A Change of Fate

Differences (1)

It was done and he lost.

He could taste iron in his mouth, smell the ash in the air, feel his heartbeat falter and slow.

The pain had faded now, the all-consuming agony now a blessed numbness and through his blurry vision he could see his most hated enemy (also his brother) in front of him. Arjuna. He could hear the cry of despair from his beloved friend, a wail of overwhelming anguish. Suyodhan never cried that way even when his brothers were killed. The Kauravas playfully spoke several times that their elder brother loved him more than he loved them and he never thought it to be true. Guess they are right in that regard.

He felt his spirit leaving his body and in those moments he saw all the moments of his life. His life before his younger brother was killed by that Brahmin for listening to mantras. His tutelage under Guru Drona, Guru Kripa and Guru Parushuram. He remembers his friendship with Suyodhan and the Kauravas. He remembers the love he held for his wives, children and grandchildren.

He remembered in his jealousy how he cast away his sense, for his friendship how he cast away his values, in his entitlement how many people he hurt through words and actions. Funny how death gives clarity he could never gain in his life.

"Sorry, Suyodhan... I have failed." were his last words.

So finally the great warrior closed his eyes.

Those eyes were reopened to see molten lead being poured into his little brother's mouth.

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Arjuna started to wonder whether the premonition he received was actually true or not. The first glaring difference, when he came to the past, was the death of Gandharraj Shakuni.

One of the main architects of the Kurukshetra war, Shakuni, was the person who supported Duryodhana the most and helped him design the plots against their brothers. Arjuna made subtle enquiries about him and was shocked to learn that he was killed four years ago.

The death itself was mysterious. As Gandharraj was visiting his sister Queen Gandhari, an arrow came from an open window and destroyed him with his head falling down at his sister's foot. The astra fired was Brahmastra and except for Guru Parashuram, Guru Drona and Pitamah Bheesma, no others knew how to use it nearby Hasthinapura. Accusations have been thrown but Pitamah Bheesma and Guru Drona swore on Shivalinga that the deed had not been done by them. Guru Parashuram replied that his grudge against Kshatriyas had been completed and he has not taught any students as none of his present students are worthy of handling Brahmastra.

Queen Gandhari was unconsolable with the death of her final remaining brother and the only reason she didn't fall into complete depression was her love for her sons. The investigation hit a dead end and the death to date still remains a mystery.

Considering the death of Gandharraj may be the second major difference, Duryodhana's neutral response to Pandavas, was not so shocking at all. Arjuna remembered a loud, passionate and uninhibited child who didn't change much when he reached manhood.

However, this Duryodhana... he moved and behaved like a panther. Calm with a calculating glint in his eyes, he moved with the quiet grace of a dancer. He didn't like or immediately accept the Pandavas but he wasn't agonistic towards them. The most shocking part is what he heard when he was hiding in the barracks.

"Bhrata Yudhisthira is the eldest of this generation of Kuru vansh." He heard Duryodhana say to his brothers. "That means unless Father announces otherwise he is the Crown Prince. I don't ask you to like him let alone love him but show him respect."