-secretive shlok. He kissed her temple, amused. His half-French daughter was double-Indian lately.

“Now picnic!” She threw her hands up in the air.

————————————————————

“Papa sat there,” Ava pointed to the bench on the farthest row overlooking the stables. “And I sat here,” she showed her the seat she had occupied before she was punished to sit with him in 7-B. Brahmi skipped down the empty classroom like a butterfly, uninterested in their trip down memory lane. She was muttering things to herself, picking up markers and dusters and reading the charts stuck on their boards aloud.

Samarth came up behind Ava.

“My daughter also talks to walls thanks to you.”

“At least she is not stuck to the window like a silent statue all day.”

As if on cue, Brahmi found herself on her knees on one of the benches, peeping out at the stables. This was the only classroom on this floor with that premium view. He could hear the faint hooves in the distance. At this time of the afternoon, the horses would be coming back after exercise in the paddocks.

“Look! Ponies!” She squealed so loud he startled. “Ooooh, there is a red pony. Woooow! Papa, look at him… you are so cute, baby. Oooh…”

“She also talks to flowers and bees and ponies,” Ava turned to him. “See if you can stop her.”

“I want to go down! Papa! I want to go down!”

He shook his head, holding back his smirk.

“Come.”

————————————————————

“Come on, Ava,” He held his hand down for her.

“No!”

“Your daughter is riding her own horse, you can ride doubles with me at least.”

She stood back, hands on her hips — “How many years have you known me now?”

“More than I can count,” he grinned.

“And have I ever ridden with you? Even when you were the polo hunk of Saraswati Crest?”

“We have to rectify those wrongs,” he stood on the stirrups and reached forward to grab her hand. She jumped back — “Don’t do that!!”

“Mama, come on!” Brahmi hollered from her tiny pony beside his beast. The red one. Samarth glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She was holding her thighs expertly, her hands soothing the controlling stance by stroking her pony’s mane. The way he whined under her touch, Samarth knew he was happy.

“You guys go take a round and come back, I’ll wait here.” Ava stood back. Then lower, she muttered to him — “Don’t you remember what happened last time?”

“It happened and it passed,” he nodded solemnly. “How many times have you seen me take falls in a game?”

“It’s a miracle you still have your head.”

He knocked on his helmet — “Somebody makes sure to buckle it tight for me.”

“Samaaarth…” she whined. He manoeuvred his horse to her, grabbed her wrist and tugged. She protested.

“Alright, just sit up with me. Nothing more. Ok?”

---