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 7

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Sri Krishna was standing on his chariot. His elder brother, Balrama was standing beside him. His chariot was the part of a long procession which was going to Hastinapur. The chariots of five Pandavas were in front of the procession. One chariot contained three women, Maharani Kunti and her two daughters-in –law. Rajkumari Karenumati of Chedi kingdom and her relatives, along with her mother and brother, reached to the Pandavas in their way from Panchal to Hastinapur.

The supreme one was thinking about his Sakhi. He knew that inside her mind, there was turmoil of emotions. Draupadi was a woman of very strong personality. She didn't liked the fact much that she became the shared wife of five brothers, and one of them again remarried just a day after that! But the wheel of fate was disturbed by the constant manipulation of Jayant Roy, and it started changing its course. His attack on Jarasandha was a bold step, but it was not a reckless move. Jayant and Shakuni had made a very powerful network of spies in the Aryavart. Sri Krishna knew that even Dwarka and Mathura had their spies. After defeating Jarasandha and Shishupal, Jayant imprisoned them both. He could've easily killed them, but he didn't.

"Kanha? What are you thinking?" His brother's voice entered into his ear.

He looked at his brother and smiled.

"Dau, I am thinking about a tortured soul. The soul is tied with shackles of hate and enmity. The more it tries to break free, the binds are getting tighter. I can see the soul bleeding continuously, but I can't see a way to break it free."

Balrama curiously looked at his younger brother. His brother was talking in cryptic language again. Sometimes, he couldn't really understand his brother.

"Tell me Dau, how can I break free the soul?"

Balrama thought for a moment. His dearest wife's smiling face came to his mind.

"I am a simple man, Kanha. I can't think in the spiral way like you. But I know one thing, that the power of love is way much stronger than the power of hate. A powerful blow of love can break the most powerful chain of hate."

"Powerful blows like your plough, right, Dau?"

"Absolutely....WHAT? Kanha, are you mocking me again?"

"No, no, Dau, who has the courage to mock the one and only Haldhar Balrama in this whole universe?" Sri Krishna said with utmost sincerity, but Balrama hadn't failed to notice the naughty smirk in his little brother's face. He smiled too. He actually enjoyed these playful banters between them.

Suddenly their chariot stopped. Sri Krishna looked at his charioteer then looked forward. The whole procession was stopped. In front of them, there were two chariots standing. The first chariot was huge, and pulled by four white horses. The banner on the chariot showed a golden banyan tree.

"Look at that chariot, Dau. Mahamahim Gangaputra Bhishma was there. On the next chariot, the one clad in white is Dronacharya and the one in saffron is Kripacharya."

He then looked at the Pandavas, who hurriedly climbed down from their chariots and went to the elders. His aunt Kunti also climbed down, along with her daughters-in-law. Then he and his brother also climbed down. The elders were already on the ground.

He saw Yudhisthir touching the feet of Gangaputra, his brothers were following him. Arjun came to him at last, and both of them hugged each other tightly. Pitamah Bhishma had tears of joy in his eyes.

"The news of your supposed death shattered my heart and soul, Arjun. But let bygones be bygones, Putra. It was the son of Gandhari, who actually pulled me out of my miserable state."

Arjun didn't spoke a word, but his tearful face was telling everything in his heart. Sri Krishna was looking at them with a sad smile in his face. His mind automatically went to the Great War, where.....

"Pitamah, this is Vasudev Krishna, our cousin brother. Beside him, his elder brother Balrama." Yudhisthir's voice broke his thoughts. He looked at the nearly immortal celibate, who was famous in the world for his greatest renouncement. He left all his happiness for his father. But his vow and his boon were tied him up with the throne of Hastinapur. Sri Krishna went to the grand old man of Kuru dynasty, and tied to touch his feet, but the old man stopped him from doing so.

"Do I not have any claim on your blessings, O son of Ganga?"

Bhishma smiled at him, his eyes had both love and devotion.

"What blessings can I give you, O Giridhari Gopal?"

The Avatar smiled at him then nodded silently. Then he greeted the two sages. After that, Balrama also pay his respects to them. Then Sri Krishna saw his aunt went to them with her daughters-in-law. Bhishma blessed both of them whole heartedly.

"Ayushmati Bhava! Saubhagyavati Bhava!"

He was observing the whole scene in front of him, when he heard the question of Yudhisthir.

"Pitamah, are you coming from somewhere?"

Bhishma nodded affirmatively, "Yes, Putra Yudhisthir. Today..." he stopped for a moment. His face went towards Kunti.

"Today, the king of Anga got married too. The three of us were coming from that ceremony."His gaze was sharp and hard. Sri Krishna looked at his aunt. She literally shrunk under that glaze...no, it was literally a glare. Then Bhishma heaved a sad sigh and looked away. Maharani Kunti was both happy and sad. She was happy for her eldest son and sad because she could not hug him with her chest, and bless him and his new wife. She somehow fought the tears in her eyes. She turned her head and saw her nephew looking directly her eyes. Those lotuses like eyes of him were an enigma. They were mysterious like the deepest ocean. He gave her a soft, reassuring smile. That smile acted as a cool salve on her burning heart.

"Putra Yudhisthir, your uncle, aunt and all the others in the palace were eagerly waiting for all of you. Do not waste more time standing here. Let's go to the palace."

All of them boarded their respective chariots. Then the long procession started again. This time, their destination was the royal palace of Hastinapur.

But then, all of them heard a sound. This was the loud sound of a mechanical ride. Sri Krishna saw that ride, now tied with a decorated chariot, was coming towards them. The ride was pulling the chariot with ease. On the chariot, a man and a woman were standing. Both of them looked like a newlywed couple. The one who was driving the ride was looking at them, no, looking directly at him. Then he turned his ride towards them. Balrama also saw that scene.

"That is Duryodhana. Daruka, stop the chariot."

Shri Krishna looked at Jayant, who came beside their chariot. On the chariot, he saw Karna and Vrushali. Jayant dismounted his ride and came to them. He went to Balrama at first, and crossed his hands.

"Pranipat, Dau. It's my good luck that you are coming to Hastinapur. This time, I won't leave you before learning the art of mace fighting from you."

Balrama smiled and nodded. Sri Krishna was silently observing them. He knew in his mind that Jayant has very deep respect towards his elder brother, just because his brother had a simple personality.

"Ayushmaan Bhava, Duryodhana. We are escorting our cousins and their wives. But I also want to congratulate you for the victory over Magadha. Jarasandha had tortured the Yadavas for a long time. Though we defeated him multiple times, still he came again and again after us. Even Shishupal, who is our cousin, became an ally of Jarasandha and fought against us."

Jayant was silently listening to his brother. This time Sri Krishna decided to speak.

"But Dau, when our aunt herself requested us for help, then how can we reject her? But after the marriage of Bhrata Nakul and Rajkumari Karenumati, we can hope that the relation between Kuru Kingdom and Chedi Kingdom will flourish. Even Maharaja Dhritarashtra also had good relations with Maharaja Damaghosh, am I right, Rajkumar?"

Jayant looked at him. Sri Krishna looked at his eyes. Those eyes became blood red for a moment, and he saw two sharp fangs in his mouth. But those stayed for just a moment. The influence of Kali inside his soul was literally increasing.

The common one stood in front of the supreme one with eyes burning with insane hatred. He crossed his hand and said in between gritted teeth.

"Yes, you are right. Namaskar, Sri Krishna!"

So, this is the seventh chapter. Please read,vote and comment.