Chapter 8 Forgiveness and Reason
The first rays of the sun were painting the western tower of the palace gold Stars still twinkled faintly in the blue sky There was a light chill in the air as if the shadow of night had not fully retreated Agni opened the door to Neer chamber slowly The soft creak of the wood dissolved into the silence
The chamber was peaceful Neer lay on his bed and his blue sheet draped over his lean body like a wave His head rested on the pillow and his eyes were closed but his lashes fluttered repeatedly Not deep sleep but restless rest Faint lines marked his forehead as if some unspoken worry had invaded his dreams
Agni silenced his footsteps He approached the bed and carefully lifted the sheet that lay over Neer shoulders The fabric rustled softly
Neer lashes fluttered His eyes opened The depths of a blue ocean still clouded with the haze of sleep He saw Agni and a faint smile touched the corners of his lips But the smile did not reach his eyes
Agni You are here so early
Agni nodded but did not smile There was a deep worry in his eyes
Neer sat up on the bed The sheet pooled around his hips Come sit Tell me what brings you to me so early in the morning
Agni looked at Neer For a few moments he just kept looking The lines of worry in his eyes seemed deeper in the morning light Neer felt it Agni hand was trembling slightly
Neer tilted his head slightly What happened Agni
Nirag
Neer eyes widened His breath caught for a moment What about Nirag Tell me Agni Has something happened to Nirag I will go to him right now
Agni stepped forward quickly and grabbed Neer hand The grip was firm almost restraining Neer hand was cold and Agni hand was warm Calm down Neer Nothing has happened to Nirag
Neer looked at Agni in surprise He pulled his hand free But what then Agni
Agni placed his hand over Neer hand His palm was warm and Neer palm was cold Neer Nirag attacked Anvay Last night
Neer jerked back as if he had been struck His face turned pale What Nirag attacked Anvay No That cannot be Nirag would never attack Anvay You must be mistaken Agni
Agni looked at Neer There was no illusion in his eyes Only a harsh truth Only those who have seen nothing are mistaken I saw everything last night
Agni began to recount the events of the previous night to Neer Each word hung in the air and each detail carved a new wound on Neer face Neer eyes widened further His lips turned white When Agni described how Nirag had hurled a fireball at Anvay Neer covered his mouth with his hands His fingers were trembling
If all this happened Neer voice shook Then why did you not tell me Agni Did you not think it was necessary to tell me
Agni looked into Neer eyes and said Neer I did not want to upset you
Neer looked at Agni He said nothing He just kept looking There was a hurt in his eyes that was deeper than words That hurt came from old memories That curse That betrayal That strike of the sword
In another part of the palace Anvay sat in his chamber His eyes were fixed outside the window but they saw nothing The first rays of the sun fell on his face but that light could not reach his heart The door opened slowly
Nirag entered His steps were uncertain as if he walked on unknown ground Lines of exhaustion marked his face and his eyes were red
Anvay turned to look There was no anger on his face Only a weariness as if all will to fight had drained away
Stop right there Nirag Anvay voice was flat I have nothing to say to you As you wished I am leaving now To my own kingdom
Nirag lowered his gaze His hands were trembling Forgive me Anvay What I did last night I said it all in anger You know this as well
Anvay said nothing His eyes remained fixed on the window
Nirag sank to his knees The cold stone of the floor touched his knees I know Anvay I have hurt you deeply You have every right to be angry with me But do not turn your face away from me like this
Tears welled up in Anvay eyes They clung to his lashes but did not fall
Nirag pressed both his palms together His fingers turned white from how tightly he was praying Forgive me friend I have caused you great pain unknowingly
Anvay turned back Nirag was sitting before him on his knees with his gaze lowered and his hands joined Anvay heart melted
He went to Nirag and knelt down on his own knees He lowered Nirag hands and wiped the tears from his eyes with his own hands But there was a pain in his voice that words could not carry
Nirag I know you could never hurt me I know that no matter how angry you are your sword will always stop before it reaches my neck
Nirag raised his gaze He looked into Anvay eyes Then he wiped Anvay tears and said Forgive me Anvay
Anvay hugged Nirag tightly Forgive me too I could not understand you
Nirag placed his hand on Anvay back Both of them embraced and wept Tears that had been held back for months now flowed freely Anvay sobs echoed and Nirag body trembled That old bond was felt again Brotherhood forged in war
Neer stood near the window in his chamber He took a long breath as if searching for an answer in the air Then he got off his bed and looked out the window The light of sunrise was spreading outside but darkness filled his mind
Agni Nirag is our son Perhaps we made some mistake that we could not teach him to control his anger
Agni placed his hand on Neer shoulder The touch offered support Neer turned to Agni
Anvay lost his parents in the war And we Our best friends Remember When we had our first fight in the Tapobhumi Dharaya came between us and stopped our fight and calmed us down She always stood by us
Agni smiled at Neer Yes I know Neer I know that Vayansh also stood by us in that task at the Tapobhumi when we had to end those Tamansh I also know that Aakash struck down those Tamansh with his lightning power Dharaya and Vayansh also helped us reach Andhak Void I know everything I also know that in every trouble and every pain you were a shield before me
Neer kept looking into Agni eyes Agni kept looking into Neer eyes In the silence between them floated all those unspoken words that had never been said Those blue eyes That warm touch Everything was just as it had been when they first met But in between there was that old pain too That memory of the curse
In Anvay chamber Anvay wept as he embraced Nirag Nirag Why did mother and father leave me Why did they leave me alone Why Just why
Nirag wiped Anvay tears His fingers were gentle as if touching a delicate flower Because it was destiny Anvay I can understand your pain and your suffering But I am always by your side Wipe your tears
Anvay The value of these tears is more than the entire treasury of my kingdom I cannot let them flow like this Remember the Tapobhumi How much we used to fight and you would always forgive me You would hide every mistake of mine from Pitashree and always help me And I was always jealous of you
Anvay smiled Nirag made Anvay stand and seated him on the bed
Anvay I know that I lose control But it is not because of any lack in the teachings of Pitashree and Tauji It is happening for some other reason
Anvay looked at Nirag in surprise Some other reason What reason Nirag
Nirag stood up and walked to the window His back was towards Anvay That I cannot tell you Anvay I do not want any danger to come upon you That is why you should leave for Pawangadh today
Anvay got up from the bed and walked towards Nirag He grabbed Nirag shoulder and turned him around He looked into his eyes and said What is the reason for your anger Nirag Tell me
Nirag looked into Anvay eyes and said Andhak Void
Just then a soldier appeared at the door Victory to the King Maharaj Neer has summoned you both to his chamber
Nirag and Anvay looked at each other A thought flashed through Nirag mind
Has Pitashree learned the whole truth
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