Panchaali stood at the main gates of the gates of the palace, a smile on her face as she waited for King Duryodhan, the feeling of foreboding was intensifying slowly making her feel all the more. Her gaze travelled to Krishn who had a very serious look on his face, his gaze met hers, the usual mischievous glint was missing, his face had no smile on his face, his gaze met hers, the solemn look in them had her grow all the more uncomfortable. Never in her life had she seen him so serious, a smile appeared on his face but she could see that it didn’t reach her eyes. Fingers laced with hers, her attention was taken up by Sehdev who laced his fingers with hers, a smile on appeared on his face as she gazed at him.  “Everything is fine.” He whispered as he looked at her, a smile on his face as he gazed at her, his words were assuring, she knew he was a man of few words, but he was also the most sensitive. Somehow, Sehdev always managed to sense even a little shift in her emotions, “I am here, we all are. No matter what happens love we are forever together, in this life and after. Forever together, no one can ever take that away from us. You understand that?” He whispered as he gazed at her, a smile on his face, she smiled back, her lips curving up automatically as she looked up at him, he gazed back at her, his hand cupping her cheeks. He was right, their unity was what mattered to her the most, if her family was with her, it didn’t matter what happened they will come out victorious. His fingers laced with hers, a smile on his face as he pressed his lips to her forehead as he lingered there a few moments longer that needed, just holding there feeling her warmth and love.

The sound of the horses and chariots had them pulling back as they turned around facing the street ahead, her heart beat wildly in her chest as she watched the horses gallop towards them pulling an ebony chariot, the open chariot had a black flag on it with golden borders and the symbol of red burning flame, the sand kicked up in the air making it difficult to see who it was. Dark clouds wafted in as suddenly the environment darkened, the sun that was shining moments ago was hidden b the dark rainy clouds that thundered loudly, the loud rumbling sound had her hart jerking with fear as strong winds began to blow. “Oh lord what kind of bad omen is this?” She heard a dasi whisper behind her, her heart beat escalated as a cold shiver ran down her spine making her tremble where she stood. The sound of vultures had her looking up in the sky, a group of vultures were circling the dark sky over her head, making her breath hitch as her heart thrummed wildly in her chest making her forget how to breath. The feeling dread settled over her, heaviness settled on her heart making her feel like it was made of metal, she watched as the dark chariot stood in front of them and from it got down three men. Men that had terror rushing through her, never in her life had she seen them than why was she feeling this? Why was she feeling the need to protect herself, like if she didn’t turn around and get away from here something very bad is going to happen. She stood there frozen, rooted as the three strangers who were dressed as royalties hugged her husbands. She knew she should go ahead, welcome them, greet them as the queen but her legs felt like they were made of stones, as though she had somehow was rooted to this place. Her face paled as she felt the weight of their gazes, though she was not looking at them she could feel their gazes, she could feel the heaviness of their stares as it moved up and down her body, a feeling of intense disgust filled her, like she was begin touched by something was too repulsing. Sweat beaded her forehead as her breathing came in short pants, the terror in her chest intensifying as all the voices blurred except the clear distinct crunch of their feet on the ground. They moved towards her, smirking as they could practically smell the terror that was wafting off her in waves, she gazed up at him, her lips trembling as she looked at them. Her eyes stung with tears as an intense pain ran through her scalp like someone had pulled her hair.

Her mouth felt dry like a desert as she gulped, “Hail the Queen, kindly except my greetings Maharani Panchaali, my name is Shakuni and this are my nephews, Duryodhan and Dushasan.” He introduced, a sickly sweet smile on his face as his partially bowed, his hands joining in front of her as he gazed at her,  arrogance as hated crawled through him, this woman in front of him was the reason of so many people’s death, his death, this time, he himself had sworn that he will kill her with his own two hands, he will gaze into her eyes as the life in them dimmed and nothing but death remained. He smirked, yes, he will kill her but before that he will make her life nothing less than a living hell, he will make her cry and scream, he will make her die every moment she will be begging for death before he kills her. The images of the pandavas make him run around the battle field as they tried to kill him ran through his mind, he had run to save his life, he gazed at her, his eyes travelling to Sehdev, the man who had ended his life, his chest blazed with agony as he recalled Sehdev jumping in the air with the axe in his hand before hitting him square in the chest. His hands fisted as he glared at him, swearing upon to end his life.

“Accept my greetings dear queen.” Duryodhan said as he joined his hands, his dace had a fake smile but from within he was burning with the fire of vengeance as he glared at her, his hands were itching to chock her neck, to push her in the ground and make her cry as he chocked her to death. He glared at her as he walked up to her. His leg still had a limp from his past life where he was killed, he remembered the slow painful moments as he lay there not completely alive neither dead, those moments where he waited for death to come and take him, the agony he had experienced as his heart burned with the revengeful fire, the frustration that ate him away, he had done everything in his power to kill the pandavas, yet those back stabbers  had killed everyone by cheating, they had no real guts or strength to defeat them head on hence they had opted for the cowardly ways and yet people worshipped them, called them Dharmis, what sort of Dharma had they followed when they had killed Pitamah, Guru Dron and Mitr Karn by their coward ways of cheating! He would avenge them all, he would kill each of this pandavas slowly and painfully, he will avenge each and everyone of them, for years he had burned in the fire of revenge and now, finally he had a chance to get his revenge on this man, and he will get it. He kill each one of them, he will make them cry for all the sins that they had done. . .

***
Do vote and comment!

Dear Silent readers kindly vote and comment!

***