*╔═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╗*

Gandhari's Chamber

*╚═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╝*

Gandhari was overexcited while making all the arrangements. She with Duryodhana and Karna was choosing the clothes for the wedding. While other Kauravas and pandava twins were all looking after arrangements and decorations. Bheem was looking after food arrangements.

Yudhishthir invitations. And Arjun was looking after guest room allocations. Though it was their very own wedding, Pandavas wanted to take part in it and enjoy it and make it as memorable as possible. Duryodhana and Karna were helping Gandhari and Kunti in puja and vidhi arrangements.

Gandhari : Putra Suyo, it is garland. Not your mace.

Duryodhana : But maa! Yeh dhaga tut hi jaa raha hai.

(This thread keeps breaking. )

Karan : Suyo thoda prem se. Socho woh mala Bhanu ke liye hai.

(Suyo with little love and gentleness. Think that the garland is for Bhanu.)

And then Duryodhana surprisingly made a beautiful garland.

Gandhari was awestruck sensing that.

Gandhari : Putra Aditya. You know how to make each and every 106 Nalayaks of mine work. Don't you?

Karna just laughed and hugged her. While Duryodhana was over joyed looking at his creations.

Duryodhana (thinking) : Thank God I made it. Yeh toh sach hai ki bhagwaan hai....

(Lyric from the song of Hum Saath Saath Hai.)

Suddenly a servant came and announced

Servant : Maharaj Dhritrashtr has asked for Prince Aditya.

Gandhari and Duryodhana : Prince Aditya?

Karna : Meri. Meri baat kar rahe hai woh.

(Me. He is talking about me.)

Duryodhana : Tu to giyo bachua.

(You're gone kid.)

Karna made a puppy-dog face in front of Gandhari and said

Karna : Maa- Bachalo.

Gandhari : Arya will keep you company Putra.

Duryodhana snickered in background.

*╔═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╗*

Dhritrashtr Chamber

*╚═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╝*

In Dhritrashtr's chamber Bhishm, Vidur, Dhronacharya and Kripacharya were already present with Dhritrashtr. They have decided to allow all the princes to have fun before their marriage. So they have secretly arranged for dance and drinks in Dhritrashtr's chambers.

Keeping the secret from ladies, this was the only room where no one would suspect anything. For one it was King's chamber. And second, Dhritrashtr is not too keen on babysitting the kids above 20 years of age.

As soon as Karna entered and saw the Purush-Mandali, he thought to disappear from the face of the earth as soon as possible. But his Karna-luck, meaning panoti induced luck came into consideration.

Dhritrashtr though blind, but his other senses were excellent heard Karna's footsteps from the door only.

Dhritrashtr : Padharo putra Aditya.

His over-sweet voice made Karna's warning bells ring. He grimaced and entered the chamber. He gave pranipat to all. And sat in between Dhritrashtr and Vidur.

Vidur : So Nalayak, we are planning boy's night out.

Karna : Okay so you oldies need to leave then.

And *thmack* a smack on back of his head by one and only Bhishm.

Bhishma : Beech mai na bol.

(Don't speak in between.) (Imagine that from Khiladi of Akshay Kumar)

Vidur : Any way- as I was saying. You need to smuggle Pandavas, Duryodhana, Ashwastthama and Yuyutsu here. It's family boys night. We invited Krishna, but he said he wanted to spend some time with his bua Kunti and Gandhari.

Dhritrashtr : Like bachelor's party? You understand kid right-

Karna scoffed.

Karna : Only Pitamah and I are bachelors if you're talking about that and-

*thwack* another slap on his head.

Dhritrashtr : How many times should we say this? Beech mai na bol budbak-

(Don't speak in between.)

Karna : Ouchie-

He whines. And Dhritrashtr kissed his forehead.

Dhritrashtr : Are mera bacha- kuch nahi hua. Kuch nahi hua-

(Nothing has happened.)

Dhronacharya and Kripacharya rolled their eyes where Vidur and Bhishm scoffed.

Karna called his eagle and in no time each one of the prince was present in front of the door in no time.

Duryodhana : Ram Ram Ram Ram-

(Imagine Aamir Khan from Ishq movie.)

Ashwastthama, Arjun, twins : Altu jalaltu ai bala ko taltu- (in repeat)

Yudhishthir : Don't be overdramatic guys. Come on.

And they entered. And what they saw made them stunned. Karna was sitting in between the circle surrounded by bottle of drinks and namkeen.

Yuyutsu : Apan ke baap ne Daru aur chakna ka intezaam kiya hai re baba-

(Our father has arranged for drinks and snacks. )

Bheem : Haan pan apne hich liye kiya hai ya phir kisi aur ke liye?

(But is this for us or someone else?)

But before anyone could answer they heard Kripacharya speak.

Kripacharya : I and Dhronacharya are leaving because we need to be somewhere important tommorow. So enjoy your family night.

And left.

Karna : Ajao Ajao. Vaha kyu khade hon?

(Come come. Why are you standing there?)

His voice was dripping sarcasam and pleasure, enough to scare them shit less.

And after many accidental falls and rolling every one settled.

Vidur : Tatshree, we will do this Kuru family style right?

Bhishma : Yes. Ab khote jawan ho gaye hai.

(Now donkeys are matured.)

Karna scoffed : Aur aap budhe. Zyada ho jaye toh bahar vaidh bulake rakha hai.

(And you old. If you get heart attack after drinking too much, I have arranged doctor already.)

Bhishma : Ravaiye sudhar le. Varna kuwara marenga budbak.

(Mend your ways. Otherwise you will die unmarried. )

Karna : You're what 100 and still virgin?

*thwack* another well deserved hit.

.
.
.
Le Mahadev from Kailah : 100 and virgin. Captain America ki yaad diladi re baba-

(He made me remember Captain America (from Avengers). )

Both he and mata Parvati laughed heartily.

.
.
.

Here Karna continued.

Karna : If you're so cool, then start the program yourself okay.

Bhishm : Fine kid. Just wait and watch.

Vidur widen his eyes and Dhritrashtr just chuckled when Bhishm tied his dhoti in south Indian style.

[ Play Psycho Re from ABCD ]

Bishm : 𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑎

Dhritrashtra and Vidur : 𝑅𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑅𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑎

Bhishma : 𝑌𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑎

Dhritrashtra and Vidur : 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑎

Karna : 𝐷𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑔𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑖, 𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑖 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑧 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑖,

Youngsters : 𝑘𝑎𝑖𝑘𝑜 𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑟 𝑘𝑎𝑖𝑘𝑜 𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑖𝑘𝑜 𝑟𝑒?

Bhishma : 𝑃𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑖 𝑡𝑜ℎ 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑏ℎ𝑒𝑗𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑝𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜 𝑟𝑒!

And the tension left the atmosphere immediately. And everyone started laughing and dancing.

𝐴𝑦𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖..

Sahdeva : 𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑑𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑎

Yudhisthir : 𝑌𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑎

All looked at him shocked. Even Bhishma.

Duryodhana : 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑦𝑎, 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑞𝑎𝑤𝑤𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑖,
𝐷𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑖 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑧 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑖

All youngsters : 𝐾𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜, 𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜, 𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑟𝑒

Yudhishthir : 𝑃𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑛𝑎ℎ𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑏ℎ𝑒𝑗𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑝𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜 𝑟𝑒

Ashwastthama : 𝐻𝑎𝑎𝑛 𝑝𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑛𝑎ℎ𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎 𝑏ℎ𝑒𝑗𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑝𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜 𝑟𝑒

And again Arjun gave some sura (alcohol) to Yudhishthir and they all dance crazily. While Dhritrashtr just heard them and enjoyed from his bed.

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

𝑁𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑎, 𝑛𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑟𝑒

𝐴𝑚𝑚𝑎

𝐾𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑡𝑢 𝑑𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑢 𝑝𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑟𝑒

𝑁𝑎 𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑢 𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑎 𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑟𝑒

𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖 𝑡𝑢𝑗ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑎

𝐴𝑏 𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑟 𝑗𝑎 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝑘ℎ𝑎

𝐽𝑎 𝑟𝑒 𝑗𝑎 𝑟𝑒 𝑗𝑎 𝑠𝑜 𝑗𝑎

𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑅𝑎𝑗𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑞𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑚

𝐴𝑎𝑗 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑗𝑎𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛

𝐴𝑦𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖..

✶⊶⊷⊶⊷❍⊶⊷⊶⊷✶

And suddenly Duryodhana who was now tipsy looked at karna with all the emotions and love in his eyes.

Duryodhana : 𝑌𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑜ℎ 𝑦𝑎𝑎𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑗𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑑𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑦𝑎 𝑠𝑒 𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑒

And he suddenly came near karna and held him affectionately. All stopped to see this moment.

Karna : 𝐶ℎℎ𝑜𝑑 𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑗𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑟𝑖 𝑑𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑦𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑜ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑚 𝑙𝑒

Though he knew Duryodhana was tipsy, but he also knew his feelings were pure and deep.

Duryodhana : 𝐻𝑎𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑢, 𝑦𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑢

𝑌𝑎𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑘𝑜𝑖 𝑑𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑑𝑢𝑎

And with every emotion and love in his eyes with slight sheen of tears he hugged him tightly. Karna hugged him back. They both remembered their moments from day they met, when they laughed with and at each other, cried for and with each other, all the pranks and lovely moments shared by them were reminisced. The hug was not only a hug.

But a silent promise of being present for each other forever and beyond. All the youngsters and elders smiled seeing the purity of the bond.

Ashwastthama : 𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑡𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖

𝑃𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖 𝑘𝑦𝑎 𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑒

He was feeling a bit left out so he hugged them both in a group hug. Which they both laughed and reciprocated.

Karna : 𝑃𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑡𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖

𝑃𝑒𝑒 𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖 𝑘𝑦𝑎 𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑒

Looking at Duryodhana both of them asked. And then danced out their special step. (Nattu Nattu one from RRR. All three of them.)

Pandavas and Yuyutsu : 𝐾𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜, 𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜, 𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑘𝑜 𝑟𝑒

And they all made a big group hug.

Duryodhana : 𝑃𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑛𝑎ℎ𝑖 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎...

And they all danced and drank their heart out. Kal subha jo hoga dekha jayenga.

𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖, 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖..

𝐵ℎ𝑒𝑗𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑦𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑝𝑠𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑜 𝑟𝑒

*╔═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╗*

Yudhishthir's Chambers

*╚═══❖•ೋ° °ೋ•❖═══╝*

Karna dragged last ones of drunk baby out of Dhritrashtr chambers as he so graciously kicked them out at almost midnight. And they were no other than Yudhishthir and Duryodhana.

Vidur and Bhishm already left after it started to became rowdy. Dhritrashtr was trapped between madness of his own chambers until he kicked them out.

He decided to dump them both in Yudhishthir's chambers as it was nearest. He layed them on Yudhishthir's bed. And was going to leave when Duryodhana grabbed his hand and mumbled

Duryodhana : Jyeshtha.

Karna was taken aback at that. He was a bit tipsy himself. He sat beside him and kissed his forehead.

Karna : Go to sleep little brother.

Duryodhana : Iffff- you're a kuru van-nshi I would have happily handed over the throne to you. No matt--err Pandava or Kauravaaa-.

He mumbled. Suddenly he was teleported back in his mind in a blurr memory

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

He was bloodied and dieing. An arrow struck on his neck. He laid on Kunti's lap while all the Pandavas, Duryodhana and Krishna surrounded him teary-eyed.

Duryodhana : Jyeshtha!! If I had knew before that you're my Jyeshtha, I would have happily given Hastinapur's throne to you. No matter a Kaunteya.

°•~━━✥❖✥━━~•°

Before he can comprehend anything, he was tugged out of the blurry memory with the voice of Yudhishthir. He shooked the little snippet off as his drunken haze.

Yudhishthir : Yes. I agree. Jyeshtha.

Karna was even more surprise. As he thought Yudhishthir was already asleep.

Karna : Why do you say so babies?

Duryodhana : I am not interested to fight with them for throne anymore.

Yudhisthir : Sometimes- I just want to be a youngster and live a carefree life. Not a father figure, who has responsibility to be an example of epitome of righteousness and dharma. A single mistake can't be expected from me. A slight offense of mine is frown upon. I think I am just tired-

And then he again dozed off in a trance. Karna listened it patiently. And thought upon it.

Duryodhana : Hmm. Being a father to 99 brothers and a sister is not an ea--sy task you-u see. When they are dep-endent on you-

He stuttered out on the verge of dozing. And then both of them slept. Karna kissed both their forehead.

Yudhishthir and Duryodhana : For you, in life.

In their sleep.

Karna : With you, till death.

Though a bit tipsy, he knew his promise, their promise was bound forever. The three eldest of the clan were bonded today in unbreakable promise which was going to be their biggest strength.

(These lines are not mine. Credits to the author from whose story on wattpad my friend suggested this to me. asmitadutta_. Her story 'The other son | Ishqbazz' . Found her and read her book. It'samazing. I am in love with it. Do check it out! )

This was heard by Kunti who came to check on Yudhishthir. Beside her, Krishna was present with ever so serene smile.

Krishna : See bua, every secret has it's worth. And if you keep that a secret more than it is worth, destruction is bound to be done. So think carefully, is your secret worth more than happiness of your children?