The Gall of Gammon

Disclaimer: This story is my humble attempt to write a fanfiction of the epic Mahabharata. My intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiment.

Aum Namah Shivay!!

Major Jayant Roy, SM is a fictitious character. Any similarity with any living person is merely a coincidence.

Chapter 22

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Bhishma POV

"Hurry up, Adhirath! Hurry up! We don't have much time."

A few moments ago, Yudhisthir came to me with horrible news. Bheem and Duryodhana fought again, and this time things really got out of control. Duryodhana had thrown Bheem into the Ganga, and the boy probably drowned. But, I have faith on my mother. She would not let any harm coming to my grandchild.

I immediately took the boys with me, and got on my chariot. My charioteer, Adhirath, was a good charioteer. He started driving the chariot like the speed of wind, and we reached the bank of Ganga River. I jumped out from the chariot, and entered the water. The Pandavas followed me and they also entered into the water. I crossed my hands, and started praying to my mother. In a moment, my mother, the Goddess Ganga, came out from the water.

"Pranipaat, Mata." I bowed down my head.

"Ayushmaan bhava, putra!" My mother blessed me. Then she looked at the four Pandavas. They are also bowing their heads to her, with their hands crossed.

"Yashaswi Bhava! Don't worry about your brother, little ones. He is all right. He will come back to you after a week." She said with a smile. But, then, suddenly her smile vanished from her face.

I heaved a sigh of relief after hearing my mother's words. But, the sudden expression change in her face worried me again. Then she looked at me.

"Putra, go to the palace right now. Otherwise, something catastrophic will be happening."

Her voice lost all softness in a moment. Her voice was now hard, and determined.

"But Matashri, what will I say to Kunti?" I asked her.

"You will get all your answer in the palace. But right now, you must go there. An innocent's life is at stake now Devvrat. Fly to the palace, my son."

I bowed down to her, and hurriedly went to my chariot. My mother's usually smiling, and loving face was serious today. That meant only one thing. Something terrible was going to happen.

We were coming back towards the palace, when I saw a soldier riding on a horse. The soldier also saw my chariot, and came towards us. He dismounted his horse and bowed down to me.

"Mahamahim Bhishma Ki Jay!! Mahamantri Vidura ordered me to pass an important message to you."

"What is it, soldier?"

"Maharaja Dhritarashtra is organising a sarp-satra today. Mahamantri wished that you quickly come to the palace."

"What?? Dhritarashtra is organising a sarp-satra? Have he lost his mind today?"

"Mahamahim, Rajkumar Duryodhana locked himself inside his room, and start burning everything. He was going to burn himself with his room. Kulguru managed to put out the fire with Varunastra. But then..."

"Okay, messenger, your duty is over now. Go to the palace." I ordered the man.

"Forgive me, Mahamahim, but my duty is not over yet. Mahamantri Vidura has given me another order. He wants me to go to the Sona Village, and fetch charioteer Adhirath's son, Radheya."

I looked at my charioteer's face. His face was pale with fear. I gave him a reassuring nod.

"What business Vidura has with young Radheya?"

"Dronaputra Ashwatthama managed to calm Rajkumar Duryodhana a bit, but he cannot pursue him to drop the idea of the yagnya. Now, Rajkumar Duryodhana considers Radheya as his good friend. Mahamantri thought that may be Radheya could calm the Rajkumar enough to show him some logic, and end this madness."

I was uncertain. But still, it was a possibility that Radheya could calm him down. I turned my head to Adhirath. He was standing with his hands crossed.

"Vidura is right, Adhirath. Your son may have a chance to calm Duryodhana's mind. Where is he?"

Adhirath was standing silently, with his head down.

"Mahamahim, he left home yesterday night. Guru Drona refused to accept him as his student. But he was more determined to learn the art of archery. He left a message that he is going to find a teacher and learn archery." He said with a chocked voice. His eyes were wet.

I heaved a sad sigh. Poor Adhirath, I pity you. But, traditions must be upheld.

"Let's go to the palace now. Messenger, you come with us." I ordered the soldier. He bowed his head, and mounted his horse. I boarded my chariot, and we all started our journey towards the palace.

The first thing I saw after entering the palace was the large number of Brahmins. The royal machinery of Hastinapur is famous for its swiftness. The royal staffs always perform their duties with finesse. Vidura, Kripacharya and Dronacharya were supervising the works, when they noticed me.

They come towards me and greeted. But, all of them lacked the smile and enthusiasm. They were pale with unknown fear. I was afraid too.

"What is this, Vidura? You are the Mahamantri of this kingdom. So, why you are organising this yagnya? You know what a sarp-satra means. We don't have any enmity with the nagas. But, this yagnya will be a brutal killing of them. We must stop it now."

Vidura heaved a sigh.

"We are just following the Maharaja's orders, Tatshri. It is our Dharma to follow the order. I tried my best to convince Maharaja to disagree with Duryodhana. But his blind filial love prompted him to do such a heinous act. Duryodhana was adamant to have revenge on a snake called Aryaka."

When the name 'Aryaka' entered into my ear, I felt a cold shudder in my spine.

"Aryaka? Aryaka? Vidura, are you sure?" I was sure that my face now lost all the blood.

"Yes, Gangaputra. Duryodhana was intensely angry on him. Because, after falling in the river, the water took Bheem in the naag loka. There, Bheem met Vasuki, the king of snakes. Then, Aryaka Naag provided Bheem with 'Nag Amrita', which will increase his strength a lot. So, Duryodhana got angry with all of these."

It took all of my will power to calm my turbulent mind. I turned my head and saw the Pandavas. Their faces now had a mixture of joy and fear.

"Vidura, where is Kunti and Gandhari?"

"Bhabishri Kunti and Bhabishri Gandhari are inside the temple. They vowed that they will come outside only after the news of Rajkumar Bheem."

I heaved a sigh.

"We have to stop this yagnya at any cost. Duryodhana is not aware of the consequences. He is going to kill one of his family members in this yagnya. Aryaka is the maternal grandfather of Kunti."

The three men were now pale like chalk.

Then Kripacharya said in a trembling voice, "Today is the most suitable day of the yagnya. I have already calculated the time. Brahmins are also coming. But, now we must talk to the Maharaja. We must put an end on this madness right now."

"But, what enraged Duryodhana so much that he is taking this drastic step? Surely, a fight between two cousins..." I could not complete my sentence.

"Tatshri, today Rajkumar Bheem again did something unthinkable. He took ten brothers of Duryodhana and forcefully placed them underwater. Duryodhana saw that and..."

I heaved a sigh. Then, I heard a voice from my back.

It was Yudhisthir, who spoke,

"Kakashri is right, Pitamah. I also saw Bheem today. But I was at a long distance. Before I can reach my brother, Bhrata Duryodhana came, and they started fighting."

"Okay, Vidura, Kulguru and Acharya, we don't have more time. We must act fast. Vidura, go and give the news to Kunti and Gandhari. Tell them, that Bheem is safe in Naag loka, and he will come back after a week. My mother told us that. Tell them too about this yagnya, and Duryodhana is after Aryaka's life. Now, probably Gandhari could calm down her son."

"Ok, Tatshri. But I have sent a messenger..."

"Radheya left his home, Vidura. He left our kingdom yesterday night. He is on a quest to learn archery."

I looked at Dronacharya's face. His face had a sombre expression. Then he said in a low voice.

"I refused to accept him as my student. But he vowed to be a great archer. Duryodhana also told him, that when he becomes the king, he will strike down this tradition."

We were silent for a few moments. The preparation of the yagnya was nearly complete. Then, suddenly, I saw Shakuni. He was ordering something to some servants.

"Gandharraj!" I called him. Shakuni turned his head, and saw us.

I quickly turned my head to Yudhisthir.

"Putra, take your brothers and go to the temple. Give the news of Bheem to your mother and aunt." I ordered him. He bowed and left with his brothers.

Shakuni came in front of us and bowed to each of us. That man was always so sure to behave with proper etiquette. But under this over polite facade, there was a shrewd calculating mind.

"Pranipat Mahamahim, what is your order for this servant?" He asked me with crossed hands. His voice was coated with sweetness, but, the thin smile in his lips was like taunting.

I decided to get to the point quickly.

"Gandharraj, what is happening here, will have a catastrophic effect. We must stop this yagnya."

"But why Mahamahim? Surely, vanquishing the enemy is the duty of Kshatriyas?"

That man's audacity literally engulfed my mind with anger. But, I somehow managed to calm myself down.

"You are right. But, do you also think that living in your sister's home is a duty of Kshatriya too?"

Shakuni's face turned black with anger. But, like the speed of lightning, his facial expression again changed. The thin smile again came to his lips.

"Then, Mahamahim, you should look at that side." Shakuni pointed his finger to one side. I turned my gaze to that direction, and my heart literally jumped inside my body.

The fire alter was created there. But, beside that, a funeral pyre is also created. Duryodhana was sitting on that pyre, with a burning torch in his one hand.

"Hey Ishwar! Hey Narayana! Hey Tridev! That boy is really lost his mind. He doesn't know that he is going to commit a grave sin. Aryaka Naag is Kunti's grandfather."

"What?" Now Shakuni was literally shocked.

"But...but...King Kuntibhoja had no relation with the nagas. Then...then...how is it possible?" He was literally stammering now.

I looked at his face. The shock on his face was looking genuine. His face literally lost all the blood now.

"Gandharraj, have you forgot that Kunti is the adoptive daughter of Kuntibhoja? Her biological father was King Shursena."

"Hey Mahadev! That means, queen Marisha was the daughter of Aryaka naag? Mahamahim, we must stop him. Quick, come with me."

But, Duryodhana was adamant today. He refused to listen to any single word from us. He accused us of partiality towards the 'half-devtas' again. But, his eyes, those eyes full of anger and hatred...

Then, I, Gangaputra Devvrat Bhishma lost my calmness.

"Duryodhana!!! You always thought himself as the future king of Hastinapur. But I am telling you, that you don't have a single quality to rule over a kingdom. You are heartless. You are a demon. Otherwise, you will not become so adamant to take an innocent life. You call yourself a devotee of Mahadev and now you are going to kill a snake? Shame on you, putra, shame on you?"

Duryodhana said nothing, just looked at me. Then, I saw something. I saw something for a moment. But I knew what I saw, and I would never forget that. I knew that Vidura, Dronacharya, Kripacharya and Shakuni also saw that too.

The body of Duryodhana suddenly became deep purple coloured. But his eyes, those two eyes became slit like a snake. Those slit like eyes then became blood red in colour. Then I saw his mouth opening, and two sharp canines there.

That scene changed in a lightning speed. The body of Duryodhana again became normal.

My body started trembling. For the first time in my life, I was going to faint. Vidura and Shakuni grabbed me tightly, or else, I probably fall on the ground. Today, I felt like a weak old man for the first time.

Then, I heard my grandson's voice. The voice pierced my mind like a knife.

"Yes, Pitamah, I am a demon. I am a demon who could not see the anguish of his brothers. Yes, I am heartless. Yes, I am heartless, because I have to prepare myself for the tormenting of my brothers. But, before that agony, I should have something that will calm my mind. I want my revenge. Aryaka naag is not innocent in my eyes, because, in my justice, the minds originated the conspiracy are the guiltiest than the hands who executed the work. It was Aryaka Naag who persuaded Vasuki to give Bheem the amrit. Now, he will pay the price. I will not bow down towards those half-devtas unlike you. Pitamah, you said that I have no quality to rule a kingdom, just because, I am going to punish someone for their crime. Why, Pitamah? Why all elders in the palace literally worship the ground they walked on? Why the hundred and one son of Maharaja Dhritarashtra are literally invisible in front of you? Why, after getting a warning in the royal court, Bheem got that courage to raise his hands on my brothers? Today, he forcefully held them under the river. But, you are saying nothing to them. Fine, I will have my justice in my way. Acharya Kripa, start the yagnya. Time is running by."

Kripacharya looked at me, and heaved a sigh. Then he looked at Dronacharya,  who was standing beside him.

"Let's go rishiputra, Help me in conducting the yagnya."

The two helpless sages sat in front of the fire alter. The other Brahmins already took their seats. Kripacharya lit the sacred fire in the fire alter. Then, the chanting of Vedic Mantras echoed in the atmosphere.

Both I and Vidura were standing helplessly. We couldn't do a single thing because our duty prevented us to revolt against the king's order. Both of us could only pray now.

But, before, I could close my eyes; I saw a black figure in the blue sky. In a moment, I recognise the figure.

It was none other than the serpent chief Aryaka naag. The powerful mantras were now pulling him directly to the burning fire of the fire alter.

So this is chapter 22.

The situation is now getting tougher.

Will Pitamah Bhishma be able to save Aryaka Naag? Or Jayant will commit this devious act?

Also, what is the mystery of the demonic Jayant/ Duryodhana?

Read to find out.

On another note, if anyone is thinking that I am writing this story to glorify Duryodhana and the Kauravas, then it is a wrong assumption. This story is about a man, who has his own choice, and his own cause for his choice. He may be wrong. He may be right. But it is his karma, and his fate.

Oh, I totally forget.

Please read, vote and especially comment.