Brihannala

Urvashi's Curse

Urvashi seductively smiled and took a step closer to Brihi, she ran her finger along his jaw line "Do I look angry to you" she asked seductively and without waiting for his answer turned around and walked away swaying her hips. Brihi stood perplexed looking at her retreating form.

When she reached the garden entrance, she turned around and signed with her eyes to follow her and he obeyed.

When he entered the garden he found her sitting at the pergola. He walked towards her, as she screened him from top to toe. "You are quite handsome" she stated. "Thank you" he said uncomfortably. "Do I make you nervous" she asked offering the seat beside her. "A little" he said still standing, "Hmmm there is nothing to be nervous about, we are both adults" she said standing up and walking towards him. Brihi took a step back as Urvasi's hand brushed against his. "I am sorry Devi, but I think you are misunderstanding me" he said rather confused by Urvashi's behavior. "What is there to misunderstand, don't you men always want just one thing from us apsaras" she asked looking all innocent. Brihi looked shocked at what she said and moved away from her, "I am totally sorry if you felt that way, but I did not seek you for sexual pleasure Devi, I have utmost respect for you" he said. "Respect" laughed Urvashi "Respect says the man who without even considering his wife's feelings, agreed to share her with his brother as if she was just a commodity" she said with supressed anger.

(*Devi means respectfully calling a women, such as my lady)

Brihi now understood the meaning behind Urvashi's dance and her anger, "Devi, I can assure you one thing, I did not make the decision for my wife, I  respect her as much as I respect my mother. I cannot reveal why she agreed to the proposal of marrying we five brothers, only she can tell you that"

Urvashi contemplated what he just said and asked "Then why are you here, why approach me?", "Because I want to learn from you" he said humbly. "Learn what from me, the art of seduction, because that is what we apsaras are good for" she stated as a matter of fact.

"Devi please do not insult my intelligence, seduction is just an outward cover for you. You mesmerize people into just seeing what you show them and get what you want, tell me I an wrong" he challenged her.

Urvashi was impressed that he saw beyond her charm, he was truly something, but she still had to test him. "Fine, if you have a drink with me, I will teach you something which I haven't taught anyone" she said walking to the table and pouring wine in both the glasses and adding a liquid in Brihi's glass.

Brihi looked at the glass and without questioning drank the whole content in one go and felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. "What have you done Urvashi" came a roar from behind Brihi. "Are you okay?" Indra enquired after Brihi and he nodded as the pain began to ease. "What did you give him?" Indra asked angrily.

"It's just Urvashi's curse" she said smiling and sitting down on her seat. "He will be fine, just won't be a man" she said with a haughty look in her eyes. Indra looked shocked but Brihi just smiled and said "Thank you for accepting me master, a teacher and a student's relationship is that of a parent and child and today you turned me into a child,  a child has no gender nor do I ". Urvashi was impressed by his answer and replied "Don't worry, this state of yours is not permanent, you will be back to normal when I  finish teaching you how to disguise in plain sight and be an excellent spy"

Indra felt relieved on hearing this and left the teacher and student to sort it out. Brihi trained under Urvashi in the art of espionage and it was she who gave him the vile and the name Brihannala.

***present***

Brihi recollected what Urvashi told him on the day she handed him the vile, "You can only use it once and it's effect will last for a whole year, so use it wisely and remember you have to be careful because you will not have the strength you possess as a man, you have to depend entirely on your brain. Also remember what I taught you, is to protect your loved ones, you will not use it for revenge, promise me that" and he did promise her. Today he was going to become Brihannala to be near Malini and protect her.