Not in Blood, but in Bond

The Eldest Sons of Kunti

An Hour Ago

"Yuvraj Duryodhan." A guard called him and he tore his mind from his thoughts. "A chariot is heading towards us from the Pandava camp."

"Again?" The GandhariNandan was perplexed. The Pandavas had already searched their whole camp in hope of finding Abhimanyu. Ha, as if he was here. Then what was the reason for heading towards the Kaurava camp again? "Who is occupying it?"

"Uhh...Jyesht PanduPutra, Yuvraj, on a self driven chariot." The reply made him frown even more. Yudhisthir? But...why? Was he planning to withdraw from this War when it was almost clear that Pandava would be the one victorious?

He nodded at the soldier, who exited at once. Then, nonchalantly, he said, "Dushashan, fetch me Mitra Ashwatthama and Karn." But getting no reply, he ordered, "Go, Dushashan!"

Still no reply, or the faint noises of footwear that told him that his younger sibling had gone to work. Angrily, he turned around, his voice raised at his dearest brother, "Didn't you hear me, Du-?!"

At the chair where should have been the dark, muscular figure of Dushashan had emptiness occupying it. Images flooded back in his mind, those he had locked away in his mind for the sake of this War. Of Bheem, tearing apart his brother like a rag doll, showing no mercy on the sinner. The cries of his anuj, screaming for help. The torn limbs scattered on the ground, liquid pain adorning the flesh and scarlet painting the soil.

That incident which had led to such barbaric killing. When he had instructed his anuj to bring to him the woman Dharmraj had lost and he did so, dragging the Kuru Maryada to the Dyut Sabha by her

pious hair and uttering the cursed order to disrobe the one he should have respected. The incident which had caused his Bhanu to isolate herself to Kaling, leaving their children in his care. Oh, how he longed for her everyday!

Was it really worth it? Wanting Indraprasth and going to such an extent to get it?

Even if he won this War; was becoming the King really worth the pain he was enduring?

_

"Yudhisthir." He addressed, his eyes bloodshot as the PanduPutra in front of him. It made him wonder what was the reason for the dried tear tracks on the face of the man in front of him, who had hardly lost anyone dear to him. Yet. Duryodhan was in pain and he wanted to inflict the same pain upon his cousin, to see him weep at the bodies of his brothers and feel what he was going through.

But would that lessen any of your misery? Ashwatthama's reasoning ran in the back of his mind, his conscience crumbling at the thought.

"I wish to meet Angaraj Karn." The older man answered, Ashwatthama raising an eyebrow at his tone. "Alone."

"May I know why?" Duryodhan spat back, his bottom lip quivering at the very thought of leaving his best friend with the enemy, even though he was more than capable of taking care of himself.

"No." He answered shortly and bluntly, his cousin's eyes widening at the request- no, order, his blood boiling at the audacity of Yama's son, coming at his camp and ordering to meet his Mitra!

"Then forgive me, you can't meet hi-" He was going to politely tell Yudhisthir to fuck off to his own camp when another deep voice interrupted.

"I'll come with you, Kauntey." The tall man said numbly, Yudhisthir's eyes flashing with anger and pain at the title used.

"But Mitra-" Duryodhan started to protest, silenced by a raised hand.

"It is fine." He replied, already knowing what his friend had to say, his eyes not leaving Yudhisthir's unreadable face. "Do not worry about me."