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 23

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Unknown POV

My plan was becoming successful in front of my own eyes. In a moment, Jayant would burn the Aryaka Naag in the fire of the yagnya. This one act would generate so much sin, that it could fuel my energy for at least a century.

I was watching them from my hiding place in the sky. The powerful Vedic mantras were now pulling Aryaka out from the Naag loka, and now he was literally flying towards the fire. His facial expressions gave me a lot of pleasure. It was a blend of fear, shock, anger and helplessness. He was trying with all his might to break free, but the mantras formed an invisible net around him.

Just a few moments, then he would burn alive in the fire. I wanted to hear his dying screams. Those painful screams would be a treat to my ears. I would enjoy it more than the Devtas enjoy the songs of the Apsaras (nymphs).

Now, Aryaka was just above the fire altar. It would take just one or two mantras, and...my mind was full of sadistic pleasure just even thinking about it.

Then, I heard his voice.

"What is the meaning of these, o son of Ganga? Why do you want to kill me?"

Oh, that voice, full of fear and agony. I closed my eyes, devouring each and every sound, each and every word with its full taste. My gaze fell on the great Bhishma, who was looking like a frail old man now.

"Forgive us, Aryaka! Forgive us! This is Maharaja Dhritarashtra's order. We are helpless."

"What?" I could feel the genuine astonishment in his voice.

Then his gaze fell on Jayant, who was sitting on his own funeral pyre, with a burning torch in his hand. Kripacharya and Dronacharya were now stopped the chanting the mantras. As a result of it, Aryaka Naag was now floating on the fire altar.

"Rajkumar, why are you sitting on your own funeral pyre?"

Jayant stood up on the pyre. His eyes were burning with anger and hatred.

Now the whole ground was silent. Even, I was curious to see what happens next. Then, suddenly, I felt a presence behind me.

I immediately turned my head. A boy was standing behind me. He had a dark complexion. But his eyes were calm, and deep like the ocean. He had a golden flute in his right hand and a peacock feather in his head.

I knew him very well.

He was none other than the eighth avatar of Narayana, the one and only Sri Krishna.

But what was he doing here?

I gave him a mocking bow, "Pranipaat, bhagwan Krishna."

Sri Krishna smiled.

"I can see through your act very well, Kali."

He came towards me and stood beside me. Both of us were looking at the scene in front of us. But, Narayana himself is here, and now he would fail my plan.

"Your plan will fail, but with me doing nothing."

I was shocked.

"Impossible! Impossible!" I turned my gaze towards the yagnya. Jayant was now telling Aryaka about how Bheem tormented his brothers. He was adamant to finish the yagnya.

"You can't defeat me Vasudev. You can't defeat me because I am the fate. I am the wheel of time. I am the most powerful entity in the universe. I am the sin itself. I will get what I want, just because you cannot tamper with fate, and time. I got exactly what I want in the previous time. This time, I also get what I..."

I stopped midsentence, because another sound came into my ears.

It was the joyful smile of a little girl.

I quickly turned my head towards the place of the yagnya. Every single one in that place were now still as a statue. Each and every eye was focusing on the source of smile.

It was little Dussala, who just entered in that place. She had a doll in her hand. The innocent smile in her lips was the epitome of purity. It was her smile that I heard.

Suddenly, her gaze fall on Aryaka, who was still suspending on the fire. In a moment, the smile vanished from her lips. Tears started forming in her eyes, and she started crying.

I immediately looked at Vasudev Krishna. He was looking at the yagnya, no, he was looking at Jayant's face. My eyes followed his gaze.

The intense anger that was covering Jayant like a dark cloud was now getting cleared. Dussala's tears were now washing out the anger.

"Give the order! Jayant, order the two sages to chant the mantra! Kill Aryaka! Remember, that he is the sole reason of your brother's torment in the hands of Bheem! Kill him right now!"

I was frustrated now, because I could feel in my inside that my plan will fail. Even I, Kali, the supreme epitome of sin acknowledged that the power of love is stronger than the power of hatred. I had manipulated Jayant's love for his brothers. Now, Narayana was doing exactly the same thing.

Then I heard Dussala's voice.

"Jyesth Bhrata, he is in pain. Please save him, I beg you."

I had made a cloud of anger, which covered Jayant's consciousness like a shroud. But, Dussala's tears and pleading had the energy of a thunder, which could cut the most powerful of clouds into pieces.

The change in Jayant's facial expression was so drastic, that each and every one present there is shocked. Jayant jumped from the pyre, and ran to Dussala. He hugged the little girl tightly with his chest.

"Hey Mahadev! What have I done? Kulguru, stop it! Stop the yagnya this instant!"

The two sages had a sigh of relief. They quickly freed Aryaka from the bound of their mantras. Then they put out the sacred fire. Aryaka naag fell on the ground. His body was burnt in two or three places, but beside that, he was unharmed.

Now, I was trying to control my anger. Well done, Vasudev Krishna, very well done indeed!

My body was getting weaker now. I had spent my last amount of energy in this plan, and now I had failed.

"You manipulated his love for his siblings and prompted him to do a sin. I just show him the right path. I don't even have to manipulate him. It is the love inside him that shows him the consequences of his act." Sri Krishna's voice echoed in my ears.

I felt that my body was now turning into dust. My energy level is all time low now.

"I will be back, Vasudev! I will get what I want! I have to wait for it, and then I will wait. Next time, even you cannot stop me."

But why did he come here? Did he not know that Jayant considered him as his greatest enemy? Actually, the word enemy is not appropriate. Jayant hated Vasudev Krishna with all his passion. But, even knowing that...no, I am thinking like a fool. Vasudev came here to save Aryaka.

Then I heard Vasudev's voice.

"You are really a fool, Kali! An epitome of sin like you will never understand that. But, I pity you! One day, you will surely understand it.", Sri Krishna's voice roared like thunder.

Then, I saw my body became a heap of dust. The dust particles floated in the wind, and then they went their own way.

I will be back!

I will be back with more powerful than ever!

I just had to wait to the birth of the fire born princess. Then, I would have my way!

So, this is chapter 23.

I have something to share to all of you. It is very important.

Due to my upcoming UPSC preliminary examination, I would not be able to update for sometimes. So, this is my humble request to all my readers to bear with me. I will update after 5th October. Thank you all for your love and support to me.

Oh, I totally missed it.

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