I was eleven when my parents gave birth to Raja. My mother finally got the son she prayed for. My parents did some "sketchy stuff" to conceive him. I was eleven, so I don't really know. People don't tell me about this kind of stuff.
He looked like any other baby when he was born: baldish and small. From the second he was born, my parents would NOT look at his face. My mother is kinda crazy, but even my loving and caring Papa would not even try to look at his child. It was strange, and as an eleven-year-old, my parents entrusted me with caring for baby Raja.
For ten years, I taught him everything I thought a young man should know. I told him stories about his loving stepbrother and his disappearance, how to be a good person, and how to fight if ever necessary with a bow and arrow. My father was loving, but he would turn his back when Raja spoke. My mother was so happy to have a son, but she acted like Raja was someone else's child. Raja's bedroom was in our large basement. There was a bowling alley, a tennis court, and all of the best chefs, just for Raja. Raja was not allowed to go upstairs, so I would stay with him. He, like me, did not understand my parents not wanting to look him in the face.
Back to the present..
I am now twenty-one, and today is Raja's tenth birthday. I received a marriage proposal this morning, one that I was excited for. Semi-arranged marriages are pretty common among many couples in South Asia.
It was a family friend, Sikandar. I've known this guy since we were kids. He was friends with Rayan and since Rayan left, he has been my closest companion besides for Raja. His beard connects, and he has two perfect eyebrows. He has the kind of dark and long lashes any girl would die for. Most importantly, he is a good guy. I was excited for this marriage proposal. I wore a green silk saree with matching green bangles.
"I don't want you to leave, Appa (older sister)," Raja pleaded.
"I will always be your sister, and we can celebrate your birthday after they leave," I explained.
They came over to our home and sat down with my parents as I poured chai which is a milk and herb tea which originated in South Asia. Sikandar's father began asking for my hand in marriage. Just then Raja ran from the stairs. He has a bow and arrow and pierces through Sikandar's chai cup.
I was furious. Raja just stands there. For the first time in his life, Papa looks Raja in the face.
"That was disrespectful, dangerous, and stupid, my son," Papa scolded.
"I am so sorry, Sikandar. Please accept my apology," he apologized.
Raja began to cry, and I held him in my arms. The marriage proposal was still on which I was very pleased with, but I felt bad and confused for Raja. Why did my dad look at Raja today of all days and to only scold him?
We had the most grand celebration for Raja's birthday, and my father and mother looked Raja in the eyes the whole night. Raja seemed sad despite finally having our parent's attention.
After the party, Papa rushed into the room as I kissed Raja on the forehead goodnight.
"I wish I could have told you before. I love you, Raja. Your mother loves you more than you could ever imagine. When you were born, we went to a woman who that said both of us would die if we even looked into your eyes before your tenth birthday or told you why we could not look into your eyes. I love you, son, and I am proud of the man you are becoming," Papa explained with tears in his eyes.
Author's Note: In the original, the parents were not allowed to see Raja's face or else they would die until he was twelve. I changed this to ten years. Raja was a little rebellious and did not understand in the story. I made this prominent in my story. I incorporated a sister in my version of the story and a whole marriage proposal to add more drama into his rebellious nature. The sister did not understand either. I questioned in the original how they would care for him if they could not accidentally look at him. Thus, I had the sister in charge of caring for him instead. He had a bow and arrow and ended up making a lot of mess that the father kind of dismissed in the original. I altered this by making it so that the father doesn't dismiss it. Raja lived underground for twelve years. I made him live in a basement that was fun. I made the moment that the father was allowed to look at the father more intense by making there be a crucial event occurring. I wish I could have expanded on the birthday party which was another thing that I added, but I did not want to make this story too lengthy.
Image Source: "Green Silk Saree" Web Source: WikiMedia