𝕊𝔼𝕍𝔼ℕ 𝕀ℕ 𝔸 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 {𝙼𝙰𝙷𝙰𝙱𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙸𝙼𝙴 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚅𝙴𝙻}

148. This is war.

We stood, stunned. As Dushasan took his last breaths, Nakul fell to his knees, his eyes were devoid of any emotion. Cold.

" What did you do! Nakul! I will kill you Nakul! " Duryodhan thrashed in Shakuni and Ashwatthama's hands, but they couldn't do anything else. The sun had set.

Despite the war stretching on for nearly ten days... We knew it wasn't over yet. Duryodhan, Shakuni had to die... And as much as I hated to admit it. So did Ashwatthama.

When we finally returned to the camp, a flurry of red and gold rushed past me, pulling her bloodied husband into a harsh hug, clutching at him, as if he'd leave just then.

I too was exhausted, but this made me.. Happy. Don't get me wrong. I still have reservations regarding their... Marriage. But in Dwapar, even I know I cannot do anything. It's out of my hands.

"Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself? Did you get wounded? " She rushed about, inspecting him all round.

Sahdev muffled a small laugh, while Nakul held her face in his hands gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I'm fine my little Dahlia. " He mumbled, pulling her close into a hug.

In life, there are several moments which are so heartwarming, that for once, we forget what evil there is in the world... This was similar.

So was...

"Mumma! " Two loud voices tore my eardrums as I nearly fell down in their hug.

"Bacha. I'm sweaty! " I said to them and they burrowed closer.

" Doesn't matter mumma. You're here. That's all we need. " Madhu's honest words warmed my heart.

" All your love for your mother hmm? No no. It's okay. I just brought you your favourite food when you were hungry.. Just made sure you sleep well, told you stories..." Yudhishthir teased as they jumped off me, engulfing him in a bone crushing hug.

" No papa. We know.. It's just... We missed mummy more.. Because didi wanted to talk to mummy about something important. " Abhi said and I looked up confused.

" What is it? " I asked and she shook her head.

" I will tell you once we win. " She promised and I nodded.

I trusted my daughter.

While we sat in the main hall for the night, we had to plan on what to do tomorrow. We were all exhausted from the war. Grief, pain, injuries, every atom of our bodies screamed at us to drop everything and sleep. Or go somewhere where we would have peace.

But dharm demanded us to fight. And so we shall.

" Duryodhan must be killed tomorrow. " Arjun said sternly, as he looked at his wife and then at me, " No one deserves to insult our bhabhishree and then roam free. "

" I've been saying that since the sabha. But no. Don't listen to me. Act with dharm. " AJ murmured and his wife shook her head, resting it on his shoulder.

" But who will do it? We all have our own battles to fight tomorrow. Sahdev's axe is sharp, begging for Shakuni's blood. You and Jyeshth Yudhishthir want to handle Ashwatthama. I have my own, Jyeshth Karn has Madr Raj. Bhrata Arjun has the leaders of Vanga. We all have our oponents tomorrow. " Nakul said thoughtful, " And I wouldn't be able to.. Not after today.. Despite the relief I felt after today, I am not physically well enough to fight Duryodhan." He added.

" I'll do it." Bheem said, when he was held back by his wife.

As Karali, I had seen many faces of Kali, the thundering dark flame, the one which gave Sudhuma her fragrance, the one which lit in the minds of those grappling for any hope of survival, but fear was something I had never seen on her face.