Week 6 Story

The Divide

There once were two brothers that were born into the world. When they were born the world trembled, and a loud voice thundered all over the earth saying that the older would serve the younger.  The first brothers name was Veri and the second brothers name was Ashmal. Each of these brothers grew up in the same house with the same parents. Though they grew up in the same environment each brother did not behave the same. The first brother was cruel and jealous of his younger brother. The younger brother was kind and loving, he sought to do the best he could in life. Ashmal was also devoted to god, for he knew he could place his full trust in him. Tragically one day their parents were killed in a flood and the inheritance went to the older brother. The older brother found himself a wife and forced his younger brother to work the field for him, allowing him to sleep in the stables. Ashmal however did not have a problem with this. He loved his brother very much and wanted only the best for him. One day while both the brothers were out hunting for food Veri was bitten by a poisonous snake. Ashmal knowing that they had the antidote at home rushed home to retrieve it. When he got to the house Veri’s wife asked where Veri was. He told her what had happened, and she smiled looking upon Ashmal seductively. She approached him and rubbed her arm down his back promising if he would but sleep with her, she would be his. Ashmal was disgusted and told her that he could not betray her brother like this, and that she should be ashamed of herself. He quickly retrieved the poison and ran to his brother’s aid. When he reached his brother, he did not mention what his brother’s wife had done only that he had gotten the antidote and that he would be alright. Once he gave him the antidote, he helped him up and onto his horse so they could return home. Once they arrived home, they saw Veri’s wife laying bruised and naked on the floor inside the house. Veri enraged asked what happened and his wife simply pointed at Ashmal. Veri quickly grabbed for his knife intending to kill Ashmal. Ashmal pleaded with his brother saying that he did not do this and that she was lying. It did not matter to Veri however for his heart was cold and hard. Ashmal refused to fight and kill his brother, he prayed to god for help. Suddenly a light surrounded Ashmal, and god softened the heart of Veri, for his heart had been clouded with hate for so long. Veri felt the love his brother had for him and knew that he could not have done this. From then on Veri lived to help and be there for his younger brother. Thus, the roles were reversed, and the older brother served the younger.

Authors Notes: I based this one off the story of The Two Brothers that I read. I changed a few things from the original story. Instead of a piece of a god living inside the younger brother I made the younger brother devout to god. I also added the bit about the older brother getting bit by the snake and then be tempted by his older brother’s wife when he goes for the antidote. In the original the older brother sends the younger brother or more grain so they can plant crops and his wife tempts the younger brother then. I also changed the end and made it to where a light shine around the younger brother and Veri’s heart is changed to feel love. There is also no proclamation in the original story about the older brother serving the younger, I made that bit up. 

Bibliography: Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie

 

Naja Tripudians Cobra poisonous snakes of India by Joseph Ewart