Rewriting the War (Duryodhan)

Chapter 7 - A Late Night Chat

The event was nearing its end, and the King finished it off with his elaborate oath of gratitude, which was rather ironic to hear because it sounded quite boastful.

Dhritarashtra and Gandhari were the first ones to leave, followed by Kunti, Vidura and Bhishma.

Then, there was no particular order.

People went on their way, gossiping and chattering while Dushala trailed with me.

We babbled about our areas of interest along the path. But alas, our delightful conversation was cut short by the intrusion of her eldest brother.

And by that, I meant the biological one.

"What did you say to Sahadev?"

He asked a dumb question, and for him to inquire of it, he must not have witnessed my other conversation with the Prime Minister of his kingdom.

"About food, why?" He looked puzzled as he searched within his head to answer back, and it made me remember my own puzzlement on a serious issue.

"Vidura had much to tell and ask." I casually dropped it.

"No surprise. He always enjoyed poking his nose at other's businesses." He huffed out a snort-like chuckle.
"Always thinking that I am up to no good."

I resisted the urge to point out that he, in fact, was up to no good.

But before I could go on about the Vidura situation, Duryodhan flashed me a quick warning of caution.

"Your sister is talented in designing." I steered the talk from the Prime Minister to the quiet girl, walking by our side.

"What?" He seemed utterly confused. I couldn't tell whether it was due to the randomness of the new topic or his lack of knowledge of his sister's hobby.

"The dress is her design. She drew it."

I even explained the meaning of the word just in case he hadn't caught it.

"Really!" Surprise all over his face and it was my time to shine in confusion. "That looks insanely good."

"You didn't know?" I voiced out on behalf of his sister.

"She never told me." The Prince awkwardly managed to say while the Princess remained silent, focusing only on the path ahead.

"Do you chat?" Dushala whipped her head towards me as if I had enquired something scandalous.

"Um..." He seemed put off by my honest query while I sighed in disbelief.

"Do you converse with your brother?" I repeated it to her.

"Rarely. He is always busy, and so am I." She mumbled slowly.

"Ah, I see!" I tried to not interfere in their personal affairs and failed miserably.

"All I can say is to not take things for granted. I did it once and regret it now."

I offered a piece of advice to both, despite them not asking for it. But sincerely, I really missed the tech back then, or should I say the opposite.

Nevermind. Time was really a baffling concept to describe at that point.

They glanced at each other for a moment. A silent communication, like that of earlier, took place, giving me some hope that perhaps everything would turn out for the better or so I wished.

I took in my surroundings. It was more secluded and guarded, with a calligraphy text carved neatly above the wall.

It somehow translated to read 'female quarters'.

"Aren't you going your way?" Dushala finally addressed her brother.

"I will, but only after walking you and your friend to your rooms." He replied galantly.

We walked in pure silence till Dushala's room, and after exchanging conventional exchanges of farewell, Duryodhan and I went in the direction of my new lodging.

Once we reached it, instead of walking away, he walked in.

"I thought we could have a nice little chat." He announced, rather too cheerfully.

"At night?"

"No better time for it." Duryodhan strolled towards the bed, which was at the centre of the room, and climbed on it without any hesitation.

Upon seeing me still standing, he faced me with a look that roughly translated to 'Why aren't you up here?'

So I obediently dragged my feet to the bed and sat by his side.

"The walls of this palace have ears." He spoke in a low voice.

"Understood, Crown Prince." Though knowing that there were spies behind the wall in hidden passages was a matter of grave concern, I couldn't pass an opportunity to tease him.

It was satisfying to see his handsome face marred by a scowl of annoyance.

"What did Vidura ask about?" He chose to be mature, sticking to the needs of the hour.

"He probed whether I partook in the journey, and for a horrible second I didn't know what he was talking about until he mentioned a palanquin from Gandhara."

Duryodhan's face grew more grim at my words.

"Why wasn't I informed about my 'palanquin trip' ?" I air quoted it unconsciously.

"You were only told of the plan at the last minute possible, so I didn't wish to dump all the information." He paused, "What else occurred?"

"He said that his soldiers expressed their concern over my absence to consume any food and also because they hadn't seen me step out of it."

"What did you say?" His eyes were comically large.

"I replied that I was fasting and my essentials were packed inside."

"That's smart." Duryodhan smiled at me brightly, and I simply forgot to breathe until he looked bemused at my frozen state.

I shook myself from it.

"So he employs spies to keep track of everything that happens in the state?" I still maintained the low voice.

"Yes. Even here."

Perhaps it was why Duryodhan preferred only a handful of staff and made sure they weren't in contact with the outside.

"Isn't that good? He cares enough to look out for his people."

I was curious to know his response.

"It is. But he employs an excessive number of them to watch me just so one day he could get enough evidence to reaffirm his claim that I was born evil."

Realising what he had just said, Duryodhan's eyes flashed of alarm.

"Surely you weren't born evil."

You were just shaped to think like one.

But I was wise enough to refrain from commenting on that thought.