ARYAVARTA

chapter 5

" where have you been.I was worried " asked Pandu
" With Pritha" replied Veer
" You spend the night with her don't tell me that you slept with her "
" Yes"
" What had you done , brother" said Pandu with anger
" I love her, she will be my wife now pack your things we are going back to Hastinapur."
" As you say brother, you freshen up .I will go to the city and buy necessary items required for the travel"

Later Pandu came with the necessary items
" You are late" asked Veer
" The market was crowded looks like the king has come from Dwaraka"

Both Pandu and Veer packed their items and begin their journey on horse towards Hastinapur
At the royal palace princess kunti came back from the forest after completing puja . Her mother and maid priyamvadha noticed some changes in her daughters behaviour. But they ignored it since she came back after spending a month alone

Veer and Pandu travelled recklessly  stopping only at nights to have some sleep .They reached Panchal

" Brother our supplies may deplet soon we need to buy some necessary items.it will take 2 more days for us to reach Hastinapur" said Pandu
" I am coming with you " replied Veer
" No you stay here . feed something to pavan(veer horse) he looks like he has seen a ghost"
" Don't judge some one by appearance brother,My Pavan is the fastest horse in Aryavarta"
Pandu then moved towards his horse. Veer along with pavan walked towards the river side.

Veer was worried. Pandu still hasn't reached .so he decided to go and look for his brother
After covering some distance he saw a huge fire and sounds of metal clashing each other. The scene in front of him schoked him .He saw his brother fighting against the current Panchal king Drupad . Drupad is a strong warrior with possession of celestial weapons.Against him Pandu put up a strong fight but he was injured too by Drupad.If veer doesn't interfere Drupad will kill Pandu hence Veer draw a arrow and shot it ,The arrow collided with Drupads arrow canceling their effect

" So it's not only the prince ,the new king of Hastinapur is too behind this crime" asked Drupad
" What are you speaking" asked Veer with anger
" The same crime your uncle late king Vichitravirya did .your brother Pandu burned down my granaries and killed my soldiers "
Veer looked towards Pandu .Pandu was very injured that blood were flowing from his body
" It's a lie brother ,I was   going towards market.then I saw a huge fire.the soldiers were killed by some one and suddenly he attacked me" said Pandu
" It's a trap he knew we were here" veer thought to himself and soon reinforcements will come ,As veer predicted he saw 100 soldiers galloping towards them with panchal commander with them. Soon the solderies surrounded them forming chakravyuh
" Drupad let us fight like warriors I am challenging you for a duel if I won you will let us go but if you won you can arrest me or worse kill me,but let my brother be spared"
" Do you think I am a fool ,I am not naive like my father to fall for the same trap like him.My father lived each day with shame and died with that shame.i will avenge my father today by soaking this land with your blood ,the same land where your father bhishm defeated mine"

Veer knew how to break chakravyuh but against Drupad it will be difficult.even if he is able to break the chakravyuh only one among them would be able to escape

Veer jumped from his horse and carried his brother to pavan chakravyuh had only 2 human walls ,he has to destroy these 2 walls rapidly.Veer took his bow and draw a celestial weapon and directed it toward the 1 wall ,soon the arrow flew towards the wall causing a explosion creating a narrow path way . Seeing the chance to escape pavan rode towards the crack with Pandu on his back. Seeing the horse coming towards them the archers in the 2 wall drew their arrow,but before they could release an another arrow flew towards them creating a similar explosion and pathway
Pavan flew the venue with Pandu
Drupad was stupified at the speed with which veer drew the arrows before he could do anything ,Pandu fled the battlefield

" Congrats Maharaj, you saved your brother but who will save you" asked Drupad
" I don't need anyone to save me Drupad,if you want war then you will have it " replied Veer

"You are indeed bhishm's son. Let's begin"
The 2 warriors release their arrows soon after they contacted  they cancelled each other. They used all the celestial weapons they had gained through years of training and hard work.It was a battle between 2 equals neither veer or Drupad was ready to accept defeat . The duel went on for a long period. But after some time Drupad was feeling very difficult to keep up with the speed at which Veer was releasing the arrows.He had never seen anyone with such skill in archery.Not only he was releasing them rapidly but also with precision.Drupad knew if the fight goes on like this he won't be able to keep up.As he predicted an arrow contacted with his bow breaking it into 2 pieces. Seeing his king at a vulnerable state the commander of Drupads army drew an arrow towards veer .veer sensed the incoming arrow and dodged it aiming an arrow to the neck of the commander which in turn pierced his throat. But this distraction was enough for Drupad to get a new bow and cut off the string of Veer's arrow .Veer turned towards Drupad and saw him raising his hand and suddenly droping it . Before he could do anything arrows pierced his whole body fired from different directions.Blood was flowing through his whole body .He let go his bow and hit the ground on his knees.Drupad stepped down from his chariot and walked towards Veer raising his sword from scabbard.He stood before veer .veer closed his eyes he saw the faces of his grandmother Satyvati,mother's Amba,Ambika, Ambalika,his father bhishm, kuluguru kripachariya,his brothers Dhritarashtra,Pandu, Vidhur and at last that beautiful smile and the dark blue eyes .he opened his eyes with a smile and saw Drupad raising his sword.With a large war cry Drupad beheaded the smiling face of the Maharaj of Hastinapur