The calm before the storm: The sanguine Krishna-Arjun journey

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟡: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖

Arjun's pov

Abhimanyu woke up the whole palace the next morning for the ceremony. 

"Father! Uncle Madhav! The priests have arrived, get ready quick!"

He created such a din that all thoughts of 'five minutes more' were driven out of their head. Groaning, they dragged themselves out of bed. 

"Father, the servants have decorated the hall overnight, come and see, it's glittering all over--"

Abhimanyu caught Arjun's arm barely a moment after he had emerged of his room, dressed, and propelled him down the stairs, talking nonstop. 

Arjun could not grasp what he found to be so upbeat on a solemn day as this. But Subhadra and Madhav had brought him up differently from all warriors. They had brought him up to be free from any desire of supremacy, to appreciate the small beauties of life, and more than anything, to always smile.

"Pitamahi, I have woken everyone," he told Kunti, who was already present in front of the ceremonials.

"Well done, my dear." Kunti beckoned Arjun and Yudhishthir, who had also arrived, over.

"I would wait for Bheem and the twins, but there is something I require the two of you to do," she said.

Yudhishthir and Arjun glanced at each other, and back at their mother.

"You two maintain the balance of our family," said Kunti. "Never forgot to honour that in the battlefield or in the camp. Take each decision calmly."

"Yes, Maa," they said.

Their brothers came up at a rush. It sat well with no one to be outside a conversation of their mother with one or more of their brothers.

"Keep together, the five of you," Kunti said, drawing them all in a familiar hug. "No one can defeat my sons when they are together."

The prayer ceremony began. Arjun's mind drifted as the chants echoed in the hall. Balaram and Madhav and Yudhishthir were sitting in the front with Kunti and the Queens of their allied kingdom, alongside the priests. Bheem was with Drishtadyumna at the farthest end.

Arjun slipped into the space between Nakul and Sahadev. There were some things that could be said only to younger people. Yudhishthir would gently shut him up, Bheem would express extreme indignation and Madhav would express horror if they knew what Arjun was thinking.

"Hello," the twins chorused.

"Hello," said Arjun glumly. "You know, I wish Bhrata Duryodhan had accepted the offer of five villages."

"Seriously?" said Nakul, shocked.

But Sahadev followed Arjun's gaze to their younger generation grouped together near the fire. Abhimanyu with an arm around Uttara, Uttar on her other side. Prativindhya speaking gravely, Satanika, Shrutsena, Ghototkach and Iravan listening just as gravely. Sutsoma and Srutakarma, oblivious to everything else, fighting as usual.

"They are good warriors, Bhrata Arjun," said Sahadev. "Some of them are are better than jyesht, Nakul and I."

"What tells you I'm worried only about them?" Arjun put an arm around each of his younger brothers. "But Bhrata Bheem and I will not let anything happen to any of us."

Nakul gave a strained sort of laugh.

"At least Madhav is on our side, Bhrata Arjun," he said. "Imagine if Duryodhan chose first and chose him?"

A cold fist squeezed Arjun's heart.

"Why would you say things like that, Nakul?" he said crossly.

Draupadi had left her seat in front and joined them. "Try not to be so serious at least today, you three."