PRATIKOP (Wrath)

Chapter 13

Rajkumar Kashyap looked at his eldest who sat beside him quietly observing what he was doing. He smiled at the curiosity of the boy. His brothers were playing in the yard of the house while he sat with his father at a side quietly observing how Kashyap carved the wood to give it the shape of a horse. His extended tail AKA his youngest brother, Agamya sat beside him too. But Agamya was busy in copying his brother rather than taking any real interest in what his father did.

"Can I make one?"

Ranakrit asked to his father pointing at the horse.

"Not now, son. When you grow up more and your grip become steady and strong, then you can try to make one." Kashyap replied with a smile.

A loud yelp caught his attention and he turned his eyes there to see Ranak was hanging from a low tree branch while Yuyudhana was trying to drag him down holding his legs. Rajkumar Kashyap wasn't going to question how Ranak reached there. He had stopped asking after witnessing him crawling to the top of the roof using the bamboo beam once. If Ranak wasn't around, just look up. He would be found hanging from somewhere for sure.

He looked around at the others. In the middle some of his sons played with a ball. Ranadhrist at a side sat under a tree with his eyes closed pretending to be meditating. In front of him, his disciples had gotten bored with the play. His brothers who were pretending to be his disciples were sprawled on the ground either asleep or escaped to play with the others. He did a quick head count to confirm all were there and none had slipped away.

Manohara smiled looking at them through the window of the kitchen.

"Maa?"

Her attention came back to Vivardhan who had decided to help her in the kitchen. Well, with his helping, it was taking her more time to cook then usual. She smiled forcefully as she saw he had spreaded all the ingredients on the floor again. A slight noise caught her attention towards the door of the kitchen. There at the entrance Vibheet had fallen asleep. He was pretending to be an Angarakshak (guard) and stood as straight as he could while holding a stick. Anyone who neared the kitchen, he chased away with that stick only.

This time the smile came to her lips naturally seeing him asleep. She peaked through the door a little more to see inside the hut where just at the right angle for her to watch, she had placed Mahakambhu, who was sleeping peacefully. Well, if he woke up, no one needed to be told to know though. He was named Mahakambhu (of great throat) for a reason. The boy could scream someone to deafness!

At most mornings, after all the kids woke up, Viswa used to take them to the ashram where they all played with the other kids or sat with her as she worked. Simultaneously, with all the people around, she didn't need to worry too much. As Kashyap left for work after leaving them in the ashram, she took care of the chores and the kids.

Just as she finished cooking, her husband called her loudly from outside. Rajkumari Viswa picked the sleeping Vibheet in her arms and held Vivardhan's hand while coming outside to see an awestruck Yuvraj Sumedh staring at her sons.

"Bhrata Sumedh!"

Hearing his sister's voice, Sumedh came out of his thoughts. There hadn't been any convenient way for them to communicate in these years and due to his responsibilities and distance, he couldn't visit so often. Thus, Yuvraj Sumedh had no idea that his sister had birthed not one or two, but a total of hundred sons. He heard rumors though, but ignored those. Now, standing at his sister's doorstep, he felt at a loss of words.

Hundred nephews! For real!

However, he came out of his surprised state and greeted his sister and brother-in-law. He then was introduced to the kids. Each of them observed him closely. His royal attire caught their attention. One of them gestured for him to bend to his level. As he did with a smile, the boy circled his neck and upped his legs. Kashyap pressed his lips tightly as Sumedh barely saved himself from falling and stood with the boy hanging from his neck. Another boy tugged at his dhoti (lower garment) while gesturing him to lift that one too.