MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

SPLINTERED NURTURING

FLASHBACK

"Will it be right?"

"Wouldn't the Eldest Pandava be he one?"

"But the next one should be the younger brother - Rajkumar Dushasana"

"We all now how it has gone by far now"

The whispers inside Royal Hall shakes the peace with its tug as the one divided family kept their silence, along with their close allies.

A sigh echoed in the Royal Hall, stopping everyone halfway on track as they looked towards the source of that 'sigh' - the now Eldest Kaurava.

"There is a will written by Bhratashree in which he has written who will be the incharge of Hastinapur in his absence"

That stopped everyone as the Gandhariputra immediately opened his mouth before any other could, answering the upcoming question.

"I also don't know what is written in that will. It is with NishadhaRaj. And he will be here soon"

And the Royal Hall again went into buzzing silence.

Dushasana felt his throat tightening by the suffocating stare of everyone as his grip subconsciously tighten upon the sat chair.

The moment felt so long before the announcement took place and Dushasana found reason to breathe in relief.

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The Assassin Guild Leader entered the Royal Hall of Hastinapur, knowing well that this isn't going End nice. But Oh well, he isn't here to bring false hope or faux happiness for anyone.

However when his eyes wander towards the second eldest Kaurava and Eldest Pandava sitting on opposite side with Samrat of Aryavart and KashiRaj sitting completely tranquil to the situation ongoing, he understood that this will more than a storm to swipe out the uncovered mess.

His eyes caught the now Eldest Kaurava who is sitting there with a calm expression but eklavya can see his posture stiff and sweat tickling down from temple.

"Pranipat NishadhaRaj"

The said person look towards his late friend's parents as he clench his jaw before joining his hands.

"Pranipat Bade pita Dhritarashtra! Pranipat Mata Gandhari!"

"Sada Sukhi Raho Putra! (May you live happy forever!)"

Gulping, NishadhaRaj opened the scroll before saying "I will repeat the will of Hastinapur Raj now"

'I, Hastinapur Raj, Duryodhana, is writing my will here where I am stating who will be the incharge of Hastinapur in my absence is........

[GULP] The person under whom Hastinapur will come under is.........'

The breathe held in Royal Hall contains an echoing silence, veiled anticipation and underlying fear but the bestfriend of late Hastinapur just continued before going over everyone's look while saying the person's name ..........my Trusted Aide and Samrat of Aryavart - Karna"

Eklavya can't even give faux statement that 'it will be alright' especially after observing everyone's expression by the will's end.

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It was all silent until the chaos broke out.

"What do you mean under that suta!?"
"The without king Rajya does go under the Samrat"
"But still, the Samrat's original identity is as important"
"Yeah, one can't forget he is a Suta"
"One can't forget that he is Samrat of Aryavart too and that too by accomplishing all the rajya's under him"
"So what? One can't still let the prestigious and honourable rajya to go under a mere Suta"

The chaos continued until the voice of Rajmata of Hastinapur break through the whole chaos while echoing in everyone's ears.

The Royal Hall went pindrop silent before one person stood up.

"Excuse me? Can you repeat that again Rajmata?"

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The five silent men stare at their mother who kept looking while gulping as she open her mouth again "karna isn't Suta"

Before someone's sneer pierced through everyone's ears.

"Then what is he, huh?"

The five glanced towards the said person about whom the talk is going on. But there was no change in his posture. Infact, he came out all imperturbable to situation. Leaning back against the royal seat while resting his face against one of his arm like there is a drama going on. And his eyes, so calm that one would rather fear him than a walking dead person.

However, the next sentence of their mother definitely managed to push him a little bit.

"He is a Royal, a Kshatriya"

"And how do you know that Rajmata?"
"Exactly"
"You are talking like you know about his birth"
"No matter how much you wish to protect him, you can't Rajmata"
"It is not possible"
"Are you trying to betray your own son Rajmata?"
"What a lie"
"Impossible"

The murmers continued until she once again spoke up "He is my Son" causing a wave of worse than chaos erupt inside the Royal Hall.

It went until the booming voice filled with authority, spoke up "Enough!" Before she look towards the said person "what do you mean kunti?"

"Jiji...."

"Speak up"

They could see their mother trembling but didn't tried to step towards her, knowing there is nothing that could save her and truth was bound to come out.

"I was shishya of Rishi Durvasa. As you know, I recieved boon to invoke any God and have child. Out of.......[GULP] out of curiosity, I summoned SuryaDev............I was young and unmarried when karna was born, so I flowed him in ganga"

Gasps could be heard all over the Royal Hall but the five had their eyes strained on their Eldest. Watching him slowly sitting up straight through the ongoing story before a question and answer echoed in the Royal Hall-

"From when do you know, karna is your that flowed in Ganga Son?"

"......"

"Kunti"

"......from Kala Pradarshan"

-leaving him wide eyes. Only the sound of his fading footfalls could be heard in the Royal Hall.

Before it got followed by KashiRaj, NishadhaRaj and slowly by Second eldest Kaurava with other Kauravas and their mother.

Leaving Kunti to crumble on the ground below as the five gently sat around her but offered no sympathy or comfort, knowing well that no amount of words can be able to comfort her now.

FLASHBACK END

That day was another one of the horrifying day after the first where they lost their Jyeshthshree and their Bhabhishree with the little one.

After that day in Royal Hall, the now recognised Eldest Pandava was nowhere to be seen.

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