The Chariot at Dusk by Swati Teerdhala

Author:Swati Teerdhala
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Published: 2021-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Kunal took a deep breath before pushing open the door to the meeting room. They had returned to the palace a few days ago. Everything had gone well on their mission, and yet, he was nervous to be back. It had all felt so simple when he was searching for the lamp, but now he had to face the decisions he had made.

He inched the door open, trying not to make any noise. Only Esha and Arpiya were in the room, both of their heads bent low as they chatted. Esha let out a laugh and Kunal almost smiled. She was radiant.

He didn’t know when he’d be able to get her to smile like that again, if ever.

Kunal had noticed a slight softening of her position toward him. Esha glanced at him now and again, when she thought he wasn’t looking. He felt torn between remorse and a hot rush of indignation at her. It was cursed unfair that he was left here worrying about their every interaction, pretending and failing at not caring. He noticed the very way she breathed.

Kunal frowned, feeling the edges of it carve into his cheeks. Maybe he had been too hasty to push her away, but his pride held him back. She had been the one to withdraw her hand first, to judge and accuse.

“Brooding again, are you?” Alok said, coming up behind him. He clasped Kunal on the shoulder.

“Again?”

“You’ve been doing more of it recently.” Alok looked pointedly at Esha. “I think I might know why. Give it time.”

“That’s what everyone’s saying.” Kunal let out a small growl of frustration.

“Then everyone’s right.”

“You don’t know her like I do. She doesn’t take to forgiveness easily.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have done something to forgive?” Alok’s friendly gaze showed a flash of something steelier.

“Not you too,” Kunal said. “I know. I get it. I’ve heard it every single way from almost every single person in this room. I didn’t murder anyone.” Kunal’s voice rose, and Alok had to shush him, dragging him into a corner of the room.

“Harun was captured,” Alok said in a low tone.

“I didn’t know! And I’ve made up for it since. Did we not bring back the lamp?”

Alok sighed. “Emotions don’t work like that. That’s why I said to give it time.”

Kunal growled. “I’m sick to death of that. Bhandu has moved on. Arpiya is fine. It’s only her. And she acts as if she had no part in it. She’s being so . . . stubborn.”

“Oh yes. Stubborn. Esha is the stubborn one. Of course,” Alok said.

“I can’t grovel forever,” Kunal said, voicing a thought that had been becoming stronger.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“She’s being unreasonable.”

“She’s hurt.”

“Well, that makes two of us!” Kunal said with more force than he intended. Alok merely blinked at him. Kunal could’ve sworn he was trying to hide a smile, or a sigh. “It . . . doesn’t feel good that she immediately assumed the worst of me. That even now she won’t even try to hear me out.

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