#in Telugu‚ that is

[ohmybollywood]

Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2898 AD (2024)

[desicinema]

PRABHAS & PRITHVIRAJ SUKUMARAN in SALAAR: PART 1 - CEASEFIRE (2023)

[secondwheel]

Karthikeya 2 (2023)

[reyitsukka]

In Telugu, we don’t say “goodbye”instead, we say “వెళ్ళొస్తా Veḷḷostā” Translated “i will go and i will be back” we are taught and even lectured to say this instead of just “i will go” until the phrase becomes a habit, it is a feeling, a sense of hope that they would not be leaving forever and will always return, no matter what.

[welcometotheravenclawcommonroom]

(South) Indian Harry Potter Headcanons:

Harry knew he was Indian (mostly because the Dursley’s used to say racist shit to him) but he didn’t know where in India the potters were from until he went to Hogwarts. He finds out from the Patils, who were close with the potters because desis stick together.

The Patils are from the north and use Hindi to speak to each other. Neither of them knows Telugu/Tamil/Marathi/Malayalam/insert Southern language of choice here (I personally headcanon Telugu because it’s the only Indian language I speak and because there’s a huge diaspora of telugumandi in the west, but feel free to choose whatever you’d like). So Harry has to rediscover his heritage language on his own.

He also studies Sanskrit, and it opens up a HUGE world of spells that they don’t teach at Hogwarts (because of course Indian wizards don’t do spells in Latin). He and the Patils know a bunch of spells that nobody else does.

Harry’s pleat game is ON POINT. It makes sense, since he had to do all the chores at the Dursley’s and that includes perfectly folded and ironed laundry with the edges aligned neatly, or else he would risk being punished. But the result is that if you want your saree drape to pass the inspection of even the most judgemental auntie, you go to Harry to help with your pleats.

Even when they’ve graduated and all have their own homes, it’s a pretty regular sight for the Patil twins to come through Harry’s floo, half dressed, to have Harry pleat their sarees or their lehenga dupatta for them.

Harry LOVES spices. The dursleys only liked bland food, but Harry has always liked flavorful foods, and has no problem with (hot) spicy food either. He uses lots of spices in his own cooking now. His food is very flavorful, but when he’s cooking for himself, it’s too spicy for all his friends (even the Patils). So nobody can eat his leftovers unless he was specifically cooking with other people in mind. Ron learned this the first time he rummaged through Harry’s fridge after a night of drinking. Now Harry labels all his food as to whether or not it’s “Harry spicy”.

James LOVED to buy Lily sarees. He’d order them with custom, wizard-themed designs from weaving villages in south India. The women who made them assumed he was just very imaginative, so he wasn’t violating the statute of secrecy since saree patterns are often vibrant and unique. Harry finds some of them in the old potter manor, and they still smell like the perfumes and scented oils his mother would wear when James took her to the local temple for Hindu holidays.

Indian witches often store extra magic in or enchant pieces of their copious jewelry with spells that can keep them safe if they’re ever in a situation where they don’t have their wands. stuff like, each bangle can function as an emergency portkey that can take you to different safe locations if you say the activation word, or ones that create an instant magical shield when you tap them. Harry finds some of his mothers gajulu, gives them to his female friends.

He ties Rhaki on Ron and Neville, and all the weasley boys. Ron was the first person he ever tied it on, because Ron was the first person who he ever bonded with, and his closest brother.

Harry always cooks idli sambar or dosa for his friends for breakfast the next morning after a night of drinking together, and it’s the perfect hangover food because it definitely brings you back to full alertness/knocks the last bit of post-hangover grogginess right out of your system.

Harry’s parselmouth abilities are valued in his native culture because of the sacredness of snakes in Hinduism, and it comes to be something he’s really proud of (personally I think the ‘parselmouth connected to the horcrux’ thing is dumb, so I’ve always imagined Harry was just naturally a parselmouth).

As the number of Indian immigrants/expats continues to grow after they graduate, Harry helps some of his students (he’s the DADA teacher) start the Hogwarts “South Asian Student Union”.

He always has snacks out for his students when they come to visit his office hours, and they’re all Indian snacks and sweets. His personal favorite is kaju barfi, but he always has a good variety of both sweet and spicy treats, especially for stressed out owl and newts students.

He collaborates with Hermione, who works in the ministry, to make it mandatory for Hogwarts students to a “foreign magical language” course so they can broaden both their minds and their spell repertoires. Padma Patil becomes the “Sanskrit Spells” teacher, and Seamus teaches “Irish Gaelic”. (It took him a little longer to get his course started, since it turns out that at least 40% of Gaelic spells are just increasingly complicated and violent ways to repel the English).

Hermione and Harry also work together to make sure there are employees in the international magical cooperation department who specialize in post-colonial relations, because the magical world also has its issues with that colonialist mindset towards countries that were formerly part of the empire.

Just south Indian Harry embracing his heritage, learning about what was ripped from him, and using it to enact meaningful change in a multicultural magical society.

[celestesinsight]

Kalki 2898AD Release Trailer - Bhairava Character Analysis!

There are many theories circulating about Bhairava's character and its importance in the movie. Here's my two cents regarding this. And to be honest, it isn't entirely my views too. It's what we came up when discussing in the Varadeva Discord Server.

First of all, there's a huge chance that Deepika's baby is red herring and Bhairava is the real Kalki. Ashwathama will realise this at the end of the movie and change his stance.

But my favourite theory is Bhairava being Lord Shiva. When Bhairava called himself the 'living legend in Kashi' in the Bujji & Bhairava series, it kind of stuck with me. Who's more legendary than Lord Shiva in Kashi? And the story goes that Shiva gave Kalki the divine weapon, the all-knowing talking parrot and the white horse. Bhairava have all the three; we saw the weapon in the first promo and Bujji's brain and body are the talking parrot and white horse equivalent. if Bhairava is Shiva, he's actually protecting the baby while pretending to hunt him for the Complex as well as testing Ashwathama's determination for redemption. In Mahabharata, Ashwathama was born after Dronacharya performed several years of severe penance to please Shiva as he wanted a son who possessed the strength and bravery of Shiva. So, it would make sense that Shiva aids him in his journey of redemption.

What if Bhairava is neither Kalki nor Shiva? Then what is his character doing in the movie?

"Despite the endless opportunities spanning over the generations, man fails to redeem himself and he never will."

I think this quote by Kamal Haasan's character, Kali is the key to Bhairava's significance in the movie, if he is not the titular character 'Kalki'.

There are many worlds in Hinduism, but our Puranas predominantly talk about the Swarga (abode of Devas), Prithvi (abode of humans) and Patal (abode of demons). There are also three worlds in the film: Complex, Shambala and Kashi. Unlike Puranas, where there were three races inhabiting the three worlds, in the film, the three worlds are inhabited by the humans only.

The Complex is the place where God is banned. They treat Supreme Yaskin as the God. They have conquered the world and taken all the resources for themselves. In appearance, the Complex gives the illusion of Swarga, but it actually embodies the demonic qualities of Patal.

Shambala is the place where they still believe in God and hope for his return to save them. They fight the Complex and their unjust actions. They are safe haven for anyone who wants to escape the hold of the Complex. In appearance, they are an underground society (Patal), but they are actually the forces of righteousness in the desolate world, fighting on the side of God and thus symbolises Devas of Swarga.

Then there is Kashi, the last surviving city. They are neutral. They are neither the evil conqueror nor the righteous warriors. They are humans who are trying to survive in an unfair world. They are not on anyone's side, but their own side. They represent the humans of Prithvi.

"In this world, there's only one side to be on. Your own side."

Bhairava and the bounty hunters of Kashi are the representation of the man in Kali's quote. They embody the qualities of selfishness, greed, and going to any extent to accomplish their goals, without caring about the consequences of their actions.

To be fair, Bhairava isn't doing anything wrong. He's trying to survive in a world which has lost all hopes. But he's so caught up in this mode of survival that he can't recognise this new hope for a better tomorrow, that Ashwathama and the people of Shambala are seeing in Sumati and her baby. All he sees the 5-star bounty that is his one shot at entering the Complex. He's not realising that he's fighting for the wrong side, that he's fighting to keep the old hierarchies intact that had made this world a hopeless place for him and others like him in the first place. He's helping the people who are the cause of all his problems under the illusion of becoming one of them.

Bhairava represents the man who is given numerous chances by the God, but he's so trapped in the Maya (worldly illusion) that he fails to recognise him and hence, is forever doomed to be trapped in the cycle of suffering.

Will Bhairava recognise the truth before it's too late? Or he will handover Sumati over to the Complex?

Bhairava's action would decide if the world is worth saving or not. If God should keep his promise and take birth to save all the humans? Or he should just let the humans rot in the hell, they have turned the Earth into.

The movie is not just about Ashwathama's redemption, but also the redemption of the mankind, represented by Bhairava.

As Kali said, humans have given numerous opportunities by the God to redeem themselves, but they have failed each time. Like Duryodhana failed when he refused to give even five villages to Pandavas, when Krishna asked, leading to his defeat in the Mahabharata war. Maybe that's why Ashwathama is having flashbacks of Mahabharata when fighting with Bhairava. He is seeing his past self in him. When he went against the Lord himself, blinded by his ambition and loyalty for Duryodhana.

Humanity is given another chance. Kali is sure we will fail this time too. It's up to Bhairava now, if humans fail again or they finally succeed in redeeming themselves this time.

[sada-siva-sanyaasi]

varadha: *existing*

deva: i fucked up

varadha:

deva: BUT HOW DARE THEY?! THAT’S WHY I FUCKED UP

varadha:

deva:

varadha:

deva: i’m really sorry.

[vennilave]

Ammadi

Hi Nanna (2023) dir. Shouryuv

[voidsteffy]

Home: Chapter I

Premise: Viraj x fem!OC Ramya [Hi! Nanna] -> A comment from Viraj drives a crack through Ramya's fragile soul. Best friends to lovers trope, she fell first he fell harder trope. A bit of melodrama / quick escalation. Angsty(?) Beware, not proofread in my eagerness to finally post this.

A/N: I finally wrote!!! This one for my moots @iworshipsappho who commented on my post about this and motivated me to the moon, and @mahi-wayy and @vijayasena and @mellaga-karagani whose zeal and totally cool (hip, trend, movement whatever you wanna call their greatness) fanfics on South-Indian movie characters. @viswa-sakhi -> akkay look at what I've been upto! and @budugu -> yendi, yevanna matladande, yevaina paata padande!

« • • • »

The thing with her was that she did things for others she didn’t have to.

She didn’t have to give Viraj her first ever photoshoot as a costume designer to propel his career. She didn’t have to watch him propose to another woman. She didn’t have to spend all her time tending to his family after his wife left him.

But she did it all, because she was in love with him.

Ramya first met Viraj when they were interning at a magazine. In those days the jobs blended into each other like the days blended into nights, like sunrise did into sunset. But he made it all something memorable. Soon, chats at the office turned into talks on the sidelines, and then into long deep talks all night long.

The moment she saw him, she knew this was the man who was going to break her heart.

It’s okay, maybe that would mean she had a heart in the first place. Ramya couldn’t feel it except when it ached.

While her career as a costume designer grew, her calls with Viraj became few and far in between. Until she visited Viraj in Coonoor.

She hadn’t known about Yashna then.

Hadn’t known about just how infatuated Viraj was with Yashna, and to no fault of his. Something with them just seemed to click, and for the first time in all eternity, Ramya— someone who hadn’t felt pain in her life— ached at the love blooming before her eyes.

Ramya’s life hadn’t been easy by the least, but she refused to cry. She hadn’t cried when her parents admitted they conceived her just to have an organ bank for her ill older sister. Or when her sister collapsed and died of an aneurysm before she could help. Or when her parents disowned her out of grief.

She wasn’t about to cry now either.

Alone in that decorated hotel room, never having felt lonelier in her life, Ramya let the first sunrays of Coonoor pierce her with the warmth she sought in Viraj’s touch. She had come there in hopes of confessing her love to Viraj but it was too late.

He had given his heart to Yashna and there was no turning back from it.

“Hey…” Viraj’s voice came from the other side of the door after a knock. “It’s Viraj. Are you awake?”

Ramya didn’t answer him, all but praying he’d go away.

“I don’t know if you’re listening, you’re probably still asleep. Maybe it’s good that you’re not gonna hear this…” he sounded excited, the sound of his feet pacing echoing on the wooden panels.

She held her breath.

“Nothing…! I feel— God, I haven’t felt like this ever Ramya!”

She felt his fist lightly thump on the door, and she could feel the smile on his face, the happiness and the lightness in his throat. Ramya slid down to the floor, legs pulled to her chest and arms around herself, her back to the door as Viraj spoke on.

“I love Yashna!” he gasped as soon as the confession left his lips. “I love her so much Ramya, I just feel like I can do anything with her by my side. I’ll protect her, I want to marry her.”

Oh to be loved that way by him, she thought.

This eternity to love.

The next to be loved.

« • • • »

Ramya wasn’t married to Viraj or Yashna, but somehow she was always involved in their lives.

Convincing Yashna’s father, protecting them from her mother, arranging the wedding. Ramya did it all. She really couldn’t bear to see Viraj nor Yashna miserable.

She hadn’t realised this until the shock on Justin’s face sunk in.

“Why are you giving away this money amma! If he wants to buy a house he’ll buy it with his own money.”

“C’mon Justin. This is Viraj we’re talking about, you know he’s too proud to ask,”

“But you saved this money for your wedding.”

The money she had handed over to him didn’t matter much when compared to their happiness, she just couldn’t explain it.

“Yes, but this is their marriage. That’s more important.”

He had looked at you then, perhaps deeper than he ever had looked at a person. And after a long pause, he smiled and nodded like he knew the secret to a universal illusion.

« • • • »

Though Yashna had mentally left him long before she had physically left, her disappearance from Viraj’s arms was jarring. She had left their little baby behind, who didn’t understand anything but the fact that she had no mother.

Mahi was the first baby Ramya had picked up.

It was also the first time (in a long time) that Viraj’s daughter stopped crying.

And so a new family was formed, glued together by the needs and dreams of Mahi: just her, Ramya, dad, grandpa, Justin and Pluto. Years passed and the good-night stories grew longer. The birthdays were grander and the smiles less heavy.

In every conference call that Viraj and Ramya attended for Mahi’s cystic fibrosis treatment research, everyone assumed she was Mahi’s mother.

It wasn’t long before Viraj stopped correcting them. However, Ramya remained just a friend, his best friend. She lived in the room across from him, had the password to his accounts, his favourite menu was on her speed-dial, Mahi’s school schedule and medicine timings synched to her calendar. She still didn’t have Viraj’s love.

Not that she loved Mahi for Viraj’s love in return, or practically lived in their house and took care of them to get a love confession from her best friend.

But everytime Mahi asked that one weighted question, it left Ramya questioning her own love.

“When will I hear my mother's story?”

That night, she was worn out by the world and its noise, and Viraj wasn’t home yet. Mahi had grown especially restless with her father’s dismissal of any story with mothers. It made her act out a bit no matter who it was at.

“Sorry kanna, enough stories for tonight. It’s getting la—”

“So you’ll tell me tomorrow?”

“We’ll see Mahi, it’s Nanna’s turn for storytime tomorrow.”

Mahi grew pleading, there was an ache in her eyes. An ache that was never palatable to see in a young girl’s face. Mahi was little, she didn’t understand the concept of losing a mother, or being abandoned. To her, there had always been a mother and she was still here somewhere, but just absent from dinner tables and baking competitions and bedtime stories.

Now that she thought of it, Ramya seemed closest to a mother she’d maybe ever have.

“But he never tells me that story!”

“Mahi…” came Viraj’s stern voice from the threshold of the pink room. “Don’t trouble Ramya.”

“But nanna!”

“No buts, enough bedtime stories for tonight Mahi!”

Ramya left the room to leave father and daughter alone, but when Viraj came out at last after a heated argument, he wasn’t just tired or sad. He was angry.

He stomped up to Ramya at the kitchen platform where she was reheating dinner.

“Did you promise her you’d tell her about her mother?”

Ramya, as usual, was quick to deny. Yashna, however beautiful and ruled by her mother as she was, was the last thing Ramya wanted to broach at storytime.

“No, of course not. Did Mahi say that?”

Viraj visibly shrunk into a chair at her question, his hands twitching on the platform as he shook his head in a no. Ramya placed her own above them, making Viraj to look at her.

“You know… You have to tell her about it all one day.”

He rolls his eyes, “Not you too Ramya.” Tired to the bone, now afraid of mentioning Yashna as much as she was afraid of loud noises.

“What ‘not you too’ ? There’s a reason everybody in this house keeps begging you to rip that band-aid off Viraj. It’s one thing to start this facade, but an entirely different task to keep lying everyday about it!”

She hadn’t realised when her voice had gotten so passionate, when she had forgotten the clicking of the oven and started glaring at her best friend.

He wasn't any more pleasant.

“Oh!” he scoffed, “You think I do this for fun? Huh? You think I like not giving my daughter a mother to even imagine? You think I like being this tired overworked single father whose daughter is being raised by a stranger?”

He said the last word with such venom, a hand recklessly flying to gesture to her, that her prediction of all those years ago came true at a heavy expense.

The thunder tearing from the skies flashed across Ramya’s face, and in that moment, Viraj realised he broke her heart.

“Stranger…” she whispered.

He shook his head, shooting out of his seat to do damage control but perhaps he couldn’t ever repair the wound he caused.

“You think I’m a stranger? Stranger to who? You? Mahi?”

“I’m so sorry Ramya. I didn’t mean it like that…”

“Mahi’s first word—”

“I’m so—”

“—No!”

Viraj froze at the shake in her voice. She was inching away from him, away from years of feeling like a part of this sweet family.

“Mahi. Mahi’s first word was ‘Viraj’ because I kept calling your name whenever I was near her. Her favourite colour changes every week though she denies it every time. This week it’s Falu because she didn’t like the name ‘Maroon’. She scored such good marks in her test today. You know the first thing she asked for, after she showed me her report card? You. Her father. She wished she could ask for her mother but she’s known no one. No one!”

Every word from Ramya felt like it was coming from between the cracks of her soul. It broke something in Viraj.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Ramya sniffled, but didn’t let anything else betray her. The world was a blur, but all she cared about was getting out of the house before she’d say something she would regret. She loved Viraj, but she didn’t want to become him.

“She doesn’t know you fully because a part of you will always be with her.  She’ll never know me because I’ve given away all parts of me to you. And you call me a stranger!”

It was not everyday he heard the harsh truth from Ramya. Part of her thought Viraj knew she loved him. At the very least, she thought he respected her.

“Everyone around you is chipping away at themselves protecting a reality you created Viraj! Do you realise just how much you’re suffering because of that reality, how much you’re making us suffer?!”

Somewhere in her moisture-framed vision, Ramya knew she was gathering her keys and bag to get out of the house. But it wasn’t until the rain spatter hit her that she realised she was rushing out. Viraj was just a cry behind her, begging her to forgive him, apologising.

She saw a car pull up in the driveway, Justin’s face illuminated by the overhead lights inside before he jumped out with concern.

A pair of arms enveloped her shoulders. It had been too long since he hugged her, more so like this. Like he was afraid of losing her, afraid of her losing it.

The back of her blouse getting wet with Viraj’s warm tears, and the rain kissing the pair from all around, they slid to the ground.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry”

Justin’s shouts became closer and closer until he stood in front of them. He kept asking what happened but she was out of words to describe the sudden pain in her life. Maybe it had always been there.

If she was a stranger to Viraj, who else did she have? Maybe not even herself.

Her first cry tore out of her throat, and it agonised her more than abate her grief. She caved into herself and Viraj bent with her, on her back with his cheeks muttering the same nothings again and again.

“Justin…!” Ramya cried.

“Amma? Tell me, what happened?!”

“Justin! Please take me away.”

“What?”

Against Viraj’s protests, she stretched a hand out for Justin which he took as fast as lightning.

“Please take me away! I want to go… G-Go—”

He pulled her out of Viraj’s desperate grip into his arms. “Let’s go… Where should we go?” He took her purse, supporting her towards his car. Justin dreaded the day he’d find Ramya on Viraj’s doorstep with her heart broken and her life flashing before her eyes. He hated this.

“It’s ok, it’s going to be ok… Easy there…!”

“I want to turn back Justin!” she cried into his shoulder. His brotherly arms around kept her grounded. “I want to turn back so badly. But before I go back to him, take me away.”

“Ramya I’m so sorry!”

Viraj’s cries turned to his father-in-law at his doorstep while Justin got Ramya safely into the car. They were silhouettes marred by the elusive darkness of the night, wracked with guilt.

“Let’s go…” Justin sighed. “It’s going to be ok amma.”

“I want to go home!” she cried.

“Home?”

“Home…! I want to go home! Home! Please take me home… I want to be home!”

« • • • » stay tuned for Chapter II « • • • »

(moots, tell me if you wanna be tagged❤️)

[aranyaani]

Anytime I watch this movie

me:

[dffdils]

[desicinema]

PRABHAS in SALAAR: PART 1 – CEASEFIRE (2023)

[azul-nova-24]

Just watched Bruce Lee: The Fighter (Telugu) and wow, whoever came up with the plot where Ram Charan plays a stunt double pretending to be a cop because of his "girlfriend" and later because of said girlfriend's father to catch his sister's future father-in-law must have been sipping something way stronger than just water (probably coke). Seriously, this movie was a wild ride—like they took every wacky idea they had and threw it all in one script. It’s so hilariously off-the-wall.

Not to mention how the movie mocks the entire Telugu Movie industry especially the heros and their ego.

[allari-ammayi]

When r u going to post another chapter of butta bomma?? I just read it and I'm hooked... If possible please add me to the taglist 🥺

Hii!! Of course, I'm so glad you enjoy my work!! I was actually kind of busy with school, but I'll try to upload a little more often since I'm back now! ALSO, WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE EVENTS OF THE FIRST MOVIE!?! AHH, I'M SO EXCITED!!! (Also, this casually might be the best chapter I've ever written)

Butta Bomma

A. Bahubali x Reader x B. Deva

#8

The Language Barrier

Synopsis: In which several misunderstandings lead to Bahubali realising that Y/n clearly needs help with understanding the Mahismathi language, so being the chivalrous person he is, he offers Y/n to appoint a language tutor for her. When Y/n finds out who her language tutor is, her life falls downhill.

10.2k Words (Buckle in)

Prev || All || Next

It was a mahimahi afternoon like any other, and as usual, everyone was indoors, busy with duties or school, which meant no one had any time to entertain the dutiless Y/n. Y/n strolled through the palace courtyard, the warmth of the sun kissing her skin as she scanned her surroundings. 

A bored sigh escaped her lips as she searched for something, anything, to alleviate her boredom. Then, like a beacon of hope, the corner of her eye spotted something far too familiar to her. Something that had gotten her in quite the mischief and trouble with the elder prince of Mahismati.��

A fruit-laden tree standing proudly in the corner of the courtyard was practically singing temptations to Y/n, telling her to approach it. No one was around, though it didn’t matter even if they were, Y/n didn't mind.

It was Bhallaladeva who tortured her and Y/n couldn’t see him anywhere, which she confirmed with a smirk. Probably busy pouring his privilege over some poor servants, Y/n thought. 

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she swiftly tucked the end of her half-saree into her waist and began her ascent up the tree. 

As Y/n reached for the fruit, stepping onto a branch and grabbing another for support, Bhallaladeva happened to be passing by. Deep in thought, Bhalla was walking to his royal chambers on a higher floor, quite fast-paced, when he caught sight of Y/n perched in the tree. 

Bhalla was so lost in thought, that he had dismissed it as something normal, even though it was, but his mind quickly snapped back into place and he gasped before he did a lighting of a double-take. 

He backtracked and leaned over the balcony railing, dumbfounded by the sight before him. His brows furrowed at the girl who had the end of her tongue sticking out as she tried to reach some fruit, and he thought to himself, ‘What the hell is this monkey doing now?!’

"What in the world are you doing up there!?" Bhalla shouted down to her, his tone a mix of disbelief and concern.

Y/n shot her face up and startled by the sudden appearance of the one person who she hoped wouldn’t catch her like this, she nearly lost grip on the branch and balance on her foot for a moment, before regaining her posture. 

Bhalla's momentary panic prompted an instinctual reaction, his hand reaching out down towards, without him even realising it before quickly retracting. Bhalla was far too high to do anything. Bhalla’s eyes were wide and a relieved sigh escaped his lips, his fleeting sense of relief washed over him when Y/n steadied herself, but it was quickly replaced by irritation at her recklessness.

"For a monkey, you have horrible tree-climbing skills, you know!" he scowled, his frustration evident in his tone.

Y/n bristled at his insult, her own temper flaring in response. "It's none of your business what I'm doing up here!" she shot back, her voice tinged with defiance.

"What do you mean? I saw you climbing the tree like a lunatic!" Bhalla retorted, his frustration mounting at Y/n’s audacity, 

Y/n was confused by his anger. Not even Bhalla realised how frustrated he was. It hadn’t even occurred to him how worried he was for some fruit-obsessed monkey. 

Y/n glared up at him, “As I said, your royal snarkiness, none of your business!” Y/n sounded each of the last four words out and ended her retort with a bang. Bhalla could almost applaud her audacity. 

“Well, I’ll have you know, stranger from the ‘far land of Mexico’, As the elder Prince of Mahismathi, everything that happens within the kingdom’s walls is quite literally my business!” He shouted back down at her, gripping the railing of the balcony. 

Y/n ground her teeth in utter annoyance. Why did this prince have to constantly involve himself in everything Y/n-related!?

“Ugh!” Y/n exclaimed, balling her free hand into a fist, “This doesn’t even concern you, you nosy prince!” Bhalla was quite taken aback when he heard this. His brows furrowed and his lips parted. 

“Nosy?” Bhalla muttered to himself, “What the hell did she mean ‘Nosy’? Me - Nosy?” Bhalla rubbed his nose absent-mindedly, assuming Y/n had insulted his nose. Bhalla, confused, questioned for a moment whether Y/n’s monkey brain was causing her blindness.

“I think you’d be delighted to know Monkey, that I am considered, if not,” Bhalla shouted, “One of Mahismathi’s most handsome men with a perfectly sculpted nose!” Y/n looked at Bhalla like he was an idiot, a mild hint of confusion crossed her face at Bhalla’s strange response.

“What is this man-whore even on about?” She muttered to herself, Bhalla leaned down the balcony to signal to Y/n that he didn’t hear what she said, Confusion clouded Bhalla's features as he struggled to make sense of Y/n’s words.

“That’s great to know Your Highness, be sure to tell that to the next person you’re off to torture, however, it does nothing to help the situation at hand!” She shouted back, her throat starting to hurt with the shouting she had to do to keep the conversation.

“What?” Bhalla shouted,

“I said, you royal-!” Y/n, a little too passionate about what she was going to say, had paid no mind to which branch she grabbed, and rather than grabbing the one that would prevent her demise, Y/n put her weight onto the twig-like branch. 

“Hey-!” Bhalla tried to call out her stupid move, reaching his hand far out, but it was too late. The twig snapped with a horrifying sound and with Y/n putting her weight on it, her leg slipped. Bhalla’s heart practically stopped, his eyes were wide in horror and he was not breathing, but instead, staring in terror. 

But Y/n was a smart young girl, very capable of tree-climbing. Before she could fall to her potential death, her reflexes caused her to grab hold of the branch she had slipped from. 

Y/n was hanging for her life and with one quick swing, she was back on her feet, on the branch. Bhalla felt his heart alleviate as he placed a hand on his extremely fast-beating heart. His eyes closed in relief as a relieved sigh escaped him.

“As I was saying-” Y/n began, putting a finger up, but before she could say another word, Bhalla had silenced her with the look on his face. 

Y/n could feel his anger in the form of heat all the way down from where she was. Bhalla said nothing, but simply pointed down, instructing her to immediately get off the tree. Y/n frowned.

“What!? Why?” Y/n attempted to retort, but Bhalla was having none of it, his hands balled into fists and in a heavy authority manner, pointed to the sky and in a powerful voice said,

“As the elder prince of Mahismathi, I command you to step down now!” Y/n glared.

“No.” She spat, quietly like a stubborn child, but Bhalla heard exactly what she said. 

“Y/n of the far land of Mexico, I swear to god, the sky, the very earth of this kingdom which I will soon rule and all that is holy, if you don’t step down from the tree right now, I will do something that will make you regret having ever climbed that tree,” This sent a shiver through Y/n’s spine and she grinned.

“Oh yeah, What exactly is it you’ll do Your Highness?” She smirked. Bhalla expression of pure anger dissolved into a cruel and evil smirk, shivering Y/n to her bone. Bhalla’s smirk was dangerous.

“I’ll have this and every other mango tree in Mahishmati cut down immediately.” Bhalla said victoriously, “Fruits can be grown of course, outside of kingdom walls, where you’ll never be able to reach them.” 

Bhalla’s grin widened when Y/n gulped and immediately began her descent from the tree. He placed his elbows on the railing as he watched Y/n descend, his grin growing wider at the silly girl. When Y/n reached the ground, Bhalla smirked and began walking away without another word, except for one final warning, 

“And if you ever decide to climb another tree when there’s no one around, I hope you’re ready to bid goodbye to them all together!” He shouted loud enough for her to hear, not turning back and simply walking straight ahead. Y/n watched Bhalla’s retreating figure and glared, her brows furrowing and the frustration and heat in her body increased. As Bhalla left, Y/n stuck her tongue out at him and poked faces at him. Bhalla smiled to himself, knowing exactly what Y/n was doing, despite not even being able to see her. 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Erm, that’s very interesting, Bahu, do tell more…” Y/n pathetically muttered. She and Gowri were on a walk when Y/n was noticed by Bahubali who had approached her for a chat. 

Their initial greetings and formalities quickly made way for Bahu's long talks about Mahimsathi’s politics. All it took was for Y/n to ask Bahu how he was doing, for him to say, tired, and for Y/n to ask, oh no, why so? 

That was all it took for Bahu to begin his long complex talk about Mahismati’s political structure and his duties as prince. Bahu was talking way too quickly, using words Y/n had never even heard of that surely didn’t exist where she came from, rambling about politics. 

“And of course, you’d know the grand chancellor, one of the few who stood by Queen Mother when she first ascended the throne. I’d assumed he would stand by the new act that stated the opposite of what we have been following as a kingdom for over sixty years, despite how horrible it was, but he instead stood against it. 

He claimed that it was practically a tradition, but what does he know, that old nut. I reckon he only stood by Queen Mother, fearing death.” Baahubali rambled, so fast, so quick, so complex, Y/n was lucky if she caught one or maybe even two words of what he was saying. She was simply laughing nervously and nodding, hoping that he wasn’t asking her any questions. 

“Haha, yeah, yeah, true that,” Y/n muttered, her jaw starting to hurt from the way she was smiling so widely. 

“But of course, you agree with me, the grand chancellor was even against keeping you here, stating you could’ve been a foreign imposter, trying to get into our secrets and then backstab us. But you’re lucky that no one stood by him on that one or they would’ve voted to have you killed. Took a lot of convincing but he relented to letting you stay, but you’re a lucky one, the majority was quite all right with you staying, but to be honest, they also thought you were some kind of holy angel sent by the gods to save you and to have you tried or to even suspect you of misdeed would be a horrible sin. It’s actually kind of funny, but you do of course look like angels so I wouldn’t blame them too much,” Bahu gave a little shy laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from Y/n, a slight pink tinge appearing on him. Y/n simply smiled and nodded.

‘Just smile and nod,’ Y/n thought, ‘Smile and nod.’ 

“And later today, you have a meeting with the council, your Highness, and following that-” As Y/n and Bahu were engaged in their conversation, a certain other royal happened to walk by them in the balcony opposite them. 

Bhalla, who had a dozen servants following behind him, informing him of his schedule for the day was walking close by. The servant struggled to keep up with Bhalla’s fast pace but when Bhalla noticed a certain mischief-maker from the corner of his eye, he looked in Y/n’s direction and found a monkey. 

He grinned, ready to throw a casual snarky remark her way when he noticed Bahubali and her engaged in a conversation. Bhalla grimaced but when he saw the awkward and nervous look on Y/n’s face and her obvious look of struggle, Bhalla raised an eyebrow, a look of mild confusion glazing over his features. 

At once, he raised a hand, signalling for the servants to keep quiet for a moment. The servants, instantly understanding, immediately shut up and stepped back when Bhalla motioned for them to leave with a wave of his hand. The servants immediately left after handing Bhalla a scroll of his lined-up events that he held his hand out for. 

Bhalla narrowed his eyes in an attempt to make out what was happening as he opened the scroll and held it up in front of his face to hide him from his brother’s and Y/n’s view. He occasionally took peeks from the side or the top of the scroll, attempting to unpuzzle the look on Y/n’s face. 

“But as I was saying, I’m starting to think it’s about time that the chancellor retired and spent time with his grandkids rather than trying to protect the ‘traditions’ of Mahismathi. But it’s good to know not a lot of people support him anymore. He used to have a whole horde of people who had his back, but, you know, as people age, they start to lose support. It’s normal, but of course, you would know all this, am I right, being from such a small kingdom that there’s barely any texts or information about ‘the far land of Mexico’? Speaking of which, I’d love to visit the far land of Mexico one of these days, it seems like a wonderful place if someone like you is from it. When do you reckon is the best time for me to go?” Bahu asked and Y/n smiled, laughed and nodded. 

“Ha ha… Yeah… Of course, yes…” Bahu raised an eyebrow.

“So…?” He asked, tilting his head, “Are you going to answer me or what?” He laughed. Y/n gulped, her worst fears came to life and he did ask a question. Y/n’s brows furrowed and her eyes ran across the room,

“Erm… That sounds very interesting, Bahu, I’m sure Mahismati politics are very tiring.” Y/n answered plainly like a machine, hoping her extremely plain and neutral tone somehow managed to answer Bahu’s question. Bahu’s confused look had instantly dissolved, only to be replaced by an understanding grin. 

Bahu had Y/n figured out. He’d suspected something like this from the start, but only now was his theory confirmed.

There had to be some kind of slight language barrier between him and Y/n. Between Y/n and Mahismathi. That’s why there had always been a slight struggle to help Y/n fit into Mahisamthi. How could she fit in if she didn’t even know how to fully communicate with others? 

Bhalla, who had been watching this whole situation unfold, also instantly understood Y/n’s situation. But rather than a caring grin appearing on his face like Bahu’s, a much more evil and cruel smirk began to form. 

Oh, he was going to have a blast. Bhalla sniggered to himself but when Y/n’s eyes flew over to where Bhalla stood, Bhalla shot to the side to hide himself behind a pillar. When Y/n looked back at a smiling Bahu, Bhalla turned back and with a plan in his head, left the two. 

Following Bhalla’s departure, Bahu, not wanting to stress the nervous Y/n out, moved the conversation to something she could easily talk to him about, making sure Y/n didn’t realise what he was doing. 

Bahu, like Bhalla, also had a plan in his mind. The only difference was, was that the elder prince planned to endlessly tease the poor girl about her language skills, while the younger planned to summon a literacy tutor for Y/n sometime. 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

As Y/n did when she had nothing better to do, which was most of the time, she sat by the pond, cutting a mango for herself. She admired the pond’s surface and its fish, peace filling her up until she heard a certain agonising voice. 

“Quite the pond, eh, Monkey?” Y/n suppressed a groan but allowed herself to roll her eyes, her peaceful state instantly being replaced by one of annoyance.

“Yes, it’s definitely a pond, your snarkiness, 10 points for your observation skills,” Y/n muttered. Bhalla neared and leaned his shoulder against the large rock that Y/n sat by, as he folded his arms and slightly crossed his legs, standing.

“Quite truly I must say, this is probably one of the most stunning ponds on the palace grounds, truly serene and so beautifully formed, like the eye of a jewel, something like the art of work you would expect from a mastermind like Vishwakarma. Personally, I truly enjoy his works,” 

Y/n’s eyebrows furrowed. What was Bhalla talking about? Why was he talking like this? So fast and with words Y/n had never heard of. Bhalla, as Y/n had observed through her stay and from watching Bahubali movies, was a person who took his time to get his point across. 

“Tell me, stranger from ‘the far land of Mexico’, which of Vishwakarma’s works do you admire the most?” Bhalla grinned victoriously as Y/n stared at him, dumb-founded.

“W-What?” 

“Oh pardon my rudeness, I completely forgot to mention which Vishwakarma I was even conversing with you about. My tastes in architecture extend far beyond Mahismathi architects, to the points of heavenly ones, and when I mention Vishwakarma, I assure you, I meant the craftsman deity and the divine architect of the devas.” 

Y/n stared at him with a blank look. When Bhalla’s smirk grew, the realisation hit her like a meteor and she frowned. 

“Ha ha, very mature you snarkiness, mocking someone for simply not knowing a language.” Y/n rolled her eyes.

"Ah, the wit of a commoner. How refreshing.” Bhalla said, looking up at the sky, before looking back down at the girl, “Tell me, monkey, do you practice your sarcasm in front of the mirror every morning, or does it come naturally?"

"Why, thank you for noticing. I do take pride in my quick tongue. Can't say the same you would feel for your quick temper." She added, quietly. Bhalla gave a look of offence.

“Temper? I'll have you know, Monkey, I'm as cool as a cucumber compared to the hot-headed peasants I deal with on a daily basis."

"Oh, I'm sure. But let's not pretend you're not just a spoiled prince who's used to getting his way." She seethed.

"Spoiled?” Bhalla gave a hollow laugh, “Hardly. I've had to fight tooth and nail for everything I have. Can't say the same for someone who spends her days lounging by a pond, cutting mangoes." Y/n gaped at his audacity, her patience having run dry.

“Well, at least I'm not using my power to intimidate foreigners with my language. Can't say the same for you, can we?!” 

With that final bang, Y/n shot up from her spot, and gave one final annoyed glance to Bhalla, before storming away. Bhalla stared at her retreating figure and gave a soundless, light chuckle.

Blinded by her own fury, it didn’t take Y/n long before she bumped head-first into the younger prince. 

Bahubali caught her by the arm and gently helped her back onto her feet. 

“Oh, hi Bahu…” Y/n greeted awkwardly with a nervous chuckle. Bahu grinned.

“What seems to be the matter, Y/n you seem a lot more on on fire today than usual,” Bahu gave a light chuckle.

Y/n fidgeted with her half-sari and glanced around to make sure no one was around, before looking back up at him.

“You see, it's just that…” Y/n gulped, and Bahu leaned in closer, “I just have a bit of trouble with communication here. The way I spoke back in my time- I mean–! Back in my kingdom is pretty different to how people speak in Mahismathi.” Bahu nodded along, understandingly,

“I see,” He urged her to go on,

“And someone seems to have understood that, and now won’t stop mocking me for it,” Y/n said, annoyed at just the thought of Bhalla. Bahu smiled.

“I see Bhalla has also figured out your language barrier,” Bahu said, thoughtfully. Y/n went red in the face,

“You mean-!?”

“Well,” Bahu gave a sigh, “it’s not the most unobvious thing in the world. I actually only figured it out this morning.” Y/n, still red in the face, threw her face into her hands out of embarrassment. “Oh, Y/n,” Bahu gave her a calming rub on her back,

Y/n looked up at Bahu,

“How about I arrange a language tutor for you?” Bahu suggested, and Y/n’s eyes went wide. She remembered her etiquette tutor that Bhalla had arranged for her and she shook her head like her world depended on it, her eyebrows furrowed. 

“Respectfully, absolutely not.” Y/n said, adamant. 

Bahu’s eyes softened, “I promise I’ll pick out someone who’s truly willing to get on level with you.” He said sweetly looking down at Y/n with such caring eyes that made her swear she could have swooned. Bahu’s eyes brought her way back to when she watched Varsham for the first time.

Y/n gave a nervous and hollow chuckle, “A-Alright, Bahu, if you say so.” As much as she tried to avoid eye contact with the Prince, she simply could not look away from his eyes. The same eyes that had all the ladies in the nation in a chokehold for almost two decades.

“Brilliant, I’ll have someone- top of the class- picked out for you, and you can begin your tutoring as soon as this weekend!” He announced joyously.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"Ah, if it isn't the wandering scholar from 'Mexico.' How fares your study of our culture, Monkey?" Y/n spun around on her heel to face the one person whom she was most delighted to meet. 

"Quite well, your royal snarkiness. I've learned a lot, especially about how not to treat people." Y/n said, her voice flowing with glee over the aspect that soon, she would start attending language classes and eventually wouldn’t be the object of Bhalla's ridicule.

"Oh, delightful. In that case, allow me to expand your knowledge further.” Bhalla grinned, "Indeed, one must ponder the intricate complexities and unparalleled magnificence of this realm’s architectural splendour, meticulously crafted by hands of exceptional prowess and minds of unparalleled brilliance. Perchance, your intellectual faculties may find themselves inadequate in grasping such sublime intricacies."

Y/n narrowed her eyes in frustration, "Are you serious? Again with the fast-talking? Very mature, Bhalla."

“What's the matter? I thought you were here to learn. Surely a scholar like you can keep up." He smirked, clearly enjoying himself.

Y/n groaned, "I'm here to learn, not to decipher your verbal puzzles. But I suppose that's too much to expect from someone who takes pleasure in mocking others."

Bhalla smiled, mockingly, "Mocking? Oh no, this is merely a lesson. Think of it as... advanced study."

Y/n narrowed her eyes in mock confusion, "Advanced study? More like a desperate attempt to show off. What's wrong, Bhalla? Need to feel superior to someone?"

"Superior? Hardly. Just demonstrating the vast chasm between our respective eruditions. But don’t worry, Monkey, you’ll bridge it. Eventually."

"The only chasm here is the one in your manners. But I suppose that's too much to ask from a prince who's used to getting his way."

"Ah, so quick with the barbs. Maybe there's hope for you yet. But tell me, how does it feel to be out of your depth?" Bhalla leaned down a little to get on level and face to face with Y/n, who narrowed her eyes,

“Out of my depth? Please. I've handled more complex things than your inflated ego."

"Ego? It’s not ego if it’s justified. But I understand if it's hard for you to grasp that, given your… limited experience." Bhalla said with a tone of judginess, eying Y/n up and down.

"Limited experience? Says the man who’s spent his life behind palace walls. Try stepping out into the real world for a change."

"The real world? I’ve seen more of it than you ever will, Monkey. But don’t worry, I’m sure your books will keep you company." Bhalla said pathetically, in a pitiful tone, riling Y/n up even more.

"Better books than the company of a conceited prince. At least books don't talk back with meaningless drivel."

"Meaningless drivel? Perhaps to you. To those who understand, it's wisdom. But you’ll get there. One day."

"I’ll pass, thanks. I prefer my wisdom to come without the side of arrogance." She said with a huff.

"Call it confidence. But I forget, you're not used to dealing with people of my stature."

"And you're not used to dealing with people who see through your facade. But don't worry, I’ll be here to remind you." Y/n gave a caring smile, dripping with sarcasm.

"I look forward to it, Monkey. Your attempts at wit are... entertaining if nothing else."

"Glad to be of service, your royal snarkiness. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do than waste my time with a pompous prince." Before Y/n could leave, she turned to face Bhalla one last time, the enthusiasm back in her eyes, “Besides, your royal snarkiness, I suggest you enjoy mocking my tongue while it lasts.” Yn/ said victoriously, before leaving. Bhalla stared at her, confusion gripping him.

“What?” He asked himself, “Monkey! Get back here at once and explain what you mean!” He shouted, but Y/n, too far to care, went her way.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Ah, Bhalla, there you are,” Bahu called to his cousin, Bhalla, who had arrived at the training area, following his confused exchange with Y/n.

“Bahubali.” Bhalla greeted, his mind still straying to the thought of what Y/n might’ve meant.

“I see you’re a bit distracted today,” Bahubali questioned when the duo began their swordplay. Bhalla wasn’t as sharp that day, his moves were slower, and he was clearly distracted by something. 

“Oh, yes, I suppose so,” Bhalla said, looking over at Y/n in the distance who was happily chatting away with her friends while eating fruit. 

“Care to share why, Your Highness?” Bahubali asked with a grin, as he let out a groan, successfully hitting Bhalla’s sword to the point of his defeat.

Bhalla picked up his sword and stepped towards Bahubali, who listened kenly,

“Do you know what’s going on with that monkey today?” Bhalla asked, directing his gaze towards the bubbly Y/n. Bahubali followed Bhalla’s gaze until his eyes landed on Y/n. 

“Oh, Y/n.” Bahu said, 

“Yeah- That- That girl. Y/n monkey or l/n or whatever. Do you what’s gotten into her today?” Bhalla asked, his patience a little more dry than usual. Bauhbali looked at Bhalla, smiling,

“Ah, I see she’s mentioned it to you. She’s definitely a little more happy today because of it, huh?” Bhalla’s eyes shot to Bahu as they returned to their sparring positions, starting another round of swordplay.

“Mentioned what?” Bhalla asked, his usual sparing skills faltering.

“I’ve arranged a literature tutor for her, to help her learn our language better after I saw how distressed she was at not being able to fit in.” With what Bahu said, Bhalla’s sword move failed, causing Bahu to effortlessly win another round.

“What??” Bhalla narrowed his eyes in confusion.

At the very lowest pit of Bhalla’s stomach, a weird feeling began brewing. A strange feeling, that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Perhaps it was frustration, Bhalla thought. But why? He doesn’t know. 

Why was he feeling frustrated that Bahubali had arranged Y/n's language tutoring lesson without him knowing and that Y/n seemingly was able to confide in Bahu about her troubles and not Bhalla when in reality none of this concerned him and it was none of his business? Especially when considering that Bhalla tended to be the root of most of Y/n’s problems. 

But Bhalla still felt frustrated. He didn’t even know why. 

Any normal person could have immediately figured out that it could even possibly be... Slight jealousy? But Bhalla was not a normal person. 

Was he frustrated that Y/n felt she could confide about her language issues in Bahu and not him? And how she seemingly instantly accepted help when Bahu offered and how Bahu took it upon himself to offer her the classes.

Bhalla, overcome with this unknown emotion, looked back at Bahu and said, “That monkey doesn’t need a tutor,” 

Bhalla didn’t even know why he was interfering in this matter, which didn’t even affect him. But he couldn’t help it. Bahubali’s eyebrows furrowed lightly.

“What’s wrong bhalla?” Bahu asked, “Besides, how will Y/n ever blend in if she doesn’t even speak the tongue?”

Bhalla, in a fit of ‘frustration’ and impatience, proceeded to say something so impulsively, that it hadn’t even registered in his head.

“Whatever, I’ll take it upon myself to teach her, alright!?”

Bhalla hadn’t even realised what he said till a smile grew on Bahubali’s face.

“Even better. I promised Y/n I would get her someone who could get on level with her.” Bahubali said, “If you will excuse me, brother, I must go and inform the tutor that he need not teach Y/n anymore.”

As Bhalla observed Bau’s leaving figure, he finally understood what he said, his eyes wide. 

‘Oh my god, what the hell did I just do’ Bhalla thought, face-palming.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

And so, for the week that followed, Y/n wasted not a single chance to flaunt to Bhalla that soon, she would also be on his level in terms of language. Her lessons were the only thing she could think about as her brain overflowed his excitement and anticipation. 

Bhalla on the other hand, didn’t know whether to laugh or sob, because only he and Bahu knew that he was the ill-fated person to teach Y/n the ways of the Mahismathi tongue. 

Y/n, however, had no clue who her teacher was. Bahubali, during another encounter with Y/n, did mention to her that someone else had volunteered to tutor her. Someone very highly prestigious and even overqualified. The news filled Y/n with so much joy that she wrapped her arms around Bahubali, giving him a very sweet goodbye as he left on a mission that Sivagami assigned him to.

Y/n was overjoyed and didn't shy away from any opportunity to rub it into Bhalla’s face, unknown to her that this ‘Overqualified, and highly prestigious’ person was the last person she wanted to see.

So on the fated day of Y/n’s first class, she excitedly hopped to the grand palace library.

The library, usually full of hustle and bustle with scholars and such running around, being pitch quiet should’ve been her first red sign. But Y/n went on, her determination unmatched. She tip-toed inside the empty library and ventured far deep in, hoping to find her tutor. Y/n looked around the empty and somewhat eerie library when she felt something smack her on the back of her head from behind. 

“Ow!” Y/n turned around, and when she did, she wished she hadn’t. There stood, the last person she wanted to see. 

Bhallaladeva. The elder son of the queen of Mahismathi Sivagami Devi, and the only son of Bijjaladevi. 

Y/n’s eyes went wide when she saw Bhallaladeva stand there, unpleasantly grumpy as he crossed his arms.

“What’re you doing here?” She bitterly spat, 

Bhallaladeva eyed her, “This happens to be my family library, so I could dance here if I wanted to.” He said, just as bitterly. 

Y/n, sensing the oncoming verbal sparring between her and Bhalla, quickly dismissed him, not wanting to waste her time, “Whatever, your snarkiness, I have better things to be doing right now like finding my tutor,” She said, grumpily.

Before she could huff and stomp away, Bhallaladeva, in a dead and annoyed voice said,

“The tragic fate of being your tutor, monkey, is unfortunately my own.”

“What??” Y/n turned around, her eyes narrowing in both confusion and annoyance at Bhalla’s use of the ancient tongue.

“Oh right, you’re an idiot.” Bhalla said, “What I meant to say, monkey, is that the unlucky man who’s your tutor? That’s me.”

Y/n’s mouth fell open at once and all that dread she couldn’t even comprehend came flooding back.

“WHAT!?” She screamed at once, her mind too occupied to give any mind to being quiet. Bhalla stared at her, unimpressed, “You’re the over-qualified, prestigious, highly-exclusive volunteer who never gives anyone lessons?” Bhalla sighed,

“Well, what do you expect? I’m the elder prince for goodness sake. I received the highest quality of education and clearly, one on this planet is boss enough to be tutored by the prince.” He said, before eyeing the furious Y/n with boredom, “Well, clearly except you of course. Congratulations, monkey, how do you feel, being the first person ever to have the prince spend his precious hours teaching you language?” 

“It feels bloody awful!” Y/n seethed, her anger now replacing her excitement.

“Same here,” Bhalla said quietly, annoyed. Y/n spun on her heel at once and headed back to the front of the library, “Oi monkey, where’re you going??”

Y/n spun back to face Bhalla briefly, “If you must know, I’m going to visit Bahubali, and tell him that I will NOT have you as my tutor and that I’d be willing to be tutored by literally any other living being in this kingdom than you!” She shouted.

Bhalla grimaced, “I expect you’ll have some trouble with that considering now that Bahubali has been sent on a quest to a different region,” Y/n’s frown fell and she remembered Bahubali telling her about his mission.

“So what does that mean,” Y/n said in a breathless voice.

“That, monkey, means either you wait a month for him to return, which you clearly seem incapable of, or you’re stuck with me for two weeks,” Bhalla said, almost somewhat enjoying Y/n’s suffering.

Y/n rolled her eyes and groaned, “Please just end my misery,” she said pathetically as she smacked her forehead, walking towards a table near the back of the library.

Bhalla grinned as he watched her go, “This’ll be fun.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

And so began Y/n’s lessons with Bhallaladeva. To say Bhalla was a strict teacher was a heavy understatement. Bhalla’s teaching methods made Y/n’s old etiquette teacher look easygoing. Bhalla forced Y/n to be up and at it by four in the morning, and only let her go to bed at eleven, under the condition that she had finished her work. The only breaks she would receive were thirty minutes every three hours, and breakfast, lunch and dinner were all also served in the library. 

Bhalla always spoke too fast and preferred to teach by pacing around with a textbook in one hand and the other hand behind his back, often causing Y/n to not understand a single thing, resulting in her struggling to focus and badly failing every simple assignment. 

Yes, Bhala always did get on Y/n’s bad side but this was a whole new level. Y/n had never seen such a strict and focused side to Bhalla unless he was training. Yes, that’s what he reminded her of. Him when he was training. He was so concentrated and fast, that at some point Y/n simply gave up. 

Near the end of the first week of their lessons, following Y/n’s silent defeat in making an attempt to understand anything, the severe lack of sleep finally caught up to her. 

As usual, Bhalla walked back and forth, reading from a textbook as he lectured Y/n- except that’s what he thought was happening. Y/n, however, had long gone asleep. Y/n’s only justifications were that:

a.) Bhallaladeva was insane

b.) Sleeping for only four to five hours a night for a week ought to make anyone fall asleep mid-day

c.) Bhallaladeva was insane

d.) Her tutor didn’t even teach properly.

e.) Bhallaladeva was insane

f.) Having nothing truly stimulating was of course going to make her fall asleep.

Also, Bhallaladeva was insane.

But Y/n was a smart girl, if she was going to break rules and casually fall asleep in class, she had to do it the right way. She positioned herself in a perfect form that made her look like she was crouched over writing when in reality she was fast asleep. 

Bhallaladeva, who was too busy reading off of scrolls, hadn’t noticed for the first thirty minutes of Y/n falling asleep, but when almost an hour had passed, and Y/n made no effort to make any snarky remark, sarcastic sentence or a single annoyed groan, Bhalla grew suspicious.

“I’m surprised you’ve been able to go an hour without a single jab, monkey. Impressive.” Bhalla said, standing in front of Y/n, authoritatively. When Y/n failed to respond, owing to the fact that she was strolling somewhere in dreamland, Bhalla raised an eyebrow.

“Really? No sarcastic retort?” He questioned her, but when Y/n kept her potion the same, Bhalla felt something was off, “What’re you even writing with that amount of focus, I’m not even saying anything relevant for you to write?” 

Again, no response from Y/n. Bhalla’s brows furrowed and he used a rolled-up scroll to poke Y/n’s head. When nothing happened, he pushed a bit of her hair off her face and tucked it in behind her hair, and what he saw made his eyes go wide with shock.

That little monkey was asleep.

As annoyed as Bhalla was at her audacity, he couldn’t help a little smile that grew on his lips. Y/n’s face was so calm and serene, not many times before had he seen her face like that. Generally, when he did, it was because she hadn’t seen him. The only expressions Bhalla saw on Y/n when they talked were either annoyance or outright rage, but to be fair, he was the one who kept provoking the girl. It was a weird joy if you could call it even that. If even Bhalla knew why he kept poking and prodding her every day. Was it to get a reaction out of her? Perhaps because she was the only one who gave him that type of reaction. No one else in the kingdom would be daring enough to treat Bhalla the way Y/n treated him. 

Her breathing was so serene and her facial features were that of a rabbit. Bhalla’s finger, which was still behind Y/n’s ear from when he tucked her hair back, slid down her cheek slightly.

She sure had soft skin. Very… Very pretty. 

Bhalla smiled softly, without realising it. He was lost in the trance of Y/n’s sleeping face but was instantly brought back to earth with the flicker of a candle. Bhalla shot up straight and looked around, giving an awkward cough. He gulped and looked back at Y/n, a frown forming on his face.

Now what to do with this sleeping monkey? 

Bhall grinned, before reaching down to Y/n’s level. His lips hovered over her ear before he let out the scream of an army general entering battle.

“FIRE!!”

Y/n’s entire figure shook awake at once, startled. 

“FIRE!?” Her eyes were wide and she was covered in a cold sweat, her eyes prancing around, looking for the fire. When she failed to see a fire, she looked back at Bhalla, who had his arms crossed with a menacing look on his face, standing in front of her.

“Had a nice nap in the middle of my lecture, Monkey?” Bhalla said, sourly, “You know, many would kill to have the elder prince of Mahismathi give them free private literature lessons.” He said, narrowing his eyes at the girl who was trying to regain her breath.

Y/n looked back up at him, her eyes narrowed with annoyance leaking out of her every pore. 

Bhalla observed her face, the serenity he saw earlier was gone, replaced by the Y/n he constantly picked catfights with. 

“You say ‘elder prince of Mahismathi’ quite often, your royal snarkiness but you don’t seem to be showing it in actions, anywhere.” She spat,

"Is that so? Perhaps you’re too distracted by your penchant for daydreaming to notice my brilliance." Bhalla gloated,

Y/n stared at his audacity, "Brilliance? More like tediousness. Your lectures could put a hyperactive child to sleep."

"Ah, I see. The problem lies with my teaching style, not with the inattentive student who can’t keep her eyes open." Bhalla retorted,

"Maybe if you made your lessons half as interesting as you make your insults, I’d stay awake." Y/n jabbed back, her anger at Bhalla for the past week starting to rise up.

"Perhaps if you spent more time studying and less time devising retorts, you might actually learn something," Bhalla said with a roll of his eyes,

"Studying what? Your inflated ego?” Y/n said with narrowed eyes, and mock curiosity, “Sorry, I’m not interested in that subject."

"Inflated ego?” Bhalla said with a hollow laugh at Y/n’s audacity, “Coming from the girl who thinks she’s too good to have the prince as her tutor? That’s rich."

"I never asked for a prince.” Y/n seethed, “Especially not one who seems to enjoy tormenting his students."

"Torment? I’m merely trying to instil some discipline. Something you clearly lack."

"Discipline? More like sadism.” Y/n frowned, “Face it, Bhalla, you’re just taking pleasure in making my life difficult."

“And you, Monkey, are taking pleasure in defying me at every turn.” Bhalla said, “It’s almost endearing."

"You know what, you snarkiness, maybe the problem isn't with me at all.” Y/n stood up, her voice raising, “Maybe you're just a terrible teacher."

It was no longer harmless banter between the two. Tensions were rising neither of them was kidding around anymore.

"Oh really? And what would you know about teaching? You can barely keep your eyes open, let alone absorb any knowledge," Bhalla retorted, offended.

"Maybe if you weren't so full of yourself, I'd actually learn something!" Y/n said, leaning in.

"Full of myself? You think this is about me? It's about your lack of focus, your inability to grasp even the simplest concepts!" Bhalla said, frowning, also leaning in.

"I am focused!” Y/n admitted, “But it's hard to learn when all you do is belittle me!" 

"Belittle you? I'm trying to make you see how far behind you are! There are children who can do things you can't even comprehend!"

Y/n showed a tiny glint of hurt in her eyes, “That's not fair, Bhalla. I’m trying my best!" Her voice trembled with anger and hurt.

Bhalla’s voice raised till he was shouting, "Your best? Your best is pathetic! You’ll never succeed at this rate! You lack, focus, interest, determination, and brain, and at this very rate, you show no progress to achieve anything! I've wasted so many hours on you, watering the plant in your head so vigilantly, yet it shows no sign of growth!" His voice echoed through the library, instantly silencing Y/n, who stood there, too shocked for words.

Y/n stood there and stared at him with wide eyes, full of hurt and anger mixing in her expression as the silence filled the library. 

“Maybe the plant doesn’t grow because the soil is poisoned by your cruelty.” Y/n managed to say, in a quiet and trembling voice, as a tear dropped from her eye.

Y/n gathered her things at once and stormed out of the library as Bhallaladeva’s face contorted with a mix of slight regret and stubbornness, but he remained silent. 

He watched the girl race out of the library, the sound of her anklets echoing throughout the library, leaving an uneasy silence in her wake.

In a fit of humiliation, and dejectedness, Y/n ran to the one spot that gave her true peace.

The secluded pond. 

The afternoon sun was practically burning her skin off, but Y/n paid no mind, seeking shade under the oversized banana leaf that hung high over her usual sitting place.

She sat there, watching the ripples on the surface of the usually peaceful pond. The ripples practically reflected the inner turmoil she felt in her own heart. 

Silent, fat tears, dropped from her eyes, one by one as Y/n hugged her knees, leaning her shoulder against the giant rock that sat beside her. She cried softly, sniffling occasionally, watching as the tears that fell from her eyes created more ripples in the pond. 

The sun soon began to set, and the blue sky turned pink, but Y/n remained the same. 

She knew Bhalla was cruel, but she didn’t expect that he would have said something like that. She should have expected it, but she didn’t. Why? 

Soon, her tears came to an end when a wave of tiredness washed over her and her eyelids began to shut, feeling too heavy to keep them open. 

As the sun began to set in, so did Bhalla’s nervousness.

For as long as Y/n had been sitting by the pond, letting her tears soak into the water, Bhalla had been locked in his chamber, ordering no one to enter. Once the doors to his chambers shut, his frown dissolved and a smirk grew on his lips. 

He hummed a tune to himself as he made his way to his balcony. 

"This ought to help her." He said to himself with a grin, referring to his ‘outburst’ earlier. It hadn't yet occurred to Bhalla that using a strong Mahismathi military motivation tactic designed your emotionless old men on a young girl, foreign to Mahismatic and full of emotion, simply trying to learn a language might not have been the best idea. 

It worked wonders on the training grounds, so surely it ought to work just as well with her. Right? Bhalla's initial delight came to an all too sudden halt at that thought. It would work, right? 

And so, as Bhalla relaxed and laid back on his grand armchair on the balcony, munching away on an apple, he was once again in deep thought, a slight sense of doubt and nervousness began to grow at the deepest pit of his heart and brain. 

As the sun began setting, the initially slight sense of doubt and nervousness grew, eating him away, till he was back up on his feet, frantically pacing around his room, biting at his fingernails in tension. 

Bhalla was acting very strange and unlike himself. The elder prince of Mahismati who was known for his composure and having the ability to not tense over problems was now pacing back and forth around his room, biting his nails in worry about a simple girl. 

Something Bhalla would have never done if Y/n had never appeared. 

Perhaps…

Perhaps something was changing…? 

‘Did I do too much?’ Bhalla asked himself 'Did she get upset?’

Only now, Bhalla realised that his tactic might’ve done the opposite of what he meant it

to do.

After wrecking his brain for much longer than he would’ve wanted to, Bhalla came to a conclusion to check up on Y/n. 

His ego wouldn’t allow him to admit he cared, he simply wanted to check up on her and make sure she hadn’t done something stupid like running away from anger, but even if she did, Bhalla didn’t care, he was a strong prince!  (Maybe he cared just a bit…)

Just as Bhalla threw open the doors to his chamber to leave and find Y/n, there stood at his doorstep, three royal servants, holding a large platter of fruit for Bhalla. Before Bhalla could dismiss them and tell them he didn’t want any, an idea struck his head. 

He observed the glossy shine of the freshly plucked fruits with great care. Bhalla grinned slightly. Bhalla thought of the countless amount of times that Y/n had gotten herself into silly situations for them. 

He silently signalled the servants to follow him with the fruit platter with a wave of his hand. Starting from the first atom of the palace to the last, Bhalla looked everywhere for Y/n, searching every inch of the grounds for the girl, and yet, she was nowhere to be found. 

Bhalla felt a pang of terror, thinking his silly little assumption that Y/n could’ve run away earlier was true. Even if it was, Bhalla didn’t know why he felt this way, horrified at what could happen to her. 

But his terror came to a quick end when he felt the wind Russell the trees above, singing a song of lure for Bhalla. 

The pond. 

Of course, it was the first place he should’ve looked for her. Bhalla made his way to the pond and when he got close, he noticed the hunched-over figure of the young girl, sitting on the edge of the pond, leaning side-ways against a big rock. 

Bhalla smiled slightly. She was still here, within the palace walls, where he could see her. 

Bhalla didn’t look back at the servants and instead silently ordered them to leave with another wave of his hand. The servants obeyed, they placed the platter onto the grass, bowed, and left. 

Bhalla crossed his arms behind his back and stepped towards Y/n. As he neared her, he saw her form more clearly, she was shivering out of her wits, the cold night hair clearly taking a toll on her. 

When he was only three steps away from Y/n, his foot landed on a twig, and with a sharp snap, instantly alarmed the sleeping Y/n, who awoke at once, startled. 

Y/n looked at the surface of the pond, the rippling surface calming down to reveal the figure of Bhallaladeva’s reflection on the water. She buried her face into her knees and sniffled. 

Bhalla’s eyes softened and he took a prompt seat next to Y/n. 

Day by day, Bhalla was going stranger. He even went as far as to lower himself to the level of a stranger, someone who was practically nothing against him. He paid absolutely no mind to getting his expensive fabric dirty because all that was on his mind was the girl. 

Bhalla was silent for a second, unsure of what to say, when he decided to first help her get warm. He removed the detached draped part of his dhoti that covered his chest and awkwardly laid it over Y/n’s shivering body, revealing his upper body to the cold. 

“Were you crying?” Bhalla asked after another moment of silence. Y/n quickly sniffled and wiped away her tears as a fresh batch was on the verge of leaking out. She frantically shook her head,

“No, of course not.” Y/n said, in what she hoped was not her crying voice, “I don’t cry just by getting yelled at by some- some- some - random… prince… guy… person, who can’t even teach well.” Y/n said, stuttering and sniffling. 

Bhalla’s eyes grew soft and a tiny smile tugged at the end of his lips. Somewhere, deep within his heart, a place he didn’t even know existed, a tiny part of it found Y/n in this state to be kind of cute. 

The way she had clearly been sobbing her eyes out but refused to admit it. It was cute. Y/n sniffled and shuffled away from Bhalla, pushing her body further against the giant rock. Bhalla was not one to back down. When Y/n shuffled away, he shuffled close to her. 

It took him an awkward minute to figure out what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. That’s right. What did he want to say? Why was he even here rather than simply letting her die her death? 

“Listen, I really didn’t mean to make you so upset, it’s just a thing we do in training, we yell at the trainees to help them and make them better, to encourage them to keep going. I just- I just assumed it would work for you as well. I really didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted to help you get better.” 

In a moment of weakness, all that he wanted to say, accidentally slipped out from his mouth. Bhalla had no time to think about what he had just said, before Y/n spun her head around, so fast that it surprised even him for a second. Y/n looked at him with rage.

“so you couldn’t tell the difference between an emotionless middle-aged meat shield and a young girl who isn’t even from here!?” Y/n yelled.

Bhalla opened his mouth to say something, perhaps a snarky remark or a justification, but nothing came out. Bhallaladeva was speechless. 

Lost for his words. Instead, the corner of his eye caught sight of the massive fruit platter that the servants had broken their backs to help him carry around the entire palace. 

Bhalla reached for a mango from the platter and tossed it to his other hand where he displayed it in front of Y/n’s face. Y/n gasped, her mouth already starting to water and the twinkle returning to her eyes, making Bhalla grin. 

“A little birdy told me,” Bhalla said, “That monkeys love fruits and are willing to forgive their tutors for yelling at them in exchange for some royal quality mangos? Freshly plucked, might I add?” Y/n smiled a little and looked at Bhalla to urge her to take the mango. 

She took the mango into her hands,

“Alright fine,” Y/n muttered, her features softened and she looked down at her mango, “I’m sorry as well,” She admitted, looking back up at Bhalla with glossy eyes, “I just didn’t have enough focus or determination. I promise I’ll start doing better.”  

Y/n peeled her mango and began eating away at it.

Bhalla looked at Y/n, admiring her ability to admit her fault when in reality, it was never her fault. It was Bhalla. He didn’t understand Y/n enough to be able to teach her properly. 

He forced her into military training-type lessons and expected her to learn. A massive wave of guilt washed over Bhalla as he watched Y/n happily eat. 

Y/n, noticing the grim look on Bhalla's face, smiled and reached for some fruit, offering some of his own fruit to him. Y/n held her hand out with the fruit, but what came next, was something she never expected. 

Bhalla, not tearing his eyes from Y/n’s took the fruit out of her hand, put it aside and instead, took a hold of her hand. He held her hand with both of his and looked Y/n straight in the eyes. 

“Y/n,” Bhalla said, his voice filled with sincerity, so much so that it amazed Y/n a little, even the fact that he called her by her name. 

Now that Y/n thought about it, this was the first time he had ever called her by her name. Y/n’s name felt nice on Bhalla’s tongue. It felt sweeter than anything he’d ever tasted before, 

“I’m truly, really sorry. I promise- the fault is all mine. I still remember the amount of determination and excitement to learn you had when you first started lessons, and I- with my military tactics practically crushed all of it. 

It was my fault. For a student to excel, it is first and foremost the teacher’s job to understand the student. 

I failed to do that. But I never meant to hurt you. I know we have our fair share of differences, but I… I want you to know that I wouldn’t even dream of hurting you in such a way. And I promise I’ll do much better to teach you from now onwards. Please forgive me…”

There was silence between the two. The wind rustling the leaves above them was the only sound as they stared into each others’ eyes. Y/n’s brows furrowed ever so slightly at the sincerity in Bhalla’s voice. Y/n was completely taken aback. 

This was the last thing she expected from someone like Bhalla. 

She wasn’t expecting Bhallaladeva, the older prince of Mahimathi, the future tyrant, murderer of his mother and brother, and the person who tortures Devasena and tries to kill his brother’s son to do something like that.

That someone like him would apologise to such a simple girl from the bottom of his heart. 

To get on her level to feel such emotion. 

“Alright, enough with the heart-to-hearts Bhalla, you’re starting to freak me out,” Y/n said quickly, breaking the silence with a nervous chuckle, “Now take some fruit and admire the pond.” 

Bhalla smiled and shuffled closer to Y/n, taking the fruit he had put aside. The two admired the still pond for a moment before Y/n asked,

“Oh by the way, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Y/n began, Bhalla turned to face her, “How in the world was the library empty every time we had lessons?? Usually in the library, there are too many people, roaming.” 

Bhalla let out a nervous chuckle at Y/n’s words. Bhalla sighed and looked down at the pond, smiling.

“I-... I actually had the library emptied and ordered everyone to stay out for the two weeks, so… so you could study freely.” Bhalla muttered, quite hesitantly. 

Y/n’s eyes widened at the thoughtfulness and grinned, knowing she’s got to have had some kind of positive change on him. It amazed Y/n how humble Bhalla was being. 

She knew for a fact that the Bhallaladeva she saw on the silver screen wouldn’t have done a single thing that the Bhalla now was doing. 

He wouldn’t do any of this, and if Y/n was being honest, the Bhalla in theatres would have forgotten about her existence the few seconds after meeting her. 

But this Bhalla, the one in front of her who was feeling flustered at the prospect of caring for someone - he was different. He potentially could be someone else in the future. Someone who doesn’t go on to betray his family and torture the kingdom. 

Y/n's smile faltered for a moment thinking about the fact that the man in front of her could do such horrendous things in the future, should she fail her mission. This same person would go on to terrorise the kingdom and get killed by his brother’s son. 

Y/n’s eyes glossed over with a sense of pity. True, she did feel pity from the very start, before she even arrived in Mahimathi, but now that she had gotten to know Bhalla on a personal level, it wrecked her heart to think about his future. 

But then she remembered. All she had to do was slightly direct his path to a better one. She could save him from his horrid fate.

Y/n smiled softly and looked at Bhalla with such soft eyes that they pulled something in Bhalla’s heart.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Y/n said, softly, her voice quiet but caught by Bhalla, who smiled. His eyes found Y/n’s and for a moment they shared eye contact before Bhalla quickly redirected his look to something- anything other than Y/n’s eyes. 

Bhallas, put his face into his hand as he let out a laugh, he could barely look in her eyes for a few seconds without a weird feeling erupting in his stomach. 

“You’re very much welcome, Monkey,” Bhalla said, a feeling growing in his heart, pulling at his heartstrings, making him feel pathetic, and Y/n laughed

Neither Bhalla nor Y/n realised what this would’ve meant or what this weird feeling in Bhalla’s heart was whenever he looked into Y/n’s eyes. Bhalla had a slight hunch, but being the egoistic prince he was, he continued to deny it.

♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡

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[ilovetkrzuka]

All Female Takarazuka Revue RRRxTakarazuka Bheem Musical & Revue Syndrome Violetopia Poster

2024/01/01 ~ 02/04 @ Takarazuka Grand Theater

2024/2/23 ~ 04/06 @ Tokyo Grand Theater

Starring: Rei Makoto , Maisora Hitomi , Akatsuki Chisei , & featuring Star Troupe members

[melooonsstuff]

Soldier, Poet, King × Ponniyin Selvan