MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

SWEET YET SALTY

"Haa!"

Heavy breathes echoed inside the room of second eldest Pandavas who just came from the practice field as he drink water before looking outside the window, finding it is dark now.

Been whole day since he ran from his mother and duryodhana at that time. His mother and brothers must be worried but the second eldest Panduputra didn't even dared to go inside before the moon started shining above the head in a comforting silence with the gentle brush of night breeze.

After taking bath, bhima went to his bed, laying down with his arm covering his closed eyes only to see duryodhana's surprised figure of afternoon in sight making the Panduputra shift on the bed with his eyes now open.

"this is getting beyond frustrating now"

NEXT DAY

"check here"

"the hall is ready"

"kitchen is too"

"food are prepared, just sweets are left"

"so it fast!!"

"the garden?"

"everything is okay"

"the entrance is ready too"

The usual silent morning went into chaotic one cause of the tilak ceremony and coronation which is about to happen today, causing a big chaos as the Second eldest Panduputra walk through the corridors while watching the workers, maids, other kauravas including the elders, hurrying from here to there to make sure everything is alright since the guests will be coming.

Yawning, he went to his mother's room, who for obvious reason is not there instead his brothers are, who are rummaging through clothes making him ask "what are you doing?" taking Arjuna's attention who gasped "why aren't you ready?"

"get ready bhratashree" Sahadeva says with an agreeing nod of Nakula while yudhishtir also look at bhima, speaking "the guests are about to come, get ready soon bhima. Maa has prepared all our clothes"

Bhima felt his lips twisting in a distasteful shape as he went forward, grabbing his clothes before muttering out "it is just a coronation and marriage, why so much work?"

Though there is no reason for him to be bitter over wedding function yet here he is, maybe because he is attending function after so long.

"are you all ready, putro?"

"Ji Maa"

Turning around, he walk with his brothers into the largest hall filled with guests as they immediately get greeted by the guests before their mother saved them by pulling them towards Mata Gandhari.

"Oh My! You all are looking so good"

Bhima hears his younger brothers complimenting Mata Gandhari who smiles at them until they hear noise from outside, followed by a loud announcement.

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"KALINGARAJ, MAHARAJ CHITRANGADA IS MAKING HIS APPEARANCE WITH HIS FAMILY!!"

All the guests immediately straighten up while Dritarashatra and Gandhari went forward with Mata Kunti, Pandavas and Kauravas behind.

The welcoming of the all the members from bride's side happened with excitement and happiness, filled with echoing sound of singers and the beautifully played musical instruments.

"There is no bound of happiness I am feeling today, it is all because of you Maharaj Chitrangada"

"I am the who is honored by having this bond that is creating between our families. Where is Soon-to-be-King, Yuvraj Duryodhana?"

Both the King's exchanged their words ending with a light teasing from Maharaj of Kalinga making all the members chuckle as Mata Gandhari spoke "getting ready beside Maharaj do not need to call putra duryodhana, Yuvraj. Just like how Putri Bhanu is our daughter, duryodhana is from now on your son too"

Maharaj Chitrangada nodded with a happy yet satisfied smile as all the men move inside to sit and talk until the function starts while the ladies also turn around to leave with Pandavas and some Kauravas since others are gone to serve the bride's family members.

"Maa" The ladies were about to leave until they hear a soft sound from behind making them turn around to see it is Ashwatthama and Karna who come towards with smile as ashwatthama speaks while looking at the left over Kauravas "your Jija ji (brother-in-law) came"

All the kauravas including the ladies and Pandavas look at the entrance where they saw Ekalavya entering inside making them excited to see Dushala only to have their smile slowly fade away when they notice a nervous looking royal woman beside a happy looking Dushala. Others were obviously confused but Kunti and Pandavas clearly recognised the girl beside Dushala who is gripping Dushala like her lifeline.

"Maa" Ekalavya mutters lightly before touching Mata Gandhari's feet with both the women while Gandhari give them her blessing as draupadi whispers the situation in her ear making Gandhari start "Putra Ekalavya-"

"this should be talked inside Maa" Karna interrupted with a polite smile making everyone silent as they went inside the empty room.

"what is this situation? I thought.......Putra Ekalavya?"

"I will explain" A new soft voice echoed in the silence of the locked empty room as she went forward towards Mata Gandhari while Dushala and Ekalavya gave her space.

"let me introduce myself. I am Yadava RajKumari, Subhadra and wife of NishadhaRaj. It happened month ago when...................."

She slowly and carefully without leaving a single moment or conversation, spoke out the past events that lead this marriage as all the members stayed silent while Kunti and Pandavas kept looking down until Gandhari asked "I have no right to blame you for this, you did what you thought at that moment cause you did what you thought was right.........Putri Dushala?"

Dushala smiles lightly while fidgeting her fingers as she speaks "I won't say I wasn't angry or disappointed when I hear the news but I trust Arya, so I let him explain the whole situation before I hear Subhadra's side and I lost my anger after that. Though I won't say that it didn't changed anything but what didn't changed is that she is still my friend and Arya is still my trusted husband.............beside now we both can annoy Arya together"

The last cheeky filled sentence took ekalavya's smile, replacing it with a frown of tiredness while others laugh as subhadra slowly went down to sit down on her knees while saying "I apologize for what I did-" but before she could sit down, Gandhari stopped her, bringing her into hug as she kissed subhadra's forehead while smiling "I don't approve of daughter to apologise to her mother" making everyone there smile while subhadra hug her, immediately joined by Dushala.

"so now we have two sisters" They hear Kauravas saying after the hug breaker making subhadra chuckle as she says "I will in your care then, bhratashree" making the kauravas chuckle while nodding and the Pandavas with Kunti can't help but to smile too, let's say everything came out well.

"let's go out now. The function is about to start"

All nodded before going outside only to find karna and Ashwatthama gone making Gandhari ask "Karna and ashwatthama?" to which the worker reply "they went to see Yuvraj Duryodhana" as Ekalavya speaks "I will also go there" getting approval nods from every lady before he left with kauravas.

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