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Hastinapur Palace

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The night time is truely magical and peaceful. And here Duryodhana the eldest son of Maharaj Dhritrashtra and Maharani Gandhari was ready to take a stroll in peaceful garderns of the palace. Today was surely an eventful day.

All the princes and Ashwasthama with karna was sound asleep in Karna's Chamber. But Duryodhana was wide awake. He was feeling the uneasy feeling that someone needs him at the moment. And he couldn't shake it off. So he decided to take a stroll.

In his blue dhoti and angvastra with minimum jweleries and without his crown he reached the royal garderns. The same garderns which give him peace. The moon was shining bright in the sky. The atmosphere was serene. And he sat on the swing in the Royal gardern.

He was just sitting and enjoying the cool winds when he heard some voices from the corner. It looked pained. He moved towards the corner and saw a figure huddled at the side in similar blue angvastra surrounded by bushes.

Duryodhana furrowed his eyebrow and then he realized who it was. He sighed and called out.

Duryodhana : Oy Dasiputra! What are you doing here? And that to all alone?

He asked. And the figured jerked up. The person thought he was all alone. He was unaware of the another presence with him. He jerked up and tried to stand up

Person: Bh--Rajkumar Duryodhana! I..I am sorry. I didn't knew you were here. I will leave right away.

He said and started to move. But when duryodhana looked at him closely he realized he was crying. His face was wet with tear strikes. His nose red sniffling. And broken sobs wrecking his body. Duryodhana scowled. Sure he was not fond of him but he also couldn't see him crying.

Duryodhana: Dasi putra, are you crying?

Person: No--No. Rajkumar. I am strong. I don't cry. It's just-- something went in my eyes. And I think cold...

He started to give excuses but now when he came out in moonlight duryodhana was sure he was crying. He tried and was about to fall when duryodhana caught him securely.

Duryodhana: Yuyutsu!

(Rajkumar Yuyutsu)

Dryodhana spoke firmly. He was returned with another broken sob. Duryodhana took him to swing and made him sit beside him. Yes he was Prince Yuyutsu. Son of King Dhritrashtra and a maid name Sugandha. When Maharani Gandhari couldn't birth even after 15 months, Maharaj Dhritrashtra decided to get an hire from another lady.

Yuyutsu was younger than duryodhana and Older then all other kauravas. But when duryodhana was finally borned before him, him and his mother were cast aside. He was a prince for name sake. Duryodhana didn't even allowed him to call him Bhrata and other kauravas didn't call him bhrata.

He was just Dasiputra.A son of maid for them. Though duryodhana was not fond of him but do care of him. Afterall he was his father's child. And today seeing him crying like that was huge shock for him. From childhood they all kauravas bully him. But never they have seen him break.

And every other time he was standing beside duryodhana smiling at him. Was he crying for first time? Thought duryodhana.

Yuyutsu: Thank you Rajkumar.

He wishpered barely audible.

Duryodhana: Why are you crying Dasiputra?

Duryodhana asked. His voice considerably softer. Though Dasiputra was for taunting him but still duryodhana cared for him.

Yuyutsu: No-nothing Rajkumar. It's nothing. I was not crying...

And he tried to give a broken chuckle. Duryodhana sighed and order sternly.

Duryodhana: Yuyutsu. When I ask a question, I expect an honest answer. Now speak. I don't like to repeat myself.

At this Yuyutsu realized duryodhana was serious as he used his name instead of Dasiputra. Then he gave him a sad smile and asked

Yuyutsu: Can I ask you a question?

Duryodhana: Sure Dasiputra. Itni raat ko ro raha tha. Aur mai itna Kasht karke puch raha hoon.Toh Zahir hai machiya toh nahi bech raha hoga mai. Ask away.

Yuyutsu sighed and asked.

Yuyutsu: Am I a kaurava? Can I introduce myself as kaurava?

Duryodhana: What kind of question is this?

Yuyutsu: No.I am serious Rajkumar. Because from the birth it is said as 100 kauravas. And a kuru princess Dushala. I am surely not included in it. And also I can't call you bh-rata...And younger ones always called me as Dasiputra.

             And frankly I don't mind. Them not respecting me. Others not acknowledging me. But what hurts is...who am I? Today...I realized I am nobody. I am just a mistake of  Maharaj Dhritrashtra and nothing more. If he would have been paitent enough to wait for few more months...then many things would have changed.

             Firstly heartbreak of Mat--I mean Maharani Gandhari would have stopped. My mother was called names. Whore, second lady and all....I have to hear it all my life and see my innocent mother cry who was just carrying out something odered by royals.

               She even could not marry anyone else. People ridiculed her and me. And after all this what did we get? My mother who cries every day. And I, even servents are more respected than me. So tell me bhrat--I mean Rajkumar Duryodhana, Who am I?

And at last when he questioned duryodhana, Yuyutsu broked down sobbing. And at that time duryodhana felt the searing pain in his heart which Yuyutsu felt all this years. Duryodhana hugged the crying figure tightly in his arms and started carresing his head.

But one thought that made duryodhana think was why now? After this many years what happened today that made him finally break down. They, the kauravas always bullied him. And abused him verbally. But he never once replied back or disrespected any of them. And never cried or complained even when they were kids. So why now? He then gently asked him

Duryodhana: What happened today Yuyutsu?

Yuyutsu: No-nothing Rajkumar.

Duryodhana: Yuyutsu!

And than he started speaking brokenly.

Yuyutsu : Today...When we returned after defeating Drupad I was so happy. So I straight away ran to my mata to meet her. Because apart from her no one cared about what I did or not. I..I wanted to tell her all. How her son fought with drupad's army...My first war...How we won...and all that.

             So when I went to my mata, she was in the kitchen working with other maids. And as soon as she saw me she hugged me. And I started telling her all about it. I wanted to make her proud. Proud of me. Because she has no one other than me. And she was happy. She was very happy Rajkumar! But our conversation was cut short when dushasan and some of the kaurava princes came to the kitchen.

               They saw us and ordered my mother to serve them something to it for they were hungry. And my mother happily obliged. And she was serving them when dushasan started insulting me and my mother. But it is normal for us so we didn't react. So he called my mother a whore.

                And my mother sobbed. And that was so painful for me. So I pushed him and asked to apologize to her. My mother denied but dushasan was adamant and then he again called her that! And so I lost it and shouted 'Dushasan!'. And he took it as an insult. So they ganged up on me. They beat me bhrata. They were fifteen. They pushed my mother. And then they beat me...

And then he broke down in hysterical sobs. Duryodhana hugged him tighter and carresed his hair. He was stumped. Yes. Yes they bully him verbally. But it was his strict orders to all kauravas to never touch him. He was Duryodhana's brother no matter what.

His blood boiled listening how kauravas disrespected a woman calling her whore who was similar to their mother. No. No she was their mother. And Bhrata. Yuyutsu first time called him bhrata. He felt so good. He felt over protective of his little brother. And he was so broken when he heard how his mata sugandha has to still toil as a dasi in kitchens and his brother said 'They beat me bhrata.' Was the last straw for duryodhana. These kauravas will be punished. Brothers or not.

Duryodhana was hella angry. This got too far. How dare they touch Yuyutsu!

But still he thought this was not all. The mere fight can't make Yuyutsu question about who he was. So he gently yet sternly asked sniffling and sobbing Yuyutsu who still had not looked in his eyes...

Duryodhana: Why didn't you complain to elders? All this years...Why didn't you or your mother spoke to anyone regarding the matter? And today? Today they beated you! Why didn't you approached Maharaj?

His question was out of anger and care. Anger towards kaurava and care towards Yuyutsu. Yuyutsu chuckled humorlessly.

Yuyutsu: Rajkumar. What do you think will be the outcome. My mother who is nothing more then merry maid. Who was ordered to sacrifice her life, self respect and everything for just providing a heir to kuruvansh. Who will hear her? A maid who made beloved Mahrani Gandhari sad and heart broken. A maid who didn't have any choice. After that who was disowned by her parents and society.

            And me? Son of a whore. And nothing more. No one hears what I have to say. Not Mahamahim, Mahamantri even Maharaj. And what hurted me the most was today...

            Mahamantri Vidur saw us fighting and took us to Maharaj's chambers. And Dushasan started to sob dramatically and said that I overpowered all of them. And that was true. They said I beated them. And Maharaj didn't even listened to me.He said "You Dasiputra! How dare you beat my sons! You're illegitimate and still I feed and shelter you. And you did this to my sons?" And he slapped me.

             He odered his mantris to whip me 50 times. And then dushasan and kauravas laughed infront of Maharaj. Still he didn't do anything. And after completing my punishment I didn't have courage to go to mata and give her more pain looking at my condition. So here I am. Now will you answer my question?

He asked innocently. And listening to this tears escaped Duryodhana's eyes. He loosened his grip on Yuyutsu's body and saw blood on his back soaking his angvastra and Duryodhana's hands. A whine passed Yuyutsu's lips when duryodhana accidentally touched his back. And both the brothers cried that midnight.

One elder with silent tears of pain and one younger loudly with all the agony from years in saftey of his elder brother's arms. Duryodhana gently picked Yuyutsu up and put him on his shoulder. He needed to make it right. He failed as an elder brother.

He took Yuyutsu to his chambers discretely to avoid unneeded gossips...

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Duryodhana's chamber

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Duryodhana laid Yuyutsu gently on his stomach on his soft silk bed. And then himself made herbal paste for his brother from limited emergency knowledge about first aid he had. Remembering mentally to ask nakul and sahdev for the required medicines first thing tommorow morning.

He gently removed Yuyutsu's angvastra and started applying the paste. Small whines and winces from Yuyutsu broke his heart. His own tears were uncontrollable. He after applying the paste and cleaning the blood put Yuyutsu in clean clothes. His clean clothes.

Then he took his head in his lap and carresed Yuyutsu's hair. And when Yuyutsu looked at him he said

Duryodhana : Yuyutsu first of all I am sorry. I apologize for everything I did to you in my ego and pride. And second I  will provide justice for you and your mother. I don't know if you are kuru or not. Because that is something which can only pitashree and elders can tell you.

                But no matter what, always remember you are my anuj. Rajkumar Duryodhana's little brother. And your mother is my mata. Here after no one can touch you or your mother. You have an elder brother here to protect and take care of you and your mother. Jub swayam duryodhana tumhara bada bhai ho to tumhara koi baal bhi banka nahi kar sakta Yuyutsu. Aur ab se tum mujhe bhrata duryodhana kehkar pukaroge. Am I clear?

Yuyutsu: Yes bhrata Suyodhana.

He said and smiled brightly. Duryodhana just chuckled. And they both slept like that. Duryodhana half sitting on his bed leaned on the head board and Yuyutsu in his lap.

Last thought of duryodhana while carresing his little brother's hair was he will care and protect his mata sugandha and anuj Yuyutsu till his last breath even if it comes to his life he will not hesitate to sacrifice it also....

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And in the far place the ever loved Morpankh dhari was happily eating butter. Treating himself with midnight heaven on witnessing a pure brotherhood love.....

"Jab marg dharma aur satya ka ho toh parinam bhi mangal kari hi hoga priya Suyodhana. Chunoti toh aab aiyengi. Dekhte hai tum kise chunte ho...Bhaiyon ko ya Singhasan ko?"

And the enchanting tune of the flute prevailed.....