THE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES-II

Nirbhik, the King of Ulka, was looking at sky through the window. The gentle breezes of air were playing with his hairs. The speed of his respiration had become numb. He put his hands on stool of a window. His soul was extremely calmed and heartbeats throbbing fast. Sarthak was looking at the King with a hope. That was a sunset time. A teardrop had come from King's eyes as he closed them. His hairs were coming on his face. He lifted his hand to move the hairs. A last ray of sunlight came on his eyes directly as he moved his hairs. The time had stopped suddenly and took him in a memory with the Cursed Prince.

The King's memory…

The Cursed Prince was sitting at the top of a mountain and looking at the sunset. Nirbhik came from behind and stared at him. The Cursed Prince had looked at his brother and signed him to sit beside.

"Why are you looking at the sunset like it is your first time? Or are you thinking about something else?" asked Nirbhik curiously.

Instead of giving answer to his brother, the Cursed Prince had kept looking at the sky. The sun was setting down slowly. The color of the sky was changing from orange to black. The phoenix had appeared in the sky suddenly and was flying towards the horizon.

Nirbhik was still looking at him and asked again, "What are you thinking Zimyu? Does something bothering you?"

Zimyu, the Cursed Prince, smiled at his brother and said, "Nothing is bothering me, my brother."

"I haven't seen you like this. Tell me, what it is!" exclaimed Nirbhik.

"What's the beautiful and crucial part of war?" asked Zimyu calmly.

"Winning is the beautiful part and losing is the crucial one." exaggerated Nirbhik.

"What will a country gain and lose after winning the war?" asked Zimyu.

"The dignity and strength of their kingdom will get spread all over the world and they'll lose nothing." answered Nirbhik with pride in his eyes.

The Cursed Prince took a pause and said, "We have won the war. We crushed our enemies' strength and dismay. Tell me, what did you see after the war? Where's the beautiful part of war?"

Nirbhik stood up and pointed his finger towards the Ulka's warriors and said, "Can't you see the joyful faces? Can't you hear the sound of winning? The gods are cheering us from the heaven. The demons are wailing from the hell. We crushed our enemy to the ground. No one will think to raise a sword against Ulka from now on. This is what victory is. This is the beautiful part of war."

"No brother, you're wrong. The beautiful part of war isn't joy after winning but to see the patriotism of warriors towards their motherland which made them to sacrifice themselves without a single thought about their lives. And the crucial part of war is to hear the wailing and whimpering of those warriors' widows and their children who sacrificed themselves in the war." said the Cursed Prince.

The Cursed Prince stood up and pointed his finger towards the kingdom and said, "The country will gain freedom and lose the young generation after winning the war."

"You're saying that nothing good will come from the war, right?" asked Nirbhik.

"Indeed, my beloved brother. If the greatest achievements will come from the war then the concept of peace is nothing but myth." said the Cursed Prince. "War isn't the solution of a problem. A great leader must know how to defeat enemy without using military methods."

The thoughts of the Cursed Prince had calmed the Nirbhik's exaggeration. Nirbhik started to think over the facts stated by the Cursed Prince. The Cursed Prince put his hand on Nirbhik's shoulder and said, "Look at the sky, my brother. The sun is setting down with the pride to lighten the world in the fetus of sea and the phoenix is chasing the horizon in search of darkness. Both of them are fully aware of their fate and duties. The end is the new beginning. It's time."

"What do you mean by it is time?" asked Nirbhik.

"He's calling me. I have to go now. The time has come. My destiny is calling me." said the Cursed Prince.

"I don't understand what you're saying, Zimyu. What time and destiny? I don't get it. You're not leaving the Ulka, are you?" asked Nirbhik.

"My beloved brother, the world is at peace for now. No one knows when a cruel enemy with same ambition of Nirdaya's will appear. After our father, be a great leader and lead the Ulka towards development, progress and prosperity. I have a faith in you." said the Cursed Prince.

"No… wait… You're more eligible person than me for the Ulka's throne. And I don't understand why you're saying this all of a sudden." said Nirbhik.

The Cursed Prince looked at the sky with joy in his eyes and said, "This isn't all of a sudden, my brother. Everything has written down. He's calling me. I have to go now."

"Who's calling you?" asked Nirbhik curiously.

"Lord Shiva." answered the Cursed Prince.

Nirbhik had known about Zimyu's legendary powers and his magical strength. He had stunned as he heard the answer. The words had stopped coming from his mouth and his hands were started shaking. It was like someone pulled his soul from his body. He just stared at the Cursed Prince.

The Cursed Prince looked at his hands and handed him the sword. The sword wasn't normal like the others. It had cursed and indestructible blade. Nirbhik who was shocked and surprised at the same movement said to Zimyu, "What will I do without you? How can I lead the Ulka towards prosperity? I have become helpless, my brother. Without you, I'm nothing but afraid. Help me, Zimyu. Show me the way."

"Have faith in yourself, my beloved brother. I know that you'll lead the Ulka towards development, progress and prosperity. You'll become great leader one day. Indeed, you'll surpass our father. Always remember, a true king never treasures his wealth but his people. The people of Ulka are your treasure." said the Cursed Prince.

"Brother, when will you return again?" asked Nirbhik.

"I will arrive again with the sign of phoenix in the sky. Until then keep my sword to yourself. Without you and me, no one has the strength to even lift the sword. It will show you the way. Remember the sword in calamitous situations and it'll lead you to a solution." said the Cursed Prince.

The words of Cursed Prince about the sword were moving in his head. The King opened the eyes as he remembered those words. Then the King turned around with joy of finding a solution. He looked at the Prime Minister and said, "The sword of the Cursed Prince."