BHAI AUR BAIRI
(brother and enemy)
Arnav returned home on his faithful horse, Veer who was waiting for his master.
Veer neighed sensing his master to be pleasantly disturbed .
"Nothing, chap! Just a bit of magic and uh, witchcraft!"
Veer could couldn't comprehend what Arnav said. He carried on leading Arnav to Aaranya.
As Arnav reached the royal palace, his trustworthy cousins, Aman and Akash came forward to talk to him.
Engulfing Arnav in a brotherly hug, Aman greeted Arnav.
" Hey Arnav! How was your hunt? Got something worthwhile for the queen? What am I even asking ,of course you must have... After all, you are her favourite..."
"No, I didn't get anything for mother."
"What!" Aman and Akash looked at each other in confusion, astonished at what Arnav said.
"You heard me right..." Arnav walked ahead.
"Have you caught jungle fever or something?" Akash asked.
"Ummm sort of... if I put it in my words I have fallen for witchcraft."
Before Akash and Aman could say anything a servant informed Arnav of the birthday celebrations that had started.
Aman and Akash were Arnav' s distant cousins, both belonging to wealthy families of Aaranya. They were Arnav 's best friends; they knew him in and out. Their has never been a time when they would have been jealous of his wealth, status, excellence in every field may it be academics or warcraft and not to forget his vivid popularity in the country among the people (especially the female crowd). And why should they be jealous, he never tried to show any supremacy on them. In short, they were the truest friends he could have.
On their way to the large special hall,they met Shyam, Arnav's step elder brother, empress Mayuri's elder son.
" I know you must have again brought some awesome gift for mother. But this time, you can't beat me Arnav. I have brought the best of the best! " Shyam said arrogantly, gesturing towards the hoards of things his servants were carrying in trays .
Arnav sighed looking at those trays.
"I don't even intend to do so, brother. It is just that Arnav Singh Raizada never learnt how to lose. And it' s not right to compare us, after, all we are brothers. " He said trying to put an arm around his shoulder. He had always tried to be friends with his elder brother but Shyam never maintained a healthy relation with him.
Shyam cast away Arnav 's arm and shook his fingers in front of him
" Step... Mind you, we are step brothers!"
Shyam huffed, puffed and stomped his foot (like the big bad wolf from the story of 3 little pigs) and went away.
Shyam had never liked Arnav since the day their father, Emperor Aaryaman had promised Arnav the throne. Shyam felt that their father was always favouring Arnav and never him.
Why was he promised the throne if Shyam was the elder one?
********
Six years ago, the royal court of Aaranya:
"Where are my sons, minister?" the emperor asked the minister as he noticed the absence of Arnav in the royal court.
Arnav would never miss to attend court sessions, he loved to hear the people tell him his problems and help them out. On the other hand Shyam would never come to court however much Mayuri would coax him too.
"Your majesty, the Rajkumars have gone to play by the river."
"What! And you are telling me this now! You had informed me just yesterday that there is a man eating tiger roaming out there." Aaryaman screamed on the minister.
"Sir we had told the princes so but they were adamant..." another minister said.
"Rajkumar Arnav Singh Raizada ki jai ho!"
"Long live our prince!"
People came inside the court with Arnav on their shoulders.
"Arnav, son, are you fine ? What is this? Tiger?" Aaryaman looked at the dead tiger that the villagers were carrying behind Arnav.
"I am fine, Emperor!"Arnav gave a boyish smile.
"Long live the Samrat! Maharajah, we are blessed that God has bestowed us with a prince like Rajkumar Arnav. He saved us mere villagers from this man eating tiger. He killed the tiger with his bare hands!" an enthusiastic old villager spoke joining his hands in front of the emperor.
Aaryaman was shocked to know what his sixteen year old son had done. Proud with his son's valour he announced,
"Let the man eater be skinned. Get the tiger skin blessed from our deity. This tiger skin shall be yours, my son."Aaryamann said patting Arnav's back.
" Emperor, we suggest a better gift for this act of bravery. The prince has saved our precious subjects' lives." The old minister suggested.
" Yes yes, Maharajah!" The villagers spoke happily.
"True! Son, I grant you the heavy responsibility of this throne after my reign. May you be a worthy emperor!" Aaryaman blessed Arnav while he joined his hands.
" Long live Yuvraj Arnav!" The whole court cried out happily.
******
Everyone was giving the finest gifts to the Empress; from exquisite gold threaded silk sarees from the south to the finest pearls from the east coast.
From expensive oils and perfumes from the west coast to priceless gems from the northern mines and not to forget, the ivory jewellery that the Emperor specially got crafted for her from the tusks of the elephant he had hunted a few days ago.
"What have you got for me, dear?", asked the Empress to Arnav, forwarding her hand towards him.
"Nothing...but a promise mother, I promise my life to you." Arnav bent down on his knees and pressing his forehead to her palm.
Everybody cheered a
Arnav on this, every woman wanted a devoted son like him.
"That's a nice puppet you've got, ma'am." whispered the Empress' companion into her ears.
The empress smirked looking confidently ahead towards Arnav who was now laughing with his friends.
" That I certainly do. The boy shall twirl on one click of my fingers."
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