Prakriti P.O.V

We got the news that Brother Krishna is agreed to be with us in the war but he won't lift a weapon. I internally smirked, he doesn't need weapon to win a war. I am happy that he choose our side but when Arya told me that Brother Balram denied taking part in the war at all, I understood his reason. He love Duryodhana very much and he knows that his sister is on the other side, he couldn't choose between one so he decided to not take part in the war. At least he won't be siding with Kauravas any more, I was just afraid for this only. Now we will have to gather all of our ally and prepare for the war.

The first of our allies to arrive in Upaplavya was Satyaki, with his one aksauhini army. Then, Dhrishtaketu, king of the Chedis, came with another aksauhini. Jarasandha's son Jayatsena came from Magadha with a glittering legion and the five Kekaya brothers, with theirs. King Drupada arrived with his army, with the brilliant Shikhandi, whose roots were deep and strange, the fire-born Dhrishtadyumna and with Krishne's sons, the young tigers chafing to prove
themselves worthy of their fathers in battle. King Virata brought one aksauhini, as well, from his capital and came to Upaplavya with his sons and brothers and Uttara Kumar who was a celebrated Kshatriya now! The Pandya king and Neela, king of Mahishmati, came with their legions. Seven oceanic aksauhinis flowed across the earth, a tide of fighting men
and swarmed around Upaplavya; and they were here to help us. Finally brother Krishna came to Upaplavya on his chariot with no army or weapon but with a calm smile on his face.

We were all siting in the court room discussing about strategy for the upcoming war. I was still waiting for son Ghatotkach, he won't be bringing his army of demon with him because this fight is between kshtriya but he will be joining us soon because he has the blood of kshtriya running in his veins. I was very excited to meet him after so long. He didn't come in the marriage as well because he couldn't join us without his mother but now situation is different. We need our son with us.

Just then a soldier entered in the court room saying that Sanjay came from Hastinapur bearing King's message. We received him affectionately and welcomed him with a smile. He stand in the middle of sabha.

"What news of our elders in Hastinapur, Sanjay? Does our uncle remember us? And our Pitamah? Do our cousins think kindly of us? Sanjay, do you bring good news?" Brother Yudhishtir asked.

Sanjay's face twisted in grim, my face fell, I know he bear bad news. Duryodhana must have plot something new for us. My eyes met with brother Krishna, he blinked at me and nodded in reassurance, I sighed and moved my gaze to Sanjay again, he opened his mouth and began "'I,
Dhritarashtra, king of the Kurus, send my greetings to my sons Yudhishtira, Bheem, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahadev. I greet my dear Krishna, Satyaki, Chekitana, Virata and Drupada. I hope that Prakriti and Draupadi will also hear a message I send through Sanjaya". All of us were present here and listening tentatively to the news he brought with him.

"Yudhishtira, I implore you, abandon the shameful thought that has entered your heart, of having war with your cousins. I concede your family and your allies might well prove stronger than my sons. Even if you succeed, how will you ever have peace of mind after killing your cousins? Just think, my child, however powerful the kshatriyas you have with you may be, the Kuru army is not a force you can trifle with. Bheeshm, Drona, Kripa, Aswatthama, Karna and a host of others, who are like Gods upon the earth, will face you in battle. Blood will flow, as we have not dreamt. Yudhishtira, by your dharma, isn't that a sin?"

"Wise Krishna, knowledgeable Prakriti, I pray you listen to me and advise Yudhishtira against the
calamity he is plotting. I speak not just for the good of the House of Kuru, but of Kshatriya kind, why, of the very earth. Bheeshm and I both beg you, think only of peace!"

Everyone was stunned in silence with the message which had underlying threat in it and with the way the message was recited, it appeared that we are one who is making sin by having this war and those kuru's are innocent. I clenched  my fist in anger and frustration, we had given them one chance to stop this war by sending sage from King Draupad's sabha but this is the answer they provide us with. Elder Brother stood up from his seat, his face was calm but I knew better, he is angry with Tatshree message. "If I wanted war, I could have waged it thirteen years ago. The sons of Kunti have always walked the way of dharma and the world knows this".

"As for my uncle, he is not innocent. Didn't he stand with his son when the
Pandavas were exiled? Did he raise his voice to stop the shame Panchali suffered
in his sabha? Did Pitamah Bheeshm, for that matter? No, King Dhritarashtra does not care for
me or mine, but now he is afraid. He sent us to Varanavrat and then gave us a
wilderness in Khandavaprastha to be our patrimony. He is as guilty as Duryodhana."

Everyone looked shocked at Elder brother's outburst because they thought he will accept any terms King Dhritarashtra offered.

Sanjay said quickly, "My lord, you haven't heard all of the message I bring. The king says to you, 'My last word to you is, give up your anger. Forget everything that happened and return to the forest. Spend the rest of your life in quest of nirvana and win undying fame and joy for yourself. Or else, live with Krishna in Dwaraka; live off the alms of the Vrishnis, they will see to your every need and comfort. You have walked the high road of dharma for so long, why leave it now for the
alleyways of sin? I beg you, forget the bloodshed you are planning. Live in peace.'" After he delivered the whole message, he sat down silently waiting for the response from pandavas.

At first, King Dhritarashtra's message stunned the sabha of kings in Upaplavya and no one spoke. For a moment, it even seemed we were the ones who wanted war and a festival of bloodshed; while, the blind king in Hastinapur and his sons were men of dharma, praying for peace. Then the cold evil of the whole thing struck that court.

Suddenly, Brother Bheem jumped up from his seat, his eyes turning red. He began to pace the floor in anger like a tiger, growling from time to time. Sahadev face was dark, his chest heaved as if his rage would erupt from him in fire. Arya was sitting beside me, his mouth in a grim line, he glanced at Brother Krishna conveying one and one message only;  to stop this negotiation with evil, to ride to Hastinapur and burn its malignant king. I was trembling in my seat with anger but trying to conceal it because if I burst out, I won't be able to control myself. Since the time of war coming near, my patience level is decreasing with the way things are happening. Everyone are waiting for Elder Brother to speak, to hear his decision because we have to answer King of Hastinapur. Elder brother turned his head towards me, internally asking for my opinion. I closed my eyes and gulped down the anger. It is time for General Secretary Prakriti to come forward. I opened my eyes, calmness surrounding me. I looked at Elder Brother and with a small smile nodded my head in understanding. He took a deep breath and looked at Sanjay.

"Sanjaya, you are only a messenger so I will not show you my anger. But from now, be careful
what you say in this sabha. Don't forget I am not a Brahman, but a Kshatriya. Perhaps, King Dhritarashtra believes some of what he accuses me of, before all these, my dearest ones on earth. It is not my place to answer an elder in an open sabha. It his privilege to believe whatever he wants and my dharma to keep what I think to myself. As for the reply, which my uncle obviously expects from me, I leave that to Krishna. He has heard everything you said. Let him decide if we should desist from war because of the message King Dhritarashtra sends," his voice sank, "or whether we should have war just because of his message. Whatever I have done so far has been with Krishna's blessing. Today, I relinquish my will and my future to him. Let him decide what we must do, I will abide by his decision."

Brother Krishna stood up from his seat and smiled to himself "Yudhishtira does not want this war. And neither do I. We do not wish to stain the earth with the blood of eleven aksauhinis, or even to kill Dhritarashtra's sons. Let them return Indraprastha to Yudhishtira and there will
be no war. Only Yudhishtir's selfless nature makes this solution possible. A lesser man would have extracted terrible revenge for the shame he and his family and, most of all, Draupadi suffered in Hastinapur and for thirteen bitter years of exile. Can Duryodhana even imagine what these lords of the earth endured when they were deprived, in a day, of everything they had?"

I looked at Krishne, she doesn't look happy with the decision, she wanted for kuru's to suffer for what they have done. I stood up from the seat, it is time for me to speak now. "Yes Sanjay, Tell King Dhritarashtra and his sons to give us our kingdom with respect and apologize to Krishne for what they have done thirteen years ago" I said coming forward.

"Only apology!" Brother Bheem shouted outraged.

"If they can do it, Brother Bheem, if they can" I know Duryodhana very well, he will die but won't bow in front of Elder Brother and Krishne. Brother Krishna looked at me with knowing smile, he knew it is not possible that's why I suggested it. Kuru's can't be forgiven for what they have done. They have to cleanse their sin with their blood. "Go now, you have reply enough from us to take back to your king. Tell him everything we said to you. Say the Pandavas wish fervently for peace and peace there will be if Yudhishtir's kingdom is returned to him. Otherwise, there will
be war and the war will be the end of the Kauravas." Brother Krishna finished. We both knew war is inevitable, I can't see future but that doesn't mean I can't interpret the words and small message of Brother Krishna.

No one can stop the war, not even us!

Sanjay eyes moved towards us and looked in sadness. Looking at Sanjay, Elder brother recited his final message "Sanjaya, you see how angry my family are. You must persuade Duryodhana to give me back my kingdom. I have no wish to be the occasion for this war. If everything else fails, I will accept just five towns to make peace. Let him give me Indra prastha, Vrikaprastha, Jayanta and Varanavrata. These hold memories for us. The fifth town, why, let it be a village, can be of his choice."

Arya and Brother Bheem exchanged a glance at this madness but Brother Krishna smiled.

Elder Brother went on, "This is my offer to show Duryodhana I do not want war. Let him give me these five towns and I will be content. How can I want my cousins dead? No, I want peace."

Sanjay looked stunned at the message, Elder Brother has provided the easiest solution to Kuru's to save themselves from the war. He bowed his head and went out with tears in his eyes looking at our suffering but still Elder Brother is ready to compromise.

***

In the evening, I was sitting in my chamber alone thinking of what about to come. I looked at the door, Brother Krishna was standing there with small smile on his face. He walked towards me and sat beside me. "I hope we made right choice, Brother Krishna" I asked him in low voice. He sighed beside me, "All the choices has already been made, we just have to walk the path" he said in riddle which clearly means he has all things planned ahead.

For once, I didn't want to talk about war. It's been while since I talked to my brother like we were used to. So I put a small smile on my face and looked at Brother Krishna "So, how is everyone in Dwarka, how are Brother Balram and sister Revati and their daughter" I asked casually, he raised his eye brow with the change of conversation and let out a low chuckle. He put his hand on my shoulder "Everyone is fine, my dear sister, not just fine, they are happy that Vatsala will be married soon" I was confused, at this time of war, Brother balram is organizing his daughter marriage and he didn't tell me about it.

"But why now?" I questioned him, I am hurt that I didn't get the news straight away. She is my niece after all. I know we have war looming over us but if Brother Balram decided that it is a great idea to marry her now, I should take part in it.

"Because Duryodhan asked for it" he said like it explain everything. But suddenly it clicked in my head and I understand what ploy Duryodhan is playing. Brother Balram denied to take part in the war so instead he asked for his daughter's hand. I stood up in anger at the whole ordeal.

"How can Duryodhan do this and how can Brother Balram accept it all?" I said in rage. I know Duryodhan very well, my niece will not be happy there. He is a cunning and vile creature.

"Is Vatsala agree with it?" I questioned him, Brother Krishna hummed in response. "She can't deny her father wish even if she love someone else" he responded with straight face. "We should stop this" I said with determination, if she loves someone else then she should marry only him.

Brother Krishna shook his head "It can not happen, this is Brother Balram wish and we can not intervene" he said neglecting the thought of us helping.

"Then who will help her?"

He looked at me with a hidden smile "The person she loves should help her" he said.

"And who that be?" I don't know who she loves, I was not here when she was growing up. I should have been here.

When I asked the question, Brother Krishna smile widened and he looked at me with twinkle in his eyes. "You know him very well". I raised my eyebrow in question, I know almost every creature in this world, who can that be.

He chuckled looking at my confused expression. "That is our Little Warrior".

My eyes widened in shock and the only thought that ran in my head was- Uttara.

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Hello Guys....

Its so long since I last updated because of my busy schedule but with your love and constant support. I came back with the update.

Hope you like it............

And if you thought Abhimanyu story has finished, you were wrong, it has only started 😉.

A new character entry will be there in next chapter, stay tuned to find out :)

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