The Saga of Doury & Youdi – Chapter 4


Family, Lineage, Half-brothers, and a Solitary Sister

Characters inspired by Vysa’s great Indian epic. The story line is set somewhere in the distant future. In no way should the storyline be compared to Vyasa’s magnum opus

Nayan Ananda Goswami

She was the only girl child between both the families.

 

Perhaps the only link of ‘no love lost’ amongst the cousins. Sister to a hundred brothers of Kooroo and a cousin to the Paendeeys’ she was the apple of their eyes. She grew up pampered, loved but No, never spoilt. Dusheily was as pretty as a flower and as strong as a stone. Brizm, the patriarch of the family trained her well, in talents of the boardroom and martial arts. With 105 brothers looking out over her, and a part of the Kooroo clan, boys did not even dare dream about her. She was like an elusive dream for all.

 

She was always intrigued on how she was a century and one child to a single mother. She would be petrified that she may need to grow up to a lady and be a mother to a hundred child. It was Yuyutz, who explained the marvel of science, genetics, testtube babies and clones. He had told her, gossip goes, that her mom wanted a girl. Of course, besides her mom’s original desire, to mother a clan of hundred sons to ensure the ‘pedigree’ of the lineage of the Kooroo clan. She would always ignore the mocking smirk of Yyutz’s usage of words like pedigree and lineage. After all, he was her brother from a different mother. They shared the same father, as her and her 100-testtube born siblings.

 

Yuyutz was a bastard. He took pride in that word. He refused to be called a ‘love child’, as others would try and refer to him as that. Born to an unwed secretary of the blind Dhristz, he came out from his mother’s womb, almost at the same time, the testtube babies – Doury and his 100 siblings, were born.

 

Doury never believed in ‘birth-rights’ and was sure, men wrote their own destinies. He was respectful to his half-brother Yuyutz. Amongst the Kooroo brothers, if Doury had an opinion, the others followed blindly, without a question. So Yuyutz never felt the quintessential step-brotherly treatment ever. That did not mean he forgot his origins and lineage either. He carried both the truths in his heart and mind, evenly balanced out.

 

Vikreinz was the only brother amongst the hundred siblings, who stood his ground, and spoke out his contrary views to Doury. He loved and respected Doury dearly, a feeling which Doury reciprocated twice over. Doury however felt Vikreinz was coloured with the farce of millennial old principles and philosophies, just like Brizm and the rest of the older generation. A generation that refused to change views, based on present day context. They placed too much heed to family and lineage. These philosophies did not let meritocracy flourish.

 

That is what Doury believed in. Give merit the credit! So, did I, and that is what made Asty and Doury inseparable. We both lived for the same principles. Let everyone flourish as equals.

 

Vikreinz stood a middle ground. He said being equal is not fair always. Customs and traditions are there for a reason. Anyway, Doury & Vikreinz agreed to disagree. Nothing would come between them, barring their contrary views! That was one fact, they both knew. They were fiercely attached and loyal.

 

Dusheily was the talkative one. Her thousand and one questions went unanswered. Even the haughty snob Arzee, would kneel to take Dusheily’s questions. The only sister they all had; she was pampered.

 

Few questions of hers always ring in my ears and stung me like a thousand bees!

 

“Asty, tell me, is it a boon or bane to be an only sister to a hundred and five brothers?”

“If all genders are supposed to be equal, why don’t I see too many lady directors or transgenders in our Group Companies?”

“Why does Mom keep on telling me girls need to shoulder the family’s name and respect?”

 

I could not dare respond that our customs are flawed, or our older generation gave the ‘family-name’ too much importance. Doury and I were trying to fight exactly that. I had some answers, but I would never dare give them, lest they throw a bad light on mother Gandhree’s image. I respected her not because, she was Doury’s mom, but because she stood so steadfast on her beliefs. Her belief on her principles were so strong, I respect that grit without a question.

 

The only time, or perhaps the second time, I was surprised on a decision by Doury, were both for marriages. First was with Dusheily’s and then again with his own daughter Lakky !

 

Both the times Doury succumbed to tradition, custom, ‘family name’ – beliefs he so strongly opposed!! When you are on the receiving end, logic and beliefs do get coloured! 

 

The apple of the eye, the talented, beautiful Dusheily was married off to Jadyz???

It was an open secret, Jadyz had a bipolar disorder, with a score or more sexual harassment cases against him.

And yet, because the blind Dhristz had made a promise and because it made business sense, Doury agreed to the proposal! How lame can that be?

I was burdened by a hundred other favours of Doury and I chose to remain silent. One of the many guilts I will take to my grave, whenever I get there.

 

Dusheily agreed to the proposal, answering one of her own questions, on how the girl shoulders the family name and respect, silently.

 

Vikreinz had stood up, but he was brushed aside.

 

The powerful Yuyutz objected, but never put his foot down. He was after all, never a sibling!

A half-brother! He will one day fight against the Kooroos.

 

Just like Paendeee’s half-brother Kreinz, will fight against them.

 

Destiny is a great leveller!

 

And I know, my inner voice is screaming out, I am falling prey to concepts of family, lineage, customs and traditions. We all do.

 

Kranz, perhaps knows that the best. Will tell you his story one day.

 

Krey’s plans of destroying everything and establishing a new order was being put into motion

“The future is uncertain, and the end is always near….”

Nayan-Goswami-Writter

Nayan Ananda Goswami lives to D.R.E.A.M. – Drink, Read, Eat, Amble (about),Music & Movies.  A reclusive reluctant writer. In love & awe of the absence of the quintessential ‘Good over Evil’ in the 2 Indian epics.