Hello all! How are you all? I am back with the 22nd chapter. I hope you all will like it. Happy Reading 💕

"Pitashri." Advaith entered Pandu and Kunti's chamber looking terribly tensed.

"What happened putra?" Kunti asked getting up instantly.

"According to our spies. He is back." Advaith said worried.

"What does he mean?" Pandu asked.

"Takshak!" Advith exclaimed coming inside.

Kunti gasped hearing to her youngest son. Last time they struggled to establish Indraprasth due to the same Takshak and now he's back again. Last time Arjun and Krishna had together defeated him but he had owed to come back and take his revenge. And now, he has really come back and neither Arjun nor Krishna is present.

"Pitashri, give us permission to fight against that monster!" Advaith clenched his jaws.

"No!" Kunti at once exclaimed. She couldn't send her young sons to fight that snake demon.

"Mata, please understand. Bhrata Arjun is not there this time. Taking the advantage of the situation, he has come. Let us fight for our kingdoms. Please mata." Advith tried to make her understand.

"But he uses black magic putra. If he didn't, then I would have sent you both. I believe in your valiance." Kunti said tears filling her eyes.

"Both you and your mother are right.  Now you both gaurd the kingdom, don't go to Takshak. If he comes fight with all your might, I will be joining." Pandu decided finally.

"Pitashri let one of us stay here. There are only ladies." Advith opinioned.

"Don't forget your mata is also a warrior Sahadev. I will manage it here in the palace. You three be at the outskirts." Kunti exclaimed her eyes twinkling in confidence.

Pandu smiled proudly at his wife and gestured them to get ready.

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"It seems like some thunderstorm is to take place." Draupadi whispered to herself observing the change in weather.

They had been nearing Indraprasth, and the weather was all stormy, black clouds thundered, lightening flashed the sky. It was not raining, but it was neither sunny. It was not a type of weather in Indraprasth. Indraprasth had a pleasant weather or sometimes a bit sunny. Such dark clouds was quite unexpected.

Panachali was thinking about the same, it was not a good indication for sure. But what would happen? Rivalry kingdoms may attack but that would not cause this atmosphere. While thinking all these, the palanquin stopped all of a sudden adding to her botherings.

She peeped out to see a part of the army that had accompanied them standing attentively. As she peeped more, she saw Arjun standing at the middle gripping his bow Vasavi, his eyes scanning all around the place.

Panchali quitely got down from the palanquin and made her way through the army and stood beside Arjun.

"Panchali, why did you come out?" Arjun asked seeing her.

"Everything okay? Why have we stopped?" Draupadi looking into his hazels.

"No." was the only word Arjun could manage to say.

Draupadi's worry grew, "What happened?"

"We can't go forward. We are trapped." Arjun said.

"What! But- but who could possibly do it? How- how have they trapped us?" Yagyaseni stammered, her worry stopping her to think anything beyond.

"There's only one person who can do this. Only he can do this using his black magic." Arjun said angriness evident in his voice.

"Who?" Panchali asked softly.

"Takshak!" Arjun seethed.

As soon as Arjun spelled the word, snakes out of nowhere surrounded them forming a dome and at the end, at the top of the dome, they saw whom they didn't wanted to see smirking widely. Takshak.

Duryodhan's laughter echoed the chamber. "Mamashri, what a splendid job you have done today that you hadn't done all these years."

"Everything will happen when it has to. No one can stop it, neither that Vasudev Krishna!" Shakuni seethed.

"Mamashri, now that Arjun is not in Indraprasth, order your army to a war. Indraprasth will be ours." Dushyasan said laughing.

"Don't forget about your chote pitashri. Till he's there Indraprasth will be still safe, he may be old than you guys, but the power in his arms have not weakened." Shakuni said.

"You can send Takshak's snakes too mamashri." Duryodhan's voice clearly showing the arrogance one should not have.

"Right. Black magic always works." Shakuni smirked.

"Bhratashri!" Ghandari called from outside the chamber, Dhritharashtra with her being supported by Dushala.

Getting alert by hearing his sister's voice, Shakuni smiled slyly and went towards her. "Ghandari do you need something? Maharaj, you could have summoned me. Why did you take your time to walk to my chambers?"

"Don't try to divert the topic mamashri. You were talking something about black magic. What's about that?" Dushala asked.

"I am not answerable to you." Shakuni said irritated. He didn't like Dushala as she always came in between his evil plans. He just prayed she didn't hear everything they were planning.

"But you are answerable to me Shakuni." Dhritharashtra said.

"Maharaj, you remember when we divided the kingdom and gave Khandav Prasth to Maharaj Pandu, I had said something to you." Shakuni said.

Remembering it, Dhritharashtra sighed, "Yes. You had told that if my younger brother is an adharmi, the snakes of Khandav Prasth will attack them."

"Exactly and today. Today it has happened Maharaj. The snakes of Khandav Prasth has attacked Indraprasth." Shakuni smirked.

Ghandari gasped hearing the new information her brother just now said. "Arya, send our army to Indraprasth. Duryodhan, with your brother, march to Indraprasth right now and help your chote pitashri."

"Ghandari, what are you saying. Sending support to adharmi's? No, sister. You are not doing the right thing. Adharmi's should be defeated and killed. And righteousness would then be established in Aryavart. And you are thinking about saving adharmi's." Shakuni started his game of manipulation.

"Maharaj, believe my words, the snakes will never let adharmi's live. That's why they have attacked. Don't lend your support to those adharmi's." Shakuni tried his manipulation on Dhritharashtra.

"You are exactly right Shakuni. Adharmi's should be killed." Dhritharashtra exclaimed his voice dangerously low leaving Ghandari and Dushala to gasp in shock.

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How's the chapter?
To be continued...