I sprinted off behind Yudhishthir, watching as the tents came to life, soldiers running out of them with their weapons. Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev and Jyesth Karn were all on their chariots, trying to fight them off.

" Sagarika? " Yudhishthir's concerned voice broke my reverie as he pulled me up on his chariot.

" You'll stay with me. I won't have them hurt you. I know they will try, Arjun and you, they've made you two their targets. " He mumbled, even as he raced the chariot ahead.

I had to grab hold of it to steady myself as he drew out his spear, fighting with one hand while he steered the chariot with the other.

" Yudhishthir, Yudhishthir hand me the reigns. I'll steer, you fight. " I said urgently and he nodded, leaving the chariot.

Fair warning. He should have realized I have not learnt how to steer chariots. In hindsight I shouldn't have taken it from him. But he was far too overwhelmed doing both, so I wanted to help.

" Sagarika move! " He yelled and I shook my haze, trying to shift the horses.

'Sakhi, why do you take challenges you know you can't do while in a war'. An exasperated but amused voice chided in my head.

' Hush. Let me figure it out'.  I answered, far too annoyed.

I could hear Yudhishthir fighting the surrounding soldiers but I needed to move to the centre of the vyuha.

For once I admired Ashwathamma's intelligence, if only it was used against us.

He had his entire army in the padmāvyuh, one of the hardest ones.

Yudhishthir did tell me once how it was as formidable as the chakrāvyuh, because it was nearly impenetrable if you didn't travel in a group.

In retaliation our new army chief, Dhrishtadyumn had formulated the ardhachandrashekhar vyuh, which was, well, in his words as he raced past me, ' It will cover the entire padma vyuh. They'll be surrounded on all sides. Similar to the chakravyuh'.

'Sakhi. Hush. I'll guide you through'. He said again and I nodded, before I suddenly felt my arm feel like it was bleeding.. And I mean so because I felt myself lose blood.

As someone who's lost blood like this earlier, I can tell you, bloodloss doesn't feel good.

But I looked down and my hand was perfectly fine, no scars, no wounds. Not even an embedded arrow.

I was confused before I nearly dropped the reigns, lightheaded.

"Yudhi-" I tried to push out, but my own gasps felt foreign to me, as I panted heavily.

Have you ever felt like the heat is making you loose your breath.. I felt like the heat was making me loose my blood.

But in the heat of the battle, he couldn't hear me, so I stood up, swaying as sweat dripped down my face, pulling the reigns as hard as I could.

'Are you there sakhi? Should I begin'? He asked and I nodded, then realised he couldn't see me.

'Yes. Go ahe-ahead'. I stuttered out. I didn't even know it was possible to stutter in our thoughts. I think I was having delirium.

" Sagarika, veer left! " Yudhishthir called and I nodded shakily, listening to Krishn' words as he helped me through .

'To the left sakhi, pull the right reign'. He said.

Now I know I said my head was spinning. But how does pulling the right one move to the left?

'But-'

'Sakhi, I'll explain the physics of it later, where I hope you don't fall asleep, but pull the right ones now'! He exclaimed and I nodded, when a dark shadow fell across the early morning sky.

I looked up and stabilised myself, before focussing on what I saw.

"Ghatotkach? " I wondered aloud, calling Yudhishthir's attention to the same.

His eyes went wide and he returned to fighting, occasionally looking to see the catastrophe Ghatotkach was spreading for our enemies.

Ashwatthama looked frustrated beyond measure, Duryodhan was whining and I sighed, pulling myself up as I moved to the right.

What shook me out of my reverie, was ironically a dream... Or just a thought... I wasn't sure..

I saw Ghatotkach lying, flat on his back, eyes closed. Bheem stood at his head, tears filled his eyes and Kali simply sobbed onto Sudhuma's shoulders, holding her daughter in law close.

Another flashback, I saw a spear by Karn - no.. This was Angraj Karn. He fired the spear and it hurtled towards the mighty Giant King, who fell back, collapsing onto the ground, crushing the enemy soldiers with him.

I gasped out, surprised... But - but there was no reason for Jyeshth to fire that spear... That - right! That's Devraj's .

The Vasavi Shakti spear.. But why did -

He won't have it! Because no one asked Jyeshth for his armour!

But why was I still feeling unsettled.. Why did I constantly feel something is wrong?

" Sagarika! " A harsh voice pulled me out of my dream as he urged me to get off the chariot.

" Come on! We need to go! Jyeshth has no choice! " He screamed but I couldn't move. For fear of the truth or for my ill health, I couldn't manage.

" Karali! Move! " Another voice said, dragging me out of my reverie as it pulled me along.

Jyeshth stood in the middle of a circle, his eyes trained on all those in front of him. Duryodhan, Dushasan, Ashwatthama and more kings, ready to fight.

" Come on Karali! We have to help him! " Kali yelled. I looked over, my brain fuzzy but I could see Yudhishthir making an attempt, failing as a thunderous flame rose in front of him.

"Yudh -yudhishthir! " I screamed and he shuffled back, throwing his angvastr on the ground, trying to supress the fire.

" Come on Karali! Move! " Another hand pulled mine when she wrenched it back.

" Why is your hand so hot! " She exclaimed and that is when I realised.

Wasn't I sweating before?

The pain in my arm was increasing swiftly. But we had no time to loose.

As I stepped into the flames, I felt better, but it was as if the flames, instead of supporting me, countered my health.

" Oh Samragyi. You can't even walk straight. How would you even save your Jyeshth? " Duryodhan leered and I frowned.

Save who? From what?

My eyes went hazy, I couldn't make out anything and before I could try and tell someone, I fell to the ground.

" Sagarika! " A loud roar was heard.

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I picked my sister in my hands. My brother's wife. She saw the good in me, she saw the bad. She brought me out of a hole I was pushing myself into.

" Wake up wake up! " I yelled at her, but I could hear no response. I knew she wouldn't be able to die.. But what happened to her?

" Why Karn! Do you want to save your sister? " Dushasan called and I looked up, schooling my features.

They couldn't see me worried.

" Let's make a deal Karn. " Ashwatthama said. I couldn't believe how my former friend was doing so much harm, it was against him. Against his nature.

" Anything. Anything. " I mumbled at last, watching Yudhishthir's hand bleed where he gripped the speartip tightly. He was constantly trying to walk in but to no avail. The flames were too high. If he even tried he'd die.

" You know what astr I have? I procured it from Devraj. For a price. Now I know you never refuse from giving charity. If you hand me your Kavach and Kundal, I will give you my astr. It's Devraj's Vesavi Shakti spear. I'll give it to you, but you must give me your armour! " He called.

I looked over to Vasudev, who had a pained expression, but he nodded, as if it was the right thing to do.

I stood up, gently arranging my sister's trembling body on the field when I saw her arm.. It was blue.

"Nakul! Sahdev! " I yelled, as they looked up in surprise.

" Jyeshth! "

" I need you to prepare the cure for venom! Scorpion Venom! Now! " I called and they raced off on their horses while Dushasan laughed.

" Like the present! What better way to make an immortal suffer than to have her writhe in endless agony! " Duryodhan jeered.

" Come on Karn. We don't have time. You hand me over your armour I drop the wall and give you a weapon. " He said and I looked at my sister.

I knew what I had to do.

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No no no... Saag.. Saag you idiot how did you not realise you got bit!

What shook me more, was the immediate stench of fresh blood.

I looked up and saw Karn. With his dagger, he began to saw through his armour, eyes shut in unimaginable agony.

"No! " Arjun yelled in tears, even as Krishn held him back with one hand.

"No please! Jyeshth no! Why do you need to! We'll find another way to enter please no! " Bheem yelled but to no avail.

As he ripped through the last of the armour, his body shuddered in pain.

Have you ever pulled on a hangnail? Do you know how the finger shudders in pain as you do.

His body, bathed in his own blood, the gold armour streaked red.

"No.. " Yudhishthir said, though I am sure his heart was torn beyond measure. Choosing between his wife or his brother.

But today he had no choice. He stool helpless.

" Come on. Give-give me the weapon." Karn panted, as he staggered towards Ashwatthama.

" Alright. " Ashwatthama said with a sickened smile as he lifted the spear. But instead of handing it over to Karn he just scoffed, pulling the armour out of his hands and threw the spear in the air.

" No! " Karn warbled, coughing but it was too late.

It met it's target and Devi Kali's voice was enough to shake all of Vaikunth with her pain.

" GHATOTKACH! " She screamed, voice hoarse as she fell to the ground.

Why are we fighting this war...
For truth?

Someone told me in my childhood. Do good things and it will come around to you.

Is this our reward for being righteous?

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Not me publishing a week later and leaving you guys with this.

I have holidays the next two days.. So more chapters to make up for the past week out soon!

Tell me how it was.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥