The Blessed Pratibimb

Chapter-1

Adhrit was worried about his brother. Last time he asked him to go and have fun, the talk of the wife went away along with Gurudev. Now he didn't have enough courage to ask his brother again that they should visit the kingdom before going there officially.

He went to Arihant's room and found him sitting on a chair lost in an empty corner. He just sighed looking at his brother. He knew his brother has always been the most emotion child among them. He would even get sentimental over an emotional poem so this thing was far more painful to him than anyone can imagine.

He suddenly struck with an idea. He went straight to his brother and said, "Come on get up!"

Arihant was too lost to give him any attention so this time he literally pulled him down his chair. As Arihant's butt touched the ground he came to reality. With his angry tone, he asked, "What?"

Smiling, that his brother at least came back to reality he said excitedly, "Get ready!" Dusting his clothes and getting up he asked, "For what?"

His smile just increased as he said, "We are going to have a survey in the kingdom before there officially."

But Arihant had something else in his mind as he said, "I don't want to visit a place which is cursed. Last time you took its name Gurudev left me."

Adhrit said in an irritated voice, "Really? That is your kingdom brother and you are their king. How can you disrespect your very own kingdom? This is not something Gurudev has taught us."

Mention of his Guru, Arihant was a little taken back and looking down he said, "I am nothing without him."

Adhrit, completely understanding his brother's pain said, "You are. He has made you this strong person you are today. In the battlefield, only your name is enough to make enemy leave the ground. Your dignity is like sun, its spread in all directions. Every kingdom knows our bravery and our power. It is all because of him. He has spent years making it that far. Now you want to break it in just a second. It would be a waste of all his efforts. Don't do this brother. Be his best student again."

Till the end Arihant's eyes were filled with tears and he was completely struck by an elephant. He sighed and said, "I guess you're right. I should prove to him that I am his best student anyway."

Adhrit smiled and said, "We'll be changing into saints. Here I have brought them."

Handing Arihant the bag of his clothing he continued, "Change into them and you will look exactly like Rishi Durvasa."

Arihant's lips found a smile as he asked, "Really?"

In a straight and boring voice Adhrit said, "No."

Flaring his nostrils Arihant mumbled a "Whatever."

As they both got ready, they went out to the stable and found out their horses, Megh and Bali there. As Arihant went with his Megh and Adhrit with his Bali, they looked back at their camp and said Adhrit, "Don't worry I have already talked to Maa."

Arihant smiled and said, "You really seem excited about this."

Adhrit just looked at the starry sky and replied, "I have a feeling something great is to be done there. I don't know about anything else."

Arihant just nodded and they started with their horses on full speed towards their kingdom.

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It was bright sunny day and the whole Kaushik Kingdom was ready for their big day. It was Basant Agaman today and everyone was super excited for it. Like every year this year their was special arrangements for the festival and main pooja, but this year was a special one, after all their king was returning back to the kingdom after 12 years.

Soon two fake Rishis emerged near the kingdom on the horses and they both stopped seeing the main entrance to the city. They hide their horses in the bushes bear a tree as they knew soon the whole army would reach here and they will collect them on their own. As Adhrit has already talked to his mother of taking the army back as the war's over.

Arihant looked at the gate really lost in the thoughts and Adhrit just smiled and said, "It's our own kingdom brother let's go in."

He nodded and they both started to the gate and no one stopped them as it was the festival today and everyone was welcomed in the kingdom, only after checking though. As they were carrying nothing they were sent in.

The scenery of inside was so pleasurable that they both were star struck and just stood there admiring city's beauty. The walls of shops and houses were loaded with flowers and were painted new. They were confused as to what was the occasion today. As they went to a shop and Adhrit asked, "Hello dan, can you tell us what is the occasion today? Why is it so decorated here?"

The shopkeeper just smiled and said, "Looks like you are new around here." They both nodded and he continued, "It is the Basant Agaman today. Like every year the whole kingdom is eager to celebrate it, but this year it is something different."

Being curious one Arihant asked, "What different?"

Smiling ear to ear shopkeeper replied, "Our king is returning back to the kingdom that's why everyone is more than usual excited for this year's Basant Agaman. Even the temple has done special arrangements for king's arrival. I have also heard that the king would be here by the noon and he would be doing the Basant Pooja."

Adhrit started to fake cough to hide his laugh which Arihant was completely aware of. He just rolled his eyes at his little brother's antiques. Looking him cough shopkeeper offered him a glass of milk, saying, "Are you alright Rishiwar?"

Taking the milk with a smile Adhrit said, "Was not, but would be now." As he gestured towards the milk. Arihant said, "Thank you for telling us, we should keep going."

Shopkeeper nodded and said his pranam to both as they started to god knows where.

Roaming and roaming, it was the afternoon today. Both of the boys were hungry by now. Adhrit said, "Brother let's eat something." To which Arihant nodded and they reached by a shop of sweet. They asked the shopkeeper, "We are hungry can you feed us."

Judging by their look shopkeeper knew they wouldn't be serving him with any money, but refusing to a Rishi could cost a curse which he sure was not ready. So very politely he said, "Rishi Lord I would love to serve you with my sweets, but my sweets aren't delicious enough for your taste."

Adhrit asked, "What do you mean?"

He said, "As you can see there is Basant Agaman today and there is a special Bhoj in the temple today. The more special thing about that Bhoj is that the high priest's daughter herself have made it. It is said that she is a God Child and all of us have seen her making miracles. Only at the age of 16 she had mastered all kind of yudhkala, ayurveda, astrology, Vedas and what not. It is also said that she has been gifted with magic hands as the medicine made by her hands never fails and have the capacity to even make a dead alive. She is also said to possess all the qualities of devi Annapurna, as many Rishis like you have said that themselves. I would recommend you going there My Lord."

Hearing so much about the magical girl Adhrit's impatience for food just increased as he said, "Brother he is right we should head to the temple then."

But on the other hand, Arihant had something different in his mind. He said, "I guess you're right. We should head towards the temple...and test the girl..."

He said the last part real slow, almost to himself as he was really curious about this girl. So both boys started to the temple.

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Both boys reached the temple as per the shopkeeper advised and for sure the décor was a thing to be noticed. The gate welcomed them with flowers and even the feet were placed on the petals. There was no one in there as they entered, but they saw a beautifully dress Adishakti's pind. They both bowed to her and suddenly Adhrit's nose was hit by a sweet fragrance. He looked in the direction and saw Prasada there. Now his the tiny patience bridge just broke and he without saying anything just went to it.

But before he could dig in, he stopped and thought for a moment. He then took the kheer and the spoon and took out a full spoon of kheer out. But rather than eating himself he went to his brother and said, "Here..."

Arihant gave him a confused look so he said, "I have drank that full glass of milk but you haven't. You didn't even had your dinner last night, so you're the first one taking this."

Arihant accepted the offer smilingly. As he took the first spoon his eyes went wide and his mind went numb. He have never tasted such a delicious kheer ever before in his life. Looking at his reaction Adhrit asked, "How's this?" Getting out of his trance, Arihant smiled and said, "Such a delicious dish I have never tasted before."

Listening to his reply Adhrit's eyes started to shimmer with hunger and he asked, "Really?"

Arihant nodded smirking and said, "Why not try it on your own."

Being said that he couldn't control himself anymore he just dig in the pot and started to eat like there's no tomorrow.

As he was about to take his last bite they heard, "Stop!"

He stopped abruptly and looked in the direction of voice. There stood an aged guy with his long braid along with white Dhoti.

His look made him high priest and it confirmed when his disciples came from behind and one of them said, "What have you done? It was supposed to be for the king on his first visit."

Adhrit asked, "What's so special about this?"

One disciple said, "This specially moon's charged kheer was made for our king's first visit as to make him more emotionally stable and more inclined to his kingdom as he have been staying away for so long."

Arihant frowned but before he could say anything high priest said, "This act of ignorance should be punished fair well."

"Soldiers!" He called and there came four soldiers and they bowed as high priest said, "Capture these imposters and kill them."

Both were shocked from this decision and Adhrit blood started to boil. 'How dare they say something like that to his brother and nevertheless their very own king.' he thought.

But before anyone could say or do anything everyone heard, "Wait!"

The voice was so beautiful that it felt as a melody to Arihant's ears. 'If voice is so sweet how would the owner be?' he thought to himself. As the disciples started to move out of the way of the voice, a clear figure started to come out. In complete white along with a lily on one side of her head came a girl more beautiful then the devi herself. Her hair were braided down along with pearls to her waist. Where her golden waistband just showed her slim figure. The gold earrings along with armlet and then the bangles just added shimmer to her velvet skin. Her eyes were holding authority as bold as her Kajal. Lips pink and the jingles of her anklets made Arihant just admire the beauty of world in front of his eyes. He was so mesmerized by her beauty that she just wanted to bow down and confess his feelings to her. But as she spoke his attention went to the matter, "Pranam Rishiwar."

Both of them nodded to her and she moved to the high priest and said, "Father, I have made that kheer specially for our king and have charged it with moon. Surely the kheer was made for a high purpose. But I assume it was for these Rishis than our king. He is our king father, he is surrounded by so many people around him who would surely take care of his diet. But as for these Rishis I assume they were hungry otherwise no such saint would eat anything without any asking."

Priest asked, "What are you trying say?"

She said, "I simply mean the Kheer they ate was meant for them rather than our king. Kheer was made to fill the eater with compassion and love and indeed King has no such luck to have this. Feeding our king is our duty as Brahmin but feeding any poor is our responsibility as a human being. No religion is greater than the religion of being a human."

Priest thought for a moment and smiled at his girl saying, "You always make me proud my girl."

She smiled and asked, "So can we feed them properly?"

As priest nodded he moved towards the Rishis and said, "I am sorry Rishiwar." He bowed and continued, "As my daughter said, feeding poor is our responsibility and instead of welcoming you to the Maha Pooja I disrespected you. I am sorry for that."

Adhrit smiled and nodded. But Arihant, he was lost in the beauty in front of him so he remained silent. Priest said, "I would love to invite you to our Maha Bhoj at the occasion of Basant Agaman."

Adhrit nodded and elbowed to his brother bringing him back to reality as he nodded too. But again started to look at her. She said, "Come along with me Rishiwar." They nodded and started to follow her.

As they were going through large halls Adhrit asked, "Devi, do all the temples looks like palace?"

She frowned getting a bit confuse as to why Rishis don't know how temple looks like, but then she thought, 'Maybe they have been away from humanity for the start and never get a chance to visit humans or something like that'. She replied, "No Rishiwar, only this temple is made with such an excellency. Our late king made it himself as he was blessed by Devi Shakti. He made this temple in order to show respect to her. He nodded and asked, "What do you know about Royal family?"

She replied, "I don't know much about them, but I have heard that the our present king is one of the greatest warriors of the time. He is not only best at Yudhkala but also the stagiaires are the best made by him. I have also heard that he have received his education directly from Guru Yajana. He also have a younger brother. That is all I have heard about our king."

Getting a bit upset Adhrit asked, "Haven't you heard about the Prince Adhrit?"

She shook her head in no and said, "I actually didn't know anything about Royal family but since they are coming today I asked one of my friends and she told me a bit about our king that is all."

Adhrit replied with 'Oh'.

But Arihant had something else in his mind as he said in a fake low voice which was clearly audible, "He is fool..."

But the girl didn't reply so Arihant elbowed Adhrit gesturing him to say more and he said, "The king of yours is very..."

He just wandered to think of something but Arihant continued, "...is very cruel. How can a king leave his kingdom forever. This kind of brutality with his very own kingdom. What a shameful act by a king. How can he live like that, he should rather d-"

"Enough!" Burst the girl as she said, "Apology for my rudeness Rishi Lord but I request you not to disrespect our king anymore. He has been away from our kingdom for like twelve years now. But he was not enjoying that time either. He was fighting for us. For our people. He learnt in the battlefield and stayed there so that we can stay here happily. He was just a child when he left the kingdom to the battlefield. His whole childhood was spent on the battlefield. This kind of act can be done only by a true king and he is the best king our kingdom can get. This is my own point of view on one told me this.

You are Rishis, bigger than me in anyway rather it age or knowledge. But I would appreciate it if you would keep your views to only yourself. I would apologize again if you find me in any rudeness."

Both of them were just out of words now. They were left to say nothing. Arihant was really impressed by girl's wisdom and sense of patriotism and devotion towards her king. Adhrit said, "Devi, we apology if our words hurt your feeling we didn't meant to do that."

She nodded and smiled saying, "Please come with me so that I can serve you food."

They nodded and they went to the backyard of the temple which was quite big. There she arranged special sitting arrangements for them and served them food.

The food was just too much delicious that even Arihant had to have a bit extra. After they were done Arihant was really impressed by her so he said, "Devi you have really impressed me, I want to give you a boon." She nodded and said, "I would take my boon on time Rishiwar, right now I have nothing to ask for. He nodded and Adhrit said, "We should get going now."

Arihant nodded and the girl thanked them again for visiting temple. Both the boys got out of kingdom and joined the army which had reached almost the gate. They changed back into normal clothing of theirs and entered the Kingdom like real King.

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Rishi Durvasa: A great sage of that time.

Basant: Spring.

Agaman: Coming.

Rishis: Sages.

Pooja: Worshiping of Indian style.

Rishiwar: A noun for Rishi in ancient India.

Bhoj: Offering of food on any special occasion.

Yudhkala: Wararts or different kind of war skills like, swordsmanship and others.

Devi Annapurna: Indian Goddess of Food.

Adishakti's Pind: Adishakti is an Indian Goddess of eternal power. Her body's parts are called pind.

Prasada: The offering to the God/Goddess which were once offered to them, then distributed to various people. Or can say Holy offering.

Dhoti: An Indian lower wear mostly for males.

Devi Shakti: Another name for Goddess Adishakti in from of Parvati, Mahadev's/Shiva's wife.