2 Yaman

Ajay was lost in his world of Indian Classical music when Yaman, his younger brother stormed in.

" Who the hell is that girl? "

Yaman was fuming.

"She is.... err... our cousin?"

" What cousin bro? I never ever heard of her. And you know, how was she sitting in the living room downstairs, with her leg on the table? Her attitude is like that of a bloody princess... and Rajukaka( that's how Indians usually address the servants, with a masi or kaka attached to the name, depending on the gender) said she is an orphan? What bloody orphan has that damned attitude... huh!!"

Ajay swallowed hard.

Yaman was on a world tour with his band for the past four months and he returned late last night. Ajay couldn't really divulge Swetambhari Devi's identity, but, he had some cover up story ready to convince his brother regarding the presence of an arrogant teenager in the house. But it seems the first meeting between the two was not very cordial.

"Now hush boy.... she is a sensitive soul.And an orphan too. Cant you be a little tolerant to her?"

Yaman was nodding adamantly and Ajay left his tanpura( an Indian vocal accompaniment used by artists to keep the musical scale intact) and scurried up to pacify his brother. He really didn't want his brother to get in the way of Swetambhari Devi's mission. She had quite an attitude and any layman would find her unsociable. No doubt Yaman looked pissed.

"You wont dislike her so much as you get to know her , you know.... but I have something more important for you right now. You remember the fusion number you request me to compose for your upcoming album before you left? Come on .... let's jam.... I think I have found your perfect number.... come ... come"

Ajay wrapped his arms round Yaman and dragged him for practicing with the hope that his brother will forget about his irritation once he discovers the fabulous new tune. And to his relief, it worked.

******************************

Sweta was lost in meditation when she heard the tune. Her days were long and stupid and nights were useless and sad for the last two months with only one exception, Ajay Tiwari's music. Ever since Sweta embarked upon this land of doomed, all she looked forward to were the peaceful nights when Ajay will sing his heart out while practicing and Sweta will sit in her room drinking the beauty of his tunes. That music was the only happiness to her soul and she blessed the man from within for creating such beautiful music.

Her father was indeed right about choosing his disciple. Ajay was really a creative man. And he sang from his heart. After meeting this man, she felt at times that the land of the doomed had some hidden gems also... may be Ananthaswamy's mother was also someone exceptional like this Tiwari.... But being her mother's daughter, she would immediately brush aside that thought. She loathed Ananthaswamy and any woman who gave birth to him must have been equally vile.

The mission was unpredictable and Sweta knew she would be summoned by the Council only when they deem fit . Until then, Ajay was her sole anchor that helped her stay put and constantly reminded her who she was and why she was here... She had a purpose and she couldn't get bitter.

But tonight there was another voice singing along with Ajay and it was like no other voice Sweta ever heard, neither on this land, nor on her own.

As if drawn by a magical chord, she left her room and moved towards the room where the guys were jamming. Stealthily she peeked into the room only to find that man from the evening who was glaring at her during the snacks, now drowned in music. He looked very similar to Ajay, just a bit younger. The man was like no other human she interacted with in the past two months. There was something not so human about him, yet, there was an aura of unfriendliness. Rajukaka called him CHOTASAHIB, which made him Ajay's son or brother. She was not sure what this man was and she couldn't care less until she heard the divine voice.

The shoulder length ringlets adorned the masculine face of the tanned man and as he sang along with Ajay, Sweta felt bubbles of happiness rising within her chest.

Oblivious to her own actions, Sweta walked in their room, as if to feel the music on her body.

As the man started his own improvisations on the tune Ajay taught him, Sweta felt a strange urge to sing along and she joined them, forgetting the caution thrown by her father before she came for the mission.

"Dont sing.... dont Dance.... dont recite poetry. Music and words respond to us Gandharvas, and if you perform, people will know you are different. Dont give the mortal world the glimpse of your reality Amberi. Remember, darker forces will track you and such acts can blow your cover"

Her father did warn her.

But she was a Gandhaarva, and how could she not sing along when the men were creating such magical melodies. Thus, ignoring all warnings she sang along, drowning in the Musical madness, bit by bit.

Sweta didn't even realize when Ajay had stopped singing hearing her voice.

Neither did she realize she was making an unearthly scene because as she sang along, the music consolidated in tiny rainbow dots giving her a divine aura. Ajay looked at the duo mesmerized as rainbow starlight danced circling them....

" Awesome..... awesome.... Jai Guruji ( hail the Teacher) .... Jai Guruji....", Ajay mumbled as his emotions burst as uncontrolled tears. He couldn't believe his luck. Devi was singing with them!!!!

Right then Ajay heard two popping sounds in the balcony adjacent to his room. He strained his eyes, but all he detected was concrete darkness of the night. As if hearing the same noise, Yaman too stopped.

Even before Ajay could register, Yaman shook Swetambhari Devi out of her musical limbo and whispered, " DEMONS ". And right in front of his eyes, the duo disappeared into the thin airs.

" Damn it..... Was that even my brother!!!!!"

Ajay broke into the sweat at the sight.

What just happened?????