Rajkumar Kashyap looked at his eldest who sat beside him quietly observing what he was doing. He smiled at the curiosity of the boy. His brothers were playing in the yard of the house while he sat with his father at a side quietly observing how Kashyap carved the wood to give it the shape of a horse. His extended tail AKA his youngest brother, Agamya sat beside him too. But Agamya was busy in copying his brother rather than taking any real interest in what his father did.

"Can I make one?"

Ranakrit asked to his father pointing at the horse.

"Not now, son. When you grow up more and your grip become steady and strong, then you can try to make one." Kashyap replied with a smile.

A loud yelp caught his attention and he turned his eyes there to see Ranak was hanging from a low tree branch while Yuyudhana was trying to drag him down holding his legs. Rajkumar Kashyap wasn't going to question how Ranak reached there. He had stopped asking after witnessing him crawling to the top of the roof using the bamboo beam once. If Ranak wasn't around, just look up. He would be found hanging from somewhere for sure.

He looked around at the others. In the middle some of his sons played with a ball. Ranadhrist at a side sat under a tree with his eyes closed pretending to be meditating. In front of him, his disciples had gotten bored with the play. His brothers who were pretending to be his disciples were sprawled on the ground either asleep or escaped to play with the others. He did a quick head count to confirm all were there and none had slipped away.

Manohara smiled looking at them through the window of the kitchen.

"Maa?"

Her attention came back to Vivardhan who had decided to help her in the kitchen. Well, with his helping, it was taking her more time to cook then usual. She smiled forcefully as she saw he had spreaded all the ingredients on the floor again. A slight noise caught her attention towards the door of the kitchen. There at the entrance Vibheet had fallen asleep. He was pretending to be an Angarakshak (guard) and stood as straight as he could while holding a stick. Anyone who neared the kitchen, he chased away with that stick only.

This time the smile came to her lips naturally seeing him asleep. She peaked through the door a little more to see inside the hut where just at the right angle for her to watch, she had placed Mahakambhu, who was sleeping peacefully. Well, if he woke up, no one needed to be told to know though. He was named Mahakambhu (of great throat) for a reason. The boy could scream someone to deafness!

At most mornings, after all the kids woke up, Viswa used to take them to the ashram where they all played with the other kids or sat with her as she worked. Simultaneously, with all the people around, she didn't need to worry too much. As Kashyap left for work after leaving them in the ashram, she took care of the chores and the kids.

Just as she finished cooking, her husband called her loudly from outside. Rajkumari Viswa picked the sleeping Vibheet in her arms and held Vivardhan's hand while coming outside to see an awestruck Yuvraj Sumedh staring at her sons.

"Bhrata Sumedh!"

Hearing his sister's voice, Sumedh came out of his thoughts. There hadn't been any convenient way for them to communicate in these years and due to his responsibilities and distance, he couldn't visit so often. Thus, Yuvraj Sumedh had no idea that his sister had birthed not one or two, but a total of hundred sons. He heard rumors though, but ignored those. Now, standing at his sister's doorstep, he felt at a loss of words.

Hundred nephews! For real!

However, he came out of his surprised state and greeted his sister and brother-in-law. He then was introduced to the kids. Each of them observed him closely. His royal attire caught their attention. One of them gestured for him to bend to his level. As he did with a smile, the boy circled his neck and upped his legs. Kashyap pressed his lips tightly as Sumedh barely saved himself from falling and stood with the boy hanging from his neck. Another boy tugged at his dhoti (lower garment) while gesturing him to lift that one too.

"Ranak! Get down, Putra. Don't trouble your Mamashree (maternal uncle)." Rajkumari Viswa said which Ranak ignored with a pout.

"It's ok, Viswa. If they don't do mischief with me, then with whom they will?" Yuvraj Sumedh said, smiling at his nephews. Viswa nodded and went inside to put Vibheet to bed.

Yuvraj Sumedh lifted the other boy too who was tugging at his garment. But he felt a few tugs from around as the other boys also started to tug at his dhoti. He looked helplessly at Rajkumar Kashyap for help. Though his dhoti had been tied tightly, at this rate it was still at risk.

Kashyap after enjoying for a few moments more, finally told the boys to go to play. Yuvraj Sumedh released a sigh of relief as Ranak and Subahu also got down. His eyes then fell on the boy who had silently been observing him while staying at his father's side only. He held his father's hand and another boy held his hand.

"And what is this nephew of mine named?" He asked to Kashyap.

"This is Ranakrit. The eldest. And that's Agamya, the youngest."

"The eldest." Sumedh repeated keeping a hand over his almost three year old nephew's head. He then turned to Agamya and picked him up. But Agamya gave a loud cry and twisted his body to get down. Yuvraj Sumedh was startled and lowered the boy down.

"He won't go to you unless Ranakrit does." Kashyap explained with a laugh. Sumedh laughed in amusement too.

The four then sat in their previous place and all the kids surrounded them as Sumedh showed them the gifts he had brought for his nephews. It was a good thing that he brought a lot of things. Hence, there would be no shortage.

***

"Help! Help!!! Pitashree! Maa!!!!"

Ranak screamed for help as he barely hang from a higher branch of the tree where he sat earlier on a lower branch. He saw a bird nest in the higher branch of the tree and climbed further to see it. But his little foot lost balance and now he hung from there.

"Ranak!!!" Ranakrit got scared for his brother as he saw him.
"Ranadhrist, go and call Pitashree!" He told to his brother. Ranadhrist nodded and ran from there.

"Help!! Jyesth!!"

"Hang on there, Ranak!"

"Don't!" Another voice said suddenly. "Leave the branch."

Ranakrit turned to the voice to see a boy older than them standing there.

"What are you saying? He will fall!" Ranakrit said with a frown.

"Yes. But he won't get hurt. See! I have put haystacks underneath." The boy pointed at the pile of haystacks he had placed under the tree hurriedly.

"But---" Ranakrit was going to object again, but before that Ranak's hands slipped and he fell down with a loud scream.

"Jyesth!!!"

"Ranak!" Ranakrit went to his brother and hugged him as Ranak started crying. "Are you hurt?"

"I was scared." Ranak replied while crying. Other from being afraid, he was alright. Ranakrit wiped his tears and Ranak calmed down.

"Thank you. You saved my brother." Ranakrit said turning to the boy who helped them.

"It's ok. It is only our duty to help others who are in trouble. My father says so." The boy replied with a smile.

"What is that in your forehead?" Vivardhan asked frowning at him.

"It's a gem. It protects me from any and all harm!" The boy answered as his smile broadened further.

"Who put it there?" Ranakrit asked this time in confusion.

"Dev adi dev, Mahadev!" The boy said proudly.

"Wow!" Vivardhan wondered aloud. "You're so lucky!"

"Will you be our friend?" Ranakrit asked suddenly startling the boy.

"You want to be my friend?" He asked in wonder. Because of the gem attached to his forehead, most mocked him in jealousy and didn't want to play with him. And the rest mocked him because of his poverty.

"Of course! You saved my brother." Ranakrit answered honestly with a smile.

"But you will not mock me, will you?" The boy asked with uncertainty. His father had warned him to choose his friends carefully.

"Why will I?" Ranakrit asked with a frown.

"Ok. Friends! We're friends from now on." The boy said with a smile, being happy to have a friend here where he knew no one.

"Ranak!" Kashyap called him hurriedly coming towards them. He bent in front of his son and checked him with concern. "Are you okay, Putra?"

After being assured that Ranak was alright, he turned to the boy gratefully as Ranakrit told him how he saved Ranak.

"You? You're Guru Prana's son, aren't you?" Kashyap asked recognizing him due to the gem of his forehead. He had heard about Guru Prana and his family coming to stay at the ashram for a few days.

"Yes." The boy confirmed meekly.

"Thank you, putra." Kashyap said gratefully.

"Pitashree, he's my new friend!" Ranakrit said with excitement.

"That's nice to hear. You play together. I'll be near." Kashyap replied with a smile and warned Ranak before leaving. "And don't climb up again!"

"Mitra? You didn't tell me your name." Ranakrit asked his new friend as his father left. The boy smiled again as he replied,

"Viresh."

***

"Mamashree, may I ask you something?" Ranakrit asked as he sat quietly beside his uncle.

Yuvraj Sumedh was staying at his camp which was set a little far from the ashram. He came as often as he could to meet his nephews. Today as he came, he saw Ranakrit silently sitting afar as his brothers played. It occurred to him that he was upset for some reason. So, he sat beside him and tried to lift his mood.

"Of course, son. Ask away." Sumedh said nodding.

"What does Durakrit mean?" Ranakrit asked surprising his Mamashree.

Sumedh frowned a little. Durakrit meant a worst or dreadful sin. Where did his nephew learn that word from?

"Where have you learned that from?" He asked instead of answering. Ranakrit looked at him for a while before answering.

"The other day, some Rishis came in the ashram. One of them was saying, that I should have been named Durakrit instead of Ranakrit." Sumedh's eyes widened in surprise.

"When I asked Mata what it meant, she didn't tell me and said never to listen to them."

Sumedh's blood boiled as he listened and saw the forlorn expression on his innocent nephew's face. Those people dared call themselves sages and claimed to follow Dharma!

"Mere bacce,

Manussya ka pehchan aur naam, unke karm se nirdharit hote hai. Tumhara karm ye nirdharit karega ki tum kis naam se sambodhit hoge.

(My son,

A human's name and identity is recognized by his deeds. Your actions will only decide what name you will be given.)" Sumedh replied and added,
"You should not listen to those words just as your mother said.)

"Toh mera karm kaisa hona cahiye Mamashree? (Then how should my actions be, Mamashree?)" Ranakrit asked after staying quiet for some time. Sumedh smiled at him before answering.

"Aisa, jisse tumhare Mata Pita ko tumpar aabhiman ho. Aisa, jisse aaj tumhe dekh jo log katukti ka ashray lete hai, unka sar lajja se jhuk jai. Aur aisa, jisse log tumhe sadiyo tak, Viswaputra Ranakrit ke naam se smaran kare!

(Your actions should be such, so your parents can feel proud on you. Your actions should be such, so those people who are taunting you today, feel ashamed of themselves. Your actions should be such, so even after ages, people remember you as Viswaputra Ranakrit!)"

*****

The saga of a new Mahabharat is starting.....

Yap!!!

Asswathama is Viresh here....

And Guru Prana will be the makeshift Drona...

Don't be confused about the age.

Viresh is the eldest and close to Rudra's age.

Dharmesth is five years younger than Rudra.

Prabal and Ranakrit are six years younger.

Abhayam is seven,

And the coming twins will be ten years younger.

So, how was the chapter???

And do vote and comment silent readers!