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 39

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Bhishma POV

"Come to me, Putra! Come to me right now with a chariot."

I woke up on my bed, panting. My body was drenched with sweat. That dream, no, that nightmare was so vivid...it shook me down to my core. I saw myself walking on a field, stained with blood. There was so much blood; it changed the soil into muck. My feet were getting deeper and deeper in that muck while I tried to walk. And then, after crossing this muck, I saw him standing.

He was drenched in blood and his red, sinister eyes were looking directly into my eyes, piercing into my soul. There was something in those eyes, which made me shudder with fear. Yes, I, Gangaputra Bhishma was afraid. Then I heard my mother's voice. But her voice lacked the usual calm and soothing tone in it. No, it was laced with fear. Fear and urgency was laced in that voice. So, now, I found myself walking outside the palace. I was going to order a guard to fetch my charioteer when the sound of a running chariot entered my ear. I looked at that direction and saw a chariot was coming towards me. The chariot was driven by none other than Karna. He stopped in front of me and climbed down.

"Mahamahim, your chariot is waiting."

I looked at him. His face lacked his always bittersweet, with a small mixture of arrogant facial expression. No, I saw concern and a bit of tension in his face.

"How do you know that I need a chariot?" I asked him after I boarded on it. The chariot started running towards the main gate.

"Bhagwan Surya Narayana came to my dreams. He ordered me to take a chariot to you. He said that you are in dire need of a ride."

He took a deep breath. I saw his facial expression turned grim.

"He also said that my Mitra needs my help. Now, I have only two Mitra in my life. Ashwatthama is here. So, it is logical to assume that he is not in any danger. That means that Duryodhana needs my assistance. I don't know Mahamahim, but my mind is telling me that something bad has happened."

"Take me to my mother." I said in a soft voice. The chariot was running on the empty road. The faint light of dawn embraced us, and provided both of us the much needed calmness. After sometime, we reached in the bank of River Ganga.

We were both standing silently for a moment, each of us lost in their own thought. But then I heard a sound. The sound was familiar. It was the sound of a boat. Both of us looked at the direction of the sound and saw a big fishing boat was coming towards us. There was someone standing on the boat. We couldn't see the face but the peacock feather on his crown announced his identity to us. Vasudev Krishna, the vanquisher of the great serpent, was standing on the boat.

A few moments later, the boat came to us. The boatmen stopped rowing and two men dropped the heavy anchor in the river. Vasudev Krishna looked at us. His two deep, ocean like eyes met mine. I noticed that they were hard like stone, lacking the normal mischievous expression.

"Pranipat, Pitamah. Pranipat, Angraaj." His voice was hard, devoid of any emotion. I tried to say something, but before that, I saw Arjun. But when I looked at him, his facial expression shocked me. His face was grief-stricken; his eyes were red, as if he somehow prevented himself from crying. Beside him, I saw a beautiful young woman standing. Her face had the same expression, except for the fact that tears were falling from her two beautiful eyes. This woman must be Subhadra, the little sister of Krishna and Balrama. But why were they crying? What happened to them?

"Pitamah!" Arjun literally ran towards me. His control over himself slipped. Now fresh tears formed in his eyes. He tried to touch my feet, but I quickly embraced him.

"What happened, Putra?"

"There was an attack on us, Pitamah. Some invisible assailants attacked us on the way."

His words first shocked me totally then the shock was replaced by the burning fire of rage. The invisible assailants, whatever or whoever they are, be it human or Devta, Gandharva or Rakshasha, they had placed themselves in front of the wrath of Bhishma, that Bhishma, who stood his ground in front of Bhargava Parashurama for twenty two days.

"Where is my Mitra, Vasudev?" I could feel the eagerness in my companion's voice. I looked at Karna, while slowly releasing Arjun from my embrace. Subhadra came to me and touched my feet. I blessed her too, but my eyes were trying to find the eldest son of Gandhari.

"Careful, be careful with her."

The voice was ice cold, but hard as iron. I looked at the source of the voice. There, he was standing with his back towards us. His long hair was flowing in the air. Beside him, I saw four boatmen carrying a wooden stretcher, with someone lying on it.

"Putri Devapriya! What happened to her?" I looked at Arjun.

"She was injured in the combat. But, Pitamah, she lost her unborn child!"

"What?" I heard the voice of Karna. His face became pale in a moment. He quickly walked towards his Mitra, and instructed the men to take the stretcher in the chariot. He then tried to say something to Duryodhana, but couldn't found his voice. Duryodhana slowly patted his back, a silent, but deep gesture amongst the two friends.

"Madhav managed to treat her somehow. He stabled her condition, but she needs immediate surgery. Only Nakul and Sahdeva can perform that kind of surgery."

"They are here in Hastinapur. We must hurry. But Arjun, how can I give this news to Gandhari and Dhritarashtra? They will be devastated after hearing it."

He nodded silently. Then I saw Karna walking towards us.

"With your permission, Mahamahim, I am taking Maharani in my chariot. After I reach to the palace, I will send more chariots for you all."

His voice was shaking, probably with shock or with anger or both. I nodded affirmatively to him. Then I looked at Duryodhana, who was standing beside me. I tried to say something, but I was at a loss of words. After all, what could I possibly say to him? He lost his unborn child, the child who died before even coming in the world. I placed my hand on his shoulder, hoping to share some of his grief with me. He held my hand with a soft, but firm grip, and placed it on his head. I heaved a deep sigh.

"I am with you, Putra."

He silently nodded to me. His eyes were hard, but I could spot a hint of wetness there. But there was also a cold fury, which was not missed by me. We slowly parted, and he walked towards the chariot. Karna was already sat on the charioteer's place. He was going to start the chariot, when we heard loud sounds of horses and chariots coming towards us. I turned my head, and saw Yudhisthir, who was riding on a horse. He was accompanied by four empty chariots.

"Pranipat, Vasudev, I got your pigeon message..." he couldn't stop his voice because his gaze fell on the unconscious form of Devapriya on the chariot.

"What happened to her? Why is she lying unconscious?

Arjun quickly explained the situation to him. Yudhisthir, the calm, composed Yudhisthir was standing still while he was listening. His fists clenched tightly. For the first time, I saw his face twisted in anger...his body started shaking. I saw Vasudev quickly walked to him, and held his both shoulders.

"Bade Bhaiya, this is not the time to get angry. Devi Devapriya needs immediate medical assistance. We are losing time."

Yudhisthir was still shaking, but then I saw something which truly shocked me. His eyes became bright golden. I could feel the energy behind them.

"Angraaj! I need you here. Lose your shoes and come here."

The voice of Vasudev cracked like a whip in the atmosphere. It was like a divine command, which could compel the whole universe into abiding it. Karna quickly came in front of them. Yudhisthir looked at him, and I saw the golden armour came on his torso.

All of us were standing with shocked silence, except Duryodhana, who tried to walk towards the three of them, but a swift hand gesture from Vasudev stopped him on the track. Yudhisthir was still shaking, but then his head bowed and his gaze fall on the naked feet of Karna. Slowly, his body stopped shaking, and I saw his eyes became normal. He looked at all of us with shock on his face. I could feel in my bones that he couldn't believe himself. He looked at Karna, who looked at him with an awkward gaze.

I heaved a deep sigh. Maharishi Vyasa told me the secret of his birth. Once, Yudhisthir confessed to me that he sometimes felt overwhelmed with all the duties, and hoped that if he also had an elder brother to give his mind and soul a shelter. Today, after watching the two brothers in front of me, I remembered the conversation I had with Yudhisthir. I saw him thanking Karna, who, although with a bit awkwardness, patted his back softly.

We quickly boarded on the chariots and started riding towards the palace. It didn't take much time to reach the main gate. But when we tried to cross the gate, an unexpected barrier prevented us from entering.

From the ground, a huge wall of fire stood up and blocked our path.

So, this is chapter 39.

After the second dice game, Pandavas went to exile for thirteen years. After they left, Dhritarashtra asked Vidura that while leaving, what was the behaviour of the five Pandavas?

Vidura told him that Yudhisthir was walking with his eyes closed, because he was so enraged, that if he looked at the Kauravas, then they will be consumed by burning.

Bheem was looking at his powerful arms, hinting that he will crush the Kauravas in it.

Arjun was scattering the dust with his feet (another version claimed he was throwing sand with his hand), meaning he will shower rain of arrows on them.

Nakul and Sahdeva rubbed dust and ashes in their body and face, meaning that they would crumble their enemies until they become unrecognizable.

We all know about the undone hair of Draupadi, who would tie it after washing with the blood of Dussasan.

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