Not in Blood, but in Bond

Consciousness and Memories

Abhimanyu slowly opened his eyes, groaning at the sunlight that peeked on him through the...wherever the space for the light to come was.

Where am I? His mind questioned. Then he remembered how he was tortured by his own relatives and death being so close to him, but he was saved.

And he was his savior.

Of course Abhimanyu knew him. The valor of Angaraj's son was praiseworthy, but that was not what attracted Dhananjay's son towards him. There was a certain aura around Karnputra that made Abhimanyu want to not battle him. Around him, Abhimanyu wanted to be on not his refined behaviour, but his rawest one. As if he Vrushali Nandan was someone around whom it was okay to let his guard down. He had hoped that in the battle, he would not have to face Vrishasen.

But it was War and in a War, one's plea falls to deaf ears. So they had fought, on the 11th day of Kurukshetra War and just like their fathers did to each other, they threw blows that were meant to kill, swords being swished around expertly, clanging as they clashed.

But there was a difference between them and their fathers.

While their fathers fought with hatred on their faces, feeling satisfied as they hurt the other, Abhimanyu felt remorse rise in his chest as blood oozed from Vrishasen's right arm due to one of his hits. At that moment, Subhadreay had wanted to drop his weapon and rush to aid the man who was only a few years older than him.

But Abhimanyu stopped himself, using his brain instead of his heart. Why did he want to help the enemy? The question remained in him, but he paid it no heed. There was a War going on. No time to stop to think.

And so they had continued fighting, but Abhimanyu was careful not to severely wound, just small blows here and there that would not hurt the warrior in front of him mortally. The opposite party deduced quickly that he was not dueling to death and to his surprise, adjusted the fatality of his blows accordingly, returning the favor.

Their duel no longer felt like fighting, it was more like dancing. They twirled and turned in rhythm, swinging their weapons, the rage in their eyes reduced to friendly competitiveness that one would hold for a trusted friend. Where this trust came from, Abhimanyu had no idea. And Abhimanyu felt like he was back in the arena of Dwarka, not in the middle of a War, laughing and training.

The Sun had set, announcing the halt of War till morning, and Abhimanyu had sighed in relief, glad that he no longer had to pretend that he was trying to kill Vrishasen. They had exchanged glances that one would with a friend after a friendly duel, Vrishasen had even given him a small but genuine smile before they climbed their chariots, leaving for their respective camps.

On the 12th day, when Tatshree Bheem and Mata Draupadi had fulfilled their vows by drinking Dushashan's blood and cleansing hair in it, they had mostly avoided each other, Abhimanyu dueling with Bhavesh, Panchaalraj Ashwatthama's son and Vrishasen fought with Uttar.

He remembered how he indirectly admitted his attraction to Vrishasen to his father on the 11th night and his father looked completely bemused.

Flashback

"After Pitamah Bheesm's elimination, I don't think the Kauravas will fight squarely." His mamashree was saying something important. "We will have to be more careful. They are agitated by Mahamaheem's death. They will surely play by deceit."

So have we. The thought crossed his mind and he quickly eliminated it.

"Karn!" His father fumed. "He is not coming in front of me, instead focusing his attention on Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki. If he does this for long, I would be forced to feel that he is scared of me. But still, how long can he keep his attention that rightfully belongs to me."