" YOU ARE NO SON OF MINE. AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS" screamed king Ranbir.
" I do", said Raj. " I am the crowned prince".
" A mistake that can be corrected", said the king. " I denounce you and I shall make Rahul my heir and crowned prince".
" Ranbir", shouted old king Randheer. " You are angry now. Don't take decisions in haste. Political decisions should not be emotional".
" A mistake he repeats at Bhishma", said Rajeev. " Its a hereditary title not yours to pass down. The most deserving son gets it."
" Ohh you are ao intelligent"., said the king.
Raj shrugged.
" Prove it then", said the king. " Get me advocate Shashtri", he said calmly.
Four conditions were fixed for Rajeev's ascension of throne
1. He will take a masters degree along with top qualification in any one sport.
2. He will serve the military for an year.
3. He will have to win shareholders's approval to join the business and another to take over as head of Bhishma entreprises.
4. He would be a king chosen by people. So he has to win an internal vote of kingdom's ministers and the Loksabha elections.
" I agree to all the conditions", he said. He signed his name as old king Randheer signed as his guardian .
" Such an insolent and arrogant boy", said Kamini's brother.
" The name is rebel Bhanu", he said.
" Remember it. This throne is mine. And one day I shall sit on it".
He left the very next morning. As he was leaving in the early hours of morning ; he halted in the potrait room. He stared at the potrait of a young man .Prince Aditya.
Rajeev always felt a kinsmanship with him. As if he knew him. He was murdered Rajeev found out.
" Goodbye for now Aditya ", he said. " We both are similar. Robbed out of our birthright. But its there this similarity ceases. For I am not you. I shall win my destiny. Its my throne and one day I shall ascend it"..
" All the best", said Aditya's soul as he watched over Rajeev. " I am sure you will get me justice".
Rajeev saluted Aditya and left.
He did not come back for his birthday or holidays. He was rarely at Junagarh spending his holidays with his friends or with professor Sharma in Mumbai. Only his grandfather got his love.
And he never turned back. Rajeev graduated high school with honours. With a gold medal in Economis, Accounts and Commerce. He and his friends disappeared next year backpacking all over India.
At 19 he said to his father.
" Your highness I wish to go to USA for higher studies".
" Its pretty far away", said the king. The king was now feeling guilty. And he tried to reconcile with his eldest son. BUT RAJEEV COULD HOLD A GRUDGE. He remained respectful, loyal and polite towards his father. But there was no love.
" Can be easily reached by plane. What's distance these days", he said.
" Where will you live", asked the king.
" I got accepted into Harvard school for business", he said.
" You did", the king was proud of him .
" Good. I shall make arrangements for you".
" Not required your highness", he said. " I want to live a life of ordinary student not a prince. I shall stay in hostel. I also have a full scholarship. So don't worry about the fees".
The king knew Rajeev has made up his mind and nothing shall deter him.
" Okay keep in touch and do visit us", he said.
" Very well your highness", he said.
All his friends followed him to USA and thus started a new chapter in their life.
Rajeev earned his way to the business school. Not ony he got good grades but he picked up all kind of jobs for his pocket money. He politely accepted king's gifts but not anything else. The king often visited him. Soccer was his favourite sport. He played college level and was accepted in top leagues in USA. On his father's request he learned Archery and shooting and excelled in it too. Though it was another of his friend who was the best shot in their group.
The king felt tired and sick in his middle age. He had four friends Gaurav, Sumeet Salman and Alok.
" One day Rajeev will bid for this throne", said the king. " I may not be alive then. Make a promise to me that you all shall help him", he said.
" You are going to live long Ranbir", said Alok.
" And Rajeev will know that you love him", said Gaurav.
" I doubt that", he said. " Promise me".
They all did. As a goodwill he transferred one percent of his company's shares to four of them.
At 21 Rajeev started his own business. It was nothing but a small tour of campuses and local villages and monuments. It thrived. People were interested in campus courses, living facilities, canteens and localities. He tied up with surrounding colleges too.
" Use a separate pseudonymn for your business persona", suggested Professor Raghav Sharma his economics teacher.
" How does Rebel sound"?
" Revolting", said the professor with a purse of his lips.
" Aditya then", he said.
" Aditya Thakur", asked professor Raghav.
" Not Thakur", said Raj. " Aditya Sharma".
And that became his new name.
He was 23 when his father died.
Raj visited his birth place for the last time when his father was on his deathbed. The king died a defeated man.
" I am sorry my son. I wronged you. I love you a lot and I am very proud of you", king Ranbir said to his son. They were at the hospital.
But Rajeev did not hear him. He was jet lagged and in deep sleep.
Next day the king passed away.
" His father did not want him to perform his last rites", said a scheming Kamini.
" Then I shall not", said Rajeev.
The king's friends were sad. Sixteen year old Rahul cremated his father.
" Take over the business and king's duties", said his grandfather.
" I have no interest", said Rajeev. " I am applying for USA citizenship".
And he left the very next day.
" That chapter in my life is closed", he said to his friends. " I feel nothing for them. It was my duty. So I went.".
And he continued his business in USA. By 29 Aditya Sharma was a name to be reckoned with in the states.
" I will legally change my name when I become a naturalised citizen here", he said.
But Shiva had other plans for him.
One day he got a mail from India.
As he read his eyes turned into shards of ice. And he became a destructive storm.
" Pack your bags boys", he said to his friends. " We are leaving for India soon. I am bidding for my birthright ".
His friends read the mail.
" Serpent of a woman", said Solly.
" She woke up a demon", said Ro.
" Well then lets annhilate them", said Maddy.
" India here we come", said Parry.
" This debt was left", said Raj. " I am paying back everything with interest".
The destiny begins.