"Mere bacche,
Maine kaha tha na,
Ranbhoomi mein yuddh ho
Usse pehle
Manobhoomi mein khela jaata hai"With great ceremony and effort, the legendary (and highly unexpected) invention crafted by the three musketeers was paraded in on the shoulders of 8-10 huffing, puffing guards, who tottered under the weight of this wooden marvel. Though it had wheels, of course-primitive, creaking things of bamboo and vines-the guards had decided lifting it was the only dignified entrance for such a historic creation. They placed it gingerly in the garden, right in front of a group of baffled spectators.
There it stood-a "car" in the loosest possible sense of the word, not a single speck of metal in sight, as if someone had made a wild guess at what a car should look like without ever having seen one. The wheels were rough-cut logs nestled into bamboo frames, with vines still clinging onto them like decorations. The body? Pure wood. It was a wooden sports car of sorts, complete with an open roof that proudly showcased every plank, stump, and vine holding it together. The "front" boasted a large, high stump that served no apparent purpose and a blackened wooden frame where a mirror might go... in a more developed era. Inside, there were rudimentary partitions for "seats"-a few more logs stacked at different heights-and two or three people could just about fit in front and back, assuming they didn't mind sitting shoulder-to-shoulder.
The crowd of princes, except for Karna and the three proud creators, circled the vehicle in wonder and confusion, lightly tapping the frame as if it might crumble under their touch. Advika walked up to it cautiously, eyebrows raised. She couldn't decide if she was impressed by the creativity or simply amazed that this collection of branches, planks, and hope somehow held together.
Chandu, full of enthusiasm, skipped over to the vehicle, pulling Dushasan along with him. "Well, let's ride!" he announced, as if this was the greatest invention in the world. The two of them clambered into the front seats, while Nakul, restrained by Sahadeva, looked like he was itching to leap in as well.
Dushasan looked around expectantly. "Bhrata!" he called out to Duryodhana with a wide grin. "Come on! Our ride awaits!"
Duryodhana raised one skeptical eyebrow, his gaze shifting from the wooden contraption to the faces around him. Everyone was watching him, clearly hoping for some reaction. Meanwhile, Chandu had half stood up from his seat, pouting in Advika's direction. "Come on, Didi. At least try it out! Don't you trust me?"
Advika raised an eyebrow. "Not at all."
Chandu's mouth fell open in mock surprise before he narrowed his eyes. "But I'm your brother."
"Exactly." Advika tilted her head. "Why would I make the same mistake twice?"
Duryodhana, watching this exchange, quirked an eyebrow in surprised amusement-it was, after all, nearly the same argument he'd just had with Dushasan, this morning. It seemed the siblings shared not only family bonds but the same uncanny ability to keep their brothers in line.
Dushasan glanced around, letting out a dramatic sigh and shaking his head in exaggerated disappointment. "So... no one's coming?" His eyes darted over the crowd, his shoulders slumping in a classic tragedy pose. "Not one soul to join this noble quest?" Beside him, Chandu mirrored his sad expression, both looking like abandoned puppies, clearly crushed.
The only one who seemed truly affected was Karna. He couldn't bear to see his friend Chandu looking so downcast. After all, Chandu had taught him about his strange world with open-heartedness and curiosity, never questioning or judging. So, with a single determined nod, Karna stepped forward to volunteer. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Nakul, who had finally managed to wriggle free from Sahadeva's iron grip, practically flew into the car, leaping over the side instead of bothering with the door. He threw a triumphant grin back at his brother, who was still gaping at him in disbelief.
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Destiny or Accident?
Historical FictionAdvika, 25, recently retired from her perilous career as a spy for the Indian government. She's faced trauma that most couldn't bear in a lifetime. Now, all she craves is the one thing her life lacked-normalcy. A quiet, boring life free from the sha...