Yashvanth woke up to see Keshav fast asleep beside him. He lightly brushed his hair with his fingers.
He got out of the bed and moved Keshav a bit closer to Devrath, putting his wings around him, Since he didn't want the boy to catch cold, and then got down.
He heard some wierd noises outside the cave, that turned into some grunts. He decided to go out and investigate.
The he heard loud breathing noises from behind some plants, and saw a pair of very familiar eyes.
"Bheriya!" he went towards him.
"Who... Stop! Don't... Come near... I'm..."
"Bheriya it's me, Yashvanth" Yashvanth conjoured a pair of shorts. "You need something to cover up?" He said making the shorts float to him.
"Thanks" He said. After sometime "You... can... come"
He was covered in bites and scratches. If a werewolf couldn't find anyone to bite or scratch, they would do it to themselves.
"Don't worry, I'll heal you" Yashvanth healed his wounds. "Feeling better now?"
"Yash, I don't know what I would do without you guys" He said.
"Yashvanth! Call me by my full name!"
"You keep calling me Bheriya!"
"Cause you are one!" Yashvanth said "Let's go to Dhruv's, you can take a bath and maybe get some spare clothes" he said going back to the cave.
"Listen, I hope didn't harm anyone of you last night."
"Don't worry bro we didn't come out last night" Yashvanth assured him.
"Anyways how was the match last night?" He asked.
I signed. "Well-"
"RCB lost, your face tells it all" He said.
Dhruv and Tejas had already woken up when they arrived. Dhruv was feeding their hounder, Cheeku. Tejas was looking after the plants.
"Yashvanth where were- Dheriya!" Dhruv said.
"Yeah Dhruv, found myself lying in front of your cave this morning. Yashvanth helped me" Dheriya said. He took Dhruv's towel and Tejas's clothes and went for a bath.
Yashvanth was making chai while the rest woke up.
"WOAHHHH" Devrath and Keshav staring at each other, shocked to see them sleepimg next to each other. Not helping that Devrath had his wings around Keshav. "Where's Yash-"
"I'm right here!" Yashvanth shouted.
Devrath helped Keshav come down.
Yashvanth finished making the chai just in time when Dheriya came out of the shower.
"Keshav, I don't think you've met Bheriya"
"It's Dhe-"
"Dheriya the Bheriya" Yashvanth said.
"Anyways, we're leaving Dhruv" Devrath said.
Yashvanth carried Keshav on his back again to show him more of the forest. He showed him the magical trees, the different creatures, Yoor dev's mountain, the lakes, Athish's camp.
They reached just outside the village of elfs where an elf was playing with runes, but a Wild Fleurado, the flesh-eating bull was running towards him.
"Hey watchout!" Yashvanth shouted but that guy continued playing the runes.
He dived down and lifted him up, just in time.
Shaurya looked at him confused. He pointed towards the Fleurado. He looked at it and his eyes widened. He'd escaped death by inches.
Yashvanth put him him down once the bull reached a safer distance.
"Hi... I'm Keshav!" Keshav put his hand forward to Shaurya. Shaurya shook his hand. "And you are?" He said.
Shaurya looked at Yashvanth.
He's asking your name. He signed.
Shaurya nodded his head. He took a piece of twig, and scraped on the floor.
शौर्य
He pointed towards Keshav
And you.
Keshav looked at Yashvanth
"He's asking you your name" Yashvanth said.
Keshav took a twig and wrote his name down.
केशव
Human? Shaurya signed
Yes Yashvanth signed back.
"There you are!" Devrath flew towards them. "Shaurya Hi!" Devrath waved at Shaurya and he waved back.
What are you doing here
Devrath signed.
I was playing with my runes but I didn't realise a Fleurado was behind me, but Yashvanth saved me.
Shaurya signed.
Did you watch yesterday's match?
Yes KKR won
Shaurya smiled and did a small dance being a big fan of KKR.
Anyways Shaurya we're going now, see you later!
Yashvanth signed and went off.
Shaurya waved at them.
They flew to the lake. They played with the water and splashed each other. The mermaids also came out and started playing with them. Splashing water.
Yahvanth went to the shore,sat down and placed Keshav down. Devrath sat down beside them.
"Yashvanth! Devrath!" The mermaids came and started playing with them.
"Hey Riya, hey Meena" Yash splashed some water in their way.
"How are you!"
"All good, what you guys been upto?"
More mermaids kept coming and going. And mermen too at times.
After some time Devrath got bored so he went to practice some archery.
"Yash!" A very beautiful mermaid came to the shore and splashed him.
"Aaaaah Joshika!!" He splashed some water on her too. She came and sat down beside him. "Why don't you ever come during the match?"
"Yash! You know I'm not into sports!" She said.
"BTW Joshika meet Kesh-" Yashvanth turned to Keshav to see him staring at them. Not even blinking. "Keshav- KESHAV" He finally snapped out of his daydream.
"Yeah, Yashvanth"
"Meet Joshika"
"Oh, Hi Joshika" He said.
"Meet me at the rocks!" Joshika said.
"I'm coming too!" Yash said. She went back to the lake.
"I'll be back on Keshav, wait here!" Yashvanth flew towards the large rocks in the lake.
Keshav sat staring at him go. He'd liked most of the beings in the jungle, the mermaids were an exception. The ones he met yesterday were fine, but the ones who were talking to Yashvanth today? Cringe. They were too flirty like those annoying teenagers. Specially that Joshika girl. Keshav could'nt understand why Yashvanth was ok with her calling him "Yash", and why was he going alone with her?
Not that he was jealous, not at all.
Keshav was lost in his thoughts when someone just splashed his face with water. "Aaaaah who the f**k" he shouted angrily.
"Aishhh Keshav don't get so angry na" it was Maina that mermaid from yesterday. Along with Alia.
"What are you doing here alone? Where's Yashvanth and Devrath?" She asked.
"Devrath went away, I think he got tired of the mermaids" Keshav said.
"Aaah yeah, these mermaids are crazy about him and Yashvanth" Alia Said.
"I heard it's a universal thing for mermaids to be a total simp for fairies" Maina said.
"Yeahhh, they literally go crazy for Fairies" Alia added. "Well, most of them"
"Where's Yashvanth?" Maina asked.
"Oooh, he went with...." Keshav said.
"With Joshika?" Alia asked.
"How do you know?" Keshav asked.
"I just knew he'll try to woo Joshika before her Swayamvar Tomorrow" Maina said.
"Swayamvar?"
"Yeah, it's like an event where-" Alia said.
"I know what a Swayambar is! " Keshav replied. "I just did'nt know ppl still do them. Well except for some celebrities!"
"Ohhh, well they do in this forest, Some of them." Alia said.
"Yashvanth might win this time" Maina said. "Joshika kind of wants him to win too"
"Ofcourse, why else would she set up a sword fighting ceremony?"
Keshav felt his eyes tear up at the conversation between the girls. The thought of Yashvanth being with someone else just didn't sit well with him.
He walked away and broke down near a tree. He had tried telling himself otherwise till now. But now he was sure.
He was falling for Yashvanth. He couldn't help tearing up. Of all the people, he had to fall for a half -eagle who could be married tomorrow.
"Keshav? What happened?" He looked up and saw Devrath.
"No...n... nothing!"
"Why are you crying?"
"Nothing... Nothing!"
"Is it about Yashvanth?"
Keshav stayed quiet.
"It's about him attending Joshika's Swayamvar, right?"
"How do you..."
"Well, you might have convinced yourself otherwise, but eyes never lie" Devrath pointed at his eyes. "Your eyes shine whenever you look at him" He put his arms around Keshav.
"And he's getting married tomorrow" Keshav said.
"Married?"
"The mermaids said it's Joshika's Swayamvar tomorrow"
"Aishhh" Devrath Chuckled. "Swayamvar does'nt mean marriage. And this must be, like, the Eighth Swayamvar He's attending"
"But Joshika wants him to win, seems like she loves him"
"Pfftttt" Devrath eyerolled. "She wants him to win not because she loves him, just for popularity among her friends, you know 'The one who's married to a fairy', you already saw how mermaids are kinda crazy over fairies right?"
"I did see them..." Keshav said. "But I heard she's set up such that he would win"
"They can set up however they please" Devrath said. "But only Madhav can decide the result" He said.
"I don't Know if Yashvanth likes me, though" Keshav sighed.
"I've honestly never seen Yash care about someone like he cares about you..." he said, handing him an apple.
Keshav bit into the apple as he thought about Yashvanth. He couldn't forget the first time they met, Yashvanth's heterochrome eyes locking into his .
"I was looking for you guys!!" Yashvanth Came flying and hugged Keshav from behind. The latter could feel his breath on his neck. "Shall we go?" He held Keshav's hand.
"Actually" Keshav pulled himself away. "I was thinking of going with Devrath today" He said.
"But why?" Yashvanth's smile faded.
"Just like that" Keshav said. "With you, with Devrath, it's the same thing, right?"
"Ummm..." Yashvanth said. "I enjoy giving you a ride..."
"Maybe I should get a chance too" Devrath said, as Keshav got onto his back. "See you at home!" Devrath said.
Yashvanth hadn't arrived when Devrath and Keshav reached home. Devrath made some chai and pakore for snacks, with pudina ko achaar.
Yashvanth came about half an hour later.
"Where were you??" Devrath asked.
Yashvanth pulled out a carton of beer and a case of Soju. "To get drinks!" He said, and directed the bottles to float towards the cold closet.
"Oh wowwww! Pakora! That too with my favourite Pudina achaar" Yashvanth reached out to get a piece, but only got his hand slapped by his brother.
"Wash your hand first!" Devrath said.
"Aishhhhh.... Okay Bhrata Dev" Yashvanth moved to the sink to wash his hand. He came back and attacked the pakora.
"Bhratashree, You make the best Pakora" Yashvanth said.
Keshav chuckled looking at an adorble Yashvanth with his mouth full of Pakoras.
"What happenned?" Yashvanth asked.
"Nothing: Keshav said looking embarassed. "Looks like you love Pakora" He said.
"It's amazing!" Yashvanth said. He took a piece and dipped it in the achaar. "Try it" He put it in Keshav's mouth.
Keshav munched on the pakora, as if it wasn't tasty enough, the fact that Yashvanth had fed him only made it better. "It's good" he said.
As soon as they were done with the snacks, Yashvanth started doing push-ups. "Bhratashree, I think I will win Joshika tomorrow." He said.
"Let's see" Devrath said. "You say that all the time!"
"Bhratashree! It's Joshika, we've been friends since childhood!" Yashvanth said. "Moreover, she's organised a swordfight, clearly she wants-"
Keshav buried his head under a book. He clearly didn't want to hear Yashvanth yap about someone that wasn't him.
"Yash, shouldn't you tell Keshav about the Swayambar?" Devrath said.
"Really?" Yashvanth said. "I don't think"
"Why not?" Devrath said.
"Okay, Keshav, Keshav!" Yashvanth nudged Keshav who was emerged in the book about Lord Krishna.
"What?" Keshav said, Looking up from his book. "Vasudev is about to cross a lake during a storm to take his son to Gokul."
Yashvanth came behind him and put his arm around him. "You know, I'm attending a Swayambar tomorrow" He said. "It is this event where-"
"I know what it is" Keshav said. "All the best" he said and quickly got back to his book. He didn't even realise when he fell asleep.
When Keshav woke up the next morning, he remembered he had been reading on the mat near the fireplace. But he was surprised to find himself covered by warm wings, he could hear soothing heartbeat right beside his ear.
"You fell asleep on the mat last night, I was afraid you'd catch cold." Yashvanth said.
Keshav got goosebumps hearing his sexy morning voice.
"You didn't have to!" Keshav said. "I could've slept on the mat itself."
Yashvanth frowned. "Why?" He said. "I keep you warm"
"Because from today you might have to keep someone else warm" Keshav said, sarcastically.
"Someone else?" Yeahvanth said.
"That mermaid? If you win her" Keshav said.
"Joshika?" Yashvanth said. "We'll see that when that happens" He said as he got off and went to the bathroom.
"He seemed rather disappointed when you said that!" Devrath chuckled lightly.
"Devrath, don't you have anyone? Like someone you love?" Keshav asked. "Why don't you go to the Swayambar?"
Devrath rolled his eyes. "I'd rather be single than marry someone I wooed in a contest that I don't LOVE" Devrath said. "It's all God's will, you know. If it's meant to be, we don't need any Swayambar." He said.
"So don't you have someone?" Keshav asked.
Devrath sighed. "I don't" He said.
Yashvanth came out of the bathroom. Keshav could'nt believe his eyes.
Yashvabth had a towel round his waist, and was not wearing anything on top. His 8-Pack abs clearly visible.
Another thing that was even more interesting was his back, from his sides he had thin layer of black feathers, which got thicker at the back, where he had his wings.
Keshav couldn't keep his eyes off him. "What happened?" Yashvanth said, changing to a waterproff suit.
"Nothing... Nothing!" Keshav turned around, hiding his blush.
"I'm going to the swayambar, wish me luck!" Yashvanth said.
"All the best!" Devrath said.
Yashvanth went off after having breakfast.
Dheriya, Dhruv and Tejas came sometime after Yashvanth left.
"Hiiiiiiii.... Devrath!" Dheriya said.
"And Keshav!" Dhruv said. "Where's Yashvanth?"
"Dhruv, don't you know? It's that mermaid's Swayambar today" Dheriya said.
"Ohhh, Joshika, Yeah!" Tejas said. "Do you think he'll bag it this time?" He said.
"He could" Dheriya said.
Keshav rolled his eyes.
"I don't think so, he'll come with a bottle of beer as always" Dhruv said.
"Naah, he'll bag Joshika" Dheriya said. "He's lost seven times, the eighth will sure be lucky! He'll come holding her hand"
"The stars disagree" Dhruv said.
Dheriya chuckled. "So your intuition is on the stars? How about his years and years of friendship with Joshika?" He said. He took out some coins from his pocket and put them on the table. "I'm positive he'll come with Joshika."
"Heyy" Tejas said. "Me and Dhruv were basically enemies when we were young, what's your point?"
"He'll come with a bottle of beer, as always. Moreover, you better NOT insult the stars! I was named after one!" Dhruv put more coins on the table.
"You didn't have to bet!" Tejas smacked Dhruv.
"Babe, I'm pretty sure he'll come with a bottle of beer!" Dhruv put his am around Tejas.
Yashvanth arrived later in the afternoon, when the boys were playing Ludo.
"You boys are playing Ludo? Without me?" He said, making everyone glance towards him. "You too, Keshav?" He put his arm around Keshav.
"You weren't here and we were bored" Devrath said.
"Yashvanth" Dheriya said, Looking behind him. "Where's that-"
"Dheriya, if I'd won, I wouldn't be here this early on my own!" Yashvanth said.
"You're such a loser, Yash" Dheriya said eyeing on the coins on the table.
"You're no winner, Bheriya" Yashvanth said.
"No drinks?" Dhruv said.
"Naah" Yashvanth said. "Nothing special to drink about." He said.
"How about, like, Drowning-on-your sorrows like every time you loose" Dhruv was eyeing on the coins.
"Pfftttt, nothing so sorrowful" Yashvanth said. "Whatever happens in a Swayambar, It's all his will" he pointed to the Lord Krishna idol in the altar. "She wasn't meant for me anyways" he said.
"You could've still gotten drinks" Dhruv said, While being side-eyed by Tejas.
"He didn't get girl nor he got drinks" Devrath happily started collecting the coins.
"You did not bet?" Yashvanth asked Keshav, playing with his hair.
"Ummm... No, it was just Dheriya and Dhruv" Keshav said.
"You have such a beautiful hair" Yashvanth said. "Just like your name"
Keshav chuckled.
"Anyways who wants tea? I'm goanna make some!" Yashvanth said as he went to the stove and making tea.
"Babe! How id it my fault that this bastard suddenly changed his pattern!" Dhruv shouted at Tejas.