Suta's Samragyi

Chapter 30

The Pandavas held their breaths as the servant announced the entry of the Kauravas. Arjuna and Bheema looked at each other in agreement.

They would do their best to be diplomatic, but god forbid if something happened..

Yudhishthira's hardened eyes met the steel gaze of the eldest Kaurava, whose demeanor seemed distraught and forlorn. For years, they had been at each other's necks until fate forced them to look at each other in the eye and bend to their brother.

Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev bowed to Duryodhana due to their age, while Bheema stood his stance, silent and unafraid. In his rageful mind he wished to annihilate this man who had been nothing but cruel and greedy to all of them, but Nakul held his hand.

Bheema looked at his brother who knew him too well. Nakul blinked sternly, gripping his hand in retaliation.

'Not today. Not now.' His eyes spoke, and Bheema sighed.  

Dushasan, Vikarna and Yuyutsu knelt down, their swords lowered as a sign of submission. Only a quiet whisper of rise made them look upon, meeting the gaze of Dharmaraj.

"Sit down, all of you." The Princes followed his command, looking at each other quietly. Sahadev cleared his throat, looking at Duryodhana.

"We have come to an important agreement. If I may be allowed to speak, Bhrata.." Duryodhana's simple words caused a shift in the atmosphere.

"Go on.."

The twins stood taut, their expression betraying them as the muscled warrior put his mace against the ground, kneeling on one leg as he looked at them all. The others younger to him stood up in shock at his uncharacteristic behavior, glimpsing a sheen of tears in his empty eyes.

"All our lives we have hated the five of you, for taking away something that wasn't even ours in the first place. We weren't lucky to have parental affection or love, so we sought in a man who molded us into his puppets and brought this upon our kingdom. But it all changed when she came.." His voice quietened as all of them exhaled harshly.

They knew who he referred to. The woman they had never known changed them in ways they couldn't comprehend.

"Bhrata Suyodhana.." The archer's voice was tight with grief and disbelief. 

"Devi Ishani never judged me, even when everyone did. She taught me that betrayal always comes from the ones who smile and lodge a knife into your vulnerable back. But she also taught me that I needed to open my eyes and choose the ones I wanted to be close with. Mamashree may have brought us up, but I would like to apologize for my evil intentions I harbored towards you all. I am tired of fighting. My brothers don't want this. Neither do I." His voice broke at the end, and everyone in the room gulped their heavy throats.

Yudhishthira rose, gripping his muscular arms and raising him up. "Suyodhana, remember this. Forgiveness is not given, it is earned. And so do we, for judging you in an inhumane manner."

Duryodhana shook his head, allowing the tears that had plagued him for so long to break free.

"All our lives, we have lived in darkness and misery, hating the kin we were supposed to be respecting. All because of our treacherous uncle, we have put our eldest brother and our to-be sister-in-law in grave danger. I am surely doomed to hell, aren't I ?"

"Then so do we. We have been more arrogant and allowed our ego to consume our judgement. Devi Ishani might be different and unlike other women, but we knew she would never lie. I can only hope that Jyesht is taking care of himself and her." Bheema's tired voice made Duryodhana nod, even as Bheema walked towards them and patted his shoulder.