Anya's ancient antics: a mahabharat tale

chapter 28

In the grand halls of Dwarka, the palace buzzed with excitement as Anya and Subhadra rushed to greet Balaram, who had just returned from Hastinapur. Anya, as usual, couldn’t help but throw in her quirky remarks.

“Dau!” Anya yelled excitedly, grinning widely. “Did you wrestle an elephant this time, or did the elephant run away in fear?”

Subhadra, laughing, hugged her brother. “Anya, elephants would run away the moment they see his muscles!”

Balaram chuckled, pulling both of them into a bear hug. “Ah, I missed this! And no, little one, no elephants today—though I did take down a lion with my bare hands.”

“Lions, huh?” Anya said, raising an eyebrow. “Well, I hope it was big enough to give you a challenge! We wouldn’t want you to get lazy now!”

They all laughed as they made their way inside for dinner. Anya kept making jokes, trying to lighten the atmosphere. She even leaned toward Krishna and whispered, “You think we should challenge Balaram dau to an arm-wrestling match? Winner gets the biggest mango in the palace.”

Krishna chuckled. “I’d prefer to keep my arms intact, Anya. You go ahead.”

The table was filled with delicious food, and Anya wasted no time commenting on each dish. “Look at this feast! It’s as if we’re celebrating some secret victory. Or maybe Dau is going to announce that he’s actually an undercover mango thief!”

Laughter echoed around the table, but Anya’s playful jabs couldn’t mask the growing tension she felt within. Something was off.

As the meal came to an end, Balaram cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “I have something important to announce,” he began, his voice steady. “I’ve decided that it’s time for Subhadra to be married.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. Everyone turned to look at Subhadra, who looked confused, just as Anya did.

“Married?” Anya muttered under her breath, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. “Did I miss the part where we were planning weddings? Or is Dau testing out his future fortune-telling skills?”

Ignoring Anya’s quips, Balaram continued. “I’ve chosen Duryodhan, crown prince of Hastinapur, as Subhadra’s husband.”

The silence turned into shock. Devaki and Vasudev exchanged concerned glances, while Krishna’s smile faltered for the first time.

“Duryodhan?” Vasudev asked cautiously, leaning forward. “Are you not rushing things, Balaram? This is a significant decision.”

Even Krishna, known for his calm demeanor, seemed troubled. “Brother, what about Subhadra’s opinion in this? Marriage isn’t just about alliances.”

Balaram, ever confident, waved off their concerns. “Duryodhan is my pupil. He’s strong, capable, and the future king of Hastinapur. I am confident he will keep Subhadra happy.”

Anya, who had been sitting quietly, unable to believe what she was hearing, finally spoke up. “Subhadra? And Duryodhan?” she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. “Are we sure this isn’t one of those dreams where you wake up and realize it was all some big misunderstanding?”

Balaram chuckled, misunderstanding her shock as another joke. “This is real, little one. Subhadra will be the queen of Hastinapur.”

Anya’s smile faded. Her mind raced. Duryodhan? With Subhadra? The thought made her stomach churn. She couldn't quite place why, but something felt deeply wrong about this arrangement. She felt her heart twist uncomfortably, her usual witty remarks faltering in her throat.

As the dinner ended, everyone else left the room, leaving only Balaram and Anya.

Balaram, sensing something was off, turned to her. “What’s wrong, little one? You’ve been unusually quiet since the announcement.”

Anya took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. “Who… who came up with this idea?” she asked softly.

Balaram laughed, oblivious to her inner turmoil. “It was ,Shakuni. He thought it would be a brilliant match.”

Anya blinked, her heart pounding. “And… Prince Duryodhan? He’s okay with this?”

Balaram nodded. “Of course! Duryodhan has agreed to the marriage. Subhadra will be queen, and the alliance will strengthen both kingdoms.”

Anya’s mind swirled with thoughts. Duryodhan agreed? Just like that? Her chest tightened, the ache she had been ignoring suddenly becoming unbearable. The man who she thought cared for her had moved on so quickly.

---

**Subhadra’s room**

Meanwhile, Subhadra  sat on her bed, her heart heavy with sorrow. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to process what had just been decided for her. She had always loved Arjun, and the thought of marrying Duryodhan—someone she barely knew, someone she did not love—was suffocating.

As she cried, Krishna quietly entered her room, sitting beside her. “Subhadra,” he said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Subhadra wiped her tears but couldn’t stop the sobs. “Brother, I don’t want this. I love Arjun. How can I marry Duryodhan?”

Krishna sighed softly, his heart aching for his sister. “I know, Subhadra. This decision was not yours, and I will not let you be forced into something that goes against your heart.”

She clung to him, grateful for his presence, but still feeling trapped by the situation.

---

Time passed, and eventually, Devaki and Vasudev reluctantly accepted the marriage proposal, albeit with heavy hearts. They knew they couldn’t go against Balaram’s wishes, but their concerns remained.

Anya paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing with frustration. *Subhadra and Duryodhan? That rude fox! Really?* She let out an exasperated huff, folding her arms as if trying to stop her emotions from spilling over. But the thought of Duryodhan marrying Subhadra was like a thorn stuck in her side. Every time she tried to brush it off, it pricked her again. She tried to stay calm, but it wasn’t working.

*Dau really went and accepted that proposal... from Shakuni, no less! What was he thinking?* she thought, tapping her foot impatiently. “Doesn't anyone realize how rude that fox is?” she muttered to herself. “And Subhadra with him? It's like putting a flower in a lion's mouth!”

Her frustration slowly turned into sadness, and before she knew it, her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. "No, no, no," she whispered, trying to blink them away, "I’m not crying over that rude fox!" But her heart ached as the tears started to fall, no matter how much she fought them. *Why am I even crying for him?*

She wiped her face furiously. “This is ridiculous,” she mumbled, stomping over to her bed. “He’s not worth it, that— that fox! Hmph, crying over him like some sad puppy. Get it together, Anya!” She sniffled, plopping down onto her bed, pulling the covers over her head dramatically.

As she buried her face into the pillow, her emotions swirled between anger, sadness, and a stubborn resolve. She forced herself to close her eyes. *No more tears for that big bully! He’s the one missing out, not me!*

"Sleep, Anya, just sleep!" she grumbled aloud to herself, as if scolding her own heart. "Tomorrow’s another day to show everyone that I don’t care! That fox can go and be as rude as he wants. I’m going to focus on better things— like sleep." She sniffled one last time, curling up tighter in her blanket.