Dreams Before the Crown

The celebration had ended, but Avinash could not sleep. The palace echoed with silence, broken only by the drip of monsoon rain from carved balconies. He sat by the window, gazing at the horizon, thinking of the journeys he longed to take.

India was vast, full of places he had never seen — the deserts of Rajasthan, the ghats of Varanasi, the snowy peaks of Himachal. He knew that once his king ceremony was complete, freedom would slip away. Duties would bind him, responsibilities would weigh on his shoulders, and the palace would become both crown and cage.

His thoughts drifted to Dadu, the old man who had always stood by him. Dadu’s health was fading each day, yet his spirit remained strong. Avinash remembered the joy in his grandfather’s eyes when they had traveled together to Bangkok years ago — how Dadu had laughed like a child, excited by the bustling streets and glowing temples. That memory was a lantern in Avinash’s heart.

He thought also of Dev, his cousin, five years younger, his partner in mischief. Dev had been there through everything — bunking classes, playing pranks on teachers, sneaking out for night adventures, even covering for Avinash when he experimented with nail polish, shorts, and makeup. Dev never judged, never faltered. He was the little star who always shone beside him.

But his father… strict even in Bangkok, obsessed with reputation and control. He never approved of Avinash’s friends, his style, or his truth. The day Avinash came out, his father’s silence became a wall. He stopped speaking to his son, as if love could be erased by disapproval.

Yet Avinash was not alone. His mother, gentle and unwavering, stood by him. Dadu, with his wisdom, defended him. Dev, with his loyalty, laughed with him. Together, they formed a shield against the world.

And when Dadu made the final decision — naming Avinash the last king of Raghavpur — the palace itself seemed to tremble. His father’s anger was sharp, but Avinash knew the truth: he was born this way. He was not wrong, not broken, not shameful. He was simply himself.

“I only live once,” Avinash whispered to the rain. “Why should I waste it worrying about what others think?”

The monsoon winds carried his words across the courtyard, as if the palace itself listened. Avinash closed…

The room was quiet, filled only with the heavy weight of Avi’s thoughts as he drifted back into the past. He was so far away that Dev’s sudden entrance completely startled him.

Avi was sitting there, staring into space and drowning in a dramatic pool of his own past memories. He was so deep in thought he didn't even notice the bedroom door swing open.

"Bhai?"Dev stepped in, leaning against the doorframe with a dangerously sharp smirk. When Avi didn't look up, Dev walked over and snapped his fingers right in front of his face."Earth to Bhai! What are you thinking about so deeply? Don't tell me you secretly got a boyfriend behind my back. Are you planning a grand escape to leave me behind to do all the work? Because if you are eloping, I'm tracking your GPS."Avi rolled his eyes so hard it practically hurt. "It’s nothing. Why is your sole purpose in life to disturb me? Seriously, shoo. Go back to your own room and go to sleep. You are actively ruining my beauty sleep right now."Dev didn't even blink. He just crossed his arms, looking completely unimpressed. "Nah. Not happening. And honey, looking at those eyebags? That beauty sleep is already working overtime anyway. It’s a lost cause tonight, so you might as well spill the tea."

"Get out!" Avi groaned, grabbing his blanket and pulling it completely over his head to block out his brother's smug face.Dev laughed, entirely unfazed by the dramatic reaction. Instead of leaving, he walked over to the other side of the bed, aggressively yanked a massive chunk of the blanket for himself, and collapsed face-first onto the mattress."Fine, I'll sleep. But I'm sleeping here," Dev announced, his voice muffled by the mattress.

Avi poked his head out from under the covers, glaring daggers at him. "This is my bed, you literal parasite.""Sharing is caring, Bhai. Now shut up and go to sleep," Dev mumbled, already stealing the main pillow.Avi let out one last heavily annoyed huff, realized he was too exhausted to fight a losing battle, and aggressively turned his back to Dev. Within minutes, the room fell completely quiet as both brothers finally went to sleep.

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