Devi and Chandra

Chapter-2 The Love of Two Brothers Part-II

Untangling himself from the belle and the drapes, Chandra turned towards the entrance and dashed ahead. Immediately Rama caught his eyes, acknowledging his attendance.

To Chandra's surprise, the future emperor pulled him in a bear hug. "So you managed to get your ugly face here on time, brother," he merrily thumped his back. "I'm glad. Come on, we'll enter our father's sanctorum together."

The Crown Prince held Chandra's shoulders and positioned his little brother beside him. But his nose of a hound had already caught the very faint stench of alcohol. "Jyeshtha," Chandra rolled his eyes at him. "You drank right before your coronation?"

"It's the Yavana wine, anuj," Rama giggled. "It's amazing. And I have not lost my senses, okay? I can still perceive everything. I may be a little dizzy, so I'll keep quiet as long as I can. It's not an issue."

"It's not an issue?" Chandra pulled him a bit aside. "Do you really think the royal priest wouldn't notice that you're high, Jyeshtha?" he whispered. "He's going to be standing very close to you, unlike these people. Same for Mother. Plus, you have to give a damn speech after you're king. What the hell would you do then?"

Rama just stared at him.

'Your Highnesses?" a nobleman in the entourage behind them asked. "Is everything alright?"

Another one approached them. "Your Highnesses, the muhurta for the coronation is passing away. We should enter the throne hall."

'Yes of course," Chandra replied. "There's just one thing I want to do."

A few minutes later, Chandra found himself entering the majestic throne hall alongside the group and his brother. His brother, who was chewing some chopped betelnut (after consuming two cups of lemonade) and was wearing a garland around his neck (a vaijayanti mala, as Chandra had joked).

I've made him grander than he already is, he chuckled, making him look like Narayana Himself.

"What?" Rama shot him a look as they passed through the crimson aisle.

"Nothing, brother. You look fantastic. Like a god."

"Hehe, thanks," the Crown Prince giggled again.

"Bhagvatorahatah Guptavansha Yuvaraja Shri Shri Shri Ramagupta..."

The ceaseless announcement of Rama's entry thundered in the concourse hall, as the entourage headed by two flag bearers neared the seating area. The grand throne room of the palace of Pataliputra was never so populous, so glamorous. Nine golden armchairs rested parallel on each side of the concentric, bejeweled throne, with lion manes on the handle. From the intricately carved ceilings hung four banners bearing the imperial Gupta symbol: the Garuda, the vahana of their patron deity Lord Vishnu. And they were walking over the embroidered carpet, with flowers being showered upon them by the spectators.

"...Shri Shri Shri Ramaguptasya jayah !'' The slogan echoed between the walls as the drum rolls and conch shells complimented it.

Victory to Ramagupta!

Rama and Chandra kept approaching the raised platform while the nobles in their retinue parked themselves beside their respective seats. The princes bowed to the Queen Mother Dattadevi, robed in white and seated right to the throne, beaming at them. Chandra could see the tears glistening in her wise eyes, and it only made him feel more overwhelmed. Right now, he missed their father too, terribly. The great Samudragupta may have crushed the sons of many, but he had deeply loved his own little kids. He would have been so happy today, just like their mother was.

Rama ascended through the short staircase to the throne, while Chandra posed himself on the asana left of his brother's. The seating in the court was according to the status of the courtier in relation with the emperor- and Rama's brother and mother would be acting as his two hands.

Finally, then, the Crown Prince seated himself on the shining throne.

What a sight it was.

Chandra couldn't possibly be happier. His man on the throne of Aaryavarta. His Jyeshtha, the man he had always looked up to besides his father, was now in his rightful place. It had been an age-old practice of deciding the successor by male primogeniture, and Chandra was genuinely okay with it. Ramagupta was fit for the role- Chandra was younger, and too irresponsible for that position. He knew the throne wasn't his. It was his brother's, and he would always remain beside him. Always.

A group of Brahmanas clad in saffron continued the coronation ceremony with Vedic chants, while the rajpurohita used sandalwood paste to draw an urdhava pundra, two connected parallel lines, indicating the family's Vaishnava affiliation on the Crown Prince's forehead. It was astonishing how Rama was keeping himself straight after an entire bottle of wine- Chandra would have collapsed after just four cups, and he certainly couldn't have attended the court in that state. Maybe Jyeshtha felt too anxious, thinking of Father's throne, he guessed. Otherwise, he surely wouldn't have taken this risk. As Rama locked his drowsy eyes with him, Chandra flashed him the biggest smile ever.

The royal priest sprinkled holy water on his brother while the Rajmata Dattadevi applied vermillion on his temple. And then, as the conch shells sounded again, she placed the golden crown on Rama's head.

"Bhagvatorahatah Chandraprabhasya Maharajadhiraja Shri Shri Shri Ramaguptasya jayah!"

O Devotee of Vishnu, Shining as the Moon, O King of kings, victory to you!

After a few seconds of the chanting, Rama raised his hand. He blinked a couple of times, then stood up. "Th-thank you, ahem, thanks to everyone p-present h-here," he blinked furiously again. "It is, uh, a small-no, a huge responsibility to sit on this throne of this small- no, great empire..."

Ugh, Jyeshtha...what even...Chandra facepalmed.

"My f-father, the great conqueror Samudragupta," Rama swallowed, "sat on this chair- no, I-I mean, this throne, he did, and, um, thanks to all the governors and courtiers present here for their, um, gifts..."

He's speaking rubbish.

Chandra briskly walked towards his brother and slid an arm around his shoulder. "Jyeshtha, it's okay!" He then faced the court. "I think Jyeshtha is feeling very overwhelmed. We both are really missing our father right now, and it has taken a toll on the Emperor." He glanced towards their mother. "With all due respect, I feel Jyeshtha should call it a day and take some rest now. Will that be okay, Mother?"

Dattadevi frowned maybe, but stood by their side. "Of course. I'm sure the court will understand. However, the grand feast for all our esteemed guests will be held as planned. I request all of you to join us in the dining hall." She looked at Chandra. "Rajakumar Chandragupta, I hope you are feeling well enough to honor our guests in place of your brother?"

Damn, she knows. "Yes, of course, Mother."

The Queen Mother dismissed the court.

As the people started to disperse, Chandra carefully led Rama down the stairs and to his chambers. There was a bunch of things he wanted to say to his drowsy elder brother, who was the freaking king now by the way, but he swallowed it all and left the room. 

What weird kind of love they shared.