The Fateful Evening part 2

Part 99

As they walked back to the camp they saw Sikhandi and Dhrisht waiting for them. Krishna smiled at Sikhandi and said,' The day has arrived. Your purpose of life is awaiting you. Go ahead and strike Santanav without hesitation. Parth will be with you only .He will take care of you. You should just be there when the real fight happens between him and his Pitamah." Sikhandi frowned and said.' I am enough to strike him down. I don't need any one to shield me."
Krishna retorted.' So be it..
Arjun knitted his brows.' If Sikhandi can make the Great Warrior fall then I would prefer to relax and leave the task." Krishna pressed Arjun's shoulder and pacified him.' Calm down Parth. There is no use to withdraw from your duty.Sikhandi can not throw away Bheeshm, But his presence is essential I tell you again."
Yudhishtir intervened and said in a decisive tone .' Today I would definitely like to see Arjun do that what is entrusted to him. Enough of submitting innocent soldiers before Grandfather who is burning them like fire burns heaps of cotton.I hope Arjun would realise the need of the hour and do accordingly." Arjun became quiet. Panchali knew now no need of any other provocation. His Eldest's word is the Veda for  him. She saw Arjun silently going towards the chariot where his Madhav is already waiting for him with reigns in hand.She approached Sikhandi and said.' Do whatever Govind instructed you today.This is your day. May god bless you with success."

The Tenth day war started with Sikhandi moving forward and attacking Bheeshma with great determination.He shot a number of arrows on Pitamah who laughed and said.' I know you are a woman previously and man later. I also know the significance of your birth. But I will never fight with you as per my principle." Sikhandi got angry and ridiculed Bheeshma.' You are the desciple of Parasurama. It doesn't look proper if you don't meet my challenge.No need to bother about my previous birth.You are the sole reason for my existence on this earth.Now face my wrath." So saying Sikhandi shot more arrows on the old warrior. Arjun observed Sikhandi's attitude and understood that finally his Grand Father's final day of battle had arrived.

He closed his eyes and prayed.' God Forgive my treacherous crime. But I am destined to do that today.Pitamah Forgive me." As he opened his eyes he saw Bheeshma smiling assuringly.Arjun asked Sikhandi to concentrate only on Bheeshm.Dhrisht called up his army and shouted. All of you be fearless. We should strike Bheeshma today.When Arjun leads us towards that no need to be afraid of. Proceed." The Pandava Army revived their spirits and moved forward. Duryodhan observed Arjun who is clearing way for Sikhandi to reach Bheeshma methodically. Whoever is coming in his way they are being punished by severe shafts from Gandiv.There is a clear firmness in the face of Krishna who is driving Arjun's chariot towards Bheeshma with great force and power.
Duryothan called Dussasan and ordered him to stop Arjun from reaching Grand Father.Dussasan obstructed Arjun and shot five arrows on his forehead.Arjun frowned and broke his bow. He then shot a powerful shaft on Dussasan who swooned in his chariot due to it.But Dussasan got back his consciousness and again came in Arjun's way.Arjun's face displayed his anger and he instantly broke his bow,and pierced all his limbs with his surefire arrows. Dussasan could not bear the pain and ran away.
Drona who is fighting at a distance observed Arjun's way of fighting that day and called his son Aswathama.' Son it looks like Arjun will definitely throw down Bheeshm today. I am not feeling well. I forget all the mantras of Astras.See the way Arjun is racing forward towards Bheeshma.He is clearing the way by destroying Kaurava Forces who are before our chief commander.I will stop Panchalas from assisting Arjun. You go and be with Bheeshma. Save him from Arjun today." Aswathama went to assist Bheeshma .
Bheema jumped into Kuru army and started destroying them to help Arjun reach Bheeshma but Bhagadutta,Jayadhradha and many others bounced on him. Arjun swiftly reached there and assisted Bheem in tackling them. He made Sikhandi be before him only and lead him towards Bheeshma.Again Dussasan came in the way of Arjun and fought fiercely.The way Dussasan fought that day to stop Arjun is praiseworthy as no other Pandava warrior except Arjun could stop him. Arjun wounded him severely and Dussasan went behind the chariot of his grand father.
Arjun pierced Bhagadutta's Elephant and removed them from his way.The celestials gathered in the sky to watch that crucial battle with Arjun targeting his Pitamah and the whole Kaurava army trying  to shield Bheeshma from him.The Kaurava Army with their stalwarts together attacked Arjun at once. Arjun scattered them like whirlwind scatters clouds with his Astras.Sikhandi was shown the way nearer to Bheeshma and under Arjun's protection he shot many arrows on Bheeshma.But Bheeshma was not effected by those arrows and started laughing at him.
He avoided Sikhandi and shot Arjun with sharp arrows.Dussasan again came and ran away unable to bear Arjun's wrath.Dussasan brought Kripa Salya and Vikarna with him but Arjun destroyed their chariots and made them weapon less.Bheeshma got angry and destroyed Panchal army and killed Virata's brother Satanika.Pandava army felt depressed on seeing that.
Krishna advised Arjun.' Parth Again your grandfather is on rampage. Now don't spare him for more. He will demoralise our army. Exhibit your prowess.Dont feel for him. He wants liberation  from your hands. Do him that favour. Indra's son had moisture in his eyes but nodded his head and bounced upon Santanav with full energy. The twang of Gandiv resounded in the battlefield.The chariot ,the charioteer of Bheeshma was covered with Arjun's arrows and Bheeshma's bow was broken much to the disappointment of Kauravas. Gandiv thrummed with menace.

Kunti is sitting in the worship room of Vidur's house. She is disturbed by the news brought by Vidur.' Bhabhisri. Today at any cost Jyesht Pita Bheeshm will fall at the hands of Arjun.It is destined. Arjun is entrusted this duty by Jyesht Pita himself. My spies brought information  late night.Due to Duryothan's folly we have to see this happen that also by Arjun whom Jyesht Pita loved so dearly." Kunti had tears in her eyes. She knew how painful it is for Arjun who treated his grandfather like his own father Pandu.Why is the fate this much cruel to Kuruvamsh.Who is the culprit for this?

Arjun wiped his tears that are continuously reminding him of the love he had for his grandfather. He looked at his Madhav whose face indicated him of the inevitable that is going to happen which is pre ordained. He clasped his Gandiv tightly and showered arrows in such a way that the army surrounding Bheeshm either got fatally wounded or fled away.He protected Sikhandi from Kauravas and encouraged him to strike Bheeshm.He broke every bow that Bheeshma took within split second. Then he covered Bheeshma's charioteer,his chariot and horses with sharpest arrows.Duryothan's Maharathis tried in vain to reach up Pitamah as Arjun appeared as if he is present before each of them and stopped their advances.Bheeshma has a slight smile at the corner of his lips. Now his grandson is in full power and no one can stop him. He then took a sakti weapon and hurled it on Arjun but it was destroyed and nullified. Arjun then killed Bheeshma's charioteer and destroyed  the roof of the chariot.Bheeshma then thought that it is futile exercise to continue fighting. No one can vanquish him if he still wields the bow. Celestials appeared in the sky and supported his decision.They showered flowers on his head.Still Bheeshma continued his battle as he doesn't want Duryothan to feel cheated.Sikhandi shot many arrows on Bheeshma but they could not show any effect. Then Arjun shot his arrows faster and broke Bheeshma's bow.He then shot a strong shaft that pierced inside Bheeshma's body.Bheeshma was stupified and looked at Arjun who is invincible to all the warriors of his side including himself.
He addressed Dussasan...The arrow that pierced my body belong to Arjun but not of Sikhandi.These arrows are torchering my body in crucial parts. Sikhandi never had such arrows. The arrows that struck me now are from Gandiv,They struck with high speed,They never miss their aim they are the sharpest and they belong to my Arjun.Sikhandi can never shoot such arrows.Then again Bheeshm hurled another sakti on Arjun but it was met in the middle itself and destroyed completely.Bheeshma then took a sword and shield but Arjun broke them and continuously showered arrows on his body with such precision and symmetry that the celestials were surprised and praised his archery.
As the Sun also started going down,The pride of Kurus,the oldest warrior ,the famous Santanav,Ganga Putr Bheeshm slowly fell keeping his head in eastern direction struck by his dearest grandson's arrows on his body . He was on the arrow bed his head hanging down because of not having support.Arjun kept his Gandiv away and turned back sobbing uncontrollably. Krishna got up and took him in his hands. ' Parth,don't grieve for him. You paved his way for salvation.Control yourself." He enlightened his cousin and wiped his tears.At that moment sages came there in the form of swans and told Bheeshma not to leave his body in Dakshinayan. Bheeshma assured them that he will be alive till Uttarayan enters as he has the boon of Ichamrityu Death at his wish.