"Who made this one?"

The voice of the man caught Agamya's attention. He had been watching him for some time now. The young man looked closely at the arrows that were made by Ranakrit. Their father had approved those and praised his eldest son for making such fine ones. So, they had decided to sell those along with the other weapons.

"I have. Why?"

Ranakrit replied before Agamya could reply. He was fixing the strings of an armour that had come lose. Kashyap had left his sons to watch over the shop whereas he went to purchase supplies.

"This will deform in moist weather. It won't be of any use."

The man said putting the arrow back in place with a look of contempt. Ranakrit looked at the arrow and then back at the man with a slight frown of displeasure.

"How would you know? Have you ever even shoot an arrow?" Agamya asked angrily. Not liking that someone was badmouthing his brother's hardwork.

"How do you know that I haven't?"

"Because I saw you before too. You work on wheels. You're a charioteer, not a Ksatriya."

"Do your arrows ask before getting shot that the thrower is a Ksatriya or Shudra?"

"No. But the thrower does need to remember his capacity before shooting."

"Enough." Ranakrit intervened as the man was going to retort back angrily.

"Do you want anything else?" He asked the man, tossing all the arrows on the floor.

"No." The man said controlling his anger.
"Try mixing the woods. That'll hold the arrows from being deformed in any weather."

Ranakrit watched him leaving silently. But Agamya was still fuming.

"Bada aaya gyan dene! (Who asked him for advice!)"

Ranakrit shifted his eyes at his brother hearing him.

"I shouldn't have listened to you and put those in display for sale in the first place!" He snapped at his brother instead.

"But they're good. Pitashree said that too! You shouldn't listen to him. What that charioteer knows about arrows!" Agamya said defensively.

"Pitashree would say anything to encourage us. And as for that man, he knew what he was talking about and we shouldn't judge someone so quickly." Ranakrit replied solemnly and started gathering the scattered arrows.

"Since we're not selling those, can I take them?" Agamya asked praying his brother would agree.

The only thing Agamya differ from Ranakrit was his facination for archery.

"Don't use all of them. Give some to Ranadhrist too." Ranakrit said handing him the bundle of arrows. Agamya nodded with a broad smile and caressed the arrows lovingly.

"How much is this axe?"

Ranakrit shook his head at the creepy way his brother held those pieces of woods and went to attend the customer. As Ranakrit was busy with the customer, Agamya took his little bow that his father had made for him and slipped away to practice with them a little. He came a little far from the market in an open space and keeping his supplies at a side, was fixing the string of the bow. He got ready to throw the arrow in no time and targeted it at a nearby tree branch. But he missed it and the arrow went past it, losing somewhere behind.

A sound of frustration left his mouth before he went to find the arrow. As he went in the direction where his arrow had gone, his eyes widened as he saw a little girl crying silently. His arrow had gone straight through her long braid and pierced the bark of a tree. She was standing there awkwardly as her hair was stuck on the arrow behind her. She was unable to move from there and her little hands couldn't get the arrow out.

Agamya hurried to her side and pulled the arrow from the bark. But in doing so, the girl's head jerked with the force too. She was obviously hurt as the motion pulled at her hair sharply. But surprisingly the girl remained silent though tears were falling from her eyes freely.

"I am sorry! Are you okay?" Agamya asked apologetically while trying not to hurt her more and get the arrow out of her braid. The girl didn't reply and more tears fell from her eyes as the end of the arrow got stuck in her thick hair. Agamya took a break after trying for a few moments to get it free. He realized he could break the arrow and get it removed from her hair easily. But his arrow! How could he break it!

But then his eyes fell on the innocent face of the little girl. Her tear strained cubby cheeks and big fearful eyes gave him a pause. And his mind supplied that he could not let her hurt more. With that thought he broke the arrow and got the broken parts out of her hair.

"Are you okay?" He again asked to the softly sobbing girl.

The girl wiped her tears away and nodded hesitantly. Just then the loud voice of some men were heard. The girl's eyes widened in fear hearing the voices. She pushed Agamya and ran away from there. Agamya sat on the ground for a while cursing her. Stupid girl! He helped her. Wasted one of his arrows because of her! And this was how she repaid?

He too went away from there swearing to teach her a lesson if he met her again.

***

The whole day passed by and Kashyap returned with his sons after selling his goods and purchasing new supplies.

In the years, he had set up a workshop where he made weapons like, axes, spears, swords, arrows, armours etc. Since he had wide knowledge of all kinds of weapons, it turned in his favour to provide for his family's needs. Throughout the week he worked in his shop that was just beside his house. And on the 'market day', he used to take all the items and set a shop there to sell those. Apart from that, people came to purchase items at his workshop sometimes.

Life wasn't all roses for them, but they were contented. Rajkumar Kashyap was one of those who went with the flow and didn't waste time in worries of the future. He took what was offered and remained happy with it rather than complaining.

Otherwise, who would advise their brother to elope with another woman after what he faced?!

Rajkumar Durdharsh often visited his brother and nephews whenever he could. One night he came to his brother to seek a shoulder to cry on as the woman he loved was getting married to someone else. Like a good brother Kashyap patted his head while he cried. Even provided alcohol and got drunk with him sharing his sorrow. And advised him to man up and elope with the girl.

His intoxicated brain hadn't remembered it the next morning though. And forgot all about it until a few weeks later his brother actually brought a girl with him to hide in his house. Rajkumar Durdharsh demanded that it was his idea, so he would have to help him now! Rajkumar Kashyap had only been able to give a tight lipped smile to his wife who had shook her head at him.

While Rajkumar Durdharsh had hidden there with the girl, imagine Maharaj Jagadeesan and Rajkumar Jayaditya's surprise as an enraged father came to their doorstep declaring war and demanding his daughter back.

Both had stared at Samrat Jarasandh, emperor of Magadha and the father-in-law of the King of Vrishni, Kamsa. He had fixed his younger daughter, Rajkumari Tripti's marriage with the crown prince of Shreevalli. But before the marriage could take place, Rajkumar Durdharsh of Amvasthapuram had elpoed with her.

"I'm out! I am not fighting him over this."

Maharaj Jagadeesan had said after overcoming his surprise. An already dumbfounded Rajkumar Jayaditya was dumbfounded again hearing him even before he could digest the previous shock.

"What are you talking about?! You're the King! It's your throne at stake here!"

"And you're the one bound to protect it. I am not going to waste my time and energy for this when that idiot didn't even inform me!"

"And if I lose the battle? What will you do then?" Rajkumar Jayaditya had asked gritting his jaw in anger.

"Hand over Durdharsh to him." Jagadeesan had replied carelessly before leaving the battlefield.

Rajkumar Jayaditya had stared at his retreating form thinking either he should laugh or cry! But instead he decided to concentrate on the battle at last.

Thankfully, Rajkumar Jayaditya had succeeded in subsiding the army of Magadha and Samrat Jarasandh enough to force them to retreat. Considering, the strength and power of Samrat Jarasandh, it was almost impossible a task. So, luckily Maharaj Jagadeesan didn't have to give Durdharsh's hand to Samrat Jarasandh.

But no one was there to save him from Rajkumar Jayaditya who had made him stand under the sun with one leg up in the air and his hands holding his ear for a whole day! Now the punishment was nothing to impact him physically. But the mortification of getting punished by his Jyesth as an insolent boy while everyone watched had made him swear not to make any such a mistake ever in his mortal life.

Rajkumari Tripti was welcomed to the palace of Amvasthapuram by Maharani Nivedita and had been leading a blissful married life with Rajkumar Durdharsh since then. They were even blessed with a little girl that they named Aradhya. Ironically, the same day Raani Tripti was celebrating her motherhood, her sisters, Raani Asti and Prapti of Vrishni were mourning for their husband's death.

However, currently as Rajkumar Kashyap came near to his house, he saw a little crowd of displeased people waiting for him as usual. He handed everything he was carrying to his sons to take inside and went ahead to sit under a banyan tree where the people were waiting for him. His other sons sat surrounding him.
Rajkumari Viswa sighed looking at him from the window and then handed Ranakrit a glass of water. Ranakrit took it outside and handed it to his father wordlessly. He also sat with his brothers. All of them were well aware of the proceedings by now.

Rajkumar Kashyap drank the water taking his sweet time annoying the people standing in front of him further and keeping the glass aside asked finally,

"Let's begin. Who will come first?"

"Mahanubhab, aapke yeh putra kab sudhrenge? Din pratidin inki uddandata badtehi jaa rahe hai!

(Mister, when will your sons change? Day by day they're becoming more mischievous!)" One of them said.

Yes. Those people had gathered to complain. As usual! Perks of being the father of a hundred teenaged boys!

And it started.

"Your son has released my cow today and the calves ate all the milk!"

"Your son released all my pigeons!"

"Your son ate all my sweets!"

"Your son broke my pots!"

"Your son stole all the jackfruits from my tree!"

"Your son put cockroaches in my water pot!"

"Your son tied a grasshopper with my ponytail!"

"Your son released a mouse in my house! My whole day passed in catching it only!"

Rajkumar Kashyap heard at all the complaints and nodded while contemplating those.

"Okay. I understood. You're right. They should be punished certainly. So, tell me the names, and I will punish them." He said looking sincere and serious.

As usual!

"Naam kaha se batay! Saw putra hai aapke! Milti jhulti sakal aur bastro ke saath! Inke naam yaad rakhne jaunga toh swayam ke putra ke naam bhul jaunga!

(From where will I give you names? You have a total of hundred sons! That too with almost similar faces and clothes! If I start remembering their names, I will forget my own son's name.)"
One man said with frustration.

"Yeh to gambhir samassa hai. Aap logoke karan, mere putra bigad rahe hai!

(This is a serious problem. Because of you people, my sons are going astray!)"
Kashyap said shaking his head in disapproval.

"Hamare karan? Kaise?

(Because of us? How?)"

"Haan. Aap log sikayat lekar to aa jate hai, kintu yeh nehi batate ki sikayat hai kiske vurudh. Aab mei ek ki uddandata ki saaja dusre ko to nehi de sakta. Aapke karan, yeh saitaniya karke bhi saja se bach jate hai!

(Yes! You people come to me with complaints, but don't tell me who it is that did the mischief. I can't give the punishment of one's deed to another, can I? Because of you only, they remain unpunished in spite of doing mischief!)"

Kashyap explained with a frown. And most of the people of the crowd narrowed their eyes at him. He always did that!

"Kintu mujhe pata hai ki mere per se kathal kisne curai!

(But I know who stole jackfruits from my tree!)" One of them said raising his hand with confidence.

"Pata hai? (You do?)" Kashyap asked with a pause.

"Haan! Yeh saare latakne wale kaam aapka Putra Ranak hi karta hai. Usine mere per se kathal curai hai! Puchiye usse, aur kaun kaun tha uske saath!

(Yes! All these mischiefs involving hanging from somewhere are done by your son, Ranak only. He must have stolen my jackfruits! Ask him, who else were with him!)"

The man said angrily pointing at Ranak. Kashyap also looked at his son with raised eyebrows.

"Mujhpar aarop maat lagaiye kaka! Main toh pichle teen din se mahogany ke per se latak raha hu.
Arthat ki khel raha hu. Maine aapke kathalo ko dekha bhi nehi!

(Don't blame me, Kaka! I was hanging from that mahogany tree from the last three days.
I mean, I was playing around that tree from the past three days. I did not even look at your jackfruits!)"

Ranak said instantly defensively. He knew the man would take his name only, so he didn't go there this time.

"Haan. Yeh nehi ho sakta. Ise to kathal pasand bhi nehi hai.

(Yes, it can't be him. He doesn't even like jackfruits.)"

Kashyap said with a smile, showing his teeth.

"Leave it! It's our mistake only. You always make some excuse or other and never punish your sons! You're spoiling them only!" Another man said.

Kashyap sat there with an innocent face as all of them muttered some curses or advice before finally leaving.

"Where are the jackfruits? Have you finished all of them?" He asked slowly as the last of them left the premises.

"No, Pitashree. We've saved for you too." Vivardhan replied with a mischievous smile and gestured another one of his brothers to bring the jackfruits from their hiding place.

"Lajja nehi aati aapko, Arya! Aapke putra kathal curake laye hai! Aur aap unhe dand dene ke sthan par, unke saath beithkar kathal kha rahe hai?

(Don't you have any shame, Arya? Your sons have stolen the jackfruits! And instead of punishing them, you're sitting here and eating these jackfruits with them?)"

Viswa scolded him, coming outside the house and standing in front of him.

"Curake laye ka kya arth hota hai, Viswa! Yeh kaho ki badi hi mehnat se per se utar ke laye hai. Aur waise bhi uske kathal sare banar kha jate hai. Ek do mere banaro ne kha liya toh kya ho gaya.

(What do you mean by stealing, Viswa? You should say that they have brought those after getting them from the high tree with hardwork. And by the way, all his jackfruits get eaten by monkeys only. What's so wrong in it if my monkeys eat a few.)"

Kashyap replied after gulping the fruit in his mouth.

"Samassya kathal khane mei nehi, chori karne mei hai. Aise kisiki bastu bina uske anumati ke lena apradh hota hai.

(The problem is not in eating jackfruits. The problem is in stealing. Taking someone's thing without their permission is a sin.)"

She said trying to reason with her husband.

"Ek baat batao. Yeh jo per paudhe hai, yeh saab toh iswar ke den hai na? Toh pher inpar adhikar kisi manussya ka kaise ho sakta hai?

(Do tell me. All this nature is the gift of God only. Then how can a human have rights on those solely?)"

Kashyap argued.

"Aap mujhe gol gol bato mei maat uljhaiye. Cori karna aapradh hai. Aur jis jisne yeh curaiyi huyi kathal khayi hai, aaj unko raat ka bhojon nehi milega.
Aab unhe chodkar baki sare aandar aa jao khana khane.

(Don't try to confuse me. Stealing is a crime. And those who have eaten these stolen jackfruits will not get anything to eat tonight.
Now those who have not eaten those, come inside for dinner.)"

She said with finality and went inside the house as Kashyap and a few of his sons watched her back with a pout on face. Some remained unbothered like Vivardhan and some smirked. Ranakrit got up followed by Ranak, Ranadhrist, Agamya and a few others. They were in the group who had not touched the stolen fruits.

"Waise Mata ne aaj kukurmutte ki sabji banayi hai.

(By the way, Mata has made mushroom curry today.)"

Vivardhan commented just before putting another piece of jackfruit in his mouth. The group who were going to enter the house froze along with Kashyap.

Okay, now he definitely could not blame his sons for stealing the fruits. Because one thing made by Viswa that he wouldn't even want to offer to his enemy, was Mushroom curry.

With the declaration of Vivardhan, a few of the group came back to sit and started eating jackfruits. Ranak looked ready to cry. At one side was jackfruit and mushroom curry on the other. He was stuck both ways! Ranakrit gave a last lingering look at the jackfruits before sighing heavily and going inside followed by the rest.