I Like Your Nose

Guru Vashisth's eyes were fierce as those of a tiger with their yellow and black striped irises. Thankfully for Shura, the pair of eyes was not staring back at him but instead glaring at the two men standing behind.

"The royal convoy is invited to lunch, but they must leave soon after." He spoke matter of fact, "there is little space for six fully grown men in the gurukul."

Lies! The lodgings at the gurukul looked quite spacious, with four large cottages and only thirty students presently on the ground. But Shura was too transfixed to speak, and the men were too lowly compared to this legendary master. So, they all nodded silently, accepting the guru's one sided decision.

Guru Vashisth turned his icy gaze to Shura again, which somehow added to the heat washing over him waves after waves. A single drop of sweat trickled down his mouth that caused him to smack his lips. The master looked at him as if he judged the action, but instead, he spoke of the rules, "Whatever you cared to bring from home, send them back, or they will be thrown away. Students here have everything they need to train, clothes, food, books, tools, and shelter."

Guru Vashisth then gave Shura a smile as sweet as jaggery. "Rama here will show you your room. Any questions?"

Shura contemplated for a second and then bobbed his head. "Yes, only one."

The master raised his brow inquisitively.

As if possessed by a mad spirit, Shura reached out with his hand and touched Vashisth's nose. "How do you have a nose so straight?"

And whack!!

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Shura was still rubbing the linear inflamed mark on his forearm where his master had just whacked him with his bamboo cane. His men walked after him carrying his full trunk.

Rama, a lanky youth, tall but barely reaching upto Shura's ears, unlocked the door to the room where Shura would be lodging.

"Which gurukul were you in before this?" Rama was all curiosity.

"Hm, nowhere," Shura answered curtly and then looked around the tiny room that barely fit another youth, with him inside it, let alone the two men who were wating outside the door.

"This room is especially reserved for royal trainees. It has the most space and the largest bed. Also the view of the outside is so scenic." Saying so, Rama threw open the small square window.

Most space?! Shura could stand with one foot on the bed and the other foot out of the door. Largest bed?! It would hardly fit Shura's torso, let alone his entire length! Scenic view of the outside?! All Shura could see was a mud wall of another cottage slapped with cow dung cake. He looked at Rama incredulously; the lanky youth moved about with nonchalance. He next opened a low wooden cupboard that had clothes, all white and only one of black material, clay plate and bowl and utensils, and books. Two cabinets full of books.

"Once you are settled in, bring the book on the Duties of A Kshatriya Warrior with you for noon class," Rama said with an excited smile.

Shura hmphed and then plopped on the bed, whose legs gave out a little under his muscular built. "Brother Rama, how long have you been training here?" He asked Rama casually.

Rama sat on the floor, considering himself unworthy of sharing the bed with the prince of the five kingdoms.

"Since I was four. My father was Guruji's friend when they trained in the same gurukul. After my parents passed away, Guruji brought me under his care and fostered me." Rama spoke as if his parents' death was a minor matter to him. "I have been living and training here since then, umm almost ten years."

Shura exhaled deeply and stared at the floor. "I see. Do you remember your mother and father?"

Rama shook his head. "No, not really."

Shura found Rama's cool and casual answers strange. "I lost my mother when I was two." His voice became a little hoarse.

"Oh, I am sorry, my prince." Rama quickly replied.

"No matter, I barely remember her." Shura smiled thinly and swallowed to stop the tears from appearing. "And do not call me 'my prince'. You can call me, big brother. I turned sixteen two months ago."

"I heard of your birthday celebrations, my prince," Rama said, and then quickly corrected under Shura's glare, "I mean big brother."

Shura walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a plain white tunic and a white dhoti. He hmphed again, seriously doubting if those clothes will fit his tall stature. "What is the black one for?"

"They are for days when we go exorcising and demon slaying."

Shura raised an eyebrow, and Rama quickly added. "I mean when the demons are evil, all kinds, rakshasas, daitya, danava, prets…" He quickly rose and kowtowed to Shura. "I did not mean to disrespect your highness here."

"No matter, you can stand up. What time do you have lunch? There are mice running around in my belly." Shura enquired as he began to undress and put on the white clothes for pupils.

Rama looked up and soon as he saw Shura in a state of undress, hurriedly lowered his head again and continued to kowtow even harder. "Um, yes…the lunch…the lunch will be served in an hour, my prince…I mean in big brother." He stuttered so hard, he could barely finish his sentence.