The Wrath of Gammon

Chapter 4

                                                              The Wrath of Gammon

Disclaimer: This story is my humble attempt to write a fanfiction of the epic Mahabharata. My intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiment.

Aum Namah Shivay!!

Major Jayant Roy, SM is a fictitious character. Any similarity with any living person is merely a coincidence.

Chapter 4

Khandavprastha, Kuru Kingdom, Dwapar Yuga

Jayant/ Duryodhana POV

I dismounted from my ride and looked at the ruins in front of me. This was the land and ruins of Khandavprastha, some said that a land cursed by the king of Devtas, Indra himself. The ruin of the ancient city was surrounded by the famous dangerous forest, infested with Nagas under king Takshaka, and other demons. The motorcycle transformed into the locket and went to my neck. I entered the ruined ancient city to inspect it thoroughly.

The walls had fallen; the moats were now empty of water. Snakes, lizards and scorpions were residing in the ruins. No human can survive in this city. There was no source of drinking water in the ruins. Yes, the Yamuna River was nearby; but the path that led to the river went through the forest.

I heaved a sigh and decided to enter the forest. Oh, how much I had missed a rifle! No one should enter in a forest as dangerous as this without a weapon. I willed for my sword and it came into my hand. But then I felt a presence behind me.

My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword. I turned around swiftly, ready to attack, but then I saw the man standing there with a calm smile in his lips.

Maharishi Veda Vyasa was standing there, looking at me.

I shifted the weapon in my left hand, and touched his feet. The great sage placed his hand over my head and blessed me.

"What are you doing here, o son of Gandhari? Or should I say, o man of Kali Yuga?"

I was not shocked. Maharishi Veda Vyasa was an immortal and omniscient sage. It was not a very big deal for him to know my real identity.

"I am visiting a part of my kingdom, Maharishi." I answered him. But I knew that this was not the whole truth. Maharishi Vyasa literally scanned me under his powerful gaze. Then he spoke in a soft voice.

"I have faith on your courage and power; still I will recommend you not to go there. The forest has a lot of things that you have only imagined."

I looked into his eyes for a few seconds and then decided to hear his words. The original Duryodhana was famous for not listening to his elders, but I would not make that blunder.

"Maharishi, are you going to Hastinapur?"

"Yes, I was going there, but then I came to know that you are coming here. I wanted to speak with you for a long time. When we met for the first time, I haven't gotten the chance to speak with you. Let's take a walk together."

I nodded affirmatively to him. Both of us walked out from the ruins. For a few moments, we were both silent. Then we saw a big banyan tree.

"Come on, let's sit there." The Maharishi said to me. I quickly cleared the place. Maharishi Vyasa had a deerskin in his hand which I placed on the clean ground. He sat on it on the lotus position. I sat in front of him on the grass.

Again some silent moments passed between us. It was the son of Parashar Rishi who broke the silence.

"I know why you are here, in Khandavprastha. This is not just curiosity, but something else."