•|| Arjun~ Becoming the Peerless One ||• (II) ✔

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝟺𝟶

Hastinapur, Nagarasahrya

Arjun's POV

"But if I leave now, I would miss their performance!" I almost helplessly exclaimed, but there was no choice left. My performance would shortly begin after them, and I had not even checked the taught of my bowstrings yet. 

"It's Guru Dron's order Prince, you're requested to be present at the arena shortly afterwards." One of them bowed with a blank expression plastered on his face, and I suppressed a breath of dejection. Nodding, I made my way towards the huge bows which were stacked neatly, their strings attached and ready to be in action. Hastily, I began to examine their taught and give them a few jerks and twangs, "Witness the great Vrikodar! How excellent is his command over mace!"

Goodness....if the patience of mine had to be examined right now then this was it!

My fingers worked faster in tightening strings as I rushed with a bow to towards the window, my eyes fixed on the arena while working upon the bow. The attendants had stopped peeking from the other windows too, involving themselves in adjusting my quivers. I kept glancing back and forth at the arena, crouching below at times and then peeking up everytime there were huge appraises and roars.

Bhrata Bheem appeared to have taken over Bhrata Duryodhan, and that was the moment I was waiting for, but alas their was a knock that I had to leave. Heck, I could not even witness even a one fourth of what Bhrata Bheem was doing! Yesterday he was vividly and animatedly explaining how he would use his secret techniques of swinging mace, and I was already imagining him taking a toll on Bhrata Duryodhan.....and Bhrata Bheem was laughing picturing his panting face.

There was a final twang and I was satisfied enough with it's taught, though it appeared to submiss under the shrieks, gasps and cheers of the audience, aching my already impatient heart.

"Haste, Prince! The duel can get over at any time!" I began to dash down through the staircases, swiftly which led spiraled from a tunnel and up to the entrance of the arena, "Ah! That was a great blow!"

"Oh no! Is Prince Suyodhan going to lose?"

"Look how Bheemsen counters!" Not being able to restrain myself anymore, I halted at the staircases, leaning against the railing midway. And a wide grin was ought to stretch on my lips; Bhrata Bheem had indeed retaliated Bhrata Duryodhan's blow, with his mace glistening underneath his, "Come on Bhrata Bheem!" 

"Retaliate! Come on!" I cupped my mouth, with veins twitching in sheer excitement, Bhrata Bheem appeared to have spotted me with a side glance for he sent me a smirk, and immediately hurled his mace from underneath Bhrata Duryodhan's and whirled it around. The latter almost somersaulted, but thudded on the ground, "Hail Prince Bheem!"

I shut my eyes firmly with a searing sigh, as Bhrata Duryodhan immediately stood up and began to lunge at him, the ferocity was clear after the almost humiliating situation. I stepped down one staircases, still not able to move away from the tense situation, the grip over my bow firmed with each blow of the duo. 

Only if Bhrata Bheem wins the match.....I began to pray silently with my jaws clenched. There appeared to be a sudden rise in their vigor, and it seemed like as if they were hell bent over striking each other, "Bhrata Bheem?!"

This time he did even hear me, he growled louder than the elephant trumpet and smashed a blow over the latter's mace. Bhrata Duryodhan stomped his foot and began to swirl his mace to strike his head, but he ducked it and rolled on the ground-

What on earth is happening? 

"Bhrata Bheem! No!" I gripped the railing hard, breathing in deeply. He had already made Bhrata Duryodhan bleed his arm through a recent strike, but there was a sudden surge in their aggressiveness. 

"He's going to kill him!"

"Oh no! Look how they're fighting!" The entire atmosphere had turned tensed, the audience had risen from there seats and were howling, almost now divided into groups. Almost hurling at each other, while the two of them didn't bother to stop. If this continues then, "Bhrata Bheem! Please don't!" 

He was about to strike Bhrata Duryodhan's neck, and whispering something to him with his face contorted with anger, to which Bhrata Duryodhan spit on his foot and whirled his mace-

"Stop! Stop I command!"

A sigh of relief escaped my lips, as Bhrata Bheem's mace instantly halted in air at the familiar voice of the command and so did Bhrata Duryodhan's. My eyes raked over to discover Guruputra, who rushed forward, "Enough!"

"What the heck both of you are think you're doing?!" The tremor between the masses began to disappear, as the screams turned back into murmurs and whispers, "Both of you! You both are violating the norms of the Rangbhoomi!" 

My lips pressed into a thin line, though the sight which unfolded wasn't pleasant, but indeed; halting them was absolutely necessary at this point. Or else Bhrata Bheem might've-

"Please depart from the arena!" Ashvatthama glowered at the duo, who seethed at each other but silently nodded, resting their maces on their shoulders and departing. Guru Dron stepped forward and began to whisper something in their ears. 

"Prince!" I was hauled out by the voice of the attendants, "Please, Guru Dron is requesting you to be prepared and step into the arena!" I nodded hastily, swiftly descending the remaining stairs and rushing towards the entrance, breathing in deeply.

The huge door, taller than even the largest of the palm trees stood elegantly carved, the guards waiting for the command to let go off the latches. I kept gaping at the entrance, the strings of the heart thudding faster than anything else. 

Twelve years, my fingers moistened at the thought. 

Twelve years had passed since I last saw their faces, now....what will be their reaction when they would witness me? As much I was impatient to behold them after years, a tiny part of me twanged with a strange sense of skepticism and trepidation, I inhaled a deep breath to calm my raging mind. 

My fingers brushed against the curve of the bow, as the breath appeared to be stuck in my abdomen, the thrill that zapped through my spines and the yearning to behold my family after almost like an eternity; blood warmed my jaws furiously at the prospect of it-

There was a sudden drop in the sounds of the musical instruments....and within a jiffy, the door began to widen with deafening creaks.

"Now behold Paarth, who is dearer to me than my own son!" With that, my teeth chewed upon my lips as I tried to suppress the smile as Guru Dron's voice echoed like thunders through the arena, "You all shall witness how he is skilled in the use of weapons!"

Warmth effused in my temples as he further continued, "No one, I repeat! No one is equivalent to him! He is the son of the great Indra, Shakra and is like his younger brother!"

"Welcome the third Prince of the righteous Paandu and the lady Kunti, Prince Arjun!" 

★★★★★★★

A/N

Aish, I had so many flashbacks of the SP MB Mahaabhaarat while doing the chapters of Rangbhoomi 🥺🥺😍😍😍

Perhaps, in this POV I actually filled up the gap where the elder Arjun was "dressing up for Rangbhoomi" in a shot of perhaps 20-30 secs in a flash 🤣🤣✨✨And explains what he was actually doing before ending up at the arena lmao-

Also I was itching to add the dramatic 'Gate crash' of SP on Arjun, but yeah-I didn't want to deviate from BORI- 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Imagine trynna murder a Prince right in front of the audience's eyes, and thinking they would be quiet if accidentally their Prince 'died' in front of them-

Nah-

Signing off for today!

Kiritija Nushkie