MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

UNFORESEEN EXHILARATION

The morning came quite early, at least for Arjuna who usually takes his time for stroll at night still manages to get complete sleep by the left night but today it doesn't seem like the case as he feels sleepy even after waking up.

He walk in the garden, finding ashwatthama mediating before he stand up muttering "Karna is about to come back from Surya Puja too" making arjuna realise that karna already left, though he knows karna do Puja both at morning and evening, so it is no surprise.

He walk in the garden, filling his lungs with fresh air, taking in the nature's beauty after ashwatthama left from there before he notice karna's room's door opening making him frown as karna has already then did someone sneak into his room? but he got surprised when duryodhana step out of the room, his hair slightly messy while he rub his eye, still sleepy until he notice arjuna in the garden from his other eye.

For a while they both stand stilled until a grin came on Arjuna's face making duryodhana mutter under his breath "No shit!" as he abruptly turn around, leaving from there but that didn't stopped arjuna from grinning. Told you, listen to his advice, it always works.

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It was all normal except the work of Dushala's Swayamvar whose day is coming near. Forget about recheck, they haven't completed the full work till now.

Duryodhana felt his head about to burst off as he go through the papers again and again, wanting everything to be proper at the Swayamvar but it seems for that he has to get tired for that.

Cracking his neck muscle, duryodhana walk towards his office until his steps stops when he come face to face to Arjuna who still have that cheeky grin from morning. No shit, really!

"what?"

"nothing, just thought you don't listen to advices much"

There he go, knew it and that's why duryodhana hoped that he won't get to know about it but nope, how can his life go on without picking on him. His own life is against him, WoW indeed!!

"are you here for that?" Duryodhana asked, already wanting to disappear or Arjuna to go away but it didn't fazed Arjuna as he just shook his head making duryodhana sigh before he walk past Arjuna, going towards his office while ignoring the Archer who is following behind. Now he seriously isn't going to leave duryodhana easily, isn't he?

"why are you following me?" Duryodhana asked annoyed as he enters the office only for Arjuna to shrug before he says "just to give you advice, in case you need one" to which duryodhana replies "I have my friends for that" making Arjuna say "I could believe on Angraj but you aren't talking about Panchala Raj, right?"

Well, Ashwatthama is intelligent to but only at serious matters otherwise................He don't have anything to counter back on this matter does he?

Seeing duryodhana's silent made Arjuna grin more in victory as he open his mouth to say something but stopped when a viuce from behind speak.

"these notices needs stamping, suyo"

"oh yeah, thanks karna"

Karna nodded watching duryodhana stamping the notices before he glance towards the papers of Dushala's Swayamvar work list making karna mutter out "I didn't knew you need help with this"

"huh?" Duryodhana give the stamped notices to karna before realising what karna said as he replies "ah no, just........talking.......?"

"as long as you don't get hurt"

Arjuna hears karna talking about him, in the same room, right in front of him yet talking like as if he isn't even here, at least duryodhana did glanced at him in between, seemingly telling karna that Arjuna is right there but it seems karna on purpose ignored him making Arjuna exclaim "why would I hurt him!?" taking karna's attention.

Ah............he shouldn't have said that. But he already did and now he has no choice but to show that he has to take back of it.

"you are trustful?"

Arjuna came out of his thoughts by karna's question as he watch karna raising an eyebrow, making arjuna take back who didn't thought that karna would reply him or even talk to him but he did and in quite surprising way but- wait!! Did he just mocked him or questioned him?

"what do you- Hey! Angraj!!" Arjuna yelled seeing how karna went away without listening to his question and yells making arjuna frown sulkingly before he hears duryodhana saying "he is going to be Samrat soon"

Oh yeah, Arjuna suddenly remembered how karna didn't wanted to be Samrat at Anga but after duryodhana and ashwatthama's persuading and those Rajyas's letters karna agreed but he put it aside by saying, first he need to check all the Rajyas himself, after that he will take over them. Maybe his checking is about to End now, that's good though. He do what he want, not like Arjuna has any problem with that.

"you must be proud of that"

"why wouldn't I be?"

And this is first time, Arjuna has seen such expression on duryodhana's face. He looks so proud, happy, healthy and radiant which for some reason has made Arjuna's feel goosebumps as he look away immediately trying his best to ignore his sudden fasten heartbeat but duryodhana didn't noticed that since he went back to his documents again.

"don't you have any work of Dushala's Swayamvar?"

No, he does but "I thought you wouldn't want us to come in between your work"

"why would I?" Huh? Is he oka- "Dushala is only princess of Kurus and only sister of all brother. She loves everyone equally beside she would like it if you all would give your hands in this too"

Hmm, that's true.

"we do have work of food and guests comfort"

"ugh, that work is given to that glutton"

Not like Arjuna can't counter back on this but he does not want to, not after watching duryodhana not being serious about it since his expression is completely relaxed while saying this, it means he does not mean it but he does not want to keep quiet too, he just can't keep quiet, can he?........pfft. If Arjuna start laughing or even chuckle here then duryodhana will surely come at him.

"I will take my leave now"

"thank God"

As if he can't come back.

Arjuna closed the room door but not before taking a glance of duryodhana who is relaxed and calm which is a good sign before he closed the door, walking towards his brothers.

He has to say, duryodhana isn't a bad company. In fact, he liked talking with duryodhana. It was all carefree and comfortable, unlike past where they have never talked nor had even glanced at each other.

This is definitely much better. And maybe he will come back again to tease duryodhana cause he definitely enjoyed how duryodhana react to this.

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