"There are always two sides to a story."

Siddharth raised his eyes, stopping mid-way in his scrutiny over the pristine surface of Ebony, and looked at Rudra. The latter did not meet his eyes, his own were roving over the laptop's screen.

"What did you say?" Siddharth questioned.

Slumping against his seat, his restless eyes flicked across the huge but ironically silent and foreboding boardroom; his best friend's favourite place in the 30 floored building. Rudra had always had odd and contrasting choices.

Rudra grinned, his fingers moving fervently over the keys before abruptly coming to rest. Shutting his P.C., he offered his undivided attention to Siddharth.

Resting his elbows on the armrest and clasping his hands together, he stared at Siddharth from the head chair. It wasn't very often that his friend greeted him inside his office complex, and today it was for just one question. The question that had driven him here.

"Why is Veer interested in Gauri?" Siddharth repeated.

"It would be better if you question him. I won't be able to answer that," Rudra replied, resting his head on the headrest.

Siddharth scoffed, "Somehow, I strongly doubt that."

Rudra let out a chuckle.
"Great!"

A strange and indulging silence befell upon them. The repeated - diverting sound of ticking-clock was no more diverting; it was lulling, mollifying and...

"There are always two sides to a story," Rudra spoke suddenly, shattering the silence.

... and contemplative.

Siddharth's eyebrows drew together.

Rudra chuckled dryly.
"People, however, tend to see them in black and white:
the right, the wrong; the good, the bad; a hero and... a villain."

"What they seem to forget is that every story has two sides and every individual has his own story to recite," he paused.

"The story where they are the hero, where they are the messiah. They are capable to mould and squeeze the story accordingly, and present it in a way which will hide certain truths, leaving only that part of it that needs to be read in order to classify them as a hero."

His gaze flicked towards Siddharth.
"It, nowhere, means that what you have been reading or hearing is the truth."

"Just a matter of little reconsideration, an encounter with the blinding truth and you'll know that the hero wasn't really a hero of the story and the villain---" he sniggered.
"... the villain wasn't always a villain of the story."

"Get to the point, Rudra. What are you trying to insinuate?" Siddharth asked irately.

"Do not worry about Veer. Leave everything on me," Rudra said.

"Meanwhile, do you want some green tea?" Rudra asked, smiling albeit a bit cynically.

.
.
.

"So my brother doesn't really want to be my brother. Curious," Rudra mused loudly.

His childish exuberance had dissipated like a wisp of smoke in the air.

His chocolate brown eyes fell upon Veer who was standing in front of the throne chair, agape with wide eyes. Rudra strode inside the coronation room.

"Not many are allowed here," Rudra informed, smiling.

Veer spun around, his face scrunching up into a look of displeasure.

"I can go anywhere I want," Veer stated haughtily.

Rudra laughed softly, coming up to stand beside him. Both had their gaze settled on the throne chair.

Somethings were not meant to change with time; whether be it the magnificent grandeur of royalty or people and relations. Somethings still held onto the unforgettable past.

"Do you wish to be a king, dear brother?" Rudra asked, raising his hands to touch the armrest of the throne.

Veer turned his intrigued gaze to him but did not attempt to continue the conversation. At this point, the least he wanted, was to stay near his new elder-brother.

"I know, you do."
Rudra's palm glided ever so slightly over the encrusted golden-pleat.

"But everything comes at an expense," he regarded Veer.

"Like the toy station, Daata's gifted me and the latest remote control copter, Maa's promised me." He gave him a seraphic smile.

A light shade of crimson ruled out the cherubic paleness of Veer's cheeks.

"Maa's promised you a gift? She can't do that," Veer's voice shrilled through the air.

"Don't worry," Rudra cajoled, his big brown eyes glinting with mischief.
"I'll tell her to buy a set for you too. After all, you are my dear brother."

"Shut up!" Veer yelled as he pushed Rudra.

The sudden shove made him land in the throne chair. He rested languidly and his hands gripped the armrest viciously.

In the meantime, Veer fumed, chewing the insides of his cheeks.

"Veer," Rudra called out calmly.
"Good boys don't push their elder-brothers."

"You are not my mother."

"True, but I am your elder-brother," Rudra spoke softly.

"Do you want everyone to know that you are a bad boy? That you have no manners? Or, do you want to get punished?" Rudra stood up, noticing the slight fear on Veer's face.

Veer retreated suddenly, still glowering at Rudra.

"Do you? Tell me. Don't expect me to smile and pat your back while you shout at my face and go around pushing people. I ain't that good of a boy. This is how you wish to be a king," Rudra said, pointing towards the throne.

"This rogue behaviour. Will you push your subjects around too? Bad behaviour, awful manners; what more you got to show me?"

"Shut up! I hate you," Veer screamed.
Tears sprang up to his eyes and his lips trembled.

"I hate you!"

Yelling, he ran out of the room. Rudra spun around and walked up to the throne. Taking a seat, he scoffed.

"King? You wish, brother dearest?"

"Veer's being a bad boy, Maa. Look how's he been treating me," he whispered in a baby tone, smiling and resting his head against the cushioned seat.

"Time to treat you well, dear brother."

.
.
.

The loud ringing of the phone broke Veer's engrossment.

"Speak."

"All is clear, your highness. The area's under our surveillance," one of his guards, informed.

Veer disconnected the call and disembarked the car.

His legs moved on their own accord, each step bringing him closer to his destination, his reason.

Gauri stood in front of the Shivling with hands joined and eyes closed in pure devotion. The divinity girding the atmosphere was religiously seeping into her skin, filling her heart with faith, not just concerning her but every other being that had her mind diverted towards them.

"Guide me."

Her thick eyelashes flirted with each other before lifting along with the eyelids and parting ways for her view. The priest returned with offerings, smiling and blessing her. She, in turn, touched his feet.

Collecting her offerings, she turned around only to collide with a hard front.

Veer steadied her and made sure everything was alright.

"I am sorry... So sorry," Gauri apologized upon sighting the pink stain of abeer that had smeared his crisp white shirt.

"It's okay."

Gauri lifted her eyes, a surprised smile flitted her lips.

"You? Here?" She inquired.

"Well, I could ask the same," Veer grinned, raising his eyebrows.

"Then, I would term it as a stupid question," Gauri deadpanned.

Veer gave her a dubious look, causing Gauri to giggle in amusement. She gestured towards the offerings in her hand and the idol, then wriggled her brow suggestively.

Veer winced charmingly and scratched his forehead with a silly smile. Gauri chuckled, fully enjoying his moment of embarrassment.

"Ok," Gauri prompted, calming herself.
"How come you are here?"

She looked around. Strangely, the temple premises were vacated of people. Her eyes fell upon the guards, garbed in black, that were surveying the area.

"Guards?" She mumbled with uncertainty.

"They tail everywhere I go. Security purpose, you see," Veer explained.

"Oh? Rudra doesn't come with them, so I felt the need to ask," Gauri smiled, "don't mind."

"I didn't. Actually, not many are familiar with his looks in India. Also, he isn't much fond of guards following him everywhere. He and Daata have had quite some argument concerning the same," Veer said, masking his surprise.

He was astounded, that too, with his own self. This was the most he had talked about Rudra without letting the repulsion cover his face.

He stared at Gauri's angelic face with a newfound fascination. However, she was looking at the guards with an enthralled curiosity.

He understood very well, why people were so fond of her, why Rudra was so interested in her and why he, himself, was so captivated by her.

"How often do you come here?" Gauri quizzed.

"Not often. In fact, I hardly come here," Veer replied, his eyes roaming around.

"Why? Any specific reason?"

"No. It's just..." Veer glanced at Gauri.

"Don't get me wrong. I am not an atheist, nor am I an ardent devotee. I just come somewhere in between," Veer said, explaining while forming a gap between his hands.

"Okay," Gauri offered him an exaggerated nod.

"I am too bad at explaining things, right?" Veer clucked.

"I have seen some of the best people not able to explain in front of a professor. Don't feel disheartened," Gauri boasted.

Veer let out a boisterous laugh.

They walked further, roaming the premises. Veer noted, the soft tinkles of her anklets were creating quite some distraction, a pleasant one at that.

"How's everyone at home... err pal---"

"You can say home. Nevertheless, it sounds so good coming from you," Veer said, grinning.

Gauri raised an eyebrow, "Are you trying to flatter me?"

"Is it working?" Veer chortled, imitating to cross his fingers.

"No," Gauri exasperated, squashing giggles.

"Damn."

Gauri shook her head and further prompted.
"Aadya? Your mother, father? Everyone's doing good, right?"

"Whoa!" Veer gasped dramatically.
"You know about everyone without even meeting them. And that's so sweet of you."

Gauri blushed a little and gnawed at her lower lip. How else was she supposed to put it forth? Would she tell him how his elder brother told about them when he stayed the night at her house? No, that would sound alluding.

"By the way, you missed one," Veer said.

"Who?"

"Me, of course," Veer feigned a hurt look.

"Are you trying to showcase your sense of humour to impress me?" Gauri inquired, smiling playfully.

"Is it working?" Veer exaggerated.

"No."

"Double damn," Veer sighed.

"Better luck next time," Gauri sympathized, both reaching the exit.

The guards were trying to restrain some unruly children from entering.

"Didi (elder sister)!" One of them yelled, catching Gauri's attention.

Gauri smiled brightly, innocent happiness radiating off of her, almost scathing Veer's conscience. He averted his gaze from her.

"They always wait for me. Hold on, comrades, I am coming," Gauri hollered, pretending to be an army officer.

She ambled her way towards them. The chime of bells followed her each step, filling the air with a suffocating serenity for Veer.

He exhaled deeply and traced her path slowly, taking his own time in scanning her. How did Rudra acquaint her was beyond his human understanding?

His lips tugged at the corners as he saw Gauri intimidating the group of notorious children. She pried the offerings out of their hand and ordered them to have only one and oddly, they were listening to her command.

Veer chuckled, looking at the mini battalion and their beautiful commander.

The very next moment, she took him by surprise as she proceeded to distribute the sweets among the guards as well. However, them being themselves, they all looked at him for orders, to which he gave his consent with a nod.

After she completed with the distribution, he forwarded his hand for some. Gauri glanced at him and hit her forehead.

"Sorry, none left," she giggled nervously.

"Triple damn," Veer said, laughing wholeheartedly, freaking out his guards.

They just stared at their lord as if he had sprouted a second head.

"As a royal, I wasn't really turned down until now. Wow! What a feeling," he amplified.

"Take this, instead," she handed him a Rudraksha.

Veer glanced at it in a confused manner and then, looked up at Gauri.

"These are blessed," Gauri chirped.

"These?"

"I have four of them. Out of which, one is in your hand," Gauri pointed towards the Rudraksha.

"I don't know why I gave it to you. I just did," Gauri muttered with uncertainty.

"It's okay. I was teasing. You don't have to necessarily give it to me," Veer said.

"No, no. I can't take it back," she shook her head.

"I think this one was meant to be yours," she smiled and walked ahead.

Veer stood still for a few seconds, staring at the brown sphere which was known to be sacred.

"Mine, you say," he murmured.

Raising his eyes, he gazed at her retreating form.

"If that's what you say, then I assure you that I am thorough at getting what I want and what's mine," he whispered, grasping the Rudraksha in a tight grip.

*****

Abeer: The fragrant coloured powder used while worshipping and in Holi.

Rudraksha: Its literal meaning is 'eye of Lord Rudra or Shiva'. It is a spiritual bead considered to manifest cosmic power.