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

𝔼𝕡𝕚𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖

In Kurukshetra, Krishna's visions came thick and fast.

Eighteen days. They stood at the brink of eighteen days of annihilation. Compared to the size of the armies, it was almost too less. How much destruction per day would be required to wipe out two armies in little over a fortnight?

As Krishna surveyed his surroundings in the training zones at dusk, he saw unfair, outnumbered attacks and treacheries and lies and betrayals. He saw funeral pyres, so many of them. He saw oceans and oceans of blood and gore.

It was the natural course of things. One age ended, another began.

He remembered millions of such deaths, thousands of such wars, and it would not be so hard only if--"

"It is beautiful, isn't it?"

Arjun's voice stirred Krishna back.

"Warriors from so many kingdoms, training as a team." Arjun indicated at a legion of footsoldiers marching past, and then up at the setting sun. "Not knowing when the sun will set upon the lives of themselves and their dear ones, yet willing to give their all."

"Yes." Krishna did not know if he felt sarcastic. "It is beautiful."

"You know," mused Arjun. "I just realized war has both its ups and downs."

Krishna followed his gaze and found Abhimanyu, Iravan and Srutakarma sharing a tumbler of neera. Without the war, Iravan would probably never have gotten to know his younger brothers at all. 

Further across, Bheem and Sahadev were demonstrating a specialized technique of strapping the armour to Ghatotkach and Uttar. On the opposition camp, Bhisma would be giving commands. Dronacharya would be standing in the background, observing quietly, Aswatthama at his side.

The coming eighteen days would be very long indeed.

Krishna twisted his fingers together and took a silent vow. No matter what destiny presented, he would never let anything happen to the mortal standing beside him.

Arjun looked around, as if he had sensed Krishna's solemn mood. He did not say anything, however. He simply caught Krishna's hand, eased open his fist and intertwined their fingers together as they watched the sun set over a calm yet unpropitious Kurukshetra.