His friends -1

How do you find a friend you lost?

Srikant found all of them. One by one. Like he lost them. He has mourned them for centuries. And wished to reunite with them one day. His sacrifice paved the way.

Solly, Ro, Maddy and Parry. His friends his brothers.

And they came back. Risen from a slumber of four centuries. As if he was a cosmic force. A bright star. Pulling them all back from the black hole.

Four centuries earlier....

" See you in hell", said Kishan as he died in his friend's arms.

" Kishan", his scream pierced the sky.

He was the last to die.

Adheer was the first. As he was ambushed by Guriella soldiers after returning victorious from another war.

" Got my punishment", were his dying words. " Shall apologise to Roop".

Dheeraj was next. His sister burned with her husband on his pyre.

" He denounced me in life but I join him in death", she said.

A weeping Gunjan stood in corner.

Lakhan died in a suicide mission to capture a fort. He had no will to live.

" Forgive me Meera", he said as he died.

Four Centuries later

He met Solly when he was 6.

Sohail Qureshi a.k.a. Solly( Kishan's reincarnation)

His grandfather took him to Dubai after his father remarried. His grandfather had eloped with Sheik's sister. His grand mother was from middle east. He inherited her tanned skin. As the old men were talking( all was well between them now), he was skating.

" I am worried about the boy. Ranbir is not a good father",Randheer said to his brother in law.

" Stay with him here for some time. Rajeev will cheer up", said Sheikh Khalid.

The king shrugged. In spite of being an atheist he prayed for Rajeev.

Speed was Raj's drug. He needs to be fast . Or maa will die. He was tired and thirsty after a run. He drank water. It was early morning. Grandpa was sleeping.

He decided to practice shooting. He picked up a rifle. And started hitting targets. Five tens.

" Bravo Rajeev bravo", said the Sheikh. " Such a great shot".

" Great my foot", came a voice.

Rajeev turned to see a boy his age.

" You can better that", he raised a brow.

" Yes you rich pampered boy I can", replied the child.

" Do it then", he handed over his rifle.

" I would love to see it", said the sheikh.

A fresh target was set. The boy fired. The bullseye became a hole. Accuracy and precision.

Raj was impressed. So was sheikh.

" What's your name", asked Raj.

" Will you tell my father? No use", said the boy.

" I am not a snitch", Raj was offended.

" He never scolds or hits. He will just say"..

The boy made a serious face. Lowering his tone he said,

" Sohail Qureshi I am so disappointed in you. Well he should be disappointed in himself for being such a bore".

" I like you", smiled Raj. " Friends", he offered a hand.

But Sohail was speculative.

" Take the hand Qureshi", said Raj. " I don't offer it to everyone".

Solly shook the hand in a firm grip.

" Delighted your highness", he said.

" I am Raj for my friends", said Raj.

" And I am Solly".

" Solly", came a voice as Salman Qureshi walked out. King Randheer was with him.

" Did you insult the prince? I am so disappointed in you", said Salman.

" Told ya", said Solly his eyes dancing. The boys burst into laughter.

" Rajeev". After an year king Randheer had seen Raj laugh.

" Look grandpa I made a friend", said Raj proudly. Randheer thanked the heavens. Solly and Salman accompanied them back to India.

He met Ro when he was 8. At St. Joseph's International school

Rohit Khurana( nee Joseph) a.k.a Ro.( Lakhan's reincarnation)

" The topper in biology and environmental studies class 3 is Rohit Joseph from Class 3 C. Prince Rajeev Singh Thakur is Second and Kinjal Mishra third", said the biology teacher.

" What", said Rajeev in surprise. This was the first time he was pushed to second position.

" Who is Rohit Joseph", he asked Solly.

" Do you want me to find out about him", said Solly. He was good at getting information.

" Do it", said Raj.

Next day Solly had the information on Rohit.

" He is an orphan. A scholarship student sponsered by the church", he said.

" Can we meet him", asked Raj.

Solly enquired a few kids from section B Rohit's aection.

" They say he eats lunch in park", said Solly.

Lunchtime

" Rohit Joseph right", said Raj to a lanky boy. His uniform looked old but was neat. His hairs were combed and he wore spects

" Yes", the boy stood up warily.

" The quintessential good boy", said Solly. His top button was open and tie was down.

" Am I in trouble", said Rohit.

" For being the topper in biology", said Rah. " No man. I am not the petty one. Can we sit with you"?

" Yeah of course", said Rohit. Nobody sat with him before.

" Are those tasty", asked Raj pointing to his sandwiches.

" They are to me. Wanna try one", said Rohit.

" Sure", said Solly sitting.

The boys licked fingers and chatted freely as they ate sandwiches.

" You live at church", said Solly.

" Yeah", said Ro.

" Raj can he not live with us? He is fun. I ike him", said Solly.

" Nobody liked me", said Rohit sadly.

Before they could ask him a group of 4 boys approached them.

" You leech", said one of them to Rohit.

" Now you are sucking up with the futture king".

" King", said Rohit.

" As if you don't know he is the crowned prince", said another.

" I didn't", said Ro rising. He was tearful. " I am sorry your highness."

He picked his books and ran away. He started avoiding them both after that. One day Raj and Solly found those bullies hotting him.

" Hey you stop", Raj ran towards them.

Seeing primary boxing champion Solly they ran away.

Rohit was badly injured. The two of them took him to infirmary. But he refused to press charges or complain.

" Thanks but its my fate", he said.

Raj was devastated by the negativity in Rohit.

" Find everything on him", he said to Solly and arrange a meeting."

Rohit tutored a few kids for money which Solly found out. He gave two hundred bucks to each.

" Go and enjoy. Only his highness will study today".

They all happily left.

" So where were we", asked Rohit withput looking at them opening books. He thought it was the tution kids.

" We were at impasse ", said Raj. " As you refuse to seek justice.

Rohit's head shot up.

" The question is why", said Raj.

Rohit sighed.

" Because Amar, Prakhar and Samar are my brothers".

" Brothers", Raj and Solly were shocked.

" Half brother and cousins", said Rohit.

" My mother was a nurse with Dr. Khurana. Lisa Joseph. He used her and left her. She had me. I am illegitimate. He was already married to Dr. Gayatri when I was I was.. born", Rohit sobbed.

" I am so sorry", said Raj.

" I grew well with mummy but she died when I was 6. Before she died she took me to Dr. Khurana and his wife. But..but he refused o acknowledge me. His son found out and was very angry at me".

" At you and not his father. I wish to rearrange his face", said Solly.

" What good a fight brings", said Rohit.

" Sometimes it does", said Raj. " I have a plan. Listen".

He told them his plan.

" Will this work"? Rohit was not sure.

" Leave it on us", smirked Solly.

" Why are you doing this", Rohit asked Raj.

" Because we are friends", replied Raj.

" Your highness", said Rohit.

But Raj shook his head.

" My friends call me Raj".

The boys shook hands.

" I am Ro."

Next day

Rohit sat at his usual spot for lunch.

The bullies ganged up on him again. But Raj and Solly were prepared. Solly stood with a bag in one corner. Raj gave a mobile opening video to a girl and paid her.

" Get everything.

The boys taunted Ro on his mother and birth. They said his father didn't want him. After verbal abuse one of them hit him.

" Action", shouted Raj.

The girls ran away handing him the mobile. Solly had kept a huge stone in front of the bench. Ro picked it up and hit Prakhar.

As other two approached him Solly got his boxing gloves from the bag, removed school shirt he wore over a vest and tackled the other. Raj tackled the third.

" Better fight one on one pal ", he said. " Three beating one is cowardice".

The Khurana boys got a proper beating.

-contd-