The Different Mahabharata

Decision

Niyati pov

“Did you love him?” Rukmini asks me.
I swallow, “Of course I did. To be honest I still do.”
“Then why don’t you just come back? He made a mistake, and he apologized, why is it so hard for you to trust?”
“Why is it so hard to keep a promise?”
                                                                         ***

Niyati pov

I smile innocently before starting.

“You see, Mama Shakuni, it was our father who was selected as the heir for the throne during his time. Tatshree Dhrithrashtra was given the throne because Pitaji was exiled. So technically, it is my brother Yudhister who is the rightful heir of the throne and not Duryodhan.”

I gaze at Duryodhana to see him seething in anger. I chuckled.
“Bhrata Duryodhana, I am right, aren’t I?”

Before duryodhana could even utter a word, Vidur kaka stood up and said, “Yes, putri, you are absolutely right.”

I smiled thankfully at him because I knew my brothers wouldn't stand up.
They were too afraid to sever their relationship with the kauravas.

“How dare you?” Duryodhana says, rage in his eyes.
I raise my chin and look him in the eyes.
“Dare what?”

“Insult my father like that! Who do you think you are? You are no one. You are just a mere girl who’s not even going to stay here. This just shows how you don’t have a say in these matters, not only because of those reasons, but because you’re a girl.”

“And you’re a boy. Oh shut it, so what if I am a girl, so what if I am to leave Hastinapur one day? I am Pandu putri, I am a part of this family, so I do get a say in this, Bhrata Duryodhana.”
I eyed him before continuing, “I might leave this house, but that is yet to happen. Till then, I am right here, helping my brothers and getting bored by you.” I turn and raise my eyebrows to Pitamah who hasn’t said a word since this started. He chuckles but then pulls a serious face to cover up his amusement. I turn back to look at Mama Shakuni and duryodhana. “Perhaps when Bhrata Yudhister is the king, it won’t be that boring.”

Maharaj Dhritrashtra gasps, not loudly, but loud enough for me to hear.

I take a deep breath before saying, “I think we all know what the decision should be, Tatshree.”
After saying that, I go and sit along with my brothers who, except Bhrata Yudhister, all look shocked whereas Bhrata Yudhister looks angry.

I looked towards Bhrata Karn who was sitting next to Duryodhana, and saw him smile.
I smiled back, pursing my lips to stop laughing out loud.

But then I once again see Bhrata Yudhister’s angry face.

I ignore him. I do know I came off as rude, quite churlish perhaps, but he, more than any of the other pandu putro needs to realize his worth.

We are not worthless that the kauravas will use us when they want and throw us when they do not need us.

Bhrata Yudhister loves everyone. And he loves too deeply.

But he also loves the wrong people, people who use him.

And when the time comes, the time to stand against them, god forbid this doesn’t happen, he will fall weak.

But maybe, us, his siblings will be able to strengthen him. Well not me, maybe.
Because Bhrata Yudhister loves his brothers too much.

As much as I hate to say this, I know he loves me less.
But loves me, nonetheless.

I think about Yash and wonder, what did he see in me?
Why did he even like me?