HIS RELENTLESS DESIRE ~

Brotherly Banter

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue across the grand halls of the palace. Aadhavan and his brothers finished their meal, their bellies full and laughter lingering in the air. They migrated to Aadhavan's spacious room, where the walls were adorned with tapestries depicting the glorious history of the Kingdom of Vedantham.

"Did you see the way Raghav and Shivcharan were begging to join the hunt?" Abhinandan laughed, plopping onto the plush sofa. "It's like they think they're seasoned hunters already!"

"Next time, we should just take them along," Hrishikesh suggested, a grin spreading across his face. "I can already picture Raghav trying to wrestle a deer while Shivcharan hides behind a tree, peeking out like a frightened rabbit."

Aadhavan chuckled, leaning back against a large cushion. "They might surprise us. But I think it's best they stay at home for now. The jungle can be dangerous."

Anantnath, who had been fidgeting with a dagger, suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Speaking of danger, do you think we'd ever find a mythical beast lurking in those woods? I'd love to tell the tale of how we fought off a ferocious creature!"

"Oh please, Anantnath. The only beast you'd manage to catch is a squirrel," Prathamanand teased, shaking his head. "And the only fight you'd have is with a tree branch that's too low."

The room erupted in laughter, the bonds of brotherhood evident in their playful jabs.

"Speaking of mythical beasts," Anantnath interjected, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face, "I heard that if you catch a glimpse of a mermaid in the waterfall, you'll have good fortune for life. You know, the ones with the long hair and enchanting voices."

"Mermaids? Really, anant?" Hrishikesh rolled his eyes. "Next, you'll tell us you saw one while we were hunting. Do you think they have scales that sparkle under the sun?"

"I might just have to go back to that waterfall and find out," Anantnath replied, smirking.

Suddenly, the room fell silent, the atmosphere shifting as the memory of the girl at the waterfall resurfaced in Aadhavan's mind. He quickly masked his thoughts with a laugh. "I'll let you know if I see one."

Prathamanand nudged him playfully. "Just don't fall in love with a mermaid, okay? I can already imagine the royal court gossiping about the prince wooing a creature from the depths."

"Or worse, trying to swim after her!" hrishikesh added with a laugh, mimicking Anantnath splashing in the water.

"Alright, alright," Anantnath chuckled, shaking his head at their antics. "But if I do find a mermaid, I expect you all to write a ballad about it!"

Scene: The Tale of the Waterfall Girl

The laughter in the room continued, each brother lost in the mirth of their playful banter. But Aadhavan's mind drifted back to the girl he had seen by the waterfall, her enchanting beauty etched into his memory. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to share his unexpected encounter.

", speaking of mythical creatures," Aadhavan began, a hint of seriousness creeping into his voice. His brothers paused, their attention piqued. "I have to tell you about something that happened while we were hunting."

"What is it?" Abhinandan asked, leaning forward. "Did you see a rare animal or something?"

Aadhavan shook his head, a smile playing on his lips as he gathered his thoughts. "No, it was something... different. I heard this beautiful humming sound while we were searching for our prey. It drew me in like a siren's call. So, naturally, I followed it."