The patriarchs of the Kuru dynasty were in a dilemma of choosing who would be the next Yuvraj.

Tiasha saw the advisers of the Sabha, Mahamahim Bhishma, Vidur, King Dhritarashtra and surprisingly Gandhara Raj Shakuni having a heated conversation about the heirloom issue.

All the Rajkumars sat in the Sabha just watching as mere observers.

King Dhritarashtra and Gandhar Raj wanted Duryodhan to have the throne.

While Mahamantri Vidur and Mahamahim Bhishma wanted to make Yudhishthira the next Yuvraj and in future the next king.

-"Maharaj Dhritarashtra is the current king of Hastinapur, it's only fair that his eldest should ascend the throne." Shakuni said in a sugar-coated voice.

-"You are forgetting that King Dhritarashtra was given the throne when Pandu entered the woods. Besides Yudhishthira is the oldest of them all. It's his right."

The argument kept on going. Tiasha was feeling frustrated. She was struggling to maintain a straight face and hide her irritation. These people are fighting over the throne and kingdom. But what about the people who live in this kingdom do they even care about them? 

She looked at the Pandavas. Yudhishthira had his head down while the other ones were glaring at the Kauravas.

The Kauravas were also glaring back except for Duryodhan. Her Sakha was engaged in a deep conversation with Angaraj. He would be leaving for his new kingdom within a few days. Not like it was a bad thing but Tiasha was a little sad that she would not be able to see his face every day.

-"Pranam Maharaj Dhritarashtra, Pranam Kuru Sabha." Guru Drona announced his presence greeting the king and the others in the Sabha.

Everybody's attention turned to Rajguru. Drona stood in the middle of the court with folded hands.

The Kuru Rajkumars immediately bowed to show respect to their Guru Dev.

Mahamahim Bhishma first frowned and then masked it with a smile, "Pranam Guru Drona, what brings you here to the royal court?"

-"I heard that you are having a problem deciding who is going to be the next Yuvraj of Hastinapur?"

Bhishma nodded.

-"None of the Rajkumars are allegeable to become Yuvraj."

Everyone present in the court looked at Drona as if he had grown two heads.

Shakuni said, "We don't understand the meaning of your words Guru Drona, and you a teacher what do you have to do with the royal matters of Hastinapur?" irritation was evident in his voice.

Shakuni always manages somehow to get on Tiasha's nerves. 'You are in no position to tell him that. What do you have to do with the matters of Hastinapur? Guru Drona was the teacher of the Rajkumars at least we know he wishes well.' Tiasha thought and Vidur voiced her thoughts.

-"Same goes with you as well Gandhar Raj, we don't see anything that has you getting involved in the royal matters of Hastinapur."

-"It does involve me Mahamantri, my sister is your Kulabadhu, and this is her son, my nephew we are talking about."

Dhritarashtra interrupted the two and asked Drona, "What do you mean guru Drona ?"

Shakuni and Vidur glared at each other before sitting down.

-"What I mean is that kuru Sabha cannot have a Yuvraj until the Rajkumar's are free from guru Rin. They must pay my Gurudhakshina before they enter the rajniti of aryavarth." Drona smirked.

Dhritarashtra smiled, "Of course Gurudev, tell us what you intend for, gold, cows, jewels or even land, you name it."

Drona's face became serious a fire started burning behind his eyes, a fire of revenge.

-"I do not intend for any of those, and I don't intend to take anything given by the court of Hastinapur. I want my Gurudhakshina from my students."

-"What do you intend for then guru Drona?" Bhishma frowned.

Guru Drona turned towards his students and started, "I am going to tell you a story today. A story of betrayal, that too by a dear friend to another friend."

-"Many years ago, in Rishi Bharadwaj's ashram, there were two friends. One was a Brahmin another was a Rajkumar. They were inseparable. They shared everything with each other."

-"One day Rajkumar asked the Brahmin Kumar to share his vidya and promised that when he becomes king, Brahmin Kumar will have half of his kingdom. Brahmin Kumar agreed and shared his vidya with his Sakha."

-"Years later they finished their education in Gurukul. Rajkumar returned to his kingdom and thus became a king. The Brahmin Kumar started his little gurukul and married a young Brahmin woman."

-"The Brahmin and his wife had a child. He was penniless, and couldn't even afford milk for his son. The neighbourhood children made fun of the little boy. One day they made him drink rice water. The innocent little boy didn't even know the taste of milk so he drank that happily thinking he was drinking milk. The Brahmin saw it and felt bad.

The richer people of the neighbourhood made fun of him after hearing about the incident.

The Brahmin felt guilty and ashamed of himself. The tears in his wife's eyes and his son's innocent face made him desperate.

He remembered the promise his friend had made years ago. So holding his wife and son's hand he went to the king to seek for not half of his kingdom but just two cows and a little bit of land where he can continue his gurukul and earn for his family."

-"But time changes everyone. The king was no more the kind young man he was once. He was the arrogant and proud king of a prosperous land. He refused to recognise his friend from Gurukul.

"Only people of the same rank can become friends, you are a poor Brahmin, I, am a king. If you want daana I can give you that, but not friendship."

-"Your pride and arrogance have made you blind. You are forgetting you got your vidya from me. And your land is my right, because of your promise."

The arrogant king humiliated the poor Brahmin in front of the Sabha saying his vidya was nothing. This pulled the last string of Brahmin's patience.

-"You humiliated me, I didn't say anything, but you insulting my vidya was out of the line. I don't want a daana from an arrogant king like you. I will take what is rightfully mine and I can do that right now. But no, you insulted my vidya, I vow, one day, I will come back and that day my students will bring you to my feet. The vidya you insulted will be the reason for your fall."

Drona finished his story and looked at his pupils.

King Dhritarashtra said, "What happened to that Brahmin was unfair. That king should be punished."

-"But why are you telling us the story guru Drona?" Bhishma asked not understanding the reason behind Drona's story.

-"My students, that unfortunate Brahmin that faced humiliation that day in that Sabha was none other than your guru Drona, and the king was Panchal Naresh Drupad."

-"Now that you are all capable, I want you to go to Panchal, defeat Drupad and bring him to my feet. That is the only Gurudhakshina I intend for."

The Sabha erupted into protest.

Bhishma told everyone to be quiet and looked at Drona, "Gurudev, the political relationship between kuru and Panchal is not of friendship. The soldiers in our borders are constantly at each other's throats. Going to a war against Panchal will only worsen the situation."

-"I am not saying Kuru Rastra needs to take part in this, I don't want any of the Kuru soldiers to be involved. My 105 students are capable enough." Although Drona was saying all 105 of his students were capable, his eyes were only fixed on one in particular.

The Rajkumars were just standing there and listening. They thought it was best to keep their mouth shut when the elders of the family were talking.

Drona looked at his best student Arjun and and asked, "What do you say, Rajkumars? Will you be able to pay your Gurudev?"

Arjun with determination in his eyes stepped forward, "Yes Gurudev, we will do anything to pay you, even at the cost of our own death. Panchal Raj Drupad will be at your feet and this is Arjun's promise."

Seeing Arjun speak with determination a pleased smile appeared on Drona's face. His face turned expressionless when he heard Duryodhan's voice, "Yes Gurudev, it is our duty to pay you and we will do our best to do so."

Drona nodded at him and said, "Prepare my students, tomorrow morning we will set for the journey to Panchal."

-XX-

Hello everyone this is your author here. this is just a filler chapter. but I hope you enjoyed it. See you all very soon with another update. Don't forget to let me know your thoughts. I await your comments.

Take care, Adiós, my lovely readers.