THE WORST ENEMY
-2. A Dangerous Wish

“See how he behaves!” King Sulochana exclaimed after his son had departed from his chambers.  “He did not even listen to what I had to say!  Surekha, I am really worried about him.  If he is so short-tempered and has such a parochial outlook, how will he rule the kingdom justly after he ascends the throne?  How many times I have told him that he should not get so angry at the slightest provocation but he won’t listen!  What should I do?” 

“Maharaj!  Please do not despair!  I will go and talk to him!”  Surekha pacified her lord.

“Have you not tried to talk to him before?  Has it yielded any positive results?”  asked the king in despair. 

“Someday he will learn to control his anger, Maharaj!  Let’s have trust in God!”  Surekha only spoke these words to comfort her King.  She, too was filled with consternation about her son whose anger was only scaling new heights with each passing day!

Later, during the day, the Queen visited Prince Mahirat.  “My child, why do you get so angry for no reason?  Do you know how upset your father is at your unruly behaviour?”  “Look mother!” snarled Mahirat with his face clearly reflecting his anger, “You are only bothered about father’s feelings!  Do you know how upset I am at his partial attitude towards Viswajeet?  What will people feel about me if every time he ignores my views and opinions and favours that minister?  That I am a good-for-nothing Prince who cannot provide any satiable solutions to the problems or issues placed before me!  I feel so insulted!  Tell father that it would be a wise decision to make Viswajeet succeed the throne after him for I am of no use!”   “Mahirat!  Why are you getting so emotional…..?”  “Enough, mother!” Mahirat interrupted his mother,  “….You do not need to defend his actions!  I am very upset and would appreciate if I am left alone!  Please!” 

Surekha realised the futility of trying to reason out with her son.  She went and informed the King about the conversation she had with Mahirat.  Sulochana was deeply pained at heart to hear all that Mahirat had told his mother. 

That evening the King promulgated in the Durbar his decision about the proper utilisation of the vacant land at Udhyamnagar, which was as per his trusted minister, Viswajeet had opined.  He even complimented the minister for providing such a remarkable suggestion to this problem.  Mahirat was conspicuous by his absence.  When he learnt about his father’s decision from his men, Mahirat ransacked his own apartments by throwing pillows and jars to the ground in fury!

The next day, Mahirat, who still appeared incensed, visited his mother. “Today evening I plan to go for hunting in the Kallari forest.” 

“Kallari forest!  You have never been there before!  From what I have heard, it is a very dangerous and dense forest!  Why do you want to go there for hunting?  Opt for some other forest, Mahirat!  Have you told this to your father?”  the Queen asked worried.

“No!  I could have but I do not want to speak with him!  You go and tell him about it!  I have informed you for I felt that I should not keep you in the dark about this! And let me tell you something!  My decision is final!  I will go to that forest only for hunting today!”  So saying, he left the chamber leaving his mother distraught over her son’s stark arrogance! 

When King Sulochana came to know about Mahirat’s plans for the evening, he grew alarmed and came to meet his son.  The Prince did not even greet his father and gave him a stern look.  “What is this that I hear, son?  You want to go to the Kallari forest for hunting?” 

“You heard it right!”  said Mahirat.

“But why?”  asked the King.

“It is my wish and I feel that I have every right to fulfil it!”  replied Mahirat.

“Of course, you do provided it is sane!”  pointed out Sulochana.

“I do not bother about the sanity of my wish!  I take it as a challenge and am going to that forest in the evening!”  asserted the angry Prince.

“Allright!  There is no meaning in arguing with you!  But if you go I will go too with you!”  the King decided.

“What! No! I will go there on my own!  It is this attitude of yours that I despise!   You do not repose any faith or confidence in me.  You want to accompany me to the forest for you feel that I am not capable of taking care of myself!…” groused Mahirat and continued, “…Besides, I am not going there alone! The guards who usually come along with me to the forest whenever I go for hunting will be accompanying me today also!”

“My child, that is not sufficient!  Those guards do not know anything about that forest.  I have been there on a couple of occasions, not for hunting, but to vanquish some demons who were terrorising the people of our kingdom.  Thus, I am somewhat aware of the adversities of this forest which will work to your advantage if I come along with you.  Look, son!  Please do not always misunderstand me.  If I felt that you could not take care of yourself I would have never allowed you to go to other forests for hunting till now.  But this forest is very dangerous!  I cannot have peace of mind by letting you venture out in that forest for hunting!  I am your father, my child, and thus am bothered about your safety!”  Sulochana expressed his feelings.   The King had tears in his eyes when he spoke these words which moved Mahirat.  He looked at his father motionless unable to react to the situation. 

“In the evening, attend the durbar, Mahirat.  Thereafter, from there we will go to that forest for hunting.  Okay?” 

Mahirat did not respond and looked at the floor.  When the King persuaded him to answer in the positive, he said in a glum tone, “I will see!” 

Thereafter, the King bid him adieu and left satisfied for he had atleast managed to appease his son’s anger.

Although Mahirat was touched by his father’s emotions initially, it did little to change his overall perception.  He still felt that his father was doing injustice to him by his biased approach towards his minister Viswajeet.  Also, he felt that the main reason behind his father accompanying him to the forest was because he did not feel that he was capable to take care of himself.  That evening, Mahirat did not attend the durbar and silently went to the forest of Kallari alongwith some troops without informing his parents!