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 61

Kampilya, Southern Panchal, Dwapar Yuga

Arjun POV

I was standing alone in the huge garden of the Palace of Maharaja Drupad, thinking deeply. My mind was literally crushing down by the heavy weight of my thoughts.

"Share the alms that you've bought home." My mother's voice was still echoing in my ears.

. At that time, we really faced a grave moral dilemma. Then I remembered the words of my Jyesth Bhrata.

"Arjun, you won her. Before it goes way out of hand, marry her."

But how could I marry her while Bhrata Yudhisthir was still unmarried? That was not Kshatriya Dharma! According to Dharma, first Bhrata Yudhisthir had to marry first, then Bhrata Bheem, then me. After me, the twins would be married then.

Bhrata Yudhisthir understood my dilemma. Then I saw him looking at my other brothers. I saw their faces, and understood the feelings in their heart. I saw Panchali gazing back at all of us.

Then I heard the voice of Bhrata Yudhisthir.

"Mata has already shown us the way. It was like Narayana himself spoke through her lips. She said to share the princess equally amongst us. It is obvious that all of us love Panchali. Let her not divide us, but bind us forever."

Jyesth looked at Mata, who nodded in silent agreement.

Then I heard a cough from the door. I turned my eyes and found myself captured into a pair of lotus like eyes. They belonged to none other than Vasudev Krishna. In his lips, there was a calm but knowing smile. Behind him, I saw Halayudha, with a smile in his lips too.

The dark one came and touched my mother's feet. Balrama came inside and touched her feet too. Mata was very happy after seeing her nephews.

But we didn't know that Dhristadyumnya was silently following us. He heard everything and went to his father. At that night, Madhav and Dau Balrama stayed with us.

The next day morning, all of us went to the royal palace. We gave our real identity to the king. Maharaja Drupad was way upset because his daughter was going to marry the five of us. Then Maharishi Veda Vyasa arrived there. Maharaja Drupad was visibly relieved by his presence.

Then the Maharishi told us the story of the past life of the Princess. She was born as the daughter of a great Rishi, but for some reason, she could not find a husband. So, she did hard penance of Mahadev. Mahadev was pleased by her devotion and came in front of her. The girl was so desperate, she asked for a husband five times. So, Mahadev grant her a boon of five husbands

"Drupad, recent customs does not allow it, but in the ancient and noble time, this was the proper custom. Maharishi Jatila's daughter had seven husbands. All of them were holy men, none of them were sinners."

Drupad did not object again, but humbly accepted the fate.

"Who am I to defy the will of Mahadev? You five will marry her with honour."

The suitable day for the marriage came after fifteen days. Today was that day when we will marry the celestial born princess of Panchal, Rajkumari Draupadi.

"Partha...what are you doing here alone?" I heard a voice behind me. That voice always calmed my mind. Today it did just the same thing. A smile came into my lips. I turned my head and saw Madhav, smiling at me.

"What are you doing here, alone? Get ready, your brothers and would be bride are waiting for you."

The presence of Madhav calmed my mind. I went to the temple, where a grand ceremony was taking place. The five of us married the fire born, dark and inhumanly beautiful daughter of Maharaja Drupad. Our family priest, Rishi Dhaumya, whom we met just before coming to the swyamvar, performed the ceremony.

Now, Panchali became the newly married wife of us.

"Now, after your marriage with my daughter, I want to speak about some important matter to all of you." Maharaja Drupad said to us. His face had a grave expression.

We gathered at the empty courtroom of Maharaja Drupad. Panchali was there too, along with Shikhandini, Satyajit and Dhristadyumnya. Maharaja Drupad again started to speak, but he stopped abruptly. I turned my head and saw Madhav entering the room.

The presence of Keshav calmed us again.

"Maharaja Drupad, am I interrupting anything? I just wanted to meet my dearest Sakhi, that's it."

"No, no, no, Vasudev, I am glad that you are here now. As you see, after the birth of Draupadi from the sacred fire, there was a heavenly sound." Drupad said.

"What was the message?" Jyesth Bhrata asked him.

I looked at his face. He was afraid.

"It warned me from a person outside of my family, a person who can resist the beauty of my daughter. Both Dhristadyumnya and Draupadi....that man is a danger for both of them. We all saw him in the swyamvar. "

"Are you talking about Duryodhana?" Bhrata Bheem asked. His booming laughter echoed in the wall.

"Do not worry, Maharaja Drupad. If he even looks at her, I will break his head with my mace."

But he was laughing alone. No one was laughing with him. He saw that and his laughter died.

"What? You do not have faith on my strength?"

"Bhrata Bheem, I know you have intense amount of strength, as the blessing of Pavan Devta himself. But underestimating someone other is not a proper way of a Kshatriya." Madhav said with a smile.

"But Vasudev..." Bhrata Bheem tried to say something but another voice stopped him this time. This was the voice of Dau Balrama who just entered the hall.

"Kanha was right. Even Maharaja Drupad can assure it. I hit his body with my mace, and there was a dent in that mace. He told me that Mahadev gave him his blessings. His body was indestructible. Still, with great humility, he asked me to accept him as his student."

"I saw that too." Satyajit said in a low voice, "I fought with him in the war. "

"So do I.", Shikhandini hissed, "that bloody coward."

"Coward! Pardon me Devi Shikhandini, but the one who can charge at the face of Chakra Vyuha all alone, is anything but a coward. I know that he has an advantage, still, we must agree that our cousin is a powerful warrior and a terrible foe."

We all looked at the source of the voice. It was none other than Sahdeva, who chose to speak at that moment.

"Sahdeva is right, anuj Bheem." Jyesth Bhrata said. Then he looked at me. I stood up and looked at Panchali. My mind was clear.

"Maharaja Drupad, I am giving you my word, that the five of us will shield her from any type of danger. If Bhrata Duryodhana tries to do anything, then he will face the wrath of my bow, Bhrata Bheem's mace, Nakul's sword, Sahdeva's axe and Jyesth Bhrata's spear."

All four of my brothers nodded affirmatively, though I didn't miss the slightly afraid look on Sahdeva's face. But then I looked at Panchali. Her beautiful smile melted my heart.

We all were silent for a moment, when a soldier entered. He bowed to Maharaja Drupad.

"Maharaja Ki jay ho! A spy has come from Magadha. He has very important news."

Maharaja Drupad nodded. Then he quickly went to a small door at the eastern wall of the hall. He opened the door and I saw a small room. Every king has this type of room to meet his spies secretly.

A few moments later, he came out of that room. But his face was full of shock, awe and fear.

"What happened, Pitashri?" Panchali asked in a worried voice.

Maharaja Drupad heaved a sigh. Then he looked at Jyesth Bhrata.

"It seems that your anuj Sahdeva is right about him. He is a terrible foe indeed. Duryodhana along with the army of Hastinapur attacked and conquered Magadha. He imprisoned both Jarasandha and Shishupal. He duelled with Bhagadutta and defeated him too."

I was shocked after hearing that news. I was not alone who was having this reaction. Except Madhav, all of them present in the room were shocked to their core. But Madhav, he was sitting with closed eyes, fumbling with his golden flute.

"But...but...how?" It was Dhristadyumnya who said in an astonished voice.

"According to my spy, Duryodhana knows the method to kill Jarasandha. It was him who commanded the army of Hastinapur, full of Maharathis like Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and Ashwatthama. He displayed superior tactical skills in that war. Angraaj Karna literally pinned down Jarasandha in a wrestling combat. Magadha army surrendered. But suddenly, Maharaja Bhagadutta along with his elephant Supratika came and attacked them. Shishupal tried to take advantage of the situation and attacked Uluka, the son of Shakuni. But, Duryodhana single handily duelled and defeated Bhagadutta. Now Bhagadutta pledged his loyalty not to Hastinapur, but to Duryodhana. He released one hundred captive kings from the prison of Jarasandha and gained their support."

We were all silent for a moment. Then suddenly Panchali spoke up.

"Aryaputra Bheem, some days ago you told me that Rajkumar Duryodhana wanted the throne of Hastinapur. Now with this victory, he is making his claim stronger."

"Panchali is right.", Nakul said, "Bhrata Duryodhana is planning to snatch the throne of Jyesth Bhrata. But we will prevent it by any cost. The rightful king of Hastinapur is Bhrata Yudhisthir. We must convince Maharaja Dhritarashtra to crown Jyesth Bhrata as Yuvraaja."

"But Aryaputra Nakul, the path won't be easy now. We must act properly and quickly.", Panchali said. Then she looked at Madhav.

"Govind, will you help us?" She pleaded with crossed hands.

Madhav was listening with closed eyes. He opened his blue lotus like eyes.

"Sakhi, I always help them who follow the path of dharma. Someone who is burning with hate and anger now starts hating someone because they are dear to the one he hates. Still, that someone is a man of Dharma with a powerful evil force inside him."

Madhav again started talking cryptically. Sometimes I felt that I could not understand him a bit. His eyes were like Deep Ocean, full of secrets and mysteries. The wise said that Madhav was the avatar of Narayana himself.

"Partha, do not try to understand everything. Just you learn to feel. One can only feel the supreme truth." Madhav said with a knowing smirk. Sometimes I felt that he can read minds. No, mind reading was not the accurate term; Madhav could see one's soul.

"Maharaja Drupad, give us permission to leave for Hastinapur." Jyesth Bhrata said.

"But Rajkumar Yudhisthir, according to the customs, Hastinapur should send his emissary to us." Maharaja Drupad said.

"You are right, Maharaja Drupad. But Kakashri Vidura will surely send someone. Hastinapur was busy in warfare. But when the news of our marriage reaches there, they will surely welcome us."

Bhrata Yudhisthir was too trusting, but I could not say the same. I saw Bhrata Duryodhana at the swyamvar. Panchali refused to marry Angraaj Karna by calling him a sutputra. Bhrata Duryodhana was angry beyond limit. He even threatened her. But, now the safety of Panchali became our responsibility.

My trail of thoughts was broken by the voice of Satyajit.

"Pardon me, Rajkumar Yudhisthir, but can I ask you something?"

We all looked at him. Satyajit took a deep breath.

"What is the reason of Rajkumar Duryodhana's insane rage towards our sister Shikhandini?"

Jyesth Bhrata was lost in thoughts. Then slowly, he spoke.

"Rajkumar Satyajit, to tell you the truth, Duryodhana is a mystery that even I can't solve. But Kakashri Vidura warned me to watch each and every step taken by him, because each and every step taken by him has a long term planning behind them. He dislikes us, except Sahdeva. Duryodhana loves only Sahdeva amongst us. May be he can answer you."

All of our eyes fixed at Sahdeva, waiting for an answer. Even Madhav was looking at him. He gave an affectionate smile to my anuj, encouraging him to speak.

"Maybe, he tries to save something which is very dear to him." Sahdeva spoke slowly. Then he looked at Madhav again.

"But now, we must focus about one thing. We all know that Bhrata Duryodhana wants the throne of Hastinapur. After the so-called death of us, it was natural for him to ascend the throne, which he didn't. He is planning something. His victory over Magadha was part of his plan."

"I have faith on Pitamah and Kakashri Vidura. They will not let him do any injustice with us." Bhrata Bheem's voice boomed.

"Let's pray so.", Sahdeva heaved a sigh.

We all were sitting silently, lost in our own thoughts. Then we heard Madhav speaking.

"You must perform your obligatory duties, because action is way better than inaction. No one attains perfection by giving up work. You do your duties; leave the rest to the hands of fate."

I looked at him. Madhav was standing now at the centre of the room. His voice was echoing in the room now.

I stood up, and crossed my hands to him.

"Madhav is right. We mustn't stay inactive. We should wait for a few days then we have to reach Hastinapur. "

All of them silently agreed.

"The politics, history and society of Aryavart are now going through a change. This change will shape a new Yuga for us. Old traditions will break and new line of thinking will come. We must welcome the changes with open arms." Keshav said. Then he looks at Dau Balrama.

"It seems that we must accept the hospitality of Maharaja Dhritarashtra, Dau. Let us get ready for the journey. There you can teach both Bheem and Duryodhana the art of mace-fighting. I also learned that both the mace fighters are great cooks too. I think you will enjoy the time at Hastinapur."

"Govind, does Dau not enjoys my cooking?" Panchali said with mock hurt.

Keshav was smiling at her, when Bhrata Bheem decided to speak.

"Panchali, you are the best cook in this universe. After you, the second best cook in the universe is me.", Bhrata Bheem was speaking with pride, "but as much as it pains me to admit, Duryodhana is the third best."

We all started laughing. Panchali looked at us with mock glare then she started laughing too. But there was still a line of uncertainty and danger in my mind. All of them were converging to a point.

Duryodhana.

END OF PART ONE.