You and I - a pranushka tale

chapter eight

Although Prabhas wasn't convinced by what she had said, they walked back home. The two of them silent with the loudness of their thoughts. Once they returned, Mithrah immediately walked away looking back at him with a wide smile. "I think I spent enough time with you today to last me a week. Bye!" She beamed and disappeared into the large house.

He chuckled at her childishness and was about to walk into his own room when he saw Soori reading a newspaper at the entrance of the house. Prabhas was curious about a lot of things and he knew nobody would tell him.

Nobody but Soori.

They got along very well from when they first met and their sense of humour ricocheted off each other much to the annoyance of Mithrah who was fond of Soori. When she caught them laughing, with childlike actions she would walk off but not before blessing Prabhas with a glare that he was growing to love.

Soori had stopped what he was doing when he saw Prabhas approach him. He immediately grinned. "Did you see the village? I'm sure the cows and goats must have impressed you."

Prabhas laughed. "They definitely did but I wanted to ask you something." He said, his voice becoming lower as he looked around to ensure nobody was at a hearing distance.

"I can show you the alcohol store tonight if you want." Soori said with a wink.

Prabhas shook his head as they both began to walk around the yard. "No not that. Who's Bhavani?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

Whatever humour that was visible on Soori's face disappeared immediately. An expression of worry came over him, a look he rarely wore, surprising Prabhas. "Did Rana not tell you?" Soori asked, his own voice quietening. He didn't know if he was to tell Prabhas if Rana hadn't already told him. There was probably a reason why he wasn't told.

Prabhas shook his head. He could see the wariness beginning to appear on Soori's face. Eager to persuade him, he smiled reassuringly. "I won't tell anyone you told me."

With a sigh, Soori accepted his request. He felt as if it would probably be safer for Prabhas to know who they were and encourage him to avoid them at all costs.

"Rana's father, Veerayaindi, is seen as the God of this village for a reason," Soori began, smiling at the thought of him. "It's not just his generosity and kind-heartedness. But the protection he provides from Bhavani. Bhavani is an animal." He said simply. "An animal who is after this family, their wealth and this village."

A breeze began to pick up around the two men as they sat down near the pond. "Many years ago, when Veerayaindi Ayya was around your age, he killed Bhavani's older brother over a huge fight that began because of the land between this village and Bhavani's. It is prosperous agricultural land that Ayya wanted only for the poor farmers. But Bhavani and his brothers wanted it as an area for the beginning of their drug smuggling business. One that is unfortunately successful right now." Soori added bitterly. "Bhavani's hatred for this family grew and since then he has tried to create the downfall for Ayya and everyone in this house. He interferes in whatever business Veeraiyandi Ayya deals with and causes obstacles to everything this family does. That is Bhavani." Soori explained.

Prabhas slowly nodded, an unexplainable urge to protect Mithrah and her loved ones beginning to spread through him even though he knew they had Rana and all this protection. "And Guna?" He asked, the name rolling off his tongue with distaste.

Soori looked at Prabhas with a disgusted expression. "Guna is Bhavani's younger brother. Possibly a man worse than Bhavani himself who is obsessed with women. He has been after Mithrah from when she turned sixteen. Rana almost killed him once, but to avoid further feud Ayya told him to wait."