Had I not told my story, I am very sure my family would have bound me by the chair and asked me not to fight anymore.

Yudhishthir was still hesitant the next morning when I did put on my armour.

" Sagarika -" He sighed as he saw me walk out of my tent with the armour.

" Yes? " I asked, as I bound my hair in a ponytail.

What my miraculous transformation did not heal was the dagger scar. As of now, I had a huge scar right down my sternum, a pale skin against the tan.

" Is it really wise of you to go -" He stopped short, holding his head in his hands.

" Yudhishthir, " I moved to him, taking his face in my hands, " It's the husband talking, not the samrat. Samrat Yudhishthir knows how important it is for me to fight. " I ran my hands through his hair and he smiled, looking at me with unshed tears...

" Yes, I know, but is it truly my fault to worry for my wife... One who nearly, no, not nearly, truly did die just a few hours ago? " He choked out, his voice soft.

" Yes, but wouldn't you rather trust me when I say I'm fine? " I asked, pressing a kiss to his forehead, joining them together. He sighed and I could feel his pulse go down.

" I do.. I will always trust you. " He murmured.

" And that's all I need. Come on.. We have some adharmis to kill. " I pulled him up, holding his hands as we walked out.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

"

Samragyi, today it seems to be the right day to kill our greatest enemy, doesn't it? He's destroyed half of our army, he is relentless. He needs to be stopped. " Senapramukh, Shikhandini said to me as she pulled her horse over, her eyes sharp and dark with vengeance as she stared ahead at the silent field, the conch shells not yet blown.

" I agree, but you must have either one of us, Arjun or Jyeshth Karn with you. " I ordered and as if I had stepped on the tail of a rattle snake, she looked furious.

" Why? " She asked, even though her voice was deadly calm, her anger rolled off her in waves, " Do you not think me competent enough to fight him? He himself has claimed to surrender his weapons in front of me! " She exclaimed.

" We don't undermine your prowess or your competence Senapramukh, what we do fear, is Mamashree's ploy to injure you before you're even able to reach Mahamahim. " My husband consoled her, as she nodded, though reluctantly.

" While I don't like the proposition, it does make sense... That man cannot be trusted to uphold dharm. " She agreed.

" But the question is, who should go with Jiji? " Sphulingini asked, as she brought her chariot over.

" Why not you? " Sulohita asked when she shook her head.

" They will anticipate it Sulohita. They know I'll be there... Neither of us can be there... But they did assume Karali to be dead... I'm sure they even rejoiced her death. " She snarled.

" But if I go, who'll fight Yuvrani Bhanumati? She was truly pleased when she killed me.. I want to see the surprise on her face when she sees me alive. " I might have sounded sadistic, even Yudhishthir looked at me confused.

" I'll go there!" A young voice announced, his eyes dark as Subhadra's, his voice as strong as his father's as he rode into the field.

" No Abhimanyu. We won't send a child on the front lines. " Bheem interjected sternly, even as the young warrior frowned, an argument ready on his lips.

" But tatshree -"

" Absolutely not. You aren't going in. Not while your father is here. Samragyi, I will go with Senapramukh Shikhandini. You must avenge your pain. " Arjun announced boldly.

" But pitashree - "

"Listen to your father putra. Don't be in a hurry to grow old. You are our next generation. The future is nurtured, not used as pawns in games. " Sahdev adviced the young blood.

" Then it is settled. Blow the conch! " Nakul called.

As Yudhishthir blew the conch shell, my eyes were trained at the field, tracking the movements.

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'Sakhi'? Krishn's voice made it's through my head, as I slashed down another soldier, my horse neighing as it jumped over a dead body.

'Not a good time Krishn. What do you need'? I asked, my shield clanging hard against an oncoming spear.

'Parth needs your help. Devi Shikhandini is hurt...' He said.

'Even with Arjun there she was injured? Impossible. What's going on'? I shouted, even as I moved the horse towards the centre of the maze.

'Stop shouting Sakhi. You forget I can hear you well enough in my mind'. He muttered.

'Even now you want to crack jokes'! I asked, as I finally reached over.

There, Arjun held Shikhandini's body across his chariot, as he fought off the oncoming warriors. Mahamahim stood, confused but not helpless as he relentlessly fired arrows upon arrows at our army.

" Sam -" I interjected, shaking my head. They couldn't know. He nodded in assent, " Panchali!Hold his arrows! Senapramukh isn't seriously injured, I've already called Nakul here! " Arjun yelled at me.

Alright, here goes... Time to test what I died for..

I closed my eyes and could feel the field around me heat up.

All except Arjun' chariot and our soldiers were now being subjected to rapid flames that emerged from the crack in the grounds, all consuming. The soldiers in fear tried to back away, but the fire spread everywhere, chaos took over the warfield as horses neighed in surrender, dropping their soldiers, abandoning their chariots to save themselves from the heat.

" Nothing will happen by this Sphulingini! Your fire will not kill Pitamah! " Dushasan screamed.

You have already made me mad you idiot... Hurting Mini, having her food poisoned was the last straw.

Oh yeah, did I mention. He was the one who had her food poisoned. The one who killed her child. The day we threw his intoxicated form into the prison, he manipulated one of his guards... And well, rest is history.

" My fire isn't meant to kill him Dushasan. It's only meant to stop him from running away. " I smirked as he looked at me in alarm.

" I am a warrior! I don't run from the field devi! " Pitamah yelled.

" Yes, but you'll stay silent when a war demands your presence isn't it?" I leered and he visibly looked ashamed.

" How do you have such fire in you? Didn't your sister's death spark fear in your hearts? Poor Karali. The immortal flame felled by a tiny dagger! " Duryodhan laughed, his voice booming over the field.

" And what a glorious death she had... Sent back to our abode in heaven. In agnilok. Where your impurity won't hurt her. " I snarled...

Talking about myself in third person was confusing.

" Sphulingini! " Duryodhan cried in outrage, while my wall of fire held Mahamahim's arrows at bay, they could only do so much against continuous attacks. I had to let more heat.

The flames rose higher, brighter, stronger than ever, even I was surprised.

" Look Arjun! You who claim to have such dharm! You're killing your pitamah with such treachery! Two fighters on one man! Snatching his right to defend himself! Just like you snatched Eklavya's right to learn! " Shakuni gloated.

Arjun's hands faltered, his grip on the now weakened and I could feel Krishn roll his eyes and facepalm himself.

What a drama.

But just as I was about to tell him to take back his weapons, an arrow whizzed past, right as it moved to attack Arjun, I saw a hand snatch out to grab hold of it, which broke it into two

" Before you attack the prince of Indraprasth, you'll have to fight the senapramukh first! " Shikhandini roared as she stood up, shakily in the chariot.

" You -"

" Me! And today, Gangaputra Bhishm meets his end! " She announced, grabbing a spear off the chariot as she launched it right at Pitamah.

The first cry of pain he made shook the entire field. Shikhandini plucked Arjun's bow, landing relentless arrows to him, the imapact forcing him to fall back. "

"Pitamah! " Three pained voices called, one I knew to be my husband's.

" No! " They screamed, even as Shikhandini's arrows pierced him, he lay on a bed of arrows.

It brought tears to my own eyes, as I watched one of the strongest men in the world fall back, as if he was a toy in a game.

It was as if the sun chose that day to set when he lay on his bed of arrows. When the most feared warrior in the human race lay defeated.

" Why not put him out of his misery Devi? Why torture him so? " Sahdev pleaded.

" Because-" Mahamahim gasped out.

" Because I wish to die when the sun moves to the North. Devi Amba knew of this. It was her promise to me.. A dying man's last request. A last wish. " He choked out.

As the sun set and the conch shells blew to signal the end of the day, my husband and his brother's abandoned their weapons, rushing over to him, the fear in their voice relevant.

I was dumbstruck. Confused. He was the same man who looked after me like his own daughter. But he was the one who wouldn't even say a word as his grandson attempted to play with my respect in the sabha.

" Forgive him sakhi... Your heart will thank you. " Krishn's voice murmured as he stood next to me.

"But how... How can I -"

" Because your forgiveness grants him peace. A man is dying. For all his faults sakhi and I know there are many. . When we kill Duryodhan and his brothers as well, we'll grant them forgiveness. Not to let them free of their guilt. But to free our own hearts of pain. So we may fill them with good memories. Positivity. Think of it as dharm sakhi. You always do it if I say it's dharm. " He smiled softly...

I couldn't believe my ears. Yet in my heart I knew his words to be true.

As I walked over to him, I could feel my heart thump wildely. Yudhishthir's glassy eyes looked over at me, as he stood by Pitamah's head. His eyes as if warning me to not hurt him more.

" I am here to forgive you pitamah. To absolve you of your faults against me and my husband, his brothers. Of your promise to my father in law. I hope heaven greets you with open arms. " I stuttered out, sighing at each word.

He looked at me as if I'd given him the gift he'd always desired.

" Thank you putri.. I can't ever forgive myself. But your forgiveness gives my heart peace. "

I heard a soft, " Thank you. " Murmured to me from my left, my husband shifted back to his place, though he placed one hand on my back to steady me.

" I - "

" Look at this Kulnashini Karali !" Duryodhan roared. ( Destroyer of Dynasty. Female) " Do you see how your adamant nature has reduced the greatest warrior ever to! You've killed the one who nurtured you! " He cried.

" Your own actions have done that yuvraj. Not my sister. " Sudhuma growled, eyes sharp as smoke rose around her, choking Duryodhan's eyes.

" Stop Sudhuma. " I asked, then walked over to him. " First off, good for you to realise I'm alive. Now you know what you're fighting. Secondly. My sister is right.. You brought your dynasty to this position. Not me. Your greed has brought your dynasty here... Think it over 'Yuvraj'." I said as he grumbled in rage.

The sun set with them offering Bhishm Pitamah their apologies and thank you's, but I could see one warrior who lurked, whose eyes couldn't believe the body lying on the field.

" Shall we Arjun? " I asked, offering him my hand.

" Where to bhabhishree? " He asked, clearing his throat.

" I need to speak to you.. About something important. " I said as he followed me into the woods.

Yudhishthir locked eyes with me, worried.. They grew dark, eyebrows furrowed in concern.

I softened my own, gemtly reassuring him as he nodded, walking back.

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Soo... Guess who's back after 2 weeks again. 😭

I'm sorry guys. Truly.

But yeah. We're now moving towards the end of the war...

Will Nakul actually be the one to kill Duryodhan? Will Abhimanyu die?

Will Panchali lose her son?

Tune in to find out... In a week I hope. 😭

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥