Unknown Twists : A Collection

1

After the Panchal War, Yudhishthira was named Yuvraj. About 2 years later the Pandavas and Kunti are going for vanvarat.  

In these 2 years, Duryodhan-Karna-Ashwatthama has become 3 Musketeers, and even the relationships between the Kauravas and the latter two have become strong. 

On the other hand, the tensions between the two branches of the Kuru dynasty have only become worse. To make things a bit more bearable Gandhari and Kunti convinced Bheesm and Vidhur to send Duryodhan with the Pandavas for the vanvarat.

Since both Karn and Ashwatthama were busy with their respective kingdoms Duryodhan couldn't find a reason to refuse his mother and agreed to go with them.
The entire journey was tense as the Pandavas and Duryodhan refused to talk to one another. Duryodhan only spoke to answer Kunti otherwise he kept to himself.
While both Kunti and Yudhishthira tried their best to involve him the others were happy with this arrangement. 

Upon reaching their destination they were shown the new palace that was constructed for them. Neither Duryodhan nor Yudhishthira remember seeing any plans or orders for the new palace and tried to get the staying arrangements done in the old one itself but Kunti stopped them saying she didn't want to unknowingly insult anyone by refusing to stay there. They respected her wish but Duryodhan was still suspicious about the palace and its caretakers.

Days went by and the reason for their visit was fulfilled but Duryodhan's uneasiness didn't go away. The fact that the palace had no place for any torches and even the food consisted of dishes that didn't need to be cooked just added to his doubts. Yes, the palace was illuminated by sunlight and moonlight but what about the days when there were a lot of clouds or a new moon day? How do the architects not consider those? But he also knew that bringing up any of these thoughts in front of the others was useless as they would not listen to him. Although it would seem that his Choti Maa had not only caught on with his unease but also with the reasons for it. She has finally convinced her sons to cut the trip short and leave the next day.

Oh if only he was in Aang now instead, he could be eating laddoos made by his Vrushali Di and playing with her and his Mitr Karn's one-year-old son instead. 

It was at dinner time that their fears were realized, the minute Duryodhan took his first bite he noticed that something was wrong with the food. Spitting the food out he immediately ran from his room towards the dining hall to warn to the others. He didn't give a damn about his cousins but his aunt was a different matter altogether.

On his way, he saw that the palace was on fire and that even the walls were burning very quickly. A little ahead he saw Kunti coming towards the dining hall as well.

Duryodhan: Choti maa aap kya kar rahi hai yahaan se bahar jaye aap.

Kunti: Duryodhan ?!?! Duryodhan kuch karo tumhare bhai wahaan aandar phaase huey hai. Unhone neend ki dawai waale bhojan ko kha liya hoga. Mere putro ko baccha lo.

Duryodhan: Aap jaaye yahaan se main dekhta hun.
Kunti: Nahi main aapne putron ke bina yahaan se nahi jaungi.

Seeing her so stubborn he went to the dining hall to find Arjun and Sahadev trying to wake their brothers up.

Duryodhan: Bewakoofon jab pata hai ki bhojan main neend ki dawai milli hui hai toh unhe uthaane main kyon samay nasht kar rahe ho? Sahadev Choti maa ko yahaan se lekar jao. Arjun tum Yudhishthira aur Nakul ko utha kar le jao main Bheem ko lata hun.

Kunti: Dekh kya rahe ho aapne bade bhai ki baat ko sunno.

Hearing Kunti both of them hurried to do as Duryodhan told them to. Narrowly they avoided the burning collapsing palace. They took shelter in a cave nearby till the other three woke up.