CHAPTER 7
RAJPUTANA GAZETTE
SONGARA PRINCE DOES IT AGAIN!!
For some souls their words are vows and epitomizing this very Rajput code the Songara Prince has once again managed to put the business world in complete awe by finalising a deal of approximately thousand million dollars with GeCone MNC, which currently holds the top position in the list of foreign companies in India. The company known for its clandestine mind games and underhand ways in giving their partners their share of profit seems to have made a complete 360 as according to the recent PR rumours they are giving complete fifty percent profit to the Songara Industries in their oncoming joint venture. Yes readers you heard it right. For the first time in its history GeCone is going to play in fair grounds and the credit for this miracle goes to none other than the reclusive genius and owner of Songara Empire Prince Pratap Songara Singh Suryavanshi. The handsome prince though has remained out of media focus for nearly six years operating behind the cover of his brilliant mind, his earth shattering achievements continue to make him a hot topic in the Rajput Community. Adding to that his tragic romance and current detachment from the cream of the society and his continuous refusals to attend seminars, balls and charity dinners puts a mysterious air on the Prince. His current single status has put him in the top position again in the most eligible bachelors of Rajput Community for three times in the row.
The Suryavanshi family had been approached for comment but have refused to release any statement regarding their estranged family members'success. It might have also to do with the fact that the Suryavanshi Empire itself headed by Kunwar Jagmaal Singh Suryavanshi is too a competitor of the Songara Empire and the tough sibling rivalry between the eldest Suryavanshi and his brothers seems to have evolved into something of a war between the two empires.
Also the continuous successes of the Songara Empire seems to have become a sore spot for nearly most of the older Empires as it seems that no matter how improbable the venture looks like, Pratap Songara appears to have luck in everything, striking gold even in most impossible of all situations.
However in spite of his wins the miracle worker is yet to be seen outside his mansion in the public. Each and every one of his deals has been made from the unplottable Songara Manor, which itself garnered the attention of people far and wide.
Not only the manor, the general public has also started their hue and cry to have a glimpse of their beloved prince, who before his self imposed exile had been an avid public figure.
These all traces their roots back to the tragedy six years ago. Yet even years later the actual reasons of his departure from Suryavanshi Mansion and the circumstances that led to the onset of Songara Empire has remained a closely guarded secret.
What was it that made the genius Rajput leave his family?
Was it a conspiracy enacted by the many envious enemies of the Prince?
What had happened six years ago in the close knitted Suryavanshi clan which had destroyed the beautiful bond they shared?
Why has Rana Udai Singh Suryavanshi never made any effort to reconcile with his once favourite son?
To look at Kunwar Pratap's achievements and miraculous feats turn to page 4.
"The Suryavanshi dynasty - The list of Rulers"turn to page 5.
Kunwar Pratap and Rana Sangram 'Sanga'Singh Suryavanshi - turn to page 6.
The series of losses and deals gone bad for Suryavanshi Empire - turn to page 9
Kunwar Jagmaal Singh Suryavanshi was in a foul temper.
With a glower on his handsome face he dipped his head and gulped down the whisky in a go, slamming the glass with a thud on the ornate desk.
"Calm down brother. What's done is done. No use crying over spilt milk," Sagar Singh Suryavanshi spoke to his hot headed brother in what he hoped was a soothing voice. For his older brother had a voracious temper and more often than not did himself no favours acting upon his plans.
Sagar sighed. Really this Pratap situation was getting more and more bothersome. His mother was right. Simply feeling they had won by driving wedges between him and Dajiraj, was the biggest mistake they had committed only second to the blunder his brother and step - brother Shakti had done to break Pratap's moral by targeting his most loved person.
Sagar winced. That was a mistake they had dearly paid for. It had simply seemed to have made him more determined to reach to the root of the incident, something they had desperately tried and succeeded somewhat to cover up. He shuddered to imagine what would happen when he would come to know the whole truth.
He was broken out of his ponderings by the shattering of the wine glass against the wall shattering into hundreds of pieces.
Both Dada Bhai Shakti and Dada Bhai Jagmaal seemed to have an obsession with breaking wineglasses.
"That bas***d! How dare him? Blackening my name, my achievements. I hate him..." Jagmaal fumed.
What name and what achievements, Sagar felt like commenting but decided as a brother he really shouldn't send his brother to a early death due to heart attack because of excessive temper.
"...and those media harpies think the sun shines out of him. What are we next to him? Dumb goats?"
"Next to him, yes brother," Sagar hastened to answer, "after all he is a genius, Dada Bhai."
Jagmaal glared at his sibling with utter loath.
"Will you shut up? That was a rhetorical question you fool," Jagmaal snarled spittle flying out of his mouth.
Just then a door man entered bowing at the two princes.
"My Lords, the Council has called a meeting and the Chief Advisor wishes your presence."
Jagmaal gave an outraged growl. Sagar quickly dismissed the door man. His brother was already in enough trouble without murder charges being added to them.
"That Chundawat is a menace. He has been after me since all those years ago I took over the reins. That Pratap lover hates me."
"Rawatji is a respected member of the Council Dada Bhai," Sagar reminded his brother, "no matter how much you hate him, please don't provoke him."
Jagmaal gave his bother a scornful look.
"I am not a fool, Sagar."
Saying so he strutted out of his chambers.
Sagar watched his brother's form getting smaller and smaller.
The peaceful, serious and understanding look he wore disappeared. A sneer lit up his face.
His brother was a fool. Why his mother prized him so much was a mystery to him. With the current condition of the empire in his hands Sagar himself would prefer for Pratap to be the heir.
A bitterness rose in him.
It was always Pratap. Despite how much the Council liked to hide they couldn't completely mask the distaste they felt at the other Princes.
Even his own mother.
It was quite well known to him that Dheerbai Bhatiyani had desperately wanted a son like Pratap. Genius, handsome, polite, courageous, the masses darling Pratap.
Pratap, Pratap, Pratap!
Always him.
He was like an itch which refused to go away.
Dajiraj smiling in pride at his son winning the championships, his mother feeding him his favourite kheer, Badi Maa knitting him sweaters, the masses chanting his name like the next coming of Eklingji, Guru Raghvendra announcing him the best student he had ever taught, her adoring look directed at him.
His heart clenched.
Her beautiful smile adoring her face as she spoke of him. Her eyes lighting up as he looked at him, the heir of Suryavanshi's, the perfect son, perfect friend, perfect heir, perfect student, perfect ruler, perfect lover, perfect husband, perfect, perfect Pratap.
A mocking smile came to his face.
And amidst all, the others overlooked. No one cared Shakti won the sword championship because a year ago Pratap had also won it in record time. Nobody knew or cared to know that Vikram had left his education after graduation losing himself in his passion of painting or that he was counted among the world's top ten artists.. No one bothered that Jagmaal was losing himself to drugs, everybody even their mother was busy with Pratap. No one tried to even get to know the other Suryavanshi heirs after all they had Pratap.
But there was someone. Someone who had brought his whole existence to light with a small curve of her lips. Always promising to be his friend no matter what. But she did not. Even she fell prey to Pratap. Loved him in ways she would never feel for him.
A sneer lit his face as her pregnant form came to his mind. Round and glowing with his brother's child.
Jagmaal might think that he hated Pratap, but he loathed him. Despised him with his whole being.
Because of him, their mother saw her sons as worthless, and had continuously tried to make them behave and act like him in their childhood. Work harder and harder to be better than him. Because of him their father had never spared a glance at them. And the last straw was when he had stolen her.
His love. His reason for existence. His life.
He had made so many plans, multitudes of plots to finally get her to himself, but just as he was succeeding his idiotic brothers had to step in destroying everything.
Oh how he hated all of them. Pratap, Shakti, Jagmaal. He had always been the brother who had remained in the background, underestimated and ignored.
Sagar Singh Suryavanshi turned to look at the mirror.
The dim light encased his features in a cruel look.
"I will destroy all of you, especially you Dada Bhai Pratap. Even if it is the last thing I do."
AN 3: Hello again to all my readers and a big thanks to those who reviewed, though I could do with a few more of those.
Also in many reviews it has been mentioned that some find my plot a bit confusing. I request them to please mention in their reviews as to which part gets muddled, because since I have got the whole plot mapped out, I cannot seem to be able to understand from a reader's perspective. I will be very grateful if someone points out the parts.
Thanks.
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