Rewriting the War (Duryodhan)

Chapter 5 - A Cursed Gift

After I entered the tent, the foremost thought that slid into my head was that it was huge. Actually, saying huge even seemed like an understatement.

In the centre was an elevated dias.
On top of it were the musicians and singers, who, through their classical renditions, were giving life to the dimly lit ambience.

The familiar melody of music unconsciously soothed my nerves.

I breathed in the air, suddenly overwhelmed by the reality as I took in the view before me.

The ladies were standing to my left and the gents on the other side. A single row of tables containing all kinds of food separated them both. There were tiny gaps in between, which acted as passages, connecting both sides.

"We have to pay our respects." Dushala said, leading me through the females of the court.

Midway, we were met with a human obstacle. A group of girls, closer to the Princess's age.

"Must be your childhood friend, Princess." The girl in front addressed me with her eyes.

"Oh yes, I am so glad to meet her again." Dushala played along, turning to me with a loving smile.

"These are my companions at the court." She introduced them to me.

"Pleasure to meet you." There was no title for me to utter as they were my equal at the moment.

The girls beamed at me but they offered no words back.

"Let us meet the elders." Dushala broke the awkward silence, emphasising more on the elders.

And I saw our path get cleared.

We walked further, twisting and turning to avoid any unintentional contact with the people present.

After nearing the end, I caught sight of two thrones, which were surrounded by three couches on each side.

A woman was already seated on the throne to my right.

But it wasn't the throne that made me identify her, rather the cloth tied around her eyes.

Another lady stood beside her, occasionally bending down to mumble about the court into the Queen's ears and she did the same upon our arrival.

"Greetings, Queen." Dushala bowed forward to touch her mother's feet, and I followed her suit.

"Live a long life. Rise." Her voice was unexpectedly sweet and melodious like a singer's.

"Sughada, I wish to speak with Amara." Gandhari rose from her place, holding her hand out for me to clasp and guide.

I navigated the Queen as gently as I could to the corner, where Sughada had gestured for me to converse at.

"My son spoke of you one day." She began once we were secluded from others' ears,

"It was strange at first, but I trust the Prince's judgement."

"Hence, I have asked the King of Gandhara to legally establish your identity and here on, you will always be Amara Paracha, a daughter of Gandhara."

Gandhari finished, keeping it short but direct. Her hold on my hand, tightened.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Queen." I hoped she could hear the gratitude in my voice. She had done more than I expected her to.

"As I heard him describing you. It felt like," She paused, as if the assumption had hurt her though it was she who had made it.

"You didn't lose your parents; rather, that your parents lost you."

I nearly sniffled at her observation, and she seemed to sense it.

"I don't know what happened in the past but I advise you something, whether it's relevant or not, never run away from the problem."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, but then I remembered that she couldn't see.

"Will keep it in my mind, Queen."

"Good. Let us return." I returned her the same way as I had led her, and Sughada helped her, sit.

"We will take your leave, Mother."

Dushala announced, already whisking me away before the Queen's dismissal and dragged me to a standing woman by the side.

"Greetings, Queen." We both bent to touch her feet as a mark of respect.

Her title also being the Queen told me a lot.

I took some time to study her. While Gandhari was fair and petite, Kunti was tanned and tall. Her almond eyes appraised me rather sharply.

"This is my childhood friend from Gandhara." It struck me odd how Kunti stood alone and away.

"The Queen.." There was a pause.

She, definitely, was mindful of the words leaving her mouth.

"..told me." She smiled, courtesily.

"My condolences. It is a great tragedy to lose both of your parents when young." Kunti added, sympathetically.

That was news to me. I didn't know my mother was also dead.

Courtesy of the new information, I became an orphan again.

Suddenly, there was a drum beat. A man, dressed in modest clothing, entered the tent and he was followed by another man, whose hair was stark white.

Lastly, I saw the King enter. His crown illuminated his presence. He had a man, guiding him as well.

The contingent of four strode swiftly and Dhritarashtra occupied his bejewelled throne.

"Let us all feast in the honour of Yudhishthir, the Crown Prince of Hastinapur!" There were scattered cheers across the crowd.

I chuckled. Me and Duryodhan were even.

A lie for a lie.

That explained why he had written Prince instead of his pseudo title in the letter to Krishna.

I spotted him with some company who I assumed to be his brothers.
Boy did he look annoyed.

"On this celebratory evening, I would like to announce a gift to the heir from my side." The audience waited with bated breath.

"A week in the newly constructed palace at Varanavata." Praises were sung of the King's thoughtfulness.

Whereas my heart sank. I knew what awaited them there.

A murder attempt,

And I had to prevent it from occurring.