MIRAGE OF HEARTSTRINGS

SILK CUFFS

The Eldest Kaurava thought that everything will be normal but he didn't realised that after coming here, his whole world has tilted off the axis.

"What do you think Duryodhana?"

The second youngest Panduputra. Nakula. Even after week of avoiding, he always come around like it is natural for him to be in duryodhana's world.

"Maybe"

But the worst thing is, Duryodhana never realised how much he was leaning towards it like a touch starved person. As if he has found his only path after years of wandering alone.

"That's good"

The smile of nakula only made Duryodhana look away. Not understanding how much he already is deep into this.

"What do you think Rajkumar Nakula?"

If Duryodhana hadn't looked away then he would had seen the falter of nakula's smile upon Lakshman's voice and the darkening of his eyes.

But he didn't saw that.

And so he painted the sky with armor, believing he had fortified himself against every imaginable threat.

Never once did he realize that the truth had been standing quietly behind him all along.

"Sure Lakshman"

The boy grinned, running away, not noticing that the Rajkumar is close in his father's space where he does not like any outsider to stand.

Duryodhana sighed before turning around to rest in guest chamber until a hand caught his wrist.

Turning around, Duryodhana was about to retort by something but all the words turned ash when his eyes met the Gandivdhari standing far behind Nakula, at the entrance of garden.

The look on duryodhana's face must be screaming something that made the Indraputra clench his fist with his jaw tighten.

But Duryodhana didn't let the moment stretch any longer as he ripped his hand out of Ashvinsputra grip.

Midst of all, none noticed the eyes of the person watching the scene unfold from the above window.

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"Amusing"

The sapphire brown eyes watch the scene unfold from above corridor.

Chuckling under his breathe while going back to Right Wing Pavilion, towards his office Chamber.

"Of course, my Anujs had to"

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It should have astonished him. It should have forced him to stop and question how, in what twisted turn of fate, every one of his younger brothers had become inexorably drawn toward the eldest Kaurava.

Months ago, perhaps, Yudhisthira would have done exactly that. He would have unraveled every glance, every silence, every inexplicable shift in their hearts with the patience and caution befitting Dharmaraja. He might even have feared what it meant.

But that was months ago.

Now-

Now he was far too consumed by the same obsession to think beyond it.

The question no longer existed. Neither did the concern.

There was only Duryodhana.

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The Maharaj of Indraprastha sat on his office Chair before gazing up at the ceiling.

"It is impossible not to" As his eyes darken and gaze sharpens.

"When it comes to you Duryodhana"

The elder look outside the window, at the sky before muttering "because of you. Now I has to keep my Anujs away too"

His eyes stare at the place where Duryodhana was previously standing in this office as his thoughts stumbled.

A low whisper slipped from his lips, soft as a vow and far more dangerous.

"One day.......I will shape you into someone who belongs beside me." His voice fell to an almost reverent murmur. "Mine. Mine alone."

A lifeless smile slowly spread across his face, empty of warmth, yet frighteningly serene.

For a fleeting moment, the office's temperature seemed to drop until his eyes caught the crumbled paper, tucked between the important papers of Palace. A place where no one will dare to put their hands on.

As he cares the paper or rather a letter that had been sent by a certain sneaky person but got caught by him.

"Your friends must be worried, hmm?" A murmur escaped his mouth before he faintly smiled, eyes devoid of any emotion.

"It's alright. They don't know that you are under my hands now"

His gaze darkened, swallowing every trace of reason as his voice fell into a whisper.

"Here........no one will ever lay a hand on you." His lips curved ever so slightly. "Not the birds. Not the wind. Not even my anujs." He took a slow breath, as though savoring the promise. "I'll make you choose me. I'll make you lean on me until you no longer remember how to stand without me."

Something deep within him answered-a voice that sounded disturbingly like his own.

'Because this is the first thing you have ever wanted for yourself alone'

A pause.

'And what is yours.....should never belong to anyone else'

Whether it was wrong.........?

The question had ceased to matter long ago.

The Panduputra took a deep breathe before calling for the servant.

"Servant"

"Maharaj ki Jai ho!! Command Maharaj?"

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"Maharaj Duryodhana"

"Yes-"

"Maharaj has send message for you to obey"

"What kind of message?"

"He told you to shift your things with Rajkumar Lakshman to the room prepared for you in Right Wing Pavilion"

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