The Wrath of Gammon

Chapter 21

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 21

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Yudhisthir POV

"What are you saying, Kakashri?"

I was shocked to my core. Just a moment before, Kakashri Vidura came to me and passed that horrible news. There was an attack on Bhrata Duryodhana while he, along with his new wife camping inside southern Panchal. The attackers attacked at midnight, but my cousin single headedly slaughtered every single one of them.

"It was a brutal massacre. But my spy from Kampilya gave some very disturbing news. Apparently, there was a hunter hiding in the forest, who saw the whole fight. Our soldiers caught him, but Duryodhana felt pity on him. He gave him some food and some coins, to go to Maharaja Drupad and give him his message, that he will totally annihilate Southern Panchal and turn it into cremation ground. But this is not what is worrying me."

I looked at Kakashri again. His voice is trembling and his face was pale.

"That hunter saw Duryodhana tearing down his enemy's flesh with his teeth and nails! He said everything in front of Drupad and his courtiers. Duryodhana was fighting like a Rakshasha, with his sword and mace acting like the embodiment of death himself. His body changed again, his claws and fangs came out again after his childhood."

I was standing still. My mind was not ready to believe it a bit. Sure, my cousin is hot headed, a little bit foul mouthed, a lot of cunning, but was he a Rakshasha?

"I do not believe it Kakashri."

"Neither do I. But I know what I have seen. I have seen his body changing, just for a moment, at the day of that Sarp-satra. After that..."

"In the war with Panchal, Rajkumar Satyajit and Rajkumari Shikhandini saw that too. Even I saw that for a moment, but I thought that as an illusion." I slowly spoke, remembering the events.

"The killers came for Rajkumari Devapriya, the newlywed wife of Duryodhana. The hunter heard them saying that Drupad promised the one large number of diamonds who will bring him the severed head of Devapriya."

"No! This is all a lie! My Pitashri can't do this type of treachery!"

Both of us were so much engrossed in talking, that none of us noticed the owner of that voice in the room. My eyes fell at her. She was standing beside the door. Her facial expression was the perfect mixture of shock, sadness and fear.

I quickly ran to her side and grabbed her two shoulders with my both hands.

"Panchali, calm down! Everything will be okay."

"Believe me Aryaputra, this is all some big conspiracy. I know my Pitashri; he couldn't do this type of cowardly deed. Probably, this is a plan to attack Panchal again."

I took a deep breath and cupped her face in my hands.

"Trust me, Panchali. It is not easy to wage another war, as much as Duryodhana wants it. We are still recovering from the damages done by the Magadha campaign, waging another war in this time will damage the stability and the economy of Hastinapur."

My words calmed her a little bit. I was curiously watching her. It was strange for me to see her in such a vulnerable state. The fire born Yagnaseni, the learned Draupadi, who always faced each and every problem with a calm smile, was afraid today. She hid her face in my chest. I felt that the woman, who was hugging me tightly, was not the brave, intelligent and smart wife of us, but a truly vulnerable woman afraid for her father and kingdom's safety.