The Wrath of Gammon

Chapter 16

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 16

Rajapura, Kalinga Kingdom, Dwapar Yuga

Jayant/ Duryodhana POV (continues)

Rukmi charged at me like a raging bull, mace in hand. I was ready for him, remembering a vital lesion.

"Use your anger as you wish, but don't let the anger consumes you totally."

The two maces clanked, sparks flowed from them. Rukmi started attacking, whereas I was defending myself as usual, searching for a gap. But this time, my opponent was fighting cautiously. He saw my previous fight, so, he made some calculations. That meant I had to change my plans. It was time to make some improvisations.

Our maces contacted again, but this time, I was in attack mode. I started hurling blow after blow on him. He was startled for a moment, probably not ready for my changed strategy. But he was also an experienced warrior too, and a disciple of Druma and Parashurama. We were both fighting, but I understood that it will be time and energy consuming. So, I decided to lay a trap for him.

"I recently met Sri Krishna. He told me that he is enjoying a very happy married life with Devi Rukmini."

Those apparently simple words did the work of petrol in a burning fire. Rukmi got angry; his eyes started burning with hatred. With a loud roar, he threw his mace to me. I ducked and avoided the flying mace. But my opponent's anger did not vanish. He charged at me, his empty hands became fists now. I dropped my mace on the ground, and in the next second, a hammer-like uppercut landed on his face. Then I grabbed him with my two hands, and dropped him on the ground with a swift takedown.

"Winner, Duryodhana." Shrutayudha shouted.

Rukmi looked at me from the ground. His anger now suppressed by astonishment. I looked at the other kings present in the ground. All of them were watching me with shock. But Maharaja Shalya had a small smile on his lips. I looked at Rukmi again; his crown fell down on the ground, showing his bald head. I took it from the ground.

"May I, Rajkumar? It suits on your head." He was shocked, but before he could do or say anything, I placed the crown on his head, and extended my right hand to him. He looked at me, and then looked at my hand. He took it, and stood up.

"You are a cunning man, Kaurava."

"Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed...that is my motto."

"Yes, that cowherd made a good influence on you, it seems. But, to tell you the truth, Kaurava, you are really talented in mace. That drunkard..." he looked at my eyes, which were automatically hard, "Ok...Haldhar Balrama trained you well."

The next contest was between Jayadrath and Somdutt. The match was short. Somdutt was way older than Jayadrath, and his old age became a disadvantage for him. He quickly got tired in front of Jayadrath, and got defeated. The fight between Shalya and Dantavakra took some time, but at the end Shalya defeated his opponent. The fight between Brihadvala and Bhoorishravas took some more time, because both of them became very defensive. Still, at the end, a heavy blow from Brihadvala knocked out the mace from his opponent's hand.

That meant, there were only four warriors now, Shalya, Jayadrath, Brihadvala and myself. I looked at Rajkumari, no, the queen of my heart, Devapriya. Our eyes met again. I felt my blood flowing in my veins with supersonic speed. Her red lips were so beautiful, her smile was so pure, so mesmerizing...