We stood, stunned. As Dushasan took his last breaths, Nakul fell to his knees, his eyes were devoid of any emotion. Cold.

" What did you do! Nakul! I will kill you Nakul! " Duryodhan thrashed in Shakuni and Ashwatthama's hands, but they couldn't do anything else. The sun had set.

Despite the war stretching on for nearly ten days... We knew it wasn't over yet. Duryodhan, Shakuni had to die... And as much as I hated to admit it. So did Ashwatthama.

When we finally returned to the camp, a flurry of red and gold rushed past me, pulling her bloodied husband into a harsh hug, clutching at him, as if he'd leave just then.

I too was exhausted, but this made me.. Happy. Don't get me wrong. I still have reservations regarding their... Marriage. But in Dwapar, even I know I cannot do anything. It's out of my hands.

"Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself? Did you get wounded? " She rushed about, inspecting him all round.

Sahdev muffled a small laugh, while Nakul held her face in his hands gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I'm fine my little Dahlia. " He mumbled, pulling her close into a hug.

In life, there are several moments which are so heartwarming, that for once, we forget what evil there is in the world... This was similar.

So was...

"Mumma! " Two loud voices tore my eardrums as I nearly fell down in their hug.

"Bacha. I'm sweaty! " I said to them and they burrowed closer.

" Doesn't matter mumma. You're here. That's all we need. " Madhu's honest words warmed my heart.

" All your love for your mother hmm? No no. It's okay. I just brought you your favourite food when you were hungry.. Just made sure you sleep well, told you stories..." Yudhishthir teased as they jumped off me, engulfing him in a bone crushing hug.

" No papa. We know.. It's just... We missed mummy more.. Because didi wanted to talk to mummy about something important. " Abhi said and I looked up confused.

" What is it? " I asked and she shook her head.

" I will tell you once we win. " She promised and I nodded.

I trusted my daughter.

While we sat in the main hall for the night, we had to plan on what to do tomorrow. We were all exhausted from the war. Grief, pain, injuries, every atom of our bodies screamed at us to drop everything and sleep. Or go somewhere where we would have peace.

But dharm demanded us to fight. And so we shall.

" Duryodhan must be killed tomorrow. " Arjun said sternly, as he looked at his wife and then at me, " No one deserves to insult our bhabhishree and then roam free. "

" I've been saying that since the sabha. But no. Don't listen to me. Act with dharm. " AJ murmured and his wife shook her head, resting it on his shoulder.

" But who will do it? We all have our own battles to fight tomorrow. Sahdev's axe is sharp, begging for Shakuni's blood. You and Jyeshth Yudhishthir want to handle Ashwatthama. I have my own, Jyeshth Karn has Madr Raj. Bhrata Arjun has the leaders of Vanga. We all have our oponents tomorrow. " Nakul said thoughtful, " And I wouldn't be able to.. Not after today.. Despite the relief I felt after today, I am not physically well enough to fight Duryodhan." He added.

" I'll do it." Bheem said, when he was held back by his wife.

As Karali, I had seen many faces of Kali, the thundering dark flame, the one which gave Sudhuma her fragrance, the one which lit in the minds of those grappling for any hope of survival, but fear was something I had never seen on her face.

" Kali, do you have something to add? " Sulo asked kindly. We all knew she was sensitive. Losing her son had stolen her spark and it made us realise how much trauma this fight would actually give all of us.

Sleepless nights filled with sights of bloody sand, screams of crying mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, fathers, children.

No one would leave this war without it's harsh imprint on them.

" It's not fear Sulo.. I just.. I cannot imagine that I - I just saw.. Just saw my son's pyre on flames... I could feel his soul leaving in me, I can't.. I don't want to imagine-" She sniffed, placing her head into her hands.

" Devi Kali, do you not trust your husband? He who survived the most tumultous of poisons, the fire in Lakshagrih, he who defeated the warrior Keechak? " Krishn asked and her eyes snapped up to him, silent rage in them.

" I trust my husband well enough Vasudev. I don't trust the Kauravs. We have no idea what new plan they'll make. Without Jijashree Karn's kavach, he too is vulnerable, Karali will be busy with Ashwatthama. If I have to be the only one to fight by my husband then so be it. But it will not be a fair fight. I know that for sure. " She said sternly.

" You are right. It won't.... " Krishn said, as if to himself.

" So what.. Will Bhrata Bheem finally achieve his vow of killing Duryodhan?" Sahdev asked.

" I vowed to do so the day he tried to burn us all alive Sahdev. Bhabhishree's insult was the last straw. Tomorrow Duryodhan will beg me for death. " Bheem said and for once.. He was deathly calm about it.

Bheem being calm was not good.

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But as we retired for the night, I felt my heart catch.

' Other than your husband and his brothers, all those who carry Maharaj Pandu's blood will perish in this war. No one will survive'

"Sagarika?" Yudhishthir's hand on my face startled me, " Why are you crying? " He whispered and I raised my hands to my cheeks, finding them wet with tears.

"I -" I looked up at him and it was as if he understood. One look was enough for him.

" They'll be fine Sagarika. We won't let anything happen to them. " He mumbled, pulling me into his arms, " I won't let anything happen to either of you. " He continued.

" But that's what we thought about Abhimanyu too. Ghatotkach. It still -"

" - but I promise you. We will make our own fate. We won't let it destroy our happiness." He said, pressing a kiss to my hair.

" I can't.. I can't see them dead Yudhishthir. I can't... I will burn this whole field down if anyone dares to hurt my children. " I shivered, " No one... I have had far too much snatched from me. No one will touch my children. "

" I know. I know. " He whispered, but the reassurances for once could not tame the fire in my heart.

" I don't know what to do Yudhishthir. We know who Krishn is. We know what he says is the truth. I can't.. I will not be able to live if they -" I gasped, fear overtook my mind as I took in harsh breaths, panting for relief which I couldn't find.

" Sagarika... Sagarika look at me. " He said, forcing me to meet his eyes...

" You gave our son an indestructible shield, his vajr like body, we saved our daughter even after she was poisoned. Mandik and Moshtik didn't even manage to hurt a hair on their head. What good will these humans do? " He asked angrily and I shook my head.

" I don't know Yudhishthir. I don't know. All I know is my children are in danger. I won't fight tomorrow. I won't fight. " I rushed out, gasping for air I couldn't find.

Finally, as I ran through the fields, I collapsed at the edge of the pond, my feet giving up.

It was silent for a while. Too silent.

'Your son will die'  ' Other than your husband and his brothers, all those who carry Maharaj Pandu's blood will perish in this war' 'I will not spare your children Sagarika! Remember! They'll feel the absence of a father too'! ' Your children too sakhi -

" Bhabhishree? " Sahdev' voice pulled me out of the deathwell of my thoughts.

" Bhabhishree. Would you please make me some Dal Chawal? Your sisters and Saudamini are all asleep. And if I don't take this to Bhrata Bheem, well, you know his anger don't you? " He laughed softly.

In that moment, I couldn't help but go back to my eighteen year old self, who wasn't ready to be a mother at all, but meeting Nakul, Sahdev, Arjun and Bheem for the first time, I felt as if I had children already.

I gently held his face and nodded, " Why not. And we wouldn't want Bheem angry would we? " I said, though I could still hear the drumming of the thoughts in my mind.

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" So bhabhishree, " Sahdev continued, " Why were you out there? Why weren't you resting? It's an important day tomorrow. " He said and I sighed, washing the dal again.

" I couldn't sleep Sahdev. You ask me as if you don't know. You know it all. You know how it ends.. Yet you still ask. " I muttered and he frowned.

" I know what happens which is why I asked why you weren't asleep." He answered cryptically and I breathed low.

" Not tonight Sahdev. Don't test my patience tonight. I can't.. " I said, sniffling slightly.

" So you have a cold? Is that why you couldn't sleep? " He asked, " You should have told us. I know how to clean the sinus. " He said, jumping off the slab.

" It's not - don't worry. You shouldn't bother. " I waved him off, putting the dal on the flame, the rice already on.

" Bhabhishree. I think we need to remind you. Just as mothers can sense when their children are lying, so can the children. Why are you lying? " He said, voice firm but kind.

" Again. You know why. Don't ask me that question again. " I warned, mood shifting instantly.

He went silent for a while. After about fifteen minutes he piped up again, " But bhabhishree. What if one of us dies tomorrow-"

" - no one will die tomorrow! Not from our side. " I shouted and then slapped my hand to my mouth.

" But bhabhishree. This is war. You don't know who lives and who dies. For all we know Duryodhan might have his own mechanism to survive. When cornered, everyone makes a final move, one final fight. Duryodhan is a formidable warrior, no matter how much we hate him. He fights well. You saw it at the pradarshani too, moreover, he's also trained by Dau. " He said.

" Are you here to scare me more? " I asked and he shook his head, coming over to sit by my feet. I was resting on the stool.

" Bhabhishree, " He said, " There are thousands of ways where we lose tomorrow, thousands more where we win, thousands where someone or the other dies. We cannot predict the future, not even I can do that. It's solely on what we do. You must trust yourself. You will be fine, we'll all be fine. Your children will be fine. You are there. But if you stop fighting, what about your will to make things right. This is why we began the war isn't it. You and I both know you don't care about the insult in the sabha. You are too strong for it. But many women won't be able to fight for themselves like you can. You have to fight for them. " He pleaded, " Even if it means letting us die. " He added and I lightly slapped his cheek.

" Didn't I tell you. No one will die? Not on my watch. " I said and he smiled.

" Then you must fight. You must trust your own power bhabhishree. The shield you leave around your children is enough. Nothing can penetrate through a mother's love, most of all when it is backed by your power as a flame. When no negativity can touch a flame, how do you think anything can even harm your children? " He said.

The dal finally bubbled over and he smiled.

" Thank you bhabhishree. Now go sleep. You have a lot to do tomorrow. " He said, bending to touch my feet and I resisted the urge to jump back.

Eleven years and I am still not used to it.

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As I walked into the room, I saw a distressed Yudhishthir pull me into a bone crushing hug.

" Are you a bonehead? Left me like this. I was so worried. Didn't know where you ran off to, if you were okay-"

" - hush. Come. Let's sleep. We have a long day tomorrow. " I mumbled and he looked at me, before shaking his head.

" You talked to Krishn didn't you? " He said and I shook my head.

" No. Oddly enough Bheem was hungry and Sahdev asked me to make Dal Chawal for him. " I said.

Yudhishthir looked at me confused, as if he knew something but couldn't say it.

" Alright. Come sleep. " He muttered, pulling me into his arms on the bed.

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" This is the best dal chawal bhabhishree ever made. " Bheem said, while Sahdev laughed.

" Bhrata Bheem, why don't you sleep now. " He said, laughing.

As he retired for bed, Sahdev walked out, but his shadow said otherwise.

The beautiful peacock feather on his head fluttered in the wind of the new age. The new era. A new world.

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So.....

Ahem..

Will Abhi and Madhu die.... 👀

Tell me more in the comments.

Much love.

Radhekrishn ♥