In Hastinapur:

Nakul was in the stables when Dhristyadym approached him.

"Rajkumar Nakul, Hastinapur has quite the collection I see." Dhristyadym remarked.

"Because we know how to handle them." Nakul replied with a tight-lipped smile.

"I have to agree on that. How is Chapal by the way?" Nakul stiffened at his question. Chapal was Drisana's favourite horse.

"He's fine." He replied shortly.

"You know Dravida has also some fine collection too. Like their Rajkumari. " Dhristyadym said casually while Nakul gritted his teeth. "With her wisdom, knowledge and bravery, she deserves to rule not follow." Dhristyadym said further instigating Nakul. He wanted to see how far he could push Nakul before he snapped. "You should set her free."

Before Dhristyadym could react he was on his knees with his hand behind his back and a knife to his throat.

"Control your senses before I render them useless." Nakul said calmly, like he wasn't ready to slit his throat at the slightest move.

As Nakul released him and walked away, Dhristyadym smirked wiping the blood trickling from his neck. He remembered Drisana saying,

'Control your senses before someone renders them useless.'

In Magadh:

Magadh Naresh Jarasandh was fuming in rage. How dare they!!! Earlier while he was at a hunting trip, assassins had attacked his troop. He killed them mercilessly without wasting time. But before killing the leader, he got to know they were Bharata soldiers.

Bharata soldiers of Hastinapur. Protected and provided by Kuru Vangsh. Who stayed loyal to Hastinapur and protected the sacred land of Vrikasthala.

When had they resorted to attacking from behind? Now whole Hastinapur would pay for it.

"Make the army ready for war." He ordered his army chief.

In Hastinapur:

"Jyesth, Pitamah has called for urgent meeting." Sahdev informed Yudhisthir coming inside his office room. Yudhisthir frowned at that. He had met Pitamah a while ago. Everything was fine then.

"What happened? Why the sudden meeting?" Yudhisthir asked confusingly.

"No idea Jyesth. He didn't say anything. But I've a very bad feeling about this." Sahdev replied.

"Okay. Where's Bheem, Arjun and Nakul?" Yudhisthir asked.

"They are on the way too." Sahdev said restlessly.

Yudhisthir nodded and left with Sahdev to meet Mahamahim Bhismeh. As he reached, his brothers were present with Mahamahim Bhismeh and Mahamantri Vidur.

"What happened Pitamah? Why have you called us urgently?" Yudhisthir asked him.

"Our spys have sent message. Magadh Naresh Jarasandh is coming towards Hastinapur with his army to attack." Mahamahim Bhismeh informed them in a grim voice.

Everyone was shocked by this news. Now war was not something new for them. But they had no animosity with Magadh. Then why out of nowhere Magadh Naresh would attack them that was the question.

"But why? Hastinapur has nothing to do with Magadh. And he can't be stupid enough to attack us to gain control over Hastinapur." Bheem worded the question that was revolving in everyone's mind.

"That's not important right now. We've to focus on protecting Hastinapur." Mahamahim Bhismeh said.

"Hastinapur is not less than Magadh in strength and ability. Jarasandh has remained undefeated until he received defeat from Vasudev and Angraj Karna. Vasudev intervened and stopped Angraj from killing him." Mahamantri Vidur stated. They couldn't take this attack lightly. At this moment, Magadh rivalled Hastinapur at strength and power.

"Don't worry Pitamah. I'll prepare our army for war immediately." Yudhisthir said.

"No. You won't go." Bhismeh stopped him.

"But -" Yudhisthir started to say but stopped as Bhismeh raised his hand, signing him to stop.

"You're the Yuvraj. If you go, our army's focus will be on your protection more than attacking the enemy. Hastinapur is not so weak that Yuvraj himself has to jump on the battlefield, especially when the reason of the battle isn't even clear." Bhismeh said.

"I'll lead the army. Bheem and Arjun will accompany me along with Duryodhan and Satyasandha (one from the ninety-nine)." Bhismeh declared. All nodded accepting his decision. As they started to discuss the strategies, one guard came.

"Sorry to disturb you Mahamahim. But Maharaj Dhritarashtra has ordered that Rajkumar Duryodhan and Rajkumar Satyasandha will not go to the battle with you. In their place Rajkumar Vikarna and Rajkumar Yuyutsu will go." The guard informed them.

"Yudh ke nam pe vayveet ho gaya hoga Duryodhan. Abhi balak hai na. (Duryodhan must have gotten afraid hearing the word war. He's still small.)" Bheem said mockingly.

"Don't mock him Bheem. It's Maharaj's decision. We've to respect it." Yudhisthir said.

"Okay then. Get ready for the battle." Mahamahim Bhismeh said dismissing them.

As they left for the battlefield, Dhristyadym also took his leave.

"Is it necessary for you to go so soon? Can't you stay for some more days?" Draupadi asked hopefully. She was meeting her brother after so long and he was already leaving.

"I've important work. Otherwise I'd have stayed. But I promise I'll visit again." Dhristyadym said smiling at his sister.

"Send me message as soon as you reach Panchal." Draupadi said.

"Of course." Dhristyadym said and left.

Dhristyadym wasn't going to reach Panchal so soon.

"I don't understand Mamashree. What type of plan is this? You sent Bharata soldiers to attack Magadh Naresh. We all know he's undefeated. His battle prowess is wide known. And now he's coming for Hastinapur. Why have we dug our own grave?" Dussasan asked in irritation.

"Priye Dussasan, Bharata soldiers represent Hastinapur. So, now after getting attacked by them, we've invited Magadh Naresh's wrath. He is not undefeated as Vasudev has defeated him 18 times already, not including the time when he was defeated by Karna. As long as Mahamahim Bhismeh is standing between him and us, we don't need to worry.

But Pandavs do. That murkh (idiot) Bheem and Arjun will not let Jarasandh reach to their Pitamah Bhismeh before them. And they'll die in Jarasandha's hands only. They will die in battlefield while we take care of Yudhisthir, Nakul and Sahdev.

As they reach the battlefield, the news of Bharata soldiers terror in Vrikasthala will reach Yudhisthir and he'll go to Vrikasthala to inquire with his brothers. As soon as they reach there, Bharata soldiers will kill them. And thus we'll be free from Pandavs forever." Shakuni explained his plan as Duryodhan smirked.

"But what if Arjun and Bheem defeat Jarasandh?" Dussasan asked doubtfully. Shakuni started to laugh hearing his question. After controlling his laughter he answered his question.

"Vasudev is illusionary. Karna has divine kavach and kundal (breastplate and earrings). Even with his Vijaya, he wasn't able to defeat Jarasandh easily. But Arjun has neither. How do you expect him to protect himself? As for Bheem, who cares if he kills Jarasandh or vice versa. The whole point of this war is to send Mahamahim Bhismeh, Bheem and Arjun away. And no other King is powerful enough to lure these three in the battlefield together." Shakuni replied with a malicious grin.

"But Mamashree, Vikarna and Yuyutsu have also gone with them." Dussasan said. He wasn't really worried for Yuyutsu, but Vikarna was his brother. He was stuck in his Dharma, but still he was a Kaurav. Duryodhan and Mamashree Shakuni wouldn't sacrifice him, would they?

Duryodhan and Gandharraj Shakuni shared a look at his concern. Duryodhan had asked the same to Shakuni earlier. But he made his nephew understand that they had to make sacrifices for the throne. His brothers were ready to die for him, but their life would be useless if he couldn't get the throne. Vikarna had already gotten out of hand as he questioned Duryodhan after Drisana left and was hell bent on Dharma. So better him than anyone else.

In Dravida:

Drisana looked at Dridhaksh as he took permission to go on a hunting trip from their father. Earlier Krishna and Balaram had also taken leave with their respective wives. Only Subhadra remained in Dravida as she wanted to stay with Drisana for few more days. Dridhaksh came to meet her before leaving.

"Your Paksi-premi will owe me for this." Dridhaksh said.

"He doesn't even know, bhrata." Drisana said rolling her eyes.

"Regardless. I'll get avenge for this from him." Dridhaksh said with an attitude as Drisana shaked her head.

"Take care. Remember you're only the escape route." Drisana warned him. She didn't want her family to get into unnecessary troubles.

He left nodding. Drisana knew Krishna wouldn't be there to guide Bheem and this was not the time for Jarasandha's death. He had yet to start capturing kings and Indraprasht wasn't even established. So, Jarasandh had to live. So did Arjun and Bheem.

In Hastinapur's Raj sabha:

Everyone was patiently waiting for news from the army camp of Hastinapur. Just then a guard came to inform them that the reason behind Magadh's sudden attack was an attack conducted on Magadh Naresh by Bharata soldiers. As they were thinking over the impossibility and truth of that information, another soldier came to inform about unusual activity in Vrikasthala. Bharata soldiers were terrorising the people there. That baffled everyone. Bharata soldiers were protectors. Why would they attack Magadh Naresh?

It was during Maharaj Bhimasena, Maharaj Shantanu's great grandfather that a famine broke out in Hastinapur. Not even a scrap of grain could be grown in the land. Maharaj Bhimasena then did hard penance to please mother earth. Hearing his plea for his people mother earth appeared and said this famine would continue for another decade that couldn't be helped. But as the land of Vrikasthala was untainted, as not even a single drop of blood had been ever spilled there, she gave a boon that every kind of crops would grow there all the year-round and the spot would be sacred. From that time, to protect the land Maharaj Bhimasena's younger son took up residence there with his companions and later their descendents followed. Since then they were known as Bharata soldiers who protected the land of Vrikasthala. They had always protected the sacred land of Vrikasthala from outer and inner forces as to not taint the earth.

Now why would the protectors become antagonist?

"We should inquire by going there to know what's actually happening and why." Yudhisthir suggested.

"You're right, Yudhisthir. You'll go there. Prepare to leave." Maharaj Dhritarashtra said.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Maharaj, but in these situations where a war is going to take place, we shouldn't send the Yuvraj of Hastinapur alone." Shakuni said with folded hands. "I think Rajkumar Nakul and Rajkumar Sahdev should accompany him."

"I agree with you Gandharraj. But what is the need to send Yuvraj at all. Rajkumar Nakul and Rajkumar Sahdev is more than capable enough to handle the matter." Mahamantri Vidur said.

"You're right Mahamantri. But this problem seems to be deeper. And in my opinion it'll be better if Yuvraj himself goes to see through it. Also Bharata soldiers are part of Kuru dynasty. They may feel neglected and disrespected by these allegations. So it's best if Yuvraj is the one talking to them." Shakuni said.

"Your words are true, Shakuni. So it's decided then. Yudhisthir, Nakul and Sahdev will go to Vrikasthala." Dhritarashtra ordered as Shakuni smirked. Sahdev and Nakul shared a look. Both sensed Mamashree Shakuni's generous input unusual. Yudhisthir nodded finding no fault in it.

Little did he knew, in the past years Shakuni and Duryodhan with the help of Rakshasa Mardok had given drugs to Bharata soldiers mixing with their alcohol. Mardok who was brother of Bakasura was hell bent on revenge when Shakuni found him. As Bheem had killed his brother, Mardok wanted to do the same. So he helped in getting Bharata soldiers addicted on the drug made by his Maya and rendered the soldiers into aggressive mindless creatures that followed their orders.

On one hand was Yudhisthir who couldn't raise weapon as to not taint the land of Vrikasthala, on the other hand was Bharata soldiers whose soul had already been tainted.

I'm almost afraid to ask. 😅😅😅

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