Mahabharat: Cruel Fate

Chapter 6

The dense flora filtered the sunlight, dappling the forest floor in a magical pattern of beautiful  light and shadow. Esha crouched low, her eyes scanning the undergrowth for signs of movement. Ekalavya stood beside her, his bow held loosely in his hand. "There," she whispered, pointing towards a patch of rustling leaves. Ekalavya followed her gaze, his brow furrowing in concentration. He raised his bow, nocking an arrow with practiced ease. They had been working together for weeks now, their individual skills complementing each other perfectly. Esha's keen senses and knowledge of how to survive (taught in the red room) helped them track prey, while Ekalavya's unmatched archery skills ensured a successful hunt. A sleek brown deer emerged from the dense forest, its large eyes scanning the place for danger. Ekalavya held his breath, waiting for the perfect moment. Esha remained perfectly still, knowing any sudden movement would spook the deer. As the deer lowered its head to graze, Ekalavya released his arrow. It flew through the air in a silent arc, finding its mark with a satisfying thud. The deer faltered for a moment, then collapsed to the ground. Esha let out a silent cheer, relief washing over her. Finding food had been a constant challenge, and Ekalavya's skill meant they wouldn't go hungry tonight. Ekalavya approached the deer, a flicker of something resembling pride in his eyes. He looked at Esha, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good work," he said, his voice gruff but sincere. Esha grinned. "We make a good team, don't we?" Ekalavya looked away, a shadow crossing his face. "For now," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Esha's smile faltered. The unspoken tension between them, ever since her confession about the Red Room, still lingered. She longed to understand his past, to bridge the gap that had formed between them. But she also knew that pushing him too hard could backfire. "Let's get to work," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "We need to prepare the deer before nightfall." Ekalavya nodded curtly, and they set about their task. Despite the unspoken words, a sense of companionship hung in the air. They were alone in this strange world, but they had each other. And for now, that was enough.

Esha's POV:

Sunlight through the leaves created a dotted pattern in the forest floor, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor where I sat. Ekalavya knelt beside the deer they'd hunted, his calloused fingers expertly dressing the kill. I was leaning against the rough bark of a banyan tree and felt disappointed and lost. "Lost in thought, Esha?" Ekalavya asked, glancing up with a smile. I jumped slightly, startled from my own thoughts. "Uh, yeah, just sorting some things out," I mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Truth be told, I was frustrated. Back in my own time, stories of the Mahabharata were part of my childhood. Tales of legendary warriors and epic battles filled my nights. Looking back the only thing I used to remember about my childhood was Mahabharat and how the trainers always taught us how the world was cruel for us how not to become the victims like the women in the legendary tale of Mahabharat But now, here in the thick of it, the details were hazy. "There's something I can't quite remember," I admitted, frowning. "There's a warrior... someone named Karn. I know he was incredibly skilled, an archer on par with Arjuna, maybe even better." Ekalavya paused in his work, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Karn," he repeated, the name rolling off his tongue like something semi familiar. "No, I can't say I've heard of him. Perhaps he's from a faraway kingdom?" My frown deepened. It shouldn't be this difficult to recall details. Maybe the time travel scrambled my memories a bit. "Maybe," I said, my voice lacking persuasion. "I just thought... with all the talk of archery, his name might have come up." Ekalavya finished cleaning the deer and sat beside me "Perhaps your stories speak of heroes yet to make their mark," he suggested with a hopeful smile. "There's always time for new legends to be born." Thinking about his words, maybe he was right. The Mahabharata was a vast story, filled with countless characters. Perhaps Karn was yet to rise to prominence here, or maybe my memories were simply muddled. I smiled back at Ekalavya. "Maybe you're right, New legends are always exciting." The forest fell silent once more, save for the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. I closed my eyes, the memory of the skilled archer named Karn flickering at the edges of my mind. A mystery to be unraveled, perhaps alongside Ekalavya.

Ekalavya's POV:

I knelt beside the fire, poking at the embers with a stick. Esha's words echoed in my mind: "There's a warrior... someone named Karn. I know he was incredibly skilled, an archer on par with Arjuna, maybe even better." A pang of something akin to jealousy pierces my heart. The thought of Esha fixated on some distant hero made my stomach churn. I had poured my heart out, revealing my deepest desire to become a master archer, and here she was, lost in memories of someone else. But then, a wave of protectiveness washed over me. Esha was different. Where others scoffed at his dream, she had seen his potential. She had even, in her own cryptic way, offered him guidance that had improved his skills. I tossed another log onto the fire, the flames crackling and spitting defiance. He had to admit, her presence had made the long hours of practice less grueling. Furthermore, he enjoyed their shared meals under the stars, the comfortable silence punctuated by the chirping of crickets. I hadn't realized how lonely I'd been until Esha barged into my life, a whirlwind of black hair and fierce determination. With a sigh, Ekalavya rose and approached Esha, who still sat beneath the banyan tree, her brow furrowed in concentration. He hated the thought, but maybe a little knowledge about this Karn wouldn't hurt. If it meant keeping Esha from withdrawing back into herself, then he would help her. "Perhaps,"I began hesitantly, "we could ask around the village tomorrow. Maybe someone has heard of this Karn." Esha looked up, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Really? You'd do that?" Ekalavya forced a smile. "Of course. Besides, two heads are better than one, right?" He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud, but the truth was, two heads were better than one – as long as they were focused on the same goal.

Author's Note:

Hey guys my exam is finished so expect me to post according to schedule, and please vote it really helps 

Thank you 

Word Count:  1133 words