MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

SPURN OF DESTINY

ONE WEEK LATER

"The Letter of child is 'L' Maharaj! Maharani!"

"he reminds of someone........."

"lakshman"

"that's such a beautiful name putri"

Bhanumati smiled hearing her mother-in-law saying before glancing at her husband who is busy staring at his son making her bite her lips in order to not to chuckle out loudly.

"What are you looking at?" She whisper asked, only to get flabbergasted when he replies "his eyes are the only thing that matches me, everything else matches you......my genes are weak"

"Duryodhana!!"

"Hmm?"

"You........" She glanced around, checking if anyone is noticing them before facepalming herself while exhaling "you are truly dumb! It is an official fact now"

"Bhanu"

The said person turn around to find Kashi Rani, two Nishadha Rani and her two sister-in-laws coming towards her as she glanced at her husband who is busy with their son, making her smile before she went towards them.

"Hello"

"You truly magnificent bhratashree, didn't you?"

"What are you asking even, drau? Of course she did otherwise how is bhratashree not even glancing here and there except Lakshman?"

All the ladies laugh as Bhanumati scoffs playfully before turning towards her only younger sister-in-law who noticed the state immediately making her raise an eyebrow, ready for the come back from her eldest sister-in-law.

"What bhabhishree?"

"Nothing, just wondering. How much magnificent Bhrata Ekalavya is going to be, afterall two most beautiful ladies of............" She exaggerated making everyone laugh at the teasing, fortunately not noticing the tight smile of the two said ladies.

"It is already lunch time. Why not we eat first?........and then tease?"

"[LAUGH] sure-sure"

"Why not?"

"Let's go"

"Yeah"

The Maharani of Hastinapur watch all the guests having lunch as she went towards her brother-in-laws who are standing at one corner "what are you doing here?"

"Nothing much bhabhishree. Just getting amused by watching Jyeshthshree's gentlest version ever"

That made her look towards the other side, finding her husband with his best friends but his eyes kept glancing at their son, protective arms around him like anyone would snatch him or harm him, even the air. Her breathe hitched realising the sudden weight of their son in their relationship which has no name except friend.

"Well, bhratashree has been gentle from the time bhabhishree entered in this palace"

"True but I feel hurt that I got beaten but"

The laughing sound of her brother-in-laws made her smile too but her eyes didn't left his figure, keeping it on him until she noticed the second Nishadha Rani moving......or more like sneaking towards a certain direction making Bhanumati excuse herself before she carefully follow her.

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"What has happened to our Suyo man?"

"True, never thought to see this"

"Exactly! Duryodhana? and Gentle? WoW indeed!"

The said person rolled his eyes before speaking out "is this why you three came, huh? To pull my leg?" Making the Brahmin grin as he reply "why? You thought we came here for anything else? If yes then you thought too much"

The two Archer high five each other while the eldest one glance at the baby in his best friend's arms as he mutter out "He looks too small" making the Assassin guild leader reply with a grin "all babies are small but you will only know when you will get married"

"Yeah, complete our friend circle karna" Duryodhana said, entering the conversation making everyone laugh while karna just roll his eyes as Ashwathama says "yeah, complete our friend circle Radheya. Why should we be the only ones to go to hell by being married? Join us!"

The laughter died down when the newly became father told them to quiet down as everyone look towards the sleeping baby in Duryodhana's arm before Ekalavya step forward "Give me. I will put him on the bed. Beside I need to practice soon since I have already seen many struggling"

All three chuckle at that as Duryodhana placed Lakshman in Ekalavya's arms before Ekalavya went towards Duryodhana's room.

While going through the corridor, Ekalavya met the second youngest Pandava who was staring at the moon but got interrupted by Nishadha and he had no mood of interrupting Nakula but unfortunately.

"Pranipat Rajkumar Nakula"

"Pranipat NishadhaRaj"

It seems that the second youngest Pandava noticed the sleeping baby in his arms, though there is an unknown glint in his eyes which Ekalavya couldn't comprehend and didn't even got time to as Nakula left right after taking one look at the baby.

Though since the path is clear, Ekalavya didn't thought much about past event as he step forward towards the child's parents room while looking at baby, only to mutter "I can see what made Duryodhana become so gentle..............Will I also become like this? Well, if duryodhana can then I don't think I am any better than him"

Just as Ekalavya was about to open the room door, the voices from inside stopped him as he frowned, confused upon finding presence inside the room of Maharaj and Maharani of Hastinapur when there is supposed to be no one inside. He glanced at the comfortably sleeping baby in his arms before eavesdropping for security.

"But-"

"But I can't jiji! There is no but........please"

Upon finding the voices familiar, NishadhaRaj waited to find who is it by eavesdropping more.

"Now it is nothing but suffocation"

Ekalavya blinked, filling his frown fading but confusion growing "Subhadra?" as why she is inside the room with-

"I can understand that bhadra, I can"

-Bhanumati?

"I don't know when it happened? Why did I let my feelings grow? Why!?"

"It happens unconsciously Bhadra, you have no control over it. It is not your fau-"

"It is my fault!! It is my fault that I started loving him!! That I still love him while knowing he is my best friend's husband!! That our marriage is nothing more than a deal!! That we are about to be divorced!!! That.........That I am stupid"

"Bhadra............."

"How did I fall in love with NishadhaRaj!? I promised him..........I promised her that.......that..........I promised her that we will remain friends forever......that it is nothing more than an incident caused by me..........that I will fix all this. I broke her promise..........Why!!?"

"Bhadra"

Only wails can be heard from the closed room while the man outside the room went freezed like someone has pulled ground from under his feet............maybe someone has.

"Arya"

His whole body went under terror when he turn around to find his love of life standing behind him who is staring at him.........while his mind keep repeating the words of Subhadra.

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