While Virat, Darsh and Sukhveer were getting angry after hearing the lies of everyone, Vikas was very happy.
He calmed everyone down and said, "I remember! I had said only twenty lashes.
After saying this, Vikas looked at Darsh and said,
"Now fulfill your duty of friendship...,
After saying this, a slight smile appeared on Vikas's face.
And he said to himself, "You wanted half of the punishment, right... I will give you... I will give you half of it.
Well, Darsh was not going to care. He did ten lashes for his friend, so he was ready to take the lashes. He was about to agree. Then Virat came forward and stopped him.
He himself said to Vikas, "There is such a law, I also know this, but... the one whose punishment is taken half, he is also asked before that whether he wants to share his punishment with someone. No...and I am not willing to share my punishment with anyone!
When Vikas heard this, he said sarcastically. "If you don't want to share the punishment, then you will have to bear twenty canes alone, will you be able to bear twenty canes? You won't die, will you?
Virat smiled at Vikas' words and said.
" I will definitely bear twenty canes.
Then Darsh tried to explain to him and said.
"Brother, what are you doing? Twenty canes are a lot. And I am here, I can easily bear half canes!
Before Darsh could say anything further, Virat signaled Darsh to keep quiet and stood in front of his father and said. "You start giving the punishment. I am getting late!
Hearing Virat's words, Sukhveer started feeling ashamed of being his father. But he was helpless and picked up the stick and raised it to hit Virat.
Vikas stopped him and said, "Sukhveer, don't hit him lightly thinking that he is your son... I should hear his scream after every hit of the stick otherwise this punishment will not be considered a punishment.
On hearing this, Sukhveerr's hands started sweating. His head started spinning. How could he hit his son so hard?
But then Virat said to Sukhveer, "Hit him as hard as you can, I also swear! I will return ten times more to him than the number of sticks I will get today!"
On hearing this from his son, Sukhveer's blood boiled and when he looked into Virat's eyes in which he could see determination, then he also believed this. Whatever Virat had said, he will definitely make it true one day.
Thinking this, he hit Virat's chest with the first stick. And as soon as the stick fell, Virat screamed in pain. And Sukhveer kept hitting Virat with sticks. And after every stick, Virat kept screaming in pain. Of course Virat was getting the sticks. But Sukhbveer was feeling more pain than him.
Darsh clenched his fist and swore in his mind like Virat. I Darsh will take revenge for every stick, I will take revenge for the insult of my friend from the entire Fringiwada state.
On the other hand, Vikas was watching a father beating his son with great pleasure. Don't know why but he was getting a different kind of peace.
The rest of the people were also making fun of Virat. They were calling him greedy. Shameless. Useless and God knows what else.
Then the last stick also fell on Virat's chest. But even after getting twenty sticks. There were no tears in his eyes. But there were flames erupting in his eyes. On the other hand Sukhveer's eyes were shedding tears.
A father who beats his son on someone else's orders. And he can't even ask his son. Son, are you alright? You are not hurt much, are you? Sukhveer was cursing himself in his mind. Why was he born in this place? Why did he choose to work for the royal palace? Why is he beating him in front of everyone to save his children?
Sukhbir was thinking this. Just then Vikas Saini raised his voice and said.
" Sukhveer, come and stand behind me, you have no business there.
On hearing this, Sukhveer's feet automatically went behind Vikas.
Vikas said while making fun of Virat.
" I heard that useless oath of yours and I will wait for the completion of that oath, maybe that oath will be completed after ten thousand years, ha! ha! ha!
Like this, everyone was laughing at Virat. Some were even abusing him. But Virat corrected his clothes and tried to walk. But his legs had stopped working. Before he could fall on the ground, Darsh caught his hand.
And said, "Now we should go home friend.
" No! Never, I have to win the prize, I have to win the prize, saying this, Virat started going towards the forest with great difficulty.
Sukhveer was crying seeing his son's condition. Then his hands shook but became calm the next moment. Sukhveer might have wanted to console his son. But in the presence of Vikas, he was treating his son like a stranger. This could be ascertained from his tears.
On the other hand, Darsh also held Virat's hand and said,
"Is Vanshi only your sister? She is my sister too, let's both go together."
Virat became happy after hearing his friend's words. And both friends somehow left from there towards the forest.
Vikas and the people around him were looking at Virat with a feeling of inferiority.
Then someone said, "Look how greedy he is, even after getting beaten up so much, he ran away for a few coins.
"Hey brother, never make friends with such people, such people can even kill someone for a few coins.
Everyone nodded at what the man said, then another man said,
"if you are so fond of it, then why don't you marry your sister to some old man, some rich old man will buy his sister by paying a good amount.
"Why uncle, you don't have any such intention?
A boy said pulling the man's leg. Hearing his words, everyone started laughing loudly.
Such people kept using abusive words for Virat and his family. On the other hand, Virat and Darsh had come to the forest. Even after walking for a long time, Virat did not stop but Darsh was worried about Virat.
Darsh expressed his concern and said,
"Virat, first I will apply medicine to you, then we will move ahead.
"There is no need.
Virat said, hearing which Darsh got angry.
And said, "Now you will not even listen to me! I will apply medicine on your chest, it is just a matter of a few moments.
"It is not that much hurt anyway,,,,.
Before Virat could say anything further, Darsh said, "I went to get oil, first you will get medicine applied, only then we will go ahead otherwise we will not go,, and this is my final decision.
Seeing Darsh being so adamant, Virat could not refuse him. Then Darsh took support under a big tree. And both the friends sat there comfortably. Then Darsh remembered that he did not have any medicine,,,,
" Listen friend,,, you wait for me here, I will find some medicine in the forest.
" Take care of yourself, Virat said while replying.
Darsh smiled after listening to Virat. And went from there to get the medicine. And after a long delay he came back. When Darsh came back to that tree, he found Virat lost somewhere.
He went to him and said laughingly, " Look friend ,,,I have got the medicine Now you will be treated and we will heal your injured body, No! No! No,,.
Darsh spoke in such a tone to break Virat's attention. But Virat was still wandering somewhere. Just then Darsh was about to say something. Then Virat asked Darsh some questions, "Why did I have to get beaten today?,,,, Why did I have to listen to people's abuses? Why did my Baba beat me with sticks even when I didn't want to? Why do people call me greedy, reward thief, super greedy?
Virat's eyes were moist at this time. Maybe he must have cried too.
Darsh became silent after listening to Virat. And after taking a deep breath, Darsh said,
"Maybe this is our destiny!,, God has sent us here to face such taunts and abuses from such people,,,, so that people can do their will on us,,,, get us to work according to their will, can say good and bad things to us to their heart's content, this is our destiny,, twenty years! I have been living this life for the whole twenty years,, and you too,,, have you not understood till now,,, we are just puppets for people, whoever wants to will make us dance as per their wish,,, what more can I tell you.
After Darsh finished speaking, there was a long silence. Then Virat said, "I had asked,,, why is it so,,, that this is happening only with us?
Darsh was not able to understand Virat's words. Then Virat further said, "Who has done something that is not in us, due to which we have become puppets of people, why are we the target of everyone?
When Darsh tried to understand Virat's words deeply, but still he did not understand Virat's point. And he himself asked, "Why does this happen to us?
When Virat heard Darsh's question, he got up from his place and making fists of his hands said, "Because we are not strong! ,,,We live in that place, where everything is obtained by power,,, whether it is wealth,,, power or respect, everything can be obtained only by power,,,, today I realized this thing, till we are not powerful, till our family, our mother, our father, our descendants will not be safe,, if today I had as much power as Maharaj Pandu Raj, then no one would be able to harm me and my loved ones.
After listening to Virat, Darsh understood the whole matter, what does Virat want to say. That is why he asked Virat, "I understand,, what do you want to say,,, but how will you increase your power? Neither do we have any technology,, nor good weapons, nor power increasing pills, from where will all this come?
"Nothing comes,, everything has to be brought,,, and we will bring it. Virat said, he was full of confidence at this time. Virat further said, "First we will catch that animal and kill it here, but this time we will not give the animal to the Raj Mahal, rather we will directly sell it in the market, there we will get ten times more price than the Raj Mahal.
But what if this thing reaches the Raj Mahal? We will be trapped!
" We are still trapped, didn't you hear, what did you say Vikas, our price in the Raj Mahal is a few coins, and how will such a big Raj Mahal pay attention to a few coins.
Darsh found Virat's words correct. That's why he said enthusiastically, " But where will we sell the animals?
Virat said boldly, " In the Kala Paani market.
Darsh was shocked on hearing this.