A place where the sun's warmth can be felt, where the water cools the atmosphere, where the mountains protect its people, is where the ashram of Maharishi Pratyush, the former heir of Mushika. The heir who left his comfort zone and kingdom, and became a tapasya for the betterment world.

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Two men around the age of twenty to twenty five stealthily reach the top of the cliff where the the beautiful, River Mushi flows.

"Are you sure about it?" one of them asked the other.

"Very sure." The other replied.

"You just do as what is told to you, Ishat." The other ordered.

"Yes, Yuvraja Kiyan" Ishat replied to his prince, while Kiyan stared at his friend for addressing him as Yuvraja. He very well knew, Ishat had purposefully had addressed him as Rajakumar and all that what he felt now was to punch him.

Ishat on reading his friend's facial expression, immediately changed the topic, "Do you think this will impress Maharishi?"

"Well definitely not."

"After all he is my maternal grandfather, and it isn't easy to impress us." Kiyan said with a smirk, while tying the rope around his hip.

"Then why this futile attempt?" Ishat, wasn't ready to leave this topic.

"We are Yavanas, we fight till our last breath." Kiyan continued to tie the rope.

"But your life is precious for the Yavana Rajya. I had taken oath to protect to you."

"But my promise to my mother is more important to me than anything." Kiyan said with a grin.

"Well, I know I can't win you in your talks. Go ahead" Saying so Ishat ran down to meet Maharishi Pratyush.

Kiyan looked at the water falls. It's end couldn't even be determined and he had to jump into it, survive through it and get the rare flower deep into the water. Only then, his death curse from Maharishi Pratyush will be revived.

He closed his eyes and recalled what his mother had asked him to do.

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Few days before

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The Yavana Rajya wasn't less than any other Rajya in the Bharata Khanda. Infact it was the mightiest Rajya of all. Not a single Rajya dared to challenged it. But it had doomed itself by ego, greed and of all cunningness. And as a result of it, was the curse of Rajakumar Kiyan from his very own Nanashri.

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"Maa, its okay. It was just an accident." Kiyan tried to convince his mother.

"No... It is the effect of the curse... " His mother cried.

"As you sow, so you reap..." Maharani Menaha taunted.

"What do you mean by this Maharani Menaha? That Maharaja Devaapi is responsible for Rajakumar Kiyan's state?" Asked Rani Aadarshini, looking pointedly towards Maharani Menaha.

"I never said such things Rani Aadarshini... It is just your perception... Your just twisting my words." Menaha replied sternly.

"Then what did you mean by 'As you sow, so you reap'?"

"I just gave a comment Rani Aadarshini-"

"Oh really? Be careful with your words Maharani Menaha.... Your words are the words of Maharaja, and being the Mukthi Rani you will be responsible for each and everything you do or say.... Hope you understand this......" Aadarshini cut-off her mid way.

"So all these talks were for to become the Mukthi Rani.... thats your motive na? Rani Aadarshini...." Menaha questioned.

"Its your habit to speak with a motive, Maharani Menaha..... Not mine nor of Rani Sadhika..... It is you who plays with words and lure people...." Aadarshini rebelled back for Menaha's blame.

"So you mean I lured Maharaja to marry me?" Menaha shouted this time, with anger boiling inside her.

"Well definitely not, men of Yavana cannot be lured by anything in this world except for WAR....." said a new firm voice, entering into the Prince chamber.

It was Maharaja Devaapi.

All bowed down in respect except for the Queens who were drowned in pain for their dear son's life..

"Here lies the future of the Kingdom in the death bed and I have my wives fighting to become the Mukthi Rani..." Devaapi commented coldly looking at Aadarshini and Menaha.

"It is not me, Maharaja but Aadarshini who is fighting for it..." Menaha complained.

"I just need only yours and Kiyan's love, after all I am the one who brought him up...." Menaha said.

"I am sorry Maharaja... I am not here for any Mukthi Rani's position fight.... I lost my cool when Maharani Menaha blamed you for Kiyan's state openly...." Aadarshini apologised.

"Well, thats the truth...." Maharaja replied back shocking everyone in the room, while a smile appeared on Menaha's face.

"Pitashri?" Kiyan asked in a fed up tone.

"Yuvraja Kiyan how is your health now?" Asked a new voice that entered the chamber.

"I am physically very fine but spiritually drained because of all sad faces around me." Kiyan murmured.

"Take care of yourself Putra" Maharaja Devaapi caressed Kiyan's face.

"Maharaja..... " Rani Sadhika the actual biological mother of Kiyan sobbed and looked at her husband to find a permanent solution for her son's struggle.

"I can understand your motherly love Rani Sadhika but you are well aware of the cause for this curse." Maharaja Devapai commented.

"But there is a solution for which you won't be ready to agree"

"Solution?" Rani Sadhika asked as a ray of hope shone in her eyes.

"Tell me Maharaja.... I am ready to even leave my life" Rani Sadhika said with determination.

"Well that's what you actually need to do" Maharaja Devaapai shocked everyone with his words.

"What?" Rani Aadarshini asked with horror filled in her tones.

"I meant that Rani Sadhika should allow Yuvraja Kiyan to find a way to revive his curse." Maharaja Devaapi explained.

"He needs to go down south to find the solution from where the problem originated. He will not be provided with an army of soldiers to protect him as it is his fate, so he has to travel alone. If your son is capable of pleasing Maharishi Pratyush and get a boon that can withstand the curse given by the Maharishi itself then we can save the future of Yavana Rajya."

Saying so Maharaja Devaapi left the chamber followed by others except for few.

"I don't think it will be right to send Kiyan to the place where his very own doomed is fixed." Commented Maharani Menaha.

"But if Maharaja himself says then we need to send Yuvraja Kiyan to Mushika Rajyam." Said the new voice who had been a silent spectacular for the whole time.

"I agree with you Mahamanthiri . Unlike your sister your thoughts are always for the betterment of the Rajya. Am I right Maharani Menaha?" Rani Aadarshini taunted.

"Well I guess, you don't get sleep until you have finished mocking at me." Maharani Menaha disdained back at Rani Aadarshini and left the chamber.

"Rani Sadhika you don't worry. We need to send our son to find his destination." Aadarshini advised Sadhika.

"I know sister, but...."

"You don't worry Rani Sadhika, I will send my son, Senapathi Ishat with Yuvraja." Mahamanthiri Chandak assured her.

"Indeed you are the most loyal person Mahamanthiri Chandak. We are always indebted for you."Rani Aadarshini thanked him.

*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†*†

"Promise me that you will find a solution for this curse without hurting yourself." Rani Sadhika asked her son who was to leave in a day to the south of the bharata kanda.

"Maa... I swear that I will be back safe with the cure and also with Nanashri's blessings." Kiyan assured her.

"Rani Ma, You need not worry, even upon losing my life I will protect the heir of this land." Ishat swore to her.

"But Rani Ma, before we go we want to know why did your own father curse you?" Ishat asked her the question which was always left unanswered by the elders.

Sadhika smiled at him which hid years rotten pain.

Since the age of ten Kiyan had been facing life risks. He never lived a day without meeting the death. His life was always a battlefield.

Even when he was protected by so many soldiers he always encountered life risks.

But they all very well knew that it was the curse's effect yet they knew it wouldn't take his life until he is twenty.

And he was just six months away from it. Fear of losing him doomed the hearts of the people. Especially his mothers.

"For years I have been waiting to tell you this putra..."She began.

"I had been waiting to tell this when you return from your Gurukul but destiny brought you here in death bed.... Well it is the right time to tell you putra....."

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A/N:-

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