''Oh its that fairytale i remember most of that day, brother.'' The younger brother was too eager to fill in. He could see visible signs of restless embarrassment on the features of his almost saintly elder brother. Others would never see those telltale signs what he could see. And he could see him almost fidgeting.
''The story of that unbelievably beautiful and kind princess of some distant land who tended the horse with her own hands. My my ! didnt she sound mysterious and romantic ? The traders seemed to be quite smitten by her charm !
Ah ha he was getting warmer inside.He just swallowed nervously.
''They deemed her the goddess of mountains. The young man who was in charge of it's nursing swore that it was her magic touch that protected horse. She would protect its rider too from any harm. Jyesht ! how come you have forgotten everything now. You are listening everything with rapt attention.''
The elder brother nearly jumped at his brother's abrupt interrogation. And he was not even finished.
''I remember you asking her name and her country. Blessed be the country who has such a compassionate princess to look after her people was what you exactly said after listening everything. Why, you even call the horse by the same name you heard the princess gave to it. That's why you call it Abhra. It reminds you of her. Is it not, Brother ?''
The elder brother stopped in his tracks. he then realised that he had been played on quite efficiently by his impish younger sibling
Bhratah! He could now see his eyes shining in merriment.
'' I know you since my birth, Jyesth. We are inseparable. You cannot hide anything from me. I never saw you so impressed with someone, a woman to be more particular. It shone in your eyes, Bhratoh ! and in your extreme attachment with the horse. And with that piece of tattered uttariya that you found tied on its knee. I have seen you studing it with rapt attention as if it would talk to you if you gaze harder. You do that often when you think no one is around.''
Walking close to him, the younger brother touched his shoulder and gently asked, "Do you fancy the princess, brother? Do you believe, that this horse wold lead you to her one day?''
The darker, athletic, chiseled featured youth looked like struck by lightning. For one long moment he just looked at his brother wide eyed,mouth opening and closing alternately. The brother was plain fighting the urge of guffawing loud.)