The tension inside the room was thick enough to cut with a sword.

For the first time, all the Kuru princes sat together—not as warriors or enemies, but as brothers bound by blood and fate.

Vaidehi remained seated in the center, her expression unreadable, while Yudhishthir sat beside his brothers, and Karna remained still, his fists clenched against his knees.

The silence stretched until Bheem finally spoke, his voice low and sharp.

"I cannot just forget everything, Bhabhishree," he said, his gaze locked on Duryodhan. "The insults, the humiliation, You Poisoned me... how do you expect me to erase it all?"

Duryodhan leaned forward, unbothered by Bheem's anger. "And what about what you did, Bheem? The insults against us, against our parents? The way you always looked at us like we were nothing?"

Arjun's jaw clenched. "Because that is what you treated us as! You always wanted what we had—our kingdom, our honor—"

"Our birthright!" Duryodhan cut in, his voice rising. "You think we had no right to Hastinapur? You think we were lesser than you?"

Bheem stood abruptly, his anger flaring. "Because of you, our mother was forced into exile! Because of you, we were sent to Varnavat to burn! Tell me, Duryodhan, do you deny that?"

Duryodhan's lips curled in frustration, but before he could speak, Karna finally intervened.

"This is pointless," he muttered, shaking his head. "This cycle of hate will never end if you only look at each other as enemies."

Ashwathama, who had been silently observing, spoke for the first time.

"Karna is right. You are all shouting, but have you ever questioned why? Why do you all hate each other this much?"

The room fell silent.

Vaidehi stood up slowly, her eyes moving between the brothers. "It's time to think, truly think. All these years, the fights, the wars, the anger... did it start with you?"

Duryodhan opened his mouth to argue but then hesitated.

For the first time in years, he did not have an answer.

He looked at his brothers, then at the Pandavas.

Then his gaze hardened.

"The poison in our hearts... was planted by Mama Shakuni."

Everyone froze.

Dushasan's brows furrowed. "Jyesth, what are you saying?"

Duryodhan exhaled deeply. "Think about it. From childhood, who taught us that we were superior? Who fed me words of hatred against Kunti Mata and her sons? Who told me that Hastinapur belonged to me alone?"

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Yudhishthir looked down, his expression dark. "And who turned our hearts against you? Who made us believe that the Kauravas were our enemies instead of our brothers?"

Vaidehi's voice was gentle yet firm. "The answer is the same. Shakuni."

Karna's face darkened. "He played us all like pawns."

Bheem sat down heavily, his anger shifting from Duryodhan to someone else. "Then it is time to stop fighting each other... and hold the real culprit accountable."

Duryodhan nodded. "Then we are agreed?"

Yudhishthir extended his hand. A silent gesture of unity.

Duryodhan stared at it for a moment before placing his hand over Yudhishthir's.

Arjun followed. Then Nakul. Then Sahadev. Then Karna. Then the rest of the Kauravas.

At last, Ashwathama placed his hand over the pile, sealing the silent promise.

Vaidehi smiled softly, relief filling her chest.

But before she could step away, she felt someone pull her forward.

A strong pair of arms wrapped around her tightly.

It was Yudhishthir.

She stiffened in surprise, but then, his warmth, his steady presence, made her melt into the embrace.

One by one, the others joined, wrapping their arms around them.

A brotherhood long broken was slowly mending.

As the hug ended, Duryodhan exhaled and looked at the group.

"It's time for Mama Shakuni to answer for his sins."

And with that, the war that had raged between brothers for years finally found its truest enemy.