𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 || ArDi ||

43. Kill Her.

~ PACIFY HER ~
" Someone told me stay away from things that aren't yours,
But was he yours if he wanted me so bad? "

Duryodhan sighed in frustration as he walked out of Gandhari's wing. Her loud sobs annoyed him to an extent where he was ready to kill her. She kept yelling the name of Dushassan. But Duryodhan did not get what was the point of the melodrama. It wasn't even a big deal! It was just one gone, ninety-nine to spare! How would it even matter?

Shakuni stood up from his seat. His eyes clouded with concern, "Is she still crying?"

"Yes," Duryodhan groaned out loud. A headache building behind his temples. He plopped on his seat, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Any news?" 

"Yes," A foreign voice spoke. Duryodhan and Shakuni turned in the direction of the voice. They saw the Naga Princess enter with all the grandiose. Her body wrapped in the finest robes of Indraprastha. Her pale skin held a glow since she got her powers back. Her eyes shimmered in the darkest shades of green. Her brown scales peeped from her hairline before merging into the skin of her face. She sat on one of the seat placed before Duryodhan and Shakuni. She grinned in a wicked way, "I heard Draupadi was exiled. She has left the palace." 

Shakuni's ears perked up with interest. His brows furrowed, "She left?" He questioned, stroking his beard. Was it so easy? How could it be so simple for Draupadi to leave Arjun?

Vishakha scoffed, "What else do you expect from a coward?" She sipped her wine from the gold mug and relaxed in her place. 

 Shakuni looked at her incredulously. He knew better. Arjun and Draupadi planned every move of theirs. Every failure of theirs screamed suspicion. They knew who was behind all the mess in their lives. Why would they leave the vultures to wander instead of killing them? He knew Arjun's love for Draupadi was ingrained in every cell of his. It was carried in his blood and flesh. He would tear the world apart to have her. Now that she's gone, what made Vishakha think Arjun would sit idly? Shakuni cleared his throat to have Vishakha's attention, "What about your marriage with him?"

If Vishakha's eyes were a lantern, it would've been shining akin to the sun. She beamed like a newly wedded bride, "He agreed to it! I mean, can you even believe it?! We plan to have it in the holy temple in the woods on the coming New Moon night!" 

Vishakha's words confirmed Shakuni's suspicion. Arjun would never agree to marry Vishakha. Not when he's completely sane and grieving the loss of a wife like Draupadi. And not just Arjun, but why would any man agree to marry Vishakha? Look at her- she's not even a human, she could pierce her fangs and rip out her man's throat any time she desires. Or probably just inject her poison and he would be dead in no time! Who would want such a terrible person as his life partner unless he had a death wish! 

Shakuni wrapped his hands around his dice. They were planning something. Arjun and Draupadi were luring their enemies into their trap. Like a stealthy lion, surrounding his prey, or a spider weaving the shimmery web for insects. The gloss of the fine strand of web allures the parasite into the trance, ultimately falling prey for the spider—

The shiny crust of a dreamy martial life for Vishakha, hid the core of cruel punishments Arjun had in store for her. He would rip out her organs, one by one, until all that remains is a bloodied mess. The flesh would feed his revenge and when he realises the fire of vengeance still burns bright, he would come for Shakuni and Duryodhan.

No!

Shakuni would never let that happen. He must save them. And the only option was to kill Draupadi. It would break Arjun before he joins his wife in the heaven.