Introduction...

            Andrew was trying to be helpful, but Jason was just angry. Being the older eight-year-old twin by about three minutes, Jason saw the situation as nothing but abandonment. Andrew, on the other hand, continued to help his mom and dad pack, asking them about Africa.  Missions work had led the twins’ parents overseas, and Jason was especially upset about having to go stay with his grandfather for a few months. Grandpa Budhil had always seemed a bit mysterious to the young boys, as he lived a life of solitude in the Himalayan Mountains. He had come to visit in the States for a short time when the boys were very young, shortly after his first and only wife had passed away. Back then, he offered the boys no candy or ice cream, and although Andrew had talked endlessly to Grandpa Budhil, Jason was a bit more skeptical.

            The traveling seemed endless to the boys. Although Andrew could barely contain his excitement, Jason just found a window to stare out of. As they left the plane to get on a helicopter and finally into a jeep on the mountain paths, Jason realized life would never be the same. When they finally arrived at the small home at the foot of the Himalayas, Andrew was in awe of the countryside. A gentle stream flowing down a snow-capped mountain by Grandpa Budhil’s home set off by the sunset over the rolling hills out to the horizon had captivated Andrew’s attention. Jason, on the other hand, was not so easily impressed. He immediately noticed the lack of modern technology and television as the boys’ parents talked with their grandfather. When it was time to say goodbye to their parents, Andrew was in tears, but Jason just stood back with his arms crossed. Although his parents were troubled by this, Budhil reassured them he just needed time to adjust.

            The next day, Andrew was playing outside while Jason sat and sulked on the porch. Andrew ran over to Jason to show him a colorful stone he had found, but Jason expressed little interest.

            “Come see where I found it!” Andrew exclaimed.

            “I’d rather not,” Jason retorted. “With Mom and Dad gone, I hate it here!”

            Andrew couldn’t keep the tears from welling up in his eyes. “What about me? I’m here with you! I miss Mom and Dad too, but we’ve still got each other, right?”

            As Jason turned his back to his younger brother, Grandpa Budhil came outside with a tray of three steaming tea cups.

            “Come, boys, come have some of my ancestors’ herbal hot tea.” Andrew immediately ran up and started on his tea. Jason was reluctant, but really wanted a taste. As the three of them enjoyed their tea, Budhil continued, “I saw you boys arguing. Let me tell you two a story my father told me.”

            And so began the summer that Andrew and Jason would never forget. Their grandfather was actually an amazing storyteller, with years of wisdom he would bestow upon the young boys. He would tell them amazing stories from the ancient Indian Ramayana and Mahabharata. Jason and Andrew would come to find out about some of the most famous brothers in the stories, including the competitiveness between Jatayu and Sampati, the misunderstanding of Sugriva and Vali, and the devious activity of Vatapi and Ilwala.

            As the boys are now grown and partners at one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world, they frequently look back on the summer that brought them together and strengthened their bond forever.

            Jason particularly remembers two stories Grandpa Budhil shared with them during those few short months. The tale of the heroic Rama and fearless Lakshmana stuck in his mind, along with the story of Yudhisthira and his four younger brothers. He also could not forget the time his grandfather told them about the demon brothers Vatapi and Ilwala, and yet another example with Duyodhana and his 99 brothers. The first two served as a model of how he should treat his younger brother, Andrew, and the other two made him think of an example he would rather not follow. These tales from the Ramayana and Mahabharata that Budhil had shared with them forever changed Jason’s attitude and relationship with Andrew. For this, Jason is now eternally grateful.

            As you venture back to that summer that changed two young boys’ lives, hopefully you will experience a change in perspective as well...

    Cover Page
    Introduction
1. Forging The Brotherhood
2. The Right Path
3. Self Sacrifice
4. Role Model

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