The night deepened, growing colder as a few men shuffled about, entering a dense forest in the wee hours of the morning.
Meanwhile, inside the trunk, Dharmraj was growing slightly uncomfortable with the significantly reduced amount of oxygen & wished that his abductors would reach their destination soon.
He didn't have to wait long, for he felt them nearly slam the trunk on the ground, causing the leaves underneath to crunch. He heard the clicking sound of the men fidgeting with the lock & immediately closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious again.
Dharmraj lay motionless as the men lifted him out, laying him on the ground.
" Chalo! Shigra band dete hai isse, isse purv ki ye chetna dharan kar le!"
One of the men whispered, while the others murmured in agreement. Lifting the disguised king to a standing position, they used heavy metal chains to bind his hands & legs, leaving him held up in a standing position with his head drooping.
Yudhishthir was thoroughly disgusted at Mala & the group of men assisting her. Not only had they nearly poisoned him, but also bound him in the most inhumane manner. However, he believed that everyone did pay for their sins at some point be it in the current life or in the court of his beloved father, the Lord of Justice himself!
It took all of his self control to not recoil when icy, feminine digits stroked his cheek.
Ma: Mere pyaare Kank ji, kitna manmohak lagte hai iss avastha mein bhi....
Mala simpered & Dharmraj desperately held in his urge to empty out the contents of his stomach immediately.
Only his Panchaali could stroke his skin sensuously like that, Mala's touch made him immensely uncomfortable.
However, to know more about their plan, he had to play along.
Just then as if like a saviour for once, Keechak walked saving him from Mala's most unwanted ministrations. Dharmraj was shocked thinking thus about him, but for that moment it was the truth.
Keechak scanned the seemingly unconscious Kank up & down with a sneer.
K: Abtak murchhit pada hai ye! Huh! Bada aaya tha Maharaj ko paramarsh dene! Murkh!
Mere...swayam mahabali Keechak ke marg mein aaraha tha! Meri Sairandhri na jane kyu iske hi gunn gaati rehti hai!
Kintu ab nahi.....
He smirked wickedly, just as two more people entered the cave.
Yudhishthir was shocked to see that they were none other than Mala's father, Amatya Subodh &...... JAYDRATH!
Yudhishthir listened to their conversation silently, with great attention without any reaction.
J: Senapati Keechak! Hum Rajkumar Duryodhan ke behnoi hai, unke nivedan par aapko suchit karne aaye hai ki Hastinapur ne samast sena sahit Viraatnagar par aakram kiya hai aur shigra hi Maharaj Viraat humaare bandhi honge.
Jaydrath boasted. He frowned noticing Kank tied up at distance.
Ke: Ati uttam, Maharaj Jaydrath! Mitra Duryodhan ko meri orr se dhanyawad avashya kahiyega. Antatah, unke kaaran ab Viraatnagar ka sihasan mera hoga Keechak ka!
The commander-in-chief of Viraat beamed happily, not caring that his happiness was the expense of several others.
J: Ye mahoday kon hai? Aur inhe murchhhit awastha mein bandhakar kyu rakha hai?
He inquired curiously, while Keechak smirked.
Ke: Humaare marg ka ek avrodh samajh lijiye aap ise! Maharaj ka vishesh saathi tha ye! Iske rehte uss Viraat mein atyadhik manobal aagaya tha!
Iske rehte hum Viraat jo kabhi bandhak nahi bana paate!
Bas ekbaar, mitra Duryodhan aur uski sena Viraat ko parasth kar mere charno mein le aaye, Viraatnagar aur Sairandhri, dono par keval mera adhikaar hoga!
Keechak 's menacing laughter rang out through out, echoing in Dharmraj 's years causing cold shivers to run down his spine, realising the wicked plan of the men before.
YOU ARE READING
Vivaah Bandhan: The Story Of Dharmaraj & Yagyaseni
Historical Fiction* This story is not strictly based on the Mahabharata epic. It has several fictional scenes. I'm writing this as a token of my respect for Yudhishtir and do not mean to offend anyone* Cover Credit: My first ever sakhi here @Dharmaatmika❤️ Thank you...
