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 3

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Jayant/ Duryodhana POV

After leaving the temple, I came to my room. Mahadev's boon and blessings really landed me into Dwapar Yuga, in Mahabharata. The first person in this Yuga whom I met after coming in here was my brother, Dussasana.

Yes, they are now my brothers too. Now, I am the eldest Kaurava. I choose to live as Duryodhana, so now I have to accept my every single duty.

"But, what to do about the Pandava's?" A part of my mind questioned.

"They have a lot of people for taking care of them. Every single one in the palace would be fawning over them, be it Bhishma, Kripacharya, Guru Dronacharya, Vidura. The Kaurava's have only me, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and...and Shakuni!!!"

I jumped from my bed.

"Bloody Hell!! How could I forget him? This one man is literally the root cause of everything. Ok Jayant, calm down. You are a commando. You are not hot-headed. Slow down and think about it."

Suddenly I heard a voice.

"Jyesth Bhrata? Are you alright?" (Jyesth = elder, bhrata = brother)

Bloody hell again! I forgot that Dussasana and Vikarna were also present in the room. I looked at Dussasana, who asked me the question.

"I am fine, anuj. Don't worry." I answered him. (Anuj = younger brother)

After waking up in Mahabharata, I felt a pull inside my head. Then in a moment, memories were generated inside my brain. These are the memories of Duryodhana. When I woke up in Hastinapur, I was astonished to find that I could speak and understand Sanskrit fluently. This must be the blessings of Mahadev.

When I first met Dussasana, I could not find any amount of evilness in him. No, in front of me, there was just a thirteen year old kid standing. Dussasana, Vikarna and I slept in the same room. The other ninety seven brothers slept in nine rooms in front of my room.

I took my two brothers with me for a bath in the holy Ganga River, and then I came to the Shiva temple in the palace. I could not break my habit of chanting the 'Shiva Tandava', be in Kali Yuga or in Dwapar Yuga.

Then I met Bhishma and Kripacharya in the temple. When I first saw the Mahamahim Bhishma, I was literally awestruck. The eyes of him, well they had something in it.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a woman's voice.

"Maharani Gandhari wants to see you, Kumar." (Kumar = Prince)

A palace maid was standing in front of me. When I looked at her face, her identity flashed in my mind. She is Sugada, the chief maid of Mata Gandhari.

I stood up from my bed, "Let's go!"

Sugada looked at me from up to down. Then she crossed her hands and said,

"Forgive me Kumar, but don't you think you are dressed properly?" She said.

I immediately looked at myself. Well, I was wearing a dhoti only. Then I again heard Sugada's voice,

"You have not worn your angvastra, abhushans and mukut. It would be improper to go to the queen in this way Kumar." (Angvastra = a long piece of cloth to cover the upper torso; abhushan = jewellery; mukut = crown)

My two brothers in the room were now laughing their ass off. I gave each of them a mock glare. This fuelled their laughter again. Now, Sugada was also smirking.

I heaved a sigh. When you are in Rome, behave like a Roman. When you are in Dwapar Yug, behave like a Dwapar Yug-ian.

"Tell my mother that I am coming...after dressing properly." I told her. She bowed and left the room.

Then I shouted in my military voice...Well as much as I managed in my thirteen year old body,

"Dussasana, Vikarna, get me my angvastra, abhushan and mukut. Then you guys get ready, right now. It's an order!!!!!"

Five minutes later (well, my intuition, because there is no clock), the three of us were 'properly dressed'. Man, I have not worn so much gold jewellery in my previous life. But well, I am in Dwapar Yug...So be it.

I instructed my two brothers to wake up my other brothers and get them ready, while I met Mata Gandhari. I walked towards her room. The two guards with shield and spear outside her room saw me and bowed their head. I responded them by touching my right hand on my forehead. Then one guard announced my name, well not mine exactly, Duryodhan's name.

I entered the room and saw Sugada. She was combing the hair of a woman who was sitting in a small seat. She was sitting with her back in front of me, but the visible part of her blindfold was giving away her identity.

The great devotee of Shiva, the wife of Dhritarashtra, the mother of the hundred Kauravas, the sister of Shakuni, the daughter of Subal...the one and only Queen Gandhari.

Both of them probably heard my footsteps. These shoes made a lot of sound. The guard also announced my name....why the hell I was thinking such gibberish? Ok Jayant, calm down. Take a deep breath. You haven't been afraid while single handily charging an enemy machine gun post....

"Putra?" I heard a melodious voice. I looked up and saw Mata Gandhari. She stood up from her seat and came towards me. I also took a few steps towards her. Both of us were facing each other now.

"Pranipaat, Matashri." I bowed my head.

"Ayushman Bhava.", she gave her blessings. Now I properly looked at her face. She was really beautiful. If this was the present time, she would surely win the Miss India, Miss World and Miss Universe title. She was a fair skinned lady. Her smile was also beautiful. In her face, I could see a peaceful expression. But I know, this peaceful looking woman's proper amount of anger could create havoc.

I was lost in my thoughts when I felt Mata Gandhari's hand on my shoulder. But when she touched my shoulder, I saw her facial expression was changing. The loving and peaceful expression now changed into first shock, then astonishment, then anger. She jerked back, and said in a hard voice,

"Who are you? You are not my son."

Oh shit!! Now I was literally lost for words. But, how did she found out? But, Mahadev told me that I would be in Duryodhana's body....

Thankfully, Sugada came to my rescue.

"Maharani, he is really Kumar Duryodhana." She said. Mata Gandhari again came towards me. Her hands were now feeling my face.

"Forgive me, my son. I made a mistake. You are really my son. I am sorry." her voice became deep now. She kissed my forehead.

Now tears were coming out from my eyes. I didn't know what a mother's kind touch felt like. I was among those unfortunate, who was deprived of the love of parents in spite of having both of them. My father was a workaholic, and my mother...well her story was different. She had no time for me and my sister, because her full time and devotion was dedicated to someone else. He was....

I forced out those thoughts from my mind.

"Are you still angry with me son? I am sorry. I cannot see, my only senses are sound and touch. Please forgive your mother." Her voice was deep now. She was probably fighting a lot of emotions.

I don't know what came to me. I engulfed her into a massive hug. My all emotions were coming out now in form of tears. Gandhari was crying too.

"You are my mother. You have every right to scold me, to be angry with Me.", my voice was chocking with tears now. Oh, Duryodhana, you were lucky to have such a mother. But you choose not to listen anything said by her. But I wouldn't do that blunder.

Both mother and son were in their bubble of happiness now. Yes, she is my mother now. I would give her all the love which she deserved.

Suddenly I heard Sugada's voice.

"Forgive me maharani. But a maid gave me very grave news right now. Maharaja Pandu is no more. Rani Madri is also dead. "

Mata Gandhari's face became pale with shock and grief.

"What about Kunti?"

"Mahamantri Vidura is going to the forest. He will take care of everything and take her into the palace." Sugada replied.

Gandhari heaved a sigh, "Poor Kunti. She is like a younger sister to me. I along with arya will make sure that they would happily live here. Putra Duryodhana, your five brothers are coming. Love them as you love your own brothers."

I heaved a sigh.

Well, I, Major Jayant Roy, was not a great fan of the Pandava's in my previous life. The only Pandava whom I admired was the youngest, Sahdeva. But now, I am in Mahabharata, I don't need to antagonize with them directly. That means no poisoning, no house of lac. I would ignore them at all costs.

But before I could say something, I heard a thin voice behind my back.

"Gandhari, my dear sister! How are you becoming so happy when the thorns in between the throne and my dear nephew Duryodhana are walking towards us?"

I turned my head to see the source of the voice.

A man was walking towards us.

No, not walking, he was limping. His eyes were literally glowing with schemes. His hooked nose, pointed beard and crooked grin were literally giving away his identity. Last, but not the least, in his right hand, there were two white dices.

Shakuni!!!

Yes, one of the two most dangerous maternal uncles in our Puran and epic was coming towards us.

This one man caused the whole Mahabharata, but not now. Not in my watch. I have to do something.

But, I needed him too. I needed his diplomatic brain, minus the conspiracy. I had to think something.

But, first I needed to confirm the Jain Tradition about Gandhari and Shakuni.

Sorry to my readers. I told them that Pandava's would come in this chapter, but it didn't happen. But don't worry; they would come after one or two chapters. Please be with me.

Do you guys liked the first interaction between Jayant and Gandhari?

Please read, vote and comment. Your comments fuelled my enthusiasm of writing.

I would update after five comments.