The first rays of the morning sun cut through the mist that clung to the mountain fortress. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp stone. After another grueling day of training, the four princes trudged toward the nearby stream, each step weighed down by exhaustion and sore muscles.
"Ugh… my body!" Vihaan groaned, his small frame shivering. "Why do we have to bathe in this freezing water in the morning? It's torture!"
Reyansh, always fierce, stomped beside him, cheeks flushed from both cold and anger. "I told you, little brother, it's not just your body — it's about discipline! You'll thank it one day."
Vivaan, calm as ever, walked ahead, the faintest smile on his lips. "Reyansh, Vihaan," he said gently, "what I told you last night still holds. All pain… all discomfort… it is in the heart. If your heart is strong, your body will endure anything."
Reyansh rolled his eyes, still shivering. "Hmm… okay, fine. But it doesn't make this water any warmer!"
Arish stayed close to Vivaan, eyes wide as he approached the riverbank. "Brother… hold my hand," he whispered, voice trembling. "I… I am scared."
Reyansh and Vihaan couldn't help themselves; laughter burst out uncontrollably. "You're afraid? You're huge, Arish, and yet you're scared of a little water?" Reyansh teased, nudging him.
Vihaan giggled, pointing at Arish. "Yes! And now you're holding brother Vivaan's hand like a little child!"
Vivaan chuckled softly, bending slightly toward Arish. "Oh, you are right, Arish. I am afraid too. If you hold my hand, I will not feel fear."
Arish blinked, surprised, and their laughter mingled with Reyansh's scoffing. "You… you're afraid? Brother Vivaan?" he asked incredulously.
Vivaan smiled calmly. "Even I have fear, little brothers. But when we hold each other, our hearts grow stronger."
Reyansh huffed, crossing his arms, clearly dissatisfied. "Hmm… always taking Arish's side. You never side with me!" he muttered, turning away, a pout forming on his face.
Vivaan's mischievous glint appeared as he tiptoed toward Reyansh. With a swift push, he sent Reyansh tumbling into the shallow stream.
"Hey! Hey! What—?" Reyansh screamed, splashing and sputtering, face red from both cold and indignation.
Arish and Vihaan couldn't contain their laughter, splashing water playfully in the process. The air was filled with shouts, giggles, and splashes — a perfect mix of chaos and joy.
"Brother Vivaan! You always take Arish's side!" Reyansh complained, standing in the water, dripping from head to toe. "I want you on my side too! But no… you only care for him!"
Vivaan waded toward him, placing a gentle hand on his wet hair. His voice was soft, but full of certainty. "Reyansh… I take Arish's hand when he needs me. But you… you are like my soul and my eyes. You are the part of me I cannot live without. You are a need of my life."
Reyansh froze, shock momentarily replacing his pout. The water dripped from his hair, but the fire in his eyes softened. "…You mean it?"
Vivaan nodded, his serene expression radiating warmth. "I am always with you, Reyansh, in heart and in spirit. The bond we share is stronger than fear, stronger than the cold, stronger than anything this mountain can give us. You do not need to compete for my attention. You are a part of me — my brother, my blood, my strength."
Arish and Vihaan stopped laughing abruptly, watching the exchange. Their eyes widened, realizing the depth of Vivaan's words. Even Reyansh's usual fiery demeanor softened, and for the first time, he lowered his defenses completely.
A silence fell over the streambank. The only sound was the flowing water and the distant call of mountain birds. Slowly, Reyansh nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I… I understand, brother."
Vivaan smiled, finally letting go of Reyansh's hair. "Now, shall we bathe before the sun climbs higher?"
Arish took a tentative step into the stream, holding Vivaan's hand tightly. "Yes… together," he whispered.
Vihaan and Reyansh exchanged glances, then plunged in simultaneously, sending water spraying everywhere. Vivaan laughed quietly, the sound warm and calm, as he helped Arish step into the chilly water.
The four brothers laughed and splashed, teasing one another, their earlier exhaustion forgotten. Arish tried to splash Reyansh, Reyansh retaliated with an exaggerated shove, and Vihaan squealed every time a wave of cold water hit him. Even Vivaan joined in, careful but playful, guiding the chaos without ever raising his voice.
After a while, they sat on smooth stones at the edge of the stream, letting the sun touch their damp skin. The water ran off their limbs, sparkling in the morning light, and the mountain around them seemed alive with their laughter.
Vivaan spoke softly, almost as if teaching a lesson hidden in play. "See, little brothers… fear and discomfort only exist in the heart. If the heart is strong, the cold does not hurt. If the heart is brave, the waves cannot drown us. The stream is like life: sometimes harsh, sometimes unpredictable, but always a place to grow stronger together."
Arish leaned against Vivaan, his small face still wet from the splash. "I… I understand now. You are right, brother. Even when I am afraid, I feel stronger when you are with me."
Reyansh, surprisingly quiet, nodded. "I… I get it too. I just… sometimes forget to look at the heart and not the fire in front of me."
Vihaan smiled faintly, eyes bright. "And I… I will remember that too. All strength comes from the heart, not just the body."
Vivaan's smile softened, the warmth of pride filling his chest. "Exactly. And that is why we endure training, why we face pain, why we laugh and cry together. Our hearts guide our hands, our minds, and our spirits. Always remember that — no mountain too steep, no water too cold, no fear too great."
The brothers sat silently for a moment, letting the words sink in. The mountain breeze carried the laughter, the splashes, and now a quiet understanding. Even Reyansh's usual stubbornness had softened under Vivaan's guidance, and the younger brothers felt a new sense of courage, inspired by his calm strength.
Finally, the four princes rose, shaking off the remaining water. They laughed and teased one another as they headed back to the fortress, feet splashing through small puddles along the streambank. Vivaan walked between them, his hand resting gently on Arish's shoulder, while his calm gaze swept over all three younger brothers.
The mountain fortress stood silent and eternal behind them, witness to their growing bond — one of laughter, tears, lessons, and love. And Vivaan, ever patient, ever wise, led them forward, not just as their brother, but as the heart that guided them through the cold, the pain, and the journey that lay ahead.