MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

DISTINCT THOUGHT

"dushasana"

The King of Hastinapur called out as the said prince raised an eyebrow with a light smirk on his face before his expression became normal as he bowed his head in respect in acknowledgement, upon noticing figure beside his elder brother.

"Pranipat bhabhishree"

"Ayushman Bhava" Bhanumati muttered with a small nod before the now introduced second eldest kaurava put back his attention towards his brother until more kauravas joined them.

"Pranipat bhabhishree" Chorus of voiced echoed with politeness making bhanumati smile as she gave blessings to them.

"Why is there a big group here?"

A new voice entered in between making them all turn around to find it is the elders of Hastinapur who came to see them.

All the kauravas greeted them before walking away immediately as duryodhana and bhanumati touched their feet to take the blessings.

"Sada Suhagan Raho Putri"

Everyone gave their blessings before Gandhari told them to come to the place Puja room (house temple) as Kunti also walk with them.

Duryodhana went inside with bhanumati right beside as they both pray to the God before Kunti called bhanumati towards the store place of Puja room while duryodhana looked towards his mother who is lighting up the diya, who understood his stare making her nod at his unsaid question.

Seeing his mother nod, duryodhana walk out of the Puja room, towards his office until the sight of young kids playing near the palace outside wall caught his eyes.

The way, the kids eyes shine with youth and happiness making him feel a different type of blossomed feeling before he came out of his thoughts by colliding to someone as he rub his shoulder while looking at the person whom he collided with, who to his utter surprise, came out to be Sahadeva.

It was as if for a moment he caught the glimpse of a very unknown yet known expression on sahadeva's face making him open his mouth but the sight of three Kings standing in front of his office took duryodhana's attention as he walk past Sahadeva without saying anything but still nodded his head lightly, as a sign of acknowledging sahadeva's presence.

"Sudden group meet in front of my office?" Duryodhana spoke out, lighting the atmosphere as he enter inside the office with the three king muttering, while coming behind him.

"It was Ashwatthama's idea"

"What idea? Excuse you! It was Ekalavya"

"You said-"

"We came to check on you since we are planning about going back to our Rajya in afternoon"

"Or you can say that me and karna are going in afternoon while your dear jija ji (brother-in-law) will stay here for a while"

"Ehhhh! Jija ji!" The teasing voice of ashwatthama get replied by the so called amused voice of the NishadhaRaj.

Duryodhana watches ashwatthama and ekalavya bickering until his attention went to karna who is also staring at him as he spoke out after coming in duryodhana's eye sight.

"So? How are you?"

It would had been a heartful question if duryodhana had any idea of what he himself is feeling which he does not have, so that leaves him only option of shrugging making karna raise an eyebrow before he nodded, understanding duryodhana's conflict as he opened his mouth to ask or say something else but the yell from behind took all their attention.

"Samrat! Panchala Raj! You both are requested for your presence at Maharani's place"

Both Ashwatthama and Karna glanced towards each other before walking out of duryodhana's office, leaving duryodhana say on the chair with Ekalavya standing while leaning against the window behind him.

It didn't took duryodhana much time to get his focus on work as he work through documents and papers until a sentence "it might be strange right now but everything will be alright............if you want it to be" took his attention, making him look up at Ekalavya who is looking at him with a glint that reminds him of that day when ashwatthama and karna caught him. It might be for a moment but still it as if he opened like a book yet it feels tight in chest until a hand came on his shoulder, taking him out of his disquieted state.

"Calm down duryodhana. I would be a no name of friend if I don't know how my friends are in which situation-" and came out to be the moment that told him that what duryodhana wanted, he still couldn't achieve it "-beside it still hasn't been much time. I can't tell you anything about this but what I would rather say is, don't keep grabbing past"

It was all blank as duryodhana blink blankly before asking neutrally "I came out be an idiot, didn't I?" making Ekalavya tilt his head before his mind go through duryodhana's word as he start laughing until he eldest kaurava sighs while standing up.

"No, you are not. If you are named to be an idiot then I came out be cheater and betrayer"

Ekalavya says with a reassuring smile as duryodhana stand beside him while muttering "is it that easy to see through?" making ekalavya shake his head, denying while saying "you are closed, just you can say..........I saw myself in you at the day of your marriage" to which duryodhana hummed "she is a calm person, nice and calm"

"Isn't it good?"

"She is completely opposite of me"

"It is a charm to be a couple with different personality"

"....................what if I wouldn't be able to do it?" Duryodhana asked, gulping as he glanced towards ekalavya who is already looking at him before he replies "no one has ever been but as it is said, don't drag past in future. Focus on present and future"

That's right, right now both his present and future is Bhanumati and that's what he has to remember always. It is not known, whether this marriage will be good or bad but he does know that whatever will happen, will be because of his own action and that's why he has to push past back, not forgetting the fact that now it is not just his life but also is about someone else's life too who trusted him enough to come to an unknown place to name it as home.

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