Dream - A Karna SI

18. INDUCTION

Karn - 18 years

Yudhisthir - 15 years

Bhima & Duryodhan - 14 years

Arjun - 13 years

Nakul & Sahdev - 11 years

KARN's POV

The grand council chamber of Mathura was steeped in tension as I found myself seated among the foremost leaders of the Yadava clan, summoned by none other than Lord Krishna himself. The room was filled with sharp voices and piercing glances from men whose names carried great weight in these lands. As a relative outsider, I was there only to observe, yet the gravity of the situation demanded my full attention.

The council was composed of some of Mathura's most powerful men-Akrur, Kritvarma, Balarama, Satrajit, and other prominent Yadavs. Krishna sat at the head, his serene demeanor a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere around him. The discussion centered on the imminent threat posed by Jarasandha, whose army, according to intelligence, was a quarter of a year away from Mathura, marching with the intent of laying siege to the city. This was not a simple raid; it was a full-scale invasion fueled by Jarasandha's psychotic hatred for Krishna and a desire to avenge the death of his son-in-law, Kansa. Allied with Kalyavan, Shishupal, Hansa, Dimbhak, and other minor rulers, Jarasandha's forces aimed to surround Mathura and reduce it to rubble.

As the discussion unfolded, it became clear that the council was deeply divided. The infighting among the Yadavas was palpable, with old grudges and personal rivalries boiling just beneath the surface. Satrajit and Akrur, in particular, were locked in a bitter exchange that seemed to have less to do with strategy and more with their animosity toward each other.

"This is madness, Satrajit!" Akrur's voice was sharp, his words laced with frustration. "Letting Jarasandha encircle Mathura is to invite disaster! We must strike preemptively, meet him before he reaches our gates."

Satrajit's eyes narrowed, his posture stiff with indignation. "And what would you have us do, Akrur? March our forces out to meet an enemy four times our size? You speak of preemptive strikes, but you ignore the realities of our situation. Mathura's strength lies in its walls, not in open combat."

Kritvarma leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. "We must consider all options, Satrajit. A prolonged siege could be devastating. We have supplies to last, but how long can the people endure? And what of morale? The fear alone could break the spirit of our warriors."

Satrajit's gaze shifted to Kritvarma, his tone growing defensive. "And what would you suggest, Kritvarma? That we leave the safety of these walls and meet them on the open field where we are outnumbered?"

"Better to face them with strategy and strength in the open than to be starved out like rats," Akrur interjected, his disdain for Satrajit clear in his voice. "You speak of safety, but there is no safety in waiting for the noose to tighten around our necks."

Satrajit slammed his fist on the table, his frustration boiling over. "You always oppose me, Akrur! You speak of strategy, but your every plan is a gamble, risking everything on the hope of victory. Mathura cannot afford such recklessness!"

"And you, Satrajit, would have us cower behind these walls, waiting for death to come knocking?" Akrur shot back, his eyes blazing. "Your caution is nothing more than fear disguised as wisdom!"

As their argument escalated, the room filled with the tension of unresolved conflicts. Their words were no longer about strategy but about proving each other wrong, each man more concerned with his own pride than the defense of Mathura. The fragmentation within the Yadava clan was on full display, and it was clear that these internal divisions were as dangerous as the external threat posed by Jarasandha.