MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

RISING TIDE

"come for dinner, putro"

It has been one day since everyone has came back to Indraprastha. Despite having the wedding being broken, it does not change the happiness for their sister who does not have to feel awkwardness, regret and guilt for her whole life, though the happiness could only be seen in the eyes of Rajmata since her five children are completely silent from the time they have entered the palace and what is the reason of this? Well..........

There is could be many emotions except happiness or excitement, like uninterested, confusion, surprise but definitely not sudden rush of upsetness or anger. It is crazily amusing, how it is not even much time of them being calm in each other's presence yet here they are feeling turmoil of emotions churning inside just by a mere news of Duryodhana's marriage.

The five brothers came out of their individual rooms, glancing at each other before smiling as they went to their mother to eat dinner before going back to their bed.............for what? To sleep? No, to contemplate over what kind of emotions they are feeling which is making it hard for their heart to settle down and their brain to calm down.

"have some more"

"Maa, my stomach is about to burst, please"

"OK, you arjuna?"

"one"

"here, should I make more chapatis? Bhima?"

"no Maa"

"mine is done"

"me too, my stomach is about to burst"

"mine too"

"mine is done too, Maa"

"okay, then take rest. We have to leave tomorrow for Hastinapur. Jiji has told us to come soon as family"

"Ji Maa" A chorus of reply echoed in the silence of dining place before the five warrior brothers stand up, waking back to their room in a silence until they reached in front of their individual rooms making them greet good night to each other as they walk inside their room while closing the door behind.

They were not supposed to go to bed after dinner, before talking to each other for a while but they didn't today and amusingly, no one noticed nor talked about it. They all just went to their individual rooms with only one thought inside, about duryodhana's sudden marriage news which is prickling inside.

There are so many different thoughts that is swirling inside their minds regarding the sudden news of marriage in Hastinapur, especially when it is not even a month of Dushala's marriage yet there is a similar question that is circling their mind 'what was he thinking?"

AT HASTINAPUR

"what were you thinking!?"

"karna-"

"what does it mean by this sudden marriage? What are you trying to imply?" The rambling of oldest friend continued on until soon-to-be-King interrupted him with a yell "wait a minute karna!!"

Stopping in the mid, karna stare at duryodhana who stare back at him before opening his mouth to ask "what do you mean by 'what I mean'?" to which karna reply "what I mean is- forget it, tell me why are you getting married? You didn't-"

"cause Maa said" Three words, enough to make karna understand the situation and the tone under those words, enough to make karna understand the conflict of emotions.

Karna opened his mouth to speak but stopped when the door of office burst open and before both warriors could comprehend what happened, two hands grabbed duryodhana's neck, roughly shaking him while yelling "what is this about your marriage!? You better say 'it is a rumour'!!"