An interlude to Sunset

The part about Responsibility (Yudhistira)

The part about Responsibility (Yudhistira)

'It is hard and I don't mind owing up to it. I need you here, Panchali; we need you here. But, I cannot possibly ask you to desert Indraprastha and come. Especially when we still do not know who is behind the attack on Dushyala and Arjun.

Arjun is doing better but that is just comparatively speaking. He is still very weak and even the journey from one room to another takes a toll on him. How much of it is due to the arrow's effect and how much is on account of all the medicines being inflicted upon him is uncertain.

I would have loved to bring him back to Indraprastha. There, he would have probably healed faster. And better. The aura of Hastinapur grows darker by the day and it is leeching the warmth off the surroundings and from Arjun too.

The only source of comfort we have here, except for Pitamah and Gurudev, is Vasudeva. The rest is just serving to confuse us.

Mata is yet to gain her normal demeanour and more often than not, she hovers over Arjun. This morning she insisted on staying in the room until Arjun had finished his meal and her worried stance did not help as Phalgun was still having difficulty with his appetite.

A slight distance now exists between my brothers, which was not there even a week back. Indraprastha seems to linger at an extremely far away distance with even the memory of its silhouette growing faint. I am trying to wade through this pool of miscommunicated half-says and insecurities that have come into existence but I am falling short.

My only hope remains with Krishna, but how long till he is called back to Dwarka? He cannot ignore his duties for long though that is exactly what he is doing. If he chooses to go back to his kingdom, then Phalgun will probably accompany him. His mind is still making him suffer. More often than not, he wakes up from his slumbers with a look of terror painted on him.

Sometimes, I wake up Arjun, just to confirm that he hadn't slipped off to his dreamland again. And I ignore his flinches. I am unable to get through to my brother because even I fear what I may have to hear.

The rain keeps falling and though it is as soft as the fur of a newborn lamb, the continuity of it worries me. It seems that Lord Indra has yet to breathe a sigh of relief. Due to the storm and the rains, it feels as if time has slowed down. Everything feels heavy, Panchali. Especially my crown.

What would I not give to just stride out of the palace and take things into my own hands? To search out the reason behind Arjun's suffering. But I am the Samrat. Such rights are not granted to me. And....'

A movement from the open doorway and Yudhistira looked up.

"Angaraj?" The man's presence at the late midnight hour was anything but expected. "Please come in."

Karna dithered at the doorway for a fair few seconds before he stepped inside. "My apologies for disturbing you at this hour."

"It is perfectly alright." Yudhistira placed the half-finished letter inside his little metal box, locking it up. "Have a seat, Angaraj."

"I..." Karna looked around and gestured towards the open balcony door. "Is it okay if we talk over there?"

Yudhistira frowned in some confusion but nodded. Out on the balcony, the surrounding was bathed with dark ink with the quarter slip of the moon lending limited illumination. Yudhistira's room overlooked the forest surrounding Hastinapur and the attached balcony offered privacy like no other.

"So it is serious." Yudhistira commented.

"What?'"

"Whatever prompted you to come to my chambers this late? And probably why you chose the balcony too?"