Winters were cold in Vijayanagara but that night , the night of 17 January was filled with lightning . Timmarusu and Narasimha Raya stood before the room of the Tuluva Raja , Tulava Narasa Nayaka .
"It's not a good sign, Timma."said Narasimha . The diyas in the castle whooshed with the cold air that flew inside it. The fires were dancing , one moment they rose up in the air and in the other they dimmed themselves .
"We can't say what is good or what is bad . When you were born the night was silent but I was born during a thunderstorm like it is today."said Timmarusu. Both of them wore the Royal attire and were ordered by the Tulava Raja to stand guard at the door.
Beside the door on the bed lay the Queen in labor . The Dasis were busy attending her needs . Two were busy washing her hands and forehead with a cloth dipped in warm water , two were busy helping her giving birth and one who was the Chief of the Dasis a woman named Alivelimangamma was standing giving orders to each and every one of them.
Narasimha Raya touched his moustache. He was just 19 years old and so was Timmarusu . Both had studied under Acharya Varahaswamy and were perfect candidates for the throne.
"The negotiations with Kalinga is underway and now this . A child born to the family during the season of war is a bad omen . We do not know what his Kundali (destiny) is . It is evident that this child should be given to MahaKali this Deepawali as an offering so that our king may conquer Kalinga."said Narasimha.
"Your words still reveal your true motive Nara . I would be careful if I were you . I do not want the attention of all the ministers towards my family because I do not want to turn the whole castle into a battlefield . Besides let the child be born Alivelimangamma is there with the queen , she will read the child's destiny and so we shall see what it is."said Timmarusu.
Narasimha walked a few steps near a brazier and the fire revealed his face. Blood red eyes like that of a hawk , that serpent smile that great kings had and that rich black hair that made him look righteous .
"You intrigue me Timma . How come you not want to kill a child who has a share of the throne named even before it's birth . If in the near future the throne falls to him where will we go??".asked Narasimha.
Timmarusu also walked close to the flame . He kept his palms on it and they warmed up. " I have told both you and Acharya Varahaswamy that I have no intention to be king."answered Timmarusu.
Narasimha smiled . " Starting from a small ant to a hungry lion , everyone has something they value and they fight for . Something they are greedy for. An ant's greed is for a small amount of food but a Lion's greed is not only food but the expansion and security of it's kingdom . Even the great Devas and Gods have greed . So, how can you not have any greed upon the throne ?" asked he.
"The answer is simple , Nara . I don't have any interest of being king."said Timma.
"It's a shame. You who is the greatest scholar of Vijayanagara, the one who won the battle of Aruthala without shedding a single drop of blood , the one whose words are valued by the people is rejecting the throne he was sworn to before he was born . "said Narasimha.
"Shame it may be but I have my own reasons for not wanting it. There's a curse upon the throne. Even the great sages who will sit on it will regret their decisions someday . Power is a dangerous thing. "said Timma .
"If you won't take the throne then in the near future I will force you to be king will you take it then ?"asked Narasimha.
"Never."replied Timmarusu. A flash of lightining came and then thunder shook the palace. The doors to the room of the Raja burst open with the five Dasis walking out of it.
The second Dasi was holding a child . The five of them stood before the two princes . A very old Dasi stepped before them .
"Mēmu rāṇini rakṣin̄calēkapōyāmu, kāni oka kumāruḍu janmin̄cāḍu ."the old Dasi said in Telugu . It meant we could not save the queen but a son is born .
Timmarusu walked to the second Dasi and held the child . He was wrapped in red clothes and was not crying . He was just looking towards the diyas. Timmarusu touched his small cheeks and suddenly the child thrust his right leg towards him . The child hit Timmarusu's chest with his leg. Timmarusu smiled as he saw a deep red spot on the child's right leg when the brazier revealed it .
"Hmm..Krishna..Krishnadevaraya."said Timmarusu. "Great name for a prince Timma."praised Narasimha. The old dasi came and took the baby .