The Different Mahabharata

Kalapradhashan

Niyati pov

Should I have stood up for him?
Was it really necessary?
All this was just a game after all.
I'm not talking about kalapradhashan.
                             ***

“GO JYESTH!” I cheer.
My hair coms in my eyes and I remove it, but it comes again.
“Hey Narayan, how come today the wind is blowing? It never blows when I want.” I think.
And then I look around.
I shake my head thinking about the weather.
I gaze back at the arena to see Bhrata Yudhishthir on top of Duryodhan.
I grin.

“Offo, Bhrata Duryodhan will lose now.” Dushala says, dismissively.

“What!? My putra can never lose to anyone.” Rajamata Gandhari exclaims, “Just wait and watch putri, he'll defeat Yudhishthir.”

I take a deep breath.
“Rajmata Gandhari, clearly, he is not winning.”
“No Niyati, he will not lose.”
“Rajmata, I know you love your son a lot but that doesn't mean he will not make a mistake.”
My words made her snap.
“You don't know anything Niyati. My son is perfect. He never does anything wrong and never will.”
As soon as I start to argue, she speaks.

“Kunti, teach your daughter how to talk like a lady, I'm really concerned about the fact that who will marry her if she snaps like this.”
I grit my teeth.
“If you have anything to say about me Rajmata-”
“Putri,” Kunti calls and signals me to stop.
But I don't.
“- say it to me. Do not drag Mata in between, and certainly do not criticize the morals and values she put into us. She and Pitashree have taught me to open my mouth not to shove everything someone says into my heart, but to voice out my opinions. If my opinions are not similar to yours, then it is not my fault.”

Rajmata Gandhari does not say word. But then the announcement is made that Jyesth lost and now Arjun will be entering the arena.

“I told you Niyati, Duryodhan doesn't lose, he wins, evry single time.”

Hey Narayan give me strength to handle this kuruvansh.

                              ***
Arjun defeated Duryodhan.

“I told you Rajmata, your son cannot win everytime. Everytime someone becomes arrogant of his powers, someone more capable than him takes birth on this earth to introduce himself.” I say to Rajmata Gandhari, and she grips her seat in anger but not uttering a word.

I look back towards the arena.

Guru Dron is just about to announce the winner of kalapradhashan.
“I want to fight Arjun!”
My eyes snap to the speaker and widen.
It was Bhrata Karn who spoke this.

“How can you announce Arjun as the world's best Archer when he still hasn't fought with the other archers in this world? He just came back from his training.”

“Who are you?” Guru Dron asks.
“Radha putra Karn, Guru Dron. My father is Adhiratha Nandan.”

“A sutputra?” Pitamaha asks, and then shakes his head in denial, “No sut can fight with the royals, that is the rule. Now go back to your seat.”

“Give me a chance, Mahamahim. Please.”
“No, you are a sut putra, I can't allow you to fight with Arjun.”
The guards drag Bhrata Karn out of the arena.

“Wait!”
That was my voice.
I can't believe I'm doing this.

“Niyati? What is the matter?” Pitamaha asks me.
“Pitamaha,” I stand up, “Karn is my partner. He is the student of Lord Parshuram himself, who is your Guru as well, Pitamaha.”
“He had his training from Lord Parshuram?” Pitamaha asks in disbelief.

“Yes Pitamaha. He deserves a chance. Let him fight with Arjun. He is right, Guru Dron  you cannot declare Arjun as the best Archer. He has not even fought in a war!
Both of them should get the chance to prove themselves, to prove that they're the best Archer in the world.
Give them this chance.”

“I cannot do this putri. He is a sut putra.”

“Pitamaha I just-”

“What if he's not just a sut putra?” Duryodhan asks. “What if he is a king? Can he then fight?”

“Yes of course he can, but he is not a king Duryodhan.”
“Well now he is, I declare him as the king of And Desh. He is now Angraj Karn!”

My eyes snap up to Bhrata Karn's.

“You don't have the power to do that.”
“Pitashree agrees with my decision, don't you Pitashree?”
Maharaj Dhritarashtra nods.
“I agree with putra Duryodhan.”
And then, they fight.
But no one wins.
Sun sets, and the day is over just like that.
I could not save Bhrata Karn from this humiliation, he is now friends with Duryodhan. He owes Duryodhan.
                          ***
“I'm sorry Bhrata. I could not save you from this humiliation.”
“You tried Niyati. And that is enough for me. And it doesn't matter anymore. Mitr Duryodhan helped me. Now I am respected, that is more than I had asked for.”
“But now you're enemies with my brothers.”
He stays silent.
“I need to go.” I whisper.
“Where are you going?”
“My place, Bhrata.”

                           ***
I made a mistake of going there.
I should not have gone there, but do I really regret it?
I don't think so, but I also think so.
This doesn't makes sense but nowadays, my thoughts don't make sense too.
                            ***

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