MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

RAVINE PATH

The morning held a sacred, hush-like quiet as the deep neon blue of the night evaporated. A watercolor canvas of pastel blush and deep crimson unfurled across the clouds, casting a gentle, renewing warmth over the waking world.

The morning hour felt respite for the past awake Father figure. Laying on the bed with his son sleeping, Duryodhana stare at the rising sun from past before it began.

His mind constantly travel back to the hushed backing steps of the three Panduputras - whose presence should had been nothing to him but now feels like millstone.

The thoughts suddenly halting upon sudden pandiculation beside him. As the Eldest Kaurava witness the moment of his son's waking, his heart tug.

"mmm.....Pitashree?"

The figure in question immediately turned over towards his son, brushing the falling hair from his son's face while getting rewarded with emitting little hazed joyful sounds.

The boy snuggled in his father's warmth making the said father breathe shakingly.

Duryodhana stare at his son whose eyes slowly opened. As the said Survivor stare at the childish warmth filled familiar Amber eyes, his heart twinges.

The familiar amber eyes took Duryodhana back to four years ago to the day when he became father despite not being prepared. But the determination in those dark amber eyes made Duryodhana courageous. Now the same eyes are doing same job once again, just in different presence and on different situation.

His reliving suspended upon the warm acknowledgement from his son.

"Pitashree"

"Yes Lakshman"

The said boy grinned at his father before climbing on his father's torso making Duryodhana cradle him securely.

"Will we meet Rajkumar Arjuna today?"

All the serenity left the room when the question entered duryodhana's ears. His heart crumbled when he looks into the hope filled wide eyes before he slowly shook his head.

"I don't know........That depends on his schedule"

It felt painfully bitter to admit that they have gotten so used to the Panduputras that the first thought of Lakshman's mind was them.

However, unexpectedly Lakshman only silently nodded thoughtfully before asking again "then Rajkumar Sahadeva or Rajkumar Bhima?"

The Eldest Kaurava stare at his son. He could lie, he should. But he didn't. Not when his son's life is only built around him and Lakshman had done nothing to get lie from the only trustful figure he has granted life to.

"I don't know"

Duryodhana can visible see his son's mood crumbling before he let out.

"Would you like to visit Left Wing Pavilion?"

Although he has been staying in Indraprastha from quite a long time. Only few of the new guards and servants know about him and his son.

Cause they have been staying in Right wing Pavilion from starting, where guests rooms are constructed, gardens are established and Kitchen existed.

But the Left Wing Pavilion is the real Side of the Kingdom. The King and his family, the Political side, the soldiers, the training ground and Entrance of the Palace exist there.

It is the place where Duryodhana should never place his feet without thinking thrice. But he could never watch his only reason to live being Sad.