Anuragaanjali ~ The Eternal Love ✅

Chapter 36 : The Wrath Of Gandivdhari

Arjun's Wrath and Vengeance

The morning had passed in a mournful silence, the air heavy with the sorrow of Aaradhya's untimely demise. But within Arjun, a storm had been building, a fury that could no longer be contained. His beloved wife, his heart, his soul, was no more. The bond they had shared—stronger than the mightiest steel—had been shattered by the cruelty of Ashwatthama, Duryodhan, and Shakuni.

Arjun stood by Aaradhya's body, unable to tear his eyes away from her peaceful face, now marred by the burns of the Agnidev's flames. His heart broke over and over again with each passing second, the anger rising in his chest like a burning inferno.

"I will not let this injustice stand," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I will make them pay."

Without another word, he turned, his feet carrying him swiftly to the royal chambers. He grabbed his Gandiva, his divine bow, and as if the very air trembled with his wrath, he stormed out of the camp. His every step was filled with purpose, his resolve unwavering.

He didn't need anyone to tell him what needed to be done. His beloved Aaradhya had been taken from him by the very people who should have protected her, and now it was time for him to bring justice. There was no place in this world for those who would commit such a heinous crime.

His destination was clear: Hastinapur.

When Arjun arrived at the gates of Hastinapur, the city's tranquility was shattered by the presence of the Pandava prince. His eyes were filled with a fury unlike any seen before. His grip on his Gandiva was so tight that his knuckles turned white, and every step he took seemed to echo with the promise of vengeance.

The Sabha was in session, and word spread quickly that Arjun had arrived. The courtiers and citizens of Hastinapur gathered in hushed whispers, uncertain of what was to come. The doors of the Sabha hall opened with a creak, and Arjun stepped in. His mere presence sent a wave of unease through the assembly.

He stood tall, his face a mask of fury and heartbreak. His eyes, bloodshot from sleepless nights of grief, locked onto the throne, where Duryodhan sat smugly, unaware of the storm that had just entered the room.

"Duryodhan," Arjun's voice rang out, cold and unforgiving, "you will pay for what you have done."

Duryodhan's smugness faltered as he looked at Arjun, realizing the seriousness in his voice. "What do you mean, Arjun?" he asked, his tone laced with mockery. "You come here to accuse me of something? You think you can stand against me?"

Arjun's gaze turned to the rest of the assembly, who watched in silence, awaiting his words. "Do you all know what your beloved Duryodhan has done?" he thundered. "Do you all know the role he played in the death of my beloved wife, Aaradhya?"

The room fell into an eerie silence as the courtiers exchanged glances, unsure of what Arjun was implying. Arjun continued, his voice growing louder with each word.

"Duryodhan, Ashwatthama, and Shakuni—your treachery has taken my wife from me! She was my heart, my soul. And they took her from me through lies and deceit. And when she refused to marry one of you, when she rejected your vile intentions, you had her killed. And now, I stand here before you, not as a mere prince, but as a man whose love was stolen away, and I demand justice."

His words struck like a lightning bolt, the entire assembly recoiling at the gravity of his words. The courtiers gasped, and Kunti, Bhima, and the rest of the Pandavas entered the hall, their faces filled with sorrow.

Drona, who had been sitting quietly in the assembly, turned pale at the mention of Aaradhya's death. He had known her well—she was like a daughter to him, and the news of her death shook him to his core. His hand trembled as he placed it over his heart, the pain too much to bear.

Arjun's gaze flicked to his teacher, Drona, who had once been his mentor and father figure. "You failed her, Drona," Arjun said bitterly. "You failed her as a father, as a protector. How could you allow this to happen under your very nose?"

Drona's eyes welled with tears, and he lowered his head, unable to meet Arjun's gaze. "I never knew... I never knew they would go this far," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I would never have allowed it if I had known."

But Arjun was beyond words of comfort. His mind was clouded with rage and sorrow, and he could not bear the thought of Duryodhan and his cohorts escaping the consequences of their actions.

"I will make you all pay," Arjun muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on his Gandiva. "This world will not exist without Aaradhya. If there is no world for her, then there will be no world at all."

With a fierce cry, Arjun notched an arrow to his bow, the weapon imbued with divine power. The energy surrounding him crackled, as if the very earth sensed the wrath of the Pandava prince. The air seemed to thrum with the promise of devastation.

"I summon the Brahmastra!" he declared, his voice reverberating through the hall, "If the universe dares to exist without her, I will erase it. The fire of this weapon will consume everything."

The courtiers and Pandavas gasped as Arjun prepared the Brahmastra, its immense power building up in his hands. The force of the weapon was so great that it seemed to alter the very air around them, and the sky outside darkened, as if in response to the wrath of the mighty archer.

But just as the arrow was about to be released, Krishna stepped forward, his calm presence a stark contrast to Arjun's fury. His eyes, filled with deep sorrow, met Arjun's.

"Arjun," Krishna said softly, "this is not the way. I know your pain, and I know the depths of your love for Aaradhya. But destruction will not bring her back. You are the protector of Dharma, the warrior of righteousness. Do not let grief and rage cloud your judgment."

Arjun lowered his bow slightly, the weight of Krishna's words striking him deeply. He looked at his teacher, Drona, who was now on his knees, sobbing for the daughter he had failed. Then, he turned to the ones responsible—Duryodhan and Shakuni.

With a sudden movement, Arjun aimed his arrow directly at Duryodhan. The hall fell silent as everyone braced for the inevitable.

But before the arrow could fly, Arjun's heart wavered. His love for Aaradhya, though unshakable, was not one that would allow him to become a destroyer. His mind cleared, and he dropped his bow, the Brahmastra dissipating into the ether.

"I will not let vengeance consume me," Arjun said, his voice calmer now, though still filled with pain. "But know this, Duryodhan: you will not get away with this. I will make sure the world remembers what you did."

With that, Arjun turned to leave, his Gandiva resting lightly on his shoulder. He walked past his brothers, past Drona, who was still sobbing. But he did not look back. His heart, though broken, now carried a resolve stronger than ever before.

As the Pandavas followed him out of the Sabha, the storm of grief still swirled within Arjun's soul. But he knew that his journey was far from over. The battle for justice, for Aaradhya's honor, was just beginning.