MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

DISCARDED MUSING

It was as if the world stopped for a moment until duryodhana came out of trance as he left the room with a little to no noise while clearing his throat.

Just after covering some distance, sighing duryodhana rolled up the document in his hand before his eyes caught the shining bracelet in his wrist making him look around, only to grit his teeth as he stormed towards his office.

"Call Dushasana"

"Ji Maharaj"

While rubbing his face exhaustingly, duryodhana sat on his chair, waiting for dushasana to arrive who came after a while and seemed to be in a playful mood until he saw his elder brother's condition making him serious.

"What happened bhratashree?"

"Go to Rakshas Van and find the Rakshas Rajkumari, ask her to......." Duryodhana felt his mouth stop moving as his brain try to find appropriate words so that his brother won't get to know about it as dushasana tilt his head curiously until duryodhana spoke up again "........tell the solution of celestial cloth"

"Celestial cloth? Why would you-"

"Just go and ask her. And ask politely, if she didn't tell then tell me, don't do anything on your own"

"Ask Vikarna" Dushasana says shrugging before he notices his brother's glare making him chuckle nervously while nodding "just kidding bhratashree. I will take my leave in evening"

"Hmm"

"Anything else?"

"No?" Duryodhana look up confused at dushasana's question as he notice the teasing look on dushasana's face making him stand up but before he could grab dushasana, his younger brother already ran away.

Shaking his head at his brother's antics as he turn around to go back to his seat but stopped when he hear a voice from behind.

"Bhratashree"

Turning around, duryodhana find his six brothers standing at the entrance of his office door as he gestured them to enter inside which they did.

"What happened Ugrasena, Subahu, Virjasa, Chitrasena, Sushena and Viravi?"

"We are going back now" Expected, no! Not expected, infact duryodhana knew why they came here.

His six brothers who does not live here until any emergency or important ocassion come. The six are free spirited, they fight for what they want even the youngest ones like how they fought for not staying here since the palace felt like prison to them........for who doesn't it felt it prison? But the difference is that they fought while he and the others remained tied, beside he can't have his brothers pay for his actions, so whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Swallowing heavily, duryodhana nodded as the six immediately came forward to touch his feet, taking blessings before they stood straight.

"You can send us letter. The border's outside has protective layer but the palace does not"

Having meaning 'You can send letter if you need anything or anything happens. Don't worry about us, we will be fine, take care of yourself'

Easy sentence but hard to say beside who said kauravas can feel or show emotions?

Nodding duryodhana ruffled virjasa's hair who ducked his head to escape it but of course he couldn't as he complained about this action which duryodhana completely ignored, only to look towards others who are watching them making duryodhana feel something stuck in his throat, maybe words which he couldn't get it out making him just nod before they all took their leave from there. He knows that they must have already met others and then must have come to him.

Walking towards the open window, the eldest kaurava watched his six going brothers stopped by the presence of dushasana and Vikarna as Vikarna tells them something with a serious expression while dushasana exchanged few words with Subahu, wearing a calm expression since it is nothing new for them to have the six come and go right after the work here. After a moment the six went outside the palace in their horses towards Aryavart's border where they live but alone as they all get ready to go for different directions including Virjasa, whom he once thought for a youngest brother which he is and duryodhana isn't denying that but now look at the change in all..........once duryodhana had to protect them and now they are protecting Aryavart.

It feels nostalgic to realise how much of the time have passed yet it feels so little and too fast to comprehend about the flying away time. Just as the six were about to move forward after dushasana and Vikarna left, karna and Ashwatthama also joined them on the way out of the palace.

Walking back to his place, duryodhana sat down on his chair as he checks the document before his mind diverted towards the fact that almost all of the guests and relatives have left including from Gandhar side, Kalinga side and Dwarka side. Now the only one to be remaining from family side is Rajmata and the five with Ekalavya's family.

It wasn't much of the time when duryodhana's work completed but he didn't want to go to his room after that earlier encounter, so he decided to meet his mother. Though he didn't expected to found Ekalavya and his sister sitting on the garden swing while talking to each other with being too lost into each other to comprehend their surrounding. Well, it is not like there is anything wrong is this which here is not as they both are just talking.................but the only thing different yet normal is that Subhadra is missing, maybe she is sleeping or is somewhere talking, that's why she is not present here.

A light laughter took duryodhana out of his overthinking thoughts as he recognised that it is his sister's laughter making him take his leave so that the said couple could have their privacy.

After few steps duryodhana found himself in the corridor that leads to his mother's room but stopped when he saw his sister-in-law (draupadi) with his wife keeping a supportive hands on draupadi's shoulder while being in front of his mother and Rajmata. The situation might had been misunderstood if not for the bright smile on everyones face until Mata Gandhari noticed his eldest son, gesturing him to come forward.

"What is happening here maa?" Duryodhana asked as draupadi greeted him making him greet her too without much of the formalities since they have said draupadi that she don't have to follow all the chained rules when she is not in front of the public or any elders other than the women.

And his wife looked away but with red tip of ears when their eyes met for a moment. Damn! the embarrassment, duryodhana himself can understand with how much of the embarrassment he has felt from the past few months beside he has no right to point it out and open his mouth especially when no one noticed it.

"You are about to become Taatshree"

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