MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

OPEN BOOK

Soon after karna and ashwatthama's entry in duryodhana's room, duryodhana found himself sitting on the bed with karna standing in front of him while leaning against the window behind and ashwatthama sitting on the chair near the bed.

"uh-" Duryodhana tried to cut off the scary silence only to get cut off by karna who calmly ask him "what were you thinking while taking that decision?" but before duryodhana could reply ashwatthama said "you think he thinks anything while taking decision".................Oh! He is here to listen not to say anything!

"answer duryodhana" OK, so he can say.

"so, I have......a valid....reason........?" Duryodhana says or more like asks in a excuse tone as ashwatthama nodded while Karna raised an eyebrow making duryodhana look at the ground as he raised his hands in the air before putting them back on to point his finger at karna "As your best friend, I was worried for you"

"so you don't trust me that I can come back by myself?"...............He is gone for real. Just kill him, why torture?

"I do-"

"then?" Ashwatthama asked making duryodhana look at him it tightly pressed lips as he narrowed hie yes before saying "you know why I went there, ok" to ashwatthama who shrugged before pointing his thumb towards karna while saying "apparently, that reason in not enough for him..............not for me too, though"

Duryodhana frowned at that before he spoke out "you guys are behaving like I did something bad, I went there cause you-" pointing at karna "-went missing and beside how would I know that you are coming back? I got scared so I went to found you and you are behaving like as if I am a fragile glass. I am not weak-" Duryodhana's voice started rising as he soon almost started yelling "-or vulnerable, I can go anywhere. Beside I am alive, you are like-" Taking a deep breath duryodhana stopped to cough as ashwatthama gave the glass of water to duryodhana who drank it while as Sigh could be heard in the room and anyone could recognize it as karna stap towards duryodhana who is sitting on the bed after drinking water while ashwatthama stepped back.

Karna went towards duryodhana while saying "none of us said you are weak or is need of protection and you are right, worrying about your friend is never bad but-" Karna raised his one hand before jabbing his forefinger at duryodhana's forehead making duryodhana wince as he crunched his face but it didn't stopped karna "-do you even know why I went there in first place?-" shaking his head in confusion, duryodhana relaxed his face when karna stopped jabbing his forehead before strapping back as he says "-I went to find medicine for your chest pain"..........Huh?

"eh?" Duryodhana let out a confused sound down from his throat as his eyes widen before he exclaimed out "you know what is wrong with me!?" as karna nodded while saying "not confirmed but yeah so I got to know about white lotus which can cure any disease so I went found even if my assumption is wrong, you will still get cured"

"do you know who did it?" Duryodhana asked as karna shrugged making duryodhana nod his head before he went towards his drawer to find something while ashwatthama went beside karna whispering "so we aren't telling that you brought it from Nagraj?" making karna look at him as ashwatthama nod his head to himself before going back to his original position when duryodhana came back.

"let's go outside. I have work too"

Nodding both ashwatthama and karna walk beside duryodhana in comfortable silence until ashwatthama open his mouth to ask "by the way, what happened in there in that time?"

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"can't believe we have to stay here for more time"

The Pandavas walk through the corridor after freshen up as they ate the lunch before getting to know about their stay in Hastinapur for one month as their palace is getting renovated while Dushala's Swayamvar is going to happen in two weeks, so they have to stay either way.

Walking in the silence they walk towards their rooms until they hear ashwatthama voice "so you are saying that they didn't attacked!!?" making them immediately grit their teeth except ashwatthama, thinking what does he even think of them? Before they hear karna saying with sarcasm "so what do you think of them? They should have assassinated him? Like what are you even trying to say, ashwa? What is he saying?"

They watch the footsteps coming closer making them able to see ashwatthama karna walking with freshen up duryodhana in between who shrugs at karna's question while trying not to laugh as ashwatthama shake his head, trying to explain his point" No, I meant to say...............how did you all stayed without gripping each other's neck?" making karna look at him with done expression as ashwatthama look away immediately.

"he has gone mad"

"mad in love of vrushali" Duryodhana says as ashwatthama glare at him with red ears while Karna just roll his eyes saying "don't forget she is my best friend too and you are teasing him in front of me" making both ashwatthama exclaim "but I am going to marry her!!" making karna Sigh "that's the only sad point" as ashwatthama gasped offended "you just didn't!! We are best friends, Radheya! I thought........No! Maybe I thought wrong"

Both karna and duryodhana can't help but to laugh at ashwatthama's overacting drama as they walk inside duryodhana's office. The Pandavas were also about to turn away until they caught Karna glancing at them for a moment before entering the office, lastly.

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