✓ Narottam Arjun: Soul of the Sage

e i g h t

Present
Past

"It had been two week, two weeks since Jarasandh has kept his armies all around our borders," Spoke a minister, chuckling, "He thinks that cutting our connection with outer world will affect us. We have lived without it for two centuries, and now we are self sufficient."

Ashwatthama nodded in agreement, "He knows how low his chances are at winning the war, and hence he is thinking to bend us on knees by these techniques."

Arjun was silent, he did not comment. This seemed far too easy, and a man like Jarasandh could definitely not be foolish to think of these possibilities.

"Maharaj, what are thoughts?" Asked another minister.

Arjun sighed, "Jarasandh cannot be underestimated. He can't be foolish to think about these possibilities. I think there is more to what we see." He replied.

His words dropped tension to everyone, but it was a matter of important concern.

"And I think I just got an idea what he is thinking, and it certainly isn't good." Ashwatthama abruptly said, gaining several worried looks.

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That very night, Ashwatthama and Kritvarma rode towards the borders, decked up with weapons, ready for anything.

The two rode fast and quick, without any halts. Reaching the borders towards Kurki. Reaching a small yet bigger than every other, "Diwakar Mahoday," Called out Kritvarma, and Diwakar, the village head of Kurki came out of his bhavan.

Diwakar was dressed in a red outfit, his face was bright and normal, "Kritvarma? Mahamahim?" He asked, shocked to see them in the middle of the night.

"Yes Diwakar Mahoday," Kritvarma started, "We think tha-" but his words came to an abrupt halt as Ashwatthama started speaking, "We think that Jarsandh is going to attack tomorrow, so we have come here." 

Diwakar loooked shocked, but nodded nevertheless, "Then I will assemble the remaining soldiers," He said, but Drauni held his hand in a stop motion. "That won't be necessary, we have a plan already, we just came here to inform. We are in Mahadev's temple," Ashwatthama glanced at Kritvarma and both left.

"Drauni, why did you stop me from saying the truth that we think there is a spy here?" Questioned Kritvarma, Drauni just sighed.

"It's better to keep it a secret," He said, "Especially from him."

Kritvarma looked puzzled, to which Ashwatthama continued, "Which father wears such bright colours within five days of death of his daughter and to-be-son-in-law? And he did not even look sad, nor did he express any grief.
And he is at a very high position and knows a lot more than many others. I think," Ashwatthama looked at Kritvarma, "he is the spy." He declared connecting all dots.

When many soldiers and every commander at Kurki's Army had died, only he was alive, unscathed. He was the only one who could have hidden things from them and slipped information on there.

Kritvarma stared at Ashwatthama like he had grown two heads, and then he laughed, "Drauni, that man raised me and Satyaki his own kids when our father had died. He won't sell his own country. I know him," The last words were said too emotionally.

A tear rolled down Kritvarma's eyes as spoke in delusion, "You don't know him like me." hot tears fell down like rain.

Ashwatthama knew that Kritvarma was just trying to deny but in mind he too had connected dots and knew that Diwakar was probably the spy.

That was the reason why they had travelled here, cause they had doubts that there was an spy in Kurki who had helped Nivatakavachas and now was helping Jarasandh. 

It also seemed that both of these attacks were connected and their was a much bigger ulterior motive, which they hadn't identified, yet....

"I just hope that my predictions are wrong," Said Ashwatthama.

Kritvarma nodded, tears flowing, "I just need sometime alone," Drauni nodded understanding.

Kritvarma sat down near a wall, he screamed loudly and banged his fists on the wall continuously. His hands bled but that did not matter for now. He rested his head on the hard rock wall.

Satyaki was his elder brother, and even though there was just a few minutes difference between their ages, Satyaki always took care of Kritvarma like his son.

And Diwakar, the prime suspect for treason was like their father.

Both brothers were five year old when Takshak came marching with his soldiers, the tyrant ruler had a vicious look on his face, there were a few battle scars on his face making him look more scary.

"Satyaka," Yelled the Airavata King. Takshak then spotted their father, and held their father's hairs in his hand and dragged him like an animal. 

Their father, who was thin as stick due to starvation and hunger had no strength to fight against Takshak, helplessly stayed still being dragged.

Satyaki, his elder brother hugged him tightly, his eyes were moist but he did not cry. He understood that he was now the caretaker of his younger brother.

Kritvarma closed his eyes as he saw his father being decapitated gruesomely.

"Krita, don't worry, all will be fine," Said the five year old Satyaki.

"Yes Jyesth," mumbled the younger one burying his face in his brother's torso. "Jyesth, I want to kill that man," Said Kritvarma a few minutes later.

Satyaki looked at his brother and spoke, "One day we will."

Kritvarma closed his eyes feeling the weight of those words. 

His brother had always been there, if not him then his best friend and sister Roohi or his father figure Diwakar; and today Kritvarma felt orphaned.

He lost his whole family, again. And he cried, again;

He never felt so numb, so helpless in his life, like he felt now. He hadn't shed even a tear at his brother's death, but now knowing that it was a family member because of whom he lost his brother, he lost himself in the tears of pain and agony.

"Diwakar, if you had been the traitor then I will not leave you." He spoke to himself.

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How was the chapter??????

What do you think is the connection between Jarasandh and Nivatakavacha attack??

DIWAKAR- Tu toh gaya 
*throws him down to the readers*
Jo karna woh kar lo