MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

TWO SIDE OF SWORD

It was all silent in the palace with the wedding preparations stopped in middle but no one told the reason of this to the citizens as they all sat on the rooftop until the sound of horse galloping enter their ears and it seems it is not just one horse.

Walking towards the edge they saw two horses coming towards the entrance of Palace as the soldier shouted "Maharaj, it is Nishadha Raj and Angraj"

Seeing the approval nod of Dwarkadheesh, the soldiers opened the door of Palace entrance, letting the two Kings enter with their horses while the people on the rooftop went down to meet the two guests.

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"man you are so cruel, how can you push me?" Ekalavya complained while looking at the Dwarka's palace interior in astonishment before hearing taunt from behind from his best friend "I wouldn't had if you didn't decided to drag me here"

They all stand there until the footfalls enter their ear as they look forward only find the Dwarka family and Indraprastha family coming forward making them greet which got returned as they all stand in an awkward silence.

The silence was too much that even Karna and Ekalavya had to look at each other with confusion before they hear the voice of the former King of Dwarka.

"welcome Nishadha Raj! Welcome Angraj! It is good that you came soon"

"it is not a problem, we were on trip from Gandhar so it didn't took much time" Karna said making Vasudeva nod while karna look at everyone who are avoiding eye contact including Pandavas making him suspicious as he glance around at the seemingly half decoration of the palace, telling that there is a big event going to take place though he still does not know what it is until he hear "Subhadra and Arjuna's wedding was going to take place in two days but............"

The silence again came in between as Karna speaks again "you have no reason to be nervous, I doubt there is anyone near who can dare to say anything about you" looking at Ekalavya who also look at him before they both nod at Vasudeva who look at krishna making him step forward.

"yesterday, my sister revealed that she is in love with someone and that is not Arjuna-" both the guests stare at krishna in silence, letting him speak everything before he spoke out "-it is Nishadha Raj"

And the silence again followed before Ekalavya open his mouth but stopped by the hand on his shoulder which is his best friend's who look at him with the expression 'drop this topic, we will talk about this later' and Ekalavya did, speaking out "Maharaj, I am  confused about all this" to which Vasudeva, devaki and kunti nodded understandingly as krishna says "we have guest rooms prepared, please rest. You have two days to think about this thoroughly and there is nothing force in it. Whatever decision you will take, will be the final decision, Nishadha Raj"

Ekalavya nodded before he and Karna followed the maid to their guest rooms which is different but they both went inside one after Ekalavya's desperate calls for his best friend's presence, talk and advice.

"what is happening here karna?"

"I also want to ask same, Rajkumari Subhadra is in love with you, how? And since when? And when did you met-"

"I never met her" Ekalavya says, cutting karna's sentence who look at him with raised eyebrow making him sigh "I have seriously never talked to her, seen her nor have ever meet her, beside the only person I love is Dushala, the only Rajkumari of Hastinapur. I don't know why she said-"

"because yours is the only name that is on the people's tongue right now-" Ekalavya look at his best friend who shrugs, continuing "-maybe she didn't wanted to marry Arjuna and by going under the pressure of finding reason to stop this marriage, she said she loves someone. When they asked her about the person, she must have blurred out your name cause it is the first name that is in front of everyone's brain, being the person who just married the only Princess of Hastinapur"

"yes it is true" A new voice entered as they look entrance where the only Princess of Dwarka is standing nervously as she came forward before the door behind her closed "I don't want to marry bhrata Arjuna cause I only see him as my bhrata but I didn't had courage to tell that my parents who were happy about the marriage but yesterday I panicked thinking in just two days I am going to marry the person who is my brother, so I told them that I love someone else and the first person that came in my mind is you-" she looked up at Ekalavya with teary eyes "-I know I caused a big problem by my foolishness and I apologise for that. You can reject the offer of marrying me on the decision day and I will tell my parents truth"

She said but shuddered, imagining their reaction, not forgetting the fact that the whole Dwarka know about their marriage and tomorrow if she told them the truth then her parents thought about her...................will she had to marry her cousin brother who is nothing but brother in her eyes?

Both the best friends can the visible horror and fear in her eyes even when they are filled with tears as karna look at Ekalavya who sighs before saying "it's okay Rajkumari, I understand your situation, you don't have to apologise. You should take rest, beside we have two days until the wedding takes place"

They watch subhadra nod before she left the room silently while Ekalavya slumped on the bed with a tired sigh as Karna glanced at the back door, known to the five people outside the door who are eavesdropping and he does not have any thoughts regarding them or their condition right now.

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The Pandavas felt themselves in the middle of bridge, knowing that they can blame neither of them beside subhadra has a point and Ekalavya also got caught up in between, not forgetting that he is married to their sister.

The four brothers look towards their brother who is supposed to be the groom, only to find him completely nonchalant about all this making them confuse before Sahadeva asked "you also didn't wanted to get married?" making Arjuna smile, too little but still they can see, making bhima lightly slap arjuna on the back of his head before yudhishtir asked "why didn't you told us?"

"same reason" Arjuna says, turning around with his brother following as he continues "beside I am not letting subhadra take the blame again. It is my fault too, I should had gathered the courage but no worries, we won't get marry no matter what even if Ekalavya reject" looking at his brothers expectedly who also nodded "if you both don't want to get married then you both won't"

NEXT DAY AT NIGHT

The Pandavas walk through the corridors, on the way to their room until they'd hear voices from garden "-never meet her so you can't marry her" which seems like karna's voice.

They followed the voice only to find themselves correct as they watch karna and ekalavya walking in the graden or more like Karna is walking awhile ekalavya is pacing back and forth.

"I just can't say like that. She does not want to get marry karna and beside everyone in the Dwarka know about this and there is no way the traders and people who go Rajya to Rajya wouldn't had spread the news of Yadav Rajkumari's marriage. Their reputation will be at risk and the reason will be me" They watch ekalavya says, panick and worry visible on his face but Karna remained imperturbable about this as he sighs saying "then get married"

"but I love Dushala. I can't break our vow just like that nor can I break her trust" Ekalavya says, almost yelling while pulling his hair in irritation as karna says "then run away"

"huh?"

"you have to answer tomorrow but you don't have to if you aren't here, we can leave right now, leaving everything on them"

"are you kidding me!? Didn't I just said that their reputation is on me? Bad or good, they will definitely have grudge against me if I ran away just like that" Ekalavya exclaimed, horryfied by his best friend's idea who look at him, saying "you have only these two options so choose-" while going inside "-if you found third solution then tell me" leaving Ekalavya alone in the garden who sighs defeatedly while muttering in the silence "he is never helpful"

No, infact what karna said is truth. There is only two options either Ekalavya reject/run away or he marry subhadra against his choice...........and subhadra too, but they will never agree with karna on the situation, might be off situation despite knowing what he is saying is correct.

The Pandavas watch Ekalavya leaving from there before they themselves walk back to their room since only tomorrow will tell what will happen.

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