THE TWIN BROTHERS
-8. A New Proposal

The man who was confessing his crime continued, “…He promised to pay me a hefty sum as reward and I agreed.  I started by foot yesterday morning and reached here today.  First, I located the tree from where I can have a good view of the road and then I felled three small trees with this axe and kept it in the middle of the road.  Soon, you arrived in your chariot and while both of you were conversing I should have fired my arrow but I hesitated.  My heart did not permit me to kill you.  However, I shuddered to think about the consequences that may befall me should I fail in this dreadful task.  Mustering courage I was about to release the arrow when this snake coiled around me.  It’s grip was so tight which drained my energy and my bow and arrow fell from my hands to the ground.  I cried for help and you came to my rescue, O Prince!”  the killer concluded.  

Chandrakanth was aware that his brother hated him but he never imagined that he would go to this extreme of trying to kill him!

 “O Prince!” said the man with regret, “I am sorry for what I was going to do!  You can punish me in whatever way you deem fit.” 

“What’s your name?”  Chandrakanth asked him suppressing his sorrow in his heart.  “Viraaj!” the man replied hanging his head down.

“I will not accord any punishment to you, Viraaj.  You have realised your mistake and feeling miserable about it.  That is your punishment.  The feeling of remorse, which you are now experiencing in your heart will always deter you from taking anybody’s life.  I want both of you to give me a promise.  Do not leak this incident in our kingdom.  Please keep it among yourselves.  Promise me!”  the noble Prince demanded from Manu and Viraaj.  

Both of them promptly agreed and bowed before him.  They had not only seen his greatness but Viraaj had also witnessed the complete contrast characters of the twins.  Thereafter, Chandrakanth took Viraaj in his chariot and left him on the outskirts of their kingdom.  Then, the Prince asked Manu to take him to the palace.  On reaching there, he went to meet his mother in her chambers where the King and his brother were present.  His parents were delighted to see him and hugged him affectionately.  Chandrakanth felt happy to learn that his mother had completely recovered from her ailment.   He looked at Suryakanth who appeared shocked to see him.  Still, he enforced a smile and came towards his younger brother. 

“H…How was the trip?”  he asked in a wavering voice. 

“Excellent, brother!  It is a trip I will never forget throughout my life!”  Chandrakanth responded with a smile. 

Suryakanth looked at his brother suspiciously for he was not sure what he actually meant by that statement.  Chandrakanth spoke with his parents for some time and returned to his chambers to rest awhile.  He lay on bed distraught with grief.  When his father had told him that he would never be happy if he stayed with his brother, he had not taken it seriously.  The reason being that he never entertained any negative thoughts regarding anyone to enter his mind which is why he was able to always love and respect others.   When Suryakanth insulted him as a child, he used to feel offended but used to forget about it the very next moment.  However, he was not able to erase this incident, where his brother had tried to kill him, from his mind.  His eyes became moist as he thought about it.  He immediately wiped his tears and tried to divert his attention elsewhere.  Just then he heard his mother calling out to him.  As Chandrakanth looked at the entrance from where he had heard her voice, he found his parents coming towards him.  They sat beside him and Queen Janaki asked her son,

“Chandra!  We just came to see if you were asleep.  We want to speak with you, my child!” 

“Sleep just wouldn’t come, mother.”  Chandrakanth said glumly.  “Tell me!  What is it?” 

The King lovingly passed his hand on Chandrakanth’s head and made him lie on his lap.  “Chandra!  Both of us have observed that you are not only looking tired but also felt that your eyes reflected sorrow! Is there something bothering you?”  Chandrakanth was taken aback to hear his father speak thus.  After all, he had tried his best to hide his emotions.  “No, father!  I am absolutely fine.  It is true that I am tired.  But I am not sad.  I had a very pleasant trip to Devnagiri.”

“Allright, Chandra!  We believe you!  We know that you will not hide anything from us.  We have some news for you.”  The Queen told her son.  King Salya, then, told Chandrakanth of something which had happened after he had left for Devnagiri.  “The day you left, my bosom friend King Rajendra had come to meet me.  He has two daughters.  The elder one is Gayatri and the younger sister is Urmila.  As they have come of age, he wants to marry them off to you two brothers!  He had brought sketches of his daughters which I showed to Suryakanth and he liked Gayatri.  Chandra, as Rajendra has no heir to his throne he is ready to offer his kingdom to either of you after him, if you marry his daughters.  He has so much confidence in you two brothers for you have taken education under Sage Anantu.  When he made this offer, a plan struck me.  Although Suryakanth has agreed to make you the ruler of Panchamahal, I know that he hates this decision in his heart.  So, why not make him the ruler of this kingdom while you take over Rajendra’s territory after him?  Of course, all this will materialise only if you like Urmila.  I have talked to Suryakanth in this regard when I showed him the drawings of Rajendra’s daughters and he agreed to it.”  The Queen, who had a neatly wrapped up paper in her hand, unfolded it.  “This is Urmila.  See if you like her.”  Janaki said handing over the piece of drawing to Chandrakanth.