The Wrath 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 12

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Jayant/ Duryodhana POV

"Bravo, Duryodhana! You are really a talented mace-fighter. Now I will mould you to the greatest mace wielder in the universe!" Dau Balrama slapped my back.

I touched his feet. My body was bruised due to the result of his hard teachings. But cuts and bruises are the pride of a warrior. Mata once said to me that cuts on the body of a warrior had the same value as jewellery to the women. After my training, I went to the river and took a dip in it. Though every morning I took a dip there, but the cold, soothing touch of Mata Ganga worked magically to numb the pain in my body.

I came back to the palace and went straight to my room. There, I changed my dress and prepared myself for my daily routine. Bhanu was standing beside me with my crown and jewelleries. Every day, she helped me wearing those things. I forbid her a lot of times, but she refused to listen my words.

"Bhanu, how many times I told you that I don't need your help?" I smiled at her.

I expected her to just smile at my words, like she did always. But this time, she spoke.

"Then Rajkumar, you should get married. After your marriage, the duty will be passed to your wife."

I looked at her, a little bit shocked. She giggled playfully, and then placed the crown on my head.

"You are a very kind man Rajkumar. Your wife will be a very lucky woman."

I glared at her, but she again giggled. I heaved a sigh, and looked at the mirror again. In that mirror, I saw two men entering the room. Guha, along with Pratikami entered my room, and they both bowed at me.

"What's the matter?"

Guha and Pratikami looked at each other. Then it was Pratikami who spoke.

"Maharaja Dhritarashtra, Maharani Gandhari, Gandharraj Shakuni, Kulguru Kripacharya, Angraaj Karna, Drona Putra Ashwatthama, Mahamahim Bhishma, Guru Dronacharya, Sri Balrama, Vasudev Krishna and Maharishi Veda Vyasa are waiting for you outside."

"What? All of them are waiting outside for me? What happened? Are we under attack?"

Guha smirked. I looked at Bhanu, who was trying to suppress her smile, but failing drastically. Even the mild mannered Pratikami was now smirking.

"Something fishy was going on behind my back. But I will find out what it is."

Bhanu started laughing. She was laughing so hard, that she literally sat down on the ground.

I heaved a sigh. My mind started acting similar like Sherlock Holmes.

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." I remembered the famous quote of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. My mind started pointed me towards only one direction.

And I was sure that I didn't like it a bit!

I walked outside, and saw all of them standing there. They were all trying to have a neutral expression, except Vasudev Krishna and Maharishi Vyasa. Sri Krishna had that mysterious smile on his lips, whereas Maharishi Vyasa looking at us with a nonchalant face.

I looked at their faces, and crossed my hands.

"Please don't tell me, that all of you came here to speak about my marriage?"

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"Rajkumar! Rajkumar!" I heard the voice of my charioteer, Pratikami. I was sitting on the chariot. The cool breeze was so soothing, that I was literally asleep.

"What is it, Pratikami?"

"Rajkumar, it is nearly dark. The horses were tired too. If you permit, we can rest here for the night."

I looked behind my chariot, and saw Karna standing on his chariot. Beside him, Ashwatthama and Dussasan were standing on their own chariots.

"We will lay our camp here for the night." I shouted at them.

The servants with us quickly started working. In half an hour, tents were ready on the ground. The cooks made fire and started cooking for the night. The hundred horsemen accompanied us sat on the ground, making a security barrier before the tents. I sat alone in my tent and started thinking about the events of last two days.

Two days ago, the news of a swyamvar reached Hastinapur. The King of Kalinga kingdom, Maharaja Chitrangad, arranged the swyamvar of his daughter, Rajkumari Devapriya. The condition was simple. It was a mace fighting competition. The Maharaja had announced that only the greatest mace fighter in Aryavart would have the honour of marrying his daughter. Now, my whole family, friends and enemy gathered there to convince me to attend that swyamvar. All of them literally attacked me with all the weapons they have got. The sages started to convince me about my duties towards my predecessors and how a person who didn't have a son to perform his last rites went to a part of 'Naraka' called 'Puta'. Dau Balrama told me to attend the swyamvar because it would be a good test for me against other finest warriors of Aryavart. But I was adamant too. I was ready to face all their attacks with my diamond-hard body.

Then they used their 'Bramhashtra'!

It was that weapon which evaporated all my defences in a millisecond. This weapon was so powerful, and so easy to use, that it was used even in Kali Yuga with a massive extent.

It was the tearful eyes and sentimental words of a mother!

I was shocked to even think that Mata Gandhari, the one and only Mata Gandhari, whose angry eyes burnt Yudhisthir's toes, could use this weapon. But she used it! Her blindfold became wet, and her voice choked with tears. Those two things had the desired effect on me, because if a son started sitting nonchalant in front of his mother's pleadings, then he was a heartless being.

But, wasn't the greed and envy towards the Pandavas made Duryodhana the same heartless being? Mata Gandhari pleaded to her son not to play the second game of dice, to return the rightful kingdom to Yudhisthir, not to fight a war, accept the peace proposal of Vasudev Krishna.

But he didn't listen!

Mata Gandhari never gave Duryodhana her blessings. She told him that the side that had Dharma with them would win the war. Even after the fall of Duryodhana, Vasudev Sri Krishna and Maharishi Vyasa managed to pacify her...though after coming to the battlefield and hearing the cries of the widows, she finally lost her senses to anger, and uttered those cursed words to Sri Krishna. Her curse became the doom of Yadavas.

But what I am doing after coming here?

Well, I fought a war with Jarasandha and Shishupal, and defeated them. I conquered Magadha and took the kingdom under our control. Hastinapur became the primary focal point of Aryavart now. Though Chedi slipped out from my grip, thanks to Sri Krishna, but the fact was we have managed to send a shockwave to the whole Bharatbhumi, not only Aryavart.

I heaved a sigh, and lie down on the bed. It will take six days to reach Rajapura, the capital city of Kalinga kingdom. The swyamvar would take place after five days of our reaching.

The six days of our journey passed without any problem. But in those six days, I had continuously searched in my mind, hoping to find any information about this Rajkumari Devapriya. As per my knowledge of Mahabharata and Puranas, the daughter of Maharaja Chitrangad was none other than Devi Bhanumati, the wife of Duryodhana. But who was this Rajkumari Devapriya?

"Look, Mitra!" Ashwatthama's voice entered my ears, "There is the city of Rajapura. We have reached our destination."

I nodded affirmatively. So, the time had come. I looked at my mace lying beside me, and took it in my hands. I touched the weapon in my forehead, and made a silent prayer to both Mahadev and Dau Balrama.

We reached the gate of Rajapura city. The guards stationed there had recognised the banner on my chariot. My chariot proudly sported a blue banner with a black king cobra coiled with a dagger. The guards bowed to us and a few moments later, some high ranking courtier came to us. He guided us towards a beautiful guest room. Karna, Dussasan and Ashwatthama also got very good quarters. I told the courtier to make good arrangements for the soldiers and servants. He agreed quickly, without making a fuss. He was respectfully talking with me, but I could sense some amount of fear in him.

I quickly took a bath, and wore new dress. I saw a temple of Mahadev just outside the main gates of the city. So, I decided to make a quick visit to the temple. I came outside. The guards stationed there tried to come with me, but I forbid them.

"If someone asks, tell him that I am going to the temple outside the city."

I took out my locket, and changed it in the motorcycle. The soldiers and other people of Kalinga were looking at that incredible machine with popped eyes. The motorcycle roared under me then I started my journey. While I was passing the road, the people were looking at me...no, at my ride with opened jaw and popped up eyes, and I always enjoyed that. It took me exactly five minutes to reach the temple.

I entered the temple and rang the bell. Then I came in front of Mahadev and closed my eyes. I started chanting the 'Shiva Tandav'.

The time passed with my chanting. I finished the chanting and opened my eyes. My eyes first went to my right side. There I saw people standing, with crossed hands and closed eyes. In front of them, an old Brahmin priest was standing there. His both eyes were filled with tears, but his lips had a beautiful, pure almost childlike smile. The old priest opened his eyes too, and silently blessed me with his both hands. I crossed my hands and bowed my head to him at first, then to the people standing behind him. I turned towards the opposite side, and my eyes landed directly on two beautiful black eyes.

Then I felt something in my heart. It was something that I never felt in my previous life, or in this life. I felt that my blood started rushing faster in my veins and arteries. My heart started beating like a piston.

What was happening to me?

Was it...was it...was it...

So, this is the twelfth chapter. I hope that you will like it.

What do you think that Jayant was feeling?

Will he find someone who can complete him?

Or will he stay a bachelor warrior for his whole life?

Stay tuned to find out.

Oh, please read, vote and COMMENT.