Saga Of The Timeless (A Mahabharata Story)

25.Whispers of Laughter and Tension

"Tvarita, look! There are my brothers!" Dushala 's voice, filled with excitement, jolted me out of my thoughts as she clutched my hand, urging me to follow her.

"Dushala, slow down!" I sighed, watching her enthusiasm unfold, though her energy was infectious. After searching the palace grounds, we finally spotted them—Karna, Duryodhan, Dushasan, and the other Kaurava brothers sitting beneath a grand mango tree. Their carefree laughter carried through the warm afternoon air.

"Bhrata!" Dussala yelled, her small figure sprinting toward them, as her long braid bounced with each step. Instantly, Duryodhan's stern expression softened at the sight of his beloved sister, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. But as his gaze found me trailing behind, his face hardened again, the shift so abrupt I almost laughed at the predictability of it.

"Ah, the air just turned chilly," I muttered under my breath, casting a sideways glance at Varuni, who was beside me.

"Oh, yes," Varuni smirked, faking a shiver, "You must have that effect on people." She gave me a knowing nudge, and I shot her a warning glare.

Dussala reached her brothers and without hesitation, flung herself into Duryodhana's arms. He lifted her up easily, his joy evident. But his eyes never fully left me, watching with guarded interest. "Bhrata, why are you sitting here without me?" Dussala pouted dramatically, her big eyes pleading for attention.

"Duryodhan may be a... difficult person," I thought, watching him laugh as he played with his sister, Dussala, "but he truly loves her." The tenderness in his eyes, the way he shielded her from even the smallest discomfort, struck me as unexpected. I had always heard tales of Duryodhan the tyrant, the villain. But sitting here, witnessing this side of him, I couldn't help but wonder if the stories had gotten it wrong.

"You know we would never leave you out, Dussala," Duryodhan said, placing her down gently. His voice was warm for her, but as he finally addressed me, it grew colder. "Tvarita," he greeted me curtly.

"Rajkumar," I responded, dipping my head slightly, though the tension between us was undeniable.

"Angraj, pranam," Dussala greeted Karna, turning her bright eyes toward him.

Karna, who had been silently watching the exchange, gave a soft nod, his eyes flicking to me for a brief moment. "Pranam, Rajkumari," he replied, his voice gentler than I expected, but his gaze lingered on me a little too long.

Before I could process the warmth in his tone, Varuni cleared her throat in a rather obvious, teasing manner. "My, my, what a polite exchange," she mused. "Tvarita, are you blushing? Or is it just the sun?"

I shot her a look that could have withered a tree, but she only grinned wider, her eyes glinting with mischief. Yes, Varuni knew all too well about my growing... feelings for Angraj. She was my greatest supporter—and my greatest tormentor.

Karna, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Duryodhan, though I felt his gaze flicker toward me once more. Ever since our morning rides together, there was an unspoken connection between us. But standing here in front of his companions, it all felt far more complicated.

"Tvarita, how do you like Hastinapur?" Dushasan asked, his tone laced with a sneer. His smile, wicked and sharp, felt like a challenge rather than a polite inquiry.

"It's beautiful, Rajkumar," I replied calmly, refusing to rise to his bait. My eyes lingered on his for a moment, cold and indifferent.

He wasn't satisfied. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with those Pandavas," Dushasan said, puffing out his chest, his voice dripping with condescension. His eyes gleamed with malice as he continued, "Tell us, Tvarita, what do they speak about us?"