MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

ENCOUNTER OF PAST/STEP TOWARDS FUTURE

The wedding completed with blessing from Gods as the guests are served while the ladies took the bride with them and the groom found himself surrounded by very much unfamiliar peoples about which he can't do anything but to greet them.

The eldest Kaurava also stayed beside his groom brother as his eyes caught karna beside a very familiar looking warrior princess, murmering among themselves with a soft look on their face. Duryodhana smirked, signalling Ekalavya and Ashwathama at the corner. Both confusingly look at Duryodhana before following his eyes signal, only to whistle among themselves, My My! What have they caught!! A rare one and the most important one information, above all.

Oh, They are definitely going to make sure to make their dear eldest bestfriend regret not telling them about this.

It wasn't long until the sun set completely and most of the guests departed from there, leaving the Dwarka family, Indraprastha, Panchala and Nishadha including the three powerful allies of Hastinapur.

Duryodhana glanced towards his groom brother who seems to be tired and on the verge of throwing his ornaments away with changing his royal attire into comfortable ones. And for this, he can't lie that this truly takes a hell of time which now Dushasana surely have as he left for his brother's room since he still is not allowed to go to his room until their brother's party happen before dushasana become, what they say in their language?....Yeah, 'wife's slave'.

Sighing, duryodhana stepped towards the hall to meet his friends but before he could cross the garden, his eyes caught two figures alone in the garden...............and one of them should definitely not be there at this time.

------------------------------

The second eldest Daughter-in-law of Hastinapur bite her lips under the veil, still in her wedding attire while anxiously looking past to veil to see if anyone saw her here, despite knowing that she had to face this sooner or later so why not right now before a new start.

"Rajkumar Bheem"

The said person in front of her, blinked looking at her which she could see from under the veil but still didn't meet his eyes as she hears.

"yeah?....uh....... congratulations by the way. I am happy for you........for both of you" The voice carries nervousness and confusion behind but still Hidimba could not help but to feel grateful that at least he tried to make the atmosphere lighter unlike her.

"Thanks............Did you......Did you find her?"

A confused sound escape his throat as she asks again "did you find that person?" while pointing at the celestial bracelet in his wrist making him look towards it. Luckily her family has boon otherwise she could have never seen this in the last place.

The second eldest Pandava's eyes stuck on the bracelet before he hear sound of footsteps making both of them look towards the corridor only for Hidimba's eyes to widen.

"Bhratashree"

Funny that this person came out to be the last person bheem want face right now if the world would be ending.

"We........it was me..........I wanted to......." Hidimba stutter out few words but bheem's gaze remained on Duryodhana who is looking at Hidimba but there is no suspicion nor anger behind his eyes means he has not misunderstood.............at least in Hidimba's case.

The Panduputra's eyes caught the shining bracelet in Duryodhana's wrist and he does not need to see his own to find it is also glowing. Turning around, he left without any word, beside his situation with Hidimba has solved and he is sure, now she does not have to feel guilty or worried. But what he didn't notice was someone else's eyes also caught the glowing bracelet on their wrists.

----------------------------------

Duryodhana didn't even glanced at the person beside Hidimba, not caring about anything and he did thought there is something between Hidimba and Pandavas, assuming all the flinching and nervousness whenever one of the Pandava's name is out in her presence. However he never thought that the man behind her sadness and that situation would be second eldest Panduputra. Though he knows it is none of their fault except-

"Bhratashree......."

"Bhanu has been trying to find you. You should go inside" He kept his voice far from rough and cold in order to not to make Hidimba panick thinking he misunderstood their conversation as he turn around to leave from there. Although the eyes from behind didn't leave him until he himself turn to the right corridor for his room.

Closing his room's door from inside, Duryodhana lean again the door, breathing heavily "it feels worse to know that I am the reason" as he look at his wrist. It has been a while since this thing even caught his attention...........don't tell that it is because of this celestial thing that his and Bhanumati's marriage didn't work out?.................Didn't he promised that he would not blame others for actions?

"......................Hah!"

Now that realise this, he left from there without making sure that Hidimba reach inside without anyone's question.............[SIGH] He has to make something ruin in the whole day, doesn't he?

------------------------------

Slowly by Slowly, the time of wedding night came and as much as it was suppose to be none's concern, how dare the palace leave behind at this?

And that's why Duryodhana stare at the groom being surrounded by his brothers while he try to shoo them away, which expectedly didn't worked on any of them.

And just as fortunately, Dushasana's eyes caught his eldest brother's figure, he immediately walk towards his brother, whispering "I never knew we have such shameless brothers" making Duryodhana smile lightly as he replied "you are one of them".

It dushasana lightly hit him on his arm, Duryodhana let him get away today since today is his day beside from tomorrow-

"We are going to see someone's polite form after tonight"

"Excuse me bhrata Ekalavya, what does that mean?"

"You will understand that soon dushasana, don't worry" making everyone laugh.

"We would miss snarky bhrata Dushasana" Dushasana turn around to find who it is that commented, only to find it is Dwarkadheesh making him seal his mouth but it seems his look says 'you wish! As if I am going to change' making the said celestial being chuckle.

"Come Bhratashree"

"Come Devar ji (younger brother-in-law)" chorus of voice echoed making all of hem look towards the direction of dushasana's room from where the ladies are coming out and is looking at dushasana as "why are they looking at me like I am going on a war?" making Ekalavya says "it is a lifetime waranty war. All the best" making everyone laugh.

It was amusing how this whole teasing thing really did made Dushasana nervous................Man, is he going in a deep hole?

"Come Jamai Raja (son-in-law)" Ain't no way he is going to deny now as he walk forward, wanting to laugh at everyones focus on his steps like he will ran away from the middle. But what he didn't thought was, just as he entered the room, the room has been locked from outside while everyone hold their breathe until they burst out laughing by "w...what the hell!!" hearing yell from inside after their action.

The ladies stare at the door before signalling everyone to leave from there which they did as Duryodhana also tried to keep himself from yawning while walking with Bhanumati towards their room for a sleepful night.

*********************