Not in Blood, but in Bond

Improvisation in the Epic

Duryodhan smiled cruelly at the sight of the bleeding, broken boy on the ground. He looked just a year or two older than his Lakshman. He was struggling to get up. A hollow laugh escaped the eldest Gandharinandan's lips. Good. He should suffer. Just like my Dushashan did.

He grabbed a hold of  the boy's hair, yanking him up only to throw him aside like a discarded piece of anything unimportant, earning a cry from the lad. "Beg kid! Beg for mercy and I shall grant you death!"

"N- never!" The boy struggled to get the words out of his lips, screaming as Duryodhan pressed his leg to one of his severely bleeding wounds.

Ashwatthama dared to glanced at the sight of the Adharm that was happening in front of his eyes before closing them. This should not happen. Why was Pitashree silently watching this horrible act? Why was nobody stopping Duryodhan? All those mighty warriors stood in a circle, either laughing or remaining silent as the kid withered and groaned, either too scared to speak or too ignorant to the fate participation in this act would lead them to. The scene reminded him of another Adharm that took place several years and just like this one, everyone remained silent and Duryodhan and deceased brother performed the act that led them to this moment, witnessing the unjust torture of a child that was not only a brave warrior but a stubborn one too. If the situation was not like this, he would have smiled at how much the boy was like his father.

Ashwatthama looked at his other friend, who stood frozen on his chariot, mouth open and torment dancing in his eyes. Drauni's brows furrowed. What was the Angaraj thinking? And were those tears in his eyes? He barely had time to register before Karn's face went from confusion to determination and he picked up his bow, an arrow falling at Duryodhan's feet, making him stagger back.

Abhimanyu could feel it. Death, standing just there, waiting to claim him as his own. But his Tatshree's blows seemed endless. It seemed that he would not stop until he got what he desired from him.

Chant for Mercy.

No, he will not get it. Duryodhan could torture Abhimanyu to eternity but he would not beg for anything from this man who was the reason of all the sorrows of his Jyesth Mata.

Abhimanyu's face gleamed with a shine that could hardly be found in the mightiest Kaurava warriors, save a few. He would not surrender. He would die undefeated, for he could never consider being killed by deceit as defeat.

His Mamashree had once told him, when he was too young to comprehend and too carefree to try to understand; that Death is not the End. But now he understood the meaning of those words. Death is, but just another Beginning.

He was not scared of dying, no; A true Warrior never is. His only regret was not being able to spend the end of his days with Uttara, as he had vowed in front of the Fire. He was not able to see his unborn child, not able to watch him grow, not able to nurture him. But he trusted Uttara. She would lead their child to path of Dharm.

The moments he spent with his family flashed in front of him and he smiled, satisfied at the thought that it took so many of the warriors to kill him. That he gave them so much trouble that they had to kill him this way. His father would be proud of him.

Aye Mrityu, Taiyar yadi Tu aane ko, Prassan mukh Aa.

[O Death, if You are Ready to come, Come with a Happy face.]

Suddenly, the eldest Kaurava's blows stopped hurting. Maybe Death was so near that the route to it stopped hurting.

Or were Duryodhan's blows were stopped altogether?

Abhimanyu felt too weak to grin at the fact that his Tatshree's energy had given up in front to his stubbornness. Yes. You shall fail at your every single attempt of Adharm but every single attempt of Adharm will lead you a step closer to your Demise.

O Death, come take me in your arms, for I can be near these Adharmis no more. He pleaded silently, ready to surrender to the supreme power that held the world together.

Life is the sweetest lie and Death is the bitterest truth, each having its own solace.

And Abhimanyu knew it was his time to accept the truth.

But something was wrong. No blow to end his pain came. Instead he could faintly hear commotion. The Kurava warriors were arguing with someone. But who?

Stop quarreling and just kill me, Abhimanyu thought, the pain is too much to bear!

Someone was at his side. He could sense the person lift him up and drag him. No. Don't do this to me. Haven't you people tortured me enough? The person whisked him over what felt like the back of a horse and mount it himself and even his tired mind could register the roar of fury that left Yuvraj Duryodhan's mouth. What was happening to him? Where was the person taking him? Who was he?

Abhimanyu tried to look at the man who had carried him from the blood thirsty Kaurava Warriors, before his eyes closed due to sheer exhaustion and pain, but only after seeing the Surya Tilak on his saviour's forehead, somehow knowing that he could trust this person to lead him to safety.

-

Somewhere far from where the Chakravyuh had been formed, a charioteer, whose eyes were fixed on the reins of horses, looked up at the Sun, that was about to set. His eyes held unshed tears for his nephew but now, they were not necessary. His nephew was saved.

Oh Myself, the thought crossed his mind, this was not in the script of Mahabharat. Well, well, let's see where this sudden improvisation takes us.

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A/N: So, this is the first chapter. What do you think?

Who saved Abhimanyu? Where is he taking him? What will he do to him?

Stay tuned to find the answers to these questions!

Also, I know I should've updated the next chapter of Mending Broken Bonds but oh well, main kisi ki sunti kahan hun. But don't worry, that chapter will come out very soon.