Letter to My Little Brother
Little Brother,
If you're reading this...
Then I guess you've officially become the older brother.
Congratulations.
Don't let it go to your head.
I can already picture your face.
You're probably crying.
Pretending you aren't.
Then blaming someone for making your eyes water.
Some things never change.
Do you remember when we were children?
Every time we got into trouble, you hid behind me.
Father always scolded me first.
You used to grin like you'd won a great battle.
Then, when Father wasn't looking, you'd sneak me half of your dessert as an apology.
You were never very good at saying sorry.
I hope you've improved over the last twenty years.
You know...
People always thought I left because I wanted freedom.
That wasn't the whole truth.
I left because I believed something.
I believed you would become a better Chief than I ever could.
You always listened before making decisions.
You were calmer.
More patient.
While I...
Usually solved problems by charging at them with a spear.
Looking back...
I think I made the right choice.
From everything Vicky told me over the years...
You've become the Chief our people needed.
Thank you.
For carrying the burden I left behind.
Father won't admit it...
But he's getting old.
He's also more stubborn than ever.
Someone needs to remind him to rest occasionally.
Good luck with that.
I certainly never managed.
Now comes the part where I'm going to burden you again.
Take care of Rajiv.
He looks quiet now...
But don't be fooled.
He inherited my curiosity.
And unfortunately...
He also inherited Father's stubbornness.
If he says he can do something...
He'll keep trying until he either succeeds...
Or breaks something.
Possibly both.
Please be patient with him.
Take care of Ananya too.
She's stronger than most adults realize.
But strength isn't the same as healing.
She'll smile.
She'll say she's fine.
She'll try to protect Rajiv.
Make sure someone is protecting her as well.
There is one thing I've never told anyone.
Not even Vicky.
Sometimes...
Late at night...
I wondered what life would have been like if I had stayed.
Would we still argue over everything?
Would Father still pretend not to take sides?
Would our children have grown up together?
I suppose...
We'll never know.
But don't misunderstand.
I don't regret my choice.
Not even now.
Because leaving allowed me to build Vera.
It allowed me to meet Devika.
It allowed me to become Rajiv and Ananya's father.
If I had to choose again...
I'd still walk the same road.
Brother...
There is one last thing I want from you.
Don't seek revenge because you're angry.
Seek justice because it's right.
Hatred burns quickly.
Duty lasts much longer.
One day...
Rajiv will grow stronger than either of us ever imagined.
When that day comes...
Don't force him to carry my revenge.
Let him choose his own path.
If he decides to avenge Vera...
Stand beside him.
If he chooses another road...
Stand beside him anyway.
That's what family is supposed to do.
Take care of Father.
Take care of our people.
Take care of my children.
And...
Take care of yourself.
Because whether I said it enough or not...
I've always been proud to call you my brother.
Until we meet again.
Your annoying older brother,
Varinder
The hall remained silent.
No one dared speak.
No one dared interrupt.
Varinder's younger brother stood motionless.
The letter trembled in his hands.
His eyes remained fixed on the final line.
Your annoying older brother,
Varinder
For a long moment...
He simply stared.
As though expecting more words to appear.
As though refusing to accept that this was truly the end.
Then...
A single tear landed on the paper.
Followed by another.
He laughed quietly.
A weak...
Broken laugh.
"You idiot..."
His voice barely reached anyone.
"Even now..."
"...you're still worrying about everyone else."
His fingers tightened around the letter.
"So you really..."
"...never blamed me."
For years...
A burden had quietly remained inside his heart.
The position of Chief.
The inheritance.
The responsibility.
Every time someone praised him...
A small voice deep inside whispered...
That should have belonged to Varinder.
Every victory felt incomplete.
Every celebration reminded him of the brother who should have stood beside him.
Yet...
The final thing his brother left behind...
Wasn't resentment.
Wasn't regret.
Wasn't blame.
Only gratitude.
And somehow...
That hurt even more.
Slowly...
He folded the letter with trembling hands.
Then pressed it gently against his forehead.
"I'll protect them."
His voice carried no hesitation.
"I swear it."
"I'll protect Rajiv."
"I'll protect Ananya."
"I'll protect Father."
"And I'll protect the home you left behind."
He closed his eyes.
"You carried your dream."
"Now..."
"...I'll carry what's left of it."
No one in the hall spoke.
Every elder quietly lowered their heads.
Some wiped tears from their eyes.
Others simply stared at the floor.
Even seasoned warriors who had survived countless battles could not hide their grief.
Because today...
The Varien Tribe hadn't merely lost a former heir.
They had lost the man who had built another home with his own hands.
Lord Cris slowly stood.
The letter remained clutched tightly against his chest.
His eyes had become calm once more.
Not because the pain had disappeared.
But because he had made a decision.
He looked toward every elder present.
"My son..."
"...will return home."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"Prepare everything."
"I want the finest coffin."
"The finest funeral."
"The finest burial our tribe has ever held."
His gaze slowly swept across the room.
"He left this tribe as my son."
"He will return..."
"...as one of its greatest heroes."
Every elder immediately stood.
They struck their fists against their chests.
"As you command!"
Lord Cris slowly turned toward me.
"Vicky."
"Yes, Lord Cris."
His voice became much gentler.
"You've honored your promise."
"You've brought my grandchildren home."
"You've brought my son's final words."
"You've done more than anyone could have asked."
For the first time since entering the hall...
He bowed his head toward me.
"I thank you."
I froze.
Immediately stepping aside.
"Lord Cris..."
"I don't deserve—"
"You do."
He interrupted quietly.
"My son trusted you until his final breath."
"So do I."
Those simple words almost broke me.
The old chief slowly looked toward the closed doors.
Beyond them...
Rajiv slept peacefully.
Still unaware that his entire world had been destroyed.
Still believing...
His father would return.
Lord Cris closed his eyes.
"...Don't tell him."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Not yet."
"Let him rest."
"Just for today."
The old man's voice trembled.
"He has already lost enough."
No one objected.
Outside...
The first rays of dawn illuminated the Varien Tribe.
A new day had begun.
Villagers slowly started their daily routines.
Children laughed in the streets.
Merchants opened their shops.
Life continued.
Completely unaware...
That within the Grand Hall...
An entire family was mourning.
I walked toward the entrance.
Before leaving...
I turned back one final time.
Lord Cris still stood where I had left him.
The letter remained pressed against his chest.
His younger son stood beside him.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
Some grief...
Could never be expressed through words.
As I quietly stepped outside...
A cool morning breeze brushed against my face.
I looked toward the distant horizon.
Toward the place where Vera once stood.
The smoke had begun to fade.
But I knew...
The scars left behind would never disappear.
Varinder's journey had ended.
His dream...
Had been reduced to ashes.
Yet somewhere inside the chief's residence...
A five-year-old boy still slept.
Clutching a mysterious white egg.
Completely unaware...
That one day...
The burden of Vera...
The hopes of the Varien Tribe...
And the dreams of his father...
Would all rest upon his shoulders.
The founder of Vera had fallen.
But his legacy...
Had only just begun.