ROYAL HIGHNESS

17. DEAR PAPA

Surya Bhraman,

Amyardh entered the palace. He had came back home quickly because his loyal servant, a trusted confidant, had relayed distressing news: his brother was nowhere to be found. A sense of foreboding settled over him as he observed his family members, each lost in their own world, oblivious to the absence of his troubled sibling. Kamakshi was wandering around the palace while barking out the orders on the servants with the same old radiant attitude. Anant and Kumar were having the conversation about the political situation of the country over a cup of tea. Everyone were present except Heera.

Their indifference struck him like a dagger, piercing his heart with a pang of disappointment.As he strutted forward, Anant and Kamakshi were about to say something to him but he didn't even turn to look at them. He saw that Heera was sitting in the prayer room and sobbing hard for the condition of her son. He was shocked that his family members weren't concerned about the daughter of this palace, Heera, let alone Advait. Despite knowing this his mother was asking him to have dinner. He had heard her but chose not to reply anything.

Driven by concern and an unyielding love for his brother, he began to search for Advait everywhere in that magnificent palace. Room after room, he scoured the house with an anxious fervor, the weight of worry etched upon his brow. He knew all too well the pain his brother had recently endured. The thought of his brother's fragile state consumed him, intensifying his urgency to find him and offer solace in his time of need.

As he ascended the stairs, a gust of wind whispered through the corridors, carrying with it the scent of rain-soaked earth. The terrace seemed to call him. It was the only place that he hadn't searched so far. With each step towards the terrace, his heart pounded in his chest with anxiousness. And there, amidst the moonlit darkness, laid his brother, Advait, sprawled upon the cold ground.

Amyardh saw several bottles of vodka lying around and immediately knew that his brother was fully intoxicated. He knelt beside his brother, his touch gentle yet firm, as he sought to rouse him from his intoxicated slumber. He frowned because Advait smelt like cigar and vodka. He mentally cursed himself for not being for his brother when he needed him the most. But also he thanked the God for going out at the perfect time for some reason. 

He pinched his nose bridge as relief flooded over him. He tried to wake him up but he didn't respond anything. "Advait, beta utho !" He said but still didn't get any response from him.

"Uth bhai, ye kya haal banaya hai khud ka?" Amyardh tried once again. This time, there were soft movements in Advait's body as if he was regaining his consciousness. Advait was murmuring something. Amyardh leant towards him and tried to listen to what he was saying.

"Ovie, please, please." Advait whispered. He clenched his fists. He hated himself for his brother was going through this situation again.

"Ovie, I love you. Please mat jao. Please." Advait's brows pinched together. "Ovie please, main marr jaunga. Ovie... Please please. " Tears seeped out of his closed eyes. Amyardh patted his cheeks, trying to wake him up once again. Advait slowly opened his eyes and looked at his brother.

"Raje aap?" Was all he could say.

His body ached all over. He took deep breaths to control his pain. His head throbbed in pain. "Ow... Mera sar!" Advait groaned in pain holding his head in both hands, massaging it. He was having a bad hangover.

"Kisne kaha tha tumhe itna peene ko?" Amyardh said indifferently and Advait frowned, knowing that it was his fault. Amyardh sighed and lifted him on his back and went to Advait's bedroom. He give him a pair of pjs and made him go to the bathroom to take a hot shower since he was all wet.