"Are you ready?" he asked in a low voice as he was not certain what would the reply be. Adhrit looked at his brother's eyes which were filled with uncertainty and self-doubt. He had never seen his brother in such a state. Spending almost twenty years only on the battlefield he always looked so powerful and undefeatable that seeing him like this was a bit odd for Adhrit, but he just chuckled.

Frowningly asked Arihant, "What's so funny?"

Out of sudden Adhrit started to laugh out loud and in between those laughs, he said, "You are the most powerful warrior on the battlefield, people fear your name more than death. But now? Look at yourself, you look like a child who has lost his way home." Completing that he started to laugh again but this time more loudly.

Arihant was now in bad mood he said, "Really? You're laughing at me? You're supposed to be my brother who would help me going through situations of life."

Suddenly Adhrit stopped and looked straight at his brother's eyes with really great seriousness he said, "I am your brother, not your wife and this is real life, not a battlefield." Saying that he started to laugh again. But this time Arihant was not angry but busy, busy thinking about how would it be to have a wife.

He asked, "Adhrit, what exactly a wife is?"

Hearing this Adhrit had to be serious. He frowned and asked, "Are you serious? You don't know what a wife is?" Arihant replied a little embarrassed, "I know you marry a girl which is called wife. But I want to know the deeper meaning, after all, it was you who used to have poetic classes. I was only taught various kind of  war arts."

Adhrit knew his brother had a special interest in poems and stories, but he was never given chance. It was because of situations. At those times he had to be a ruthless monster than a sweet poet. He smiled understanding his brother completely and said, "A wife? A wife is your other half. They both are equals and shadows each other. Their relationship is a very flexible one. At the times they can each other's teacher or best friends or even guides to each other. They are always to be each other's respective side and always devote themselves to each other."

Arihant asked, "Is that an ideal relationship?"

"No." Said the voice behind. They smiled at each other and bowed to their mother saying Pranaam in unison. Arihant asked, "Then what is an ideal marriage is, mother?"

She came to Arihant and sat in front of his chair. She said, "An ideal marriage is which involves the welfare of everyone. That is only possible when both people are fit for each other. Marriage is many lifetime's bond, which is once established, couldn't ever be broken. The ideal marriage is like Shiv and Shakti's marriage which involves the fulfilment of both of their duties."

Both boys nodded but suddenly they heard, "There is still one thing that you are missing queen." All three of them stood up and looked at their Guru Yajana. They all bowed with Pranam and Arihant asked, "What is that Gurudev?"

He smiled and said, "A husband and wife should be best friends who take care of each other. Their marriage should bring goodness and should be done in the welfare of society. But the most important part of marriage is love. There should be a love bond between them which would help them cross their limits if needed. Which would help them to create something more beautiful in the world. Love is the thing which can establish any bond. Even if there is no match for each other but love is there, then everything can be solved."

Arihant smiled and bowed to his Guru saying, "Thank you so much Gurudev, if it wouldn't have been you I couldn't even imagine what would have I done."

He smiled and said, "You are the best student I ever found. I am proud to be your Guru."

Arihant smiled proudly and he asked, "But Gurudev you still haven't decided what would you bring back to the kingdom."

He frowned and looked at Adhrit and asked, "Didn't you tell him?" Adhrit only looked down. He knew his brother loved his Guru a lot and he has always played the role of their father. Adhrit knew very well that his brother couldn't take it. So how could he be so cruel to tell him that his dearest Guru is leaving him. Arihant frowned and asked, "Tell me what Gurudev?"

He took a long sigh and came closer to Arihant. Placing his hand on his student's shoulder he looked into his eyes and said, "Arihant, you have been like my own son. I never was into the worldly stuff, but looking at you made me feel like I have a son. But I am a Vairagi and now my work here is done and I must return back to my ashram.

Listening was like a thunderstorm on Arihant. His eyes filled with water immediately and he went to his knees, joining his hands he started saying, "No, please Gurudev, don't say..."

Looking at his student like that Guru's eyes filled water too. He bowed down to his level and said, "Don't be like this. I have given you all I had. You have all the necessary qualities of a king. My work is done, please don't mix me with worldly stuff. It would be death for me." 

Hearing this completely broke his heart and he said, "I cannot be the reason for the death of my Guru. I cannot even imagine that."

He stood up and took a deep breath and said, "If that is your wish then it is my command Gurudev. But I want one promise."

He nodded indicating yes to him and Arihant said, "You would come to me when I would need you."

Gurudev only smiled and said, "That's not a thing do promise. It's my duty as a Guru. Don't worry whenever you would need me, you would find me around yourself."

He nodded and Guru said, "Now I am leaving Arihant but before I go I want to talk to you in private." Arihant nodded and both of them went to the nearest forest.

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The moon was shining on its full and was making sure to let everyone know its a full moon night. In that shine on the last edge of Kaushik kingdom stood Arihant and his Guru. There was silence surrounding them, not even a single word was spoken but emotions did their work, making the night as the most memorable one both in a good and bad way.

Gurudev was the one to break the silence as he said, "It was the same moon night your father met me and I blessed him with a son who I would teach myself."

Arihant was just nodded and keep looking at his Guru. He continued, "Arihant, you are a very special one. You have a really big responsibility to carry and also a great destiny awaits for you."

He still didn't say anything, but Guru added, "A lesson is to be taught to the whole humanity. I believe in you. You will do it, won't you?"

This caught his attention and he asked, "How am I supposed to do it alone Gurudev?"

Gurudev only smiled and said, "Who said you would be alone doing this?"

He looked down and said, "If you would leave me, I would be all alone Gurudev. Nothing and no one would be there with me."

Gurudev only laughed and said, "My dear son, its not work to be done alone. You will find your partner." Saying that he started to fade away in thin air, only making Arihant more and more upset. But before disappearing completely he said, "You will find her..."

With that, he disappeared leaving a very confused and upset Arihant all alone...

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Pranam: Bowing down with hands joined. Namaste of ancient India.

Vairagi: One who has left the worldly stuff. A sadhu.