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 45

Kundinpuri, Vidarbha Kingdom, Dwapar Yuga

Karna POV

I was standing at a balcony in the royal palace of Vidarbha, thinking alone. The rays of the Surya Narayana were giving me the same comfort as my mother's kind touch. My mind was processing the matters that happened with us yesterday.

Flashback:

Mitra Duryodhana came downhill in the evening. I was still meditating for his safety when I felt his touch in my shoulders. I knew immediately that it was him. I opened my eyes and saw him standing in front of me. He was unharmed.

"Mitra! Are you all right?" He asked me with a concerned voice. I looked at him with shock.

"What are you looking at? Was there two horns on my head?" He asked me in a joking tone. Then he hugged me tightly.

"I am fine, look at me. Though Gurudev literally thrashed me like a washer man washing his clothes. If it wasn't Mahadev's blessings, then the result would be something else."

I was still silent, because I could not find the proper words.

"Look at this. Gurudev gave me the sword of Sahasravahu. He also gave me the knowledge of Sahasravanastra, Nagastra and..."Suddenly he stopped mid-sentence. It was like he was struggling to speak. I understood the situation.

"Gurudev have forbidden you to disclose the knowledge. So you can't tell me about it. Do not struggle against it."

My friend heaved a sigh.

"Let's spend the night here. We will start our journey tomorrow morning."

The next morning, both of us climbed up the mountain again. We met Gurudev Parashurama and he blessed us.

"Radheya, you are very lucky to have a friend like him. Rajkumar, you are also very lucky to have a friend like Karna. May Mahadev guide both of you to the right path.", Gurudev blessed us both.

After leaving the hills, we started our journey on that mechanical ride. Now we have to cross the dense forest again to reach Vidarbha kingdom. We were riding when suddenly both of us smelled a foul odour. That odour was so foul, that both of us literally stumbled after smelling it.

"Rakshashas are nearby. I knew it.", I whispered to my Mitra. Then we heard loud growls and screaming of men.

"Someone is in danger. We need to help him. The sound was coming from the west." I shouted to my Mitra. He didn't say anything and turned the ride towards west. In a moment, a horrific sight welcomed us.

A group of Rakshashas attacked some people. There were dead bodies, dead horses and a broken chariot lying on the ground. But one old man was still fighting with them. That man was shooting arrows on the Rakshashas. In front of us, he killed two of them. But suddenly, I saw one Rakshasha magically appeared behind him, and landed a huge blow on the old man's head with a huge stone.

"On your guard!" I shouted. In a moment, one powerful arrow from my bow pierced that Rakshasha. He fell on the ground like the stone in his hand. The other Rakshashas also saw us. Now the seven of them charged at us.

"Har Har Mahadev!" Duryodhana roared like a lion. He took out the sword and charged at them. One Rakshasha hurled a huge stone made mace at him, but he cut it easily with the sword. The Rakshasha was looking at him with shocked eyes. In a swift blow, Duryodhana cut him in two halves. I wasn't sitting idle. I was showering arrows on the others. Three of them were pierced by my arrows. Duryodhana charged at the last three, who ran away from the fight. I heaved a sigh and lowered my bow. But then I saw something which froze me with shock.

For a moment, Duryodhana's face was purple coloured. His eyes were slit like similar to a snake. He opened his mouth, and I saw two large canines. He looked at me and I saw him looking at me with two red eyes. Those slit like eyes were fully red in colour. But, just like magic, his face became normal.

I was standing still. I didn't know what I had seen was the truth or my hallucination.

"Radheya, quick! This man is still alive. We need water, now!"

The loud shout of my friend cleared my head. I looked at him and saw him sitting beside that unconscious old warrior. I ran towards them. That old man had a strong body. He was wearing a headgear similar like a lion's head. That headgear saved his head from that blow. The man was heavily bearded and had long grey hair. He was clad in armour and a cape made with lion's skin. This man most probably belonged to the 'Kimpurusha' tribe. I invoked a Varunastra and in a moment, a thin stream of water created on my arrow. Then I took some water in my hands and sprinkled it on that man's face. In a few moments, the man started moving his limbs. Then he opened his eyes.

"Those Rakshashas...." He spoke slowly.

"We killed four of them. The last three ran away. But please lie down. Don't strain yourself." I spoke slowly. I looked at my Mitra, who was looking as normal as other. Then what did I see?

The man looked at us. Then he spoke again,

"My guards...the Rakshashas killed all of them. They attacked us by surprise. They had somehow managed to mask their foul odour." He took a few deep breathes.

"Who are you?" My friend asked him.

"I am Druma, leader of the Kimpurusha tribe. I was going to Kundinpuri. Rajkumar Rukmi was my student. He invited me in his sister Rukmini's marriage. But those Rakshashas attacked us." Druma stopped for a moment.

"You two young men save my life. Tell me your names, so I can properly thank you."

"My name is Radheya Karna. My friend is Rajkumar Duryodhana, son of Maharaja Dhritarashtra.", I replied to him. Duryodhana crossed his hands and bowed to him.

Druma raised his both hands while lying on the ground.

"Ayushmaan Bhava! Rajkumar Duryodhana, you and your Mitra saved my life. I will be forever grateful to both of you."

"Please don't say it. To save someone from danger is the greatest duty of a Kshatriya. We just performed that duty." Duryodhana said to him. Then he looked at the dead bodies.

We cremated the fallen Kimpurusha people. The dead body of the Rakshashas were buried in a deep pit which I created by my arrows. Druma found his strength after drinking a potion he had with him. He chanted the mantras to perform the last rites of his soldiers. We finished the work at midday. Then we took bath in a small stream near our position.

"Thanks for your help, Rajkumar. Radheya Karna, thank you for your help too. Now I will walk towards Kundinpuri."

I looked at my friend who nodded affirmatively.

"You don't have to walk. We will take you there."

Duryodhana tied his mechanical ride with the chariot. Thankfully the wheels and the body of the chariot were still intact. I rode alongside Druma on the chariot and Duryodhana rode on his ride. The machine was so powerful, that it pulled the chariot with ease. Thankfully, we didn't face any type of dangers in our way. We reached the gate of Kundinpuri in the evening.

"Amazing! The fastest of horses couldn't take us here so quickly!" Druma said with awe. When we were going to the hills, we make a small stoppage in the capital city of Vidarbha Kingdom to buy some supplies in the market. We walked to the market. This time, we entered the city with that mechanical ride tied to the chariot. People were watching us with shock in their faces. I looked at my friend, who seemed to enjoy the shock and awe in their face.

Suddenly a group of armed horsemen blocked our way.

"Halt! Who are you?" One horseman shouted at us. He was a young man, probably the leader of the soldiers.

"Tell Rajkumar Rukmi that Druma, the chief of Kimpurushas has arrived."

The young man's expression changed in a moment. He dismounted his horse and crossed his hands.

"Guru Druma, please accept the regards of Rajkumar Rukmaratha. I am the younger brother of Rajkumar Rukmi."

Druma came down from the chariot. Rukmaratha came to him and touched his feet.

"Ayushman Bhava Putra! Where is your Jyesth?"

"He is busy with the preparation of the wedding. Maharaja Shishupal has arrived today morning. The wedding will take place in the day after tomorrow. But pardon me Guru Druma; your chariot seems broken in some places. You have no guards with you. The people with you are not belonging to your tribe. Is anything happened in road?"

Druma told him about the Rakshashas. Rukmaratha was shocked to his core. He looked at me and my friend with shock.

"Who are they?"

"The one who is sitting on the machine is Rajkumar Duryodhana of Hastinapur. The other one is his friend, Radheya Karna."

"Radheya Karna? That means, Angraaj Karna?"

Druma looked at me.

"You haven't told me that you are the king of Anga?"

I came down from the chariot.

"I do not want to sound boastful. Please forgive me.", I said with crossed hands. Druma smiled at me.

"Both of them are brave warriors. They saved my life."

Rukmaratha crossed his hands and bowed to us. We replied the gesture. Duryodhana was silently observing everything. Then the Rajkumar requested us to follow him to the palace.

"Rajkumar, please honour us by riding with us." Duryodhana said to him. Rukmaratha looked at Druma, who nodded affirmatively. Then he rode with us. Duryodhana started the ride and after a few moments, we reached the palace. There we met Maharaja Bhishmaka, Rajkumar Rukmi, Maharaja Shishupal and....Maharaja Jarasandha.

Maharaja Bhishmaka welcomed us with honour. After learning everything, he requested us to stay in Kundinpuri for his daughter's marriage ceremony. Duryodhana was not agreeing at first. He told them that we didn't have any gifts for the bride, which was the truth actually. But Maharaja Bhishmaka replied that our blessings would be the greatest gift for his daughter. At last, Duryodhana agreed to stay after his proposal was accepted. He proposed to send a messenger to Hastinapur who will give our news to the Maharaja and Maharani. Then the messenger would come back with valuable gifts from Hastinapur.

Two large rooms were provided for both of us. We dined together. But I hadn't missed the thoughtful expressions in his face. He was deeply in thought. He ate absentmindedly and went to his room.

End of the flashback

My thoughts ended with the voice of a soldier. He bowed to me and said that the messenger was ready to ride towards Hastinapur. Yesterday night, Duryodhana wrote a letter and gave that to me. I went to meet the messenger with the letter. He bowed to me and extended his right hand.

The hand had no thumb!

So this is chapter 45.

King Bhishmaka had 1 daughter, Devi Rukmini and 5 sons. They were Rukmi, Rukmaratha, Rukmaketu, Rukmabahu, and Rukmanetra. The first teacher of Rukmi was Druma, the leader of the Kimpurusha Tribe. Though, in B.R.Chopra version of Mahabharata serial, Druma is mentioned as a sage living in Gandhamadan hills. After learning from Druma, Rukmi went to learn from Parashurama and obtained celestial weapons from him.

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