While making today the last day of the war was what we had planned, it felt harder and harder each time Bheem was thrown away by Duryodhan's attacks.

" Arya Bheem! " I heard Kali yell as Bheem tumbled off the cart, his back hitting the floor with a resounding thunder.

Duryodhan seemed to have gained overnight strength, his hands themselves seemed like rods of tungsten.

I had never seen someone draw Bheem's blood so severely, so easily and that quickly in a fight. It seemed as if he was completely losing his hope.

"Bhrata Duryodhan!" A sharp voice roared across the field and I looked up, eyes moving to find Sahdev holding Shakuni by his neck, a sword pointing to his back, ready to kill.

" Sahdev! " He yelled, releasing Bheem as he ran over to save Shakuni. But they were smart, the moment Duryodhan came close to him, he pushed Shakuni away to Nakul. The others reached there soon enough, spinning Shakuni here and there, never holding him for more than a moment, while Duryodhan fought with them all.

" Duryodhan! " Shakuni finally yelled as he managed to escape, with Sahdev at his heels.

Duryodhan tried to flee the circle to help, but he was held back by the brothers, each not ready to let him go.

" No. Not today. Today he will die. " Arjun warned coldly, as they fought Duryodhan one on one, being injured thoroughly, but not giving up.

The only time they let him out of the circle was when, " DURYODHAN! " a harsh scream tore from a dying man's throat as Sagdev's axe lodged itself in his chest, effectively ending his life... His poisonous life.

"No! " Duryodhan screamed in anger, but before he could do anything, Bheem hauled Shakuni's corpse, " Duryodhan! Go and save his corpse! Or else the fish will get to him before you can even light his pyre! " He threatened, throwing the body away.

It astounded me how much strength and power they held, even after being married to a demigod. Yudhishthir's soft side was the one which I saw the most, so when his anger broke free, when his strength was used in the battlefield to spread absolute chaos. Though he rarely used it, this war had taught me, that his power was like a deadly tiger's attack. You wouldn't know when it strikes you and you are left dead.

So as he trudged over, shoulders straight, even as he limped on one foot, I didn't expect him to sag into my hold, breathing in harsh pants.

Ashwatthama was not even seen on the field today. Wonder where he ram off to hide his face.

" Yudhishthir? " I murmured softly as I sat down on the field, the blood flowing from the dead soldiers soaked my saree, but I didn't have an option.

"Samrat. You must stay strong. You cannot relax, not right now. Not before this war ends. " The king of Vajji called and I looked at him sharply.

" Maharaj, my husband is taking shelter in my arms, because I need him to be at his full potential when he fights Duryodhan, supporting my brother Bheem. I promised my sister, " I looked at Kali softly, " That I would bring her husband back alive. That he would live. A promise I make is also my husband's and for that he needs his rest, if only a few moments. " I said sternly and he nodded, even as Yudhishthir muffled a moan of pain, straightening his ankle, brining about a pop sound.

" What's the plan? " Arjun asked, " How do we kill Duryodhan? It's as if his body is made of Vajr. Any attack we make we suffer greater. Can you imagine, bhrata Bheem has shed more blood in today's fight than Duryodhan did? " He pondered.

" Parth, what else do you suggest other than fighting? We have no option. Either bhrata Bheem fights Duryodhan, or we lose the war -"

"-no Vasudev. " Bheem interrupted determined, " We have fought so much, come this far. I will not lose. Not today. " His eyes blazed with unrestrained fury.

" But Bheem his body. How will you fight? Duryodhan is just as intent on killing you as you him. " AJ put in. It drew my eyes to him, as he stood, soot covering his face and red dripped off the side of one of his arms. He had grown so much.. It honestly astounds me how much he grew, how much we all grew.

" Ajatshatru, " Bheem continued, dusting his hands as he offered Yudhishthir a hand, who got up, slowly. " When I was a child, Duryodhan planned to poison me. That time, Vasuki and his other serpents protected me. When they planned to burn us alive, the flames themselves supported me, " He said, looking over to me in reverence.

I couldn't help but feel a stab in the heart, I remembered his face, black with char and blood streaks as he dug the hole. I remember how his knuckles were bloody, bruised, yet he gently massaged my feet, claiming that he has to do it. For his own penance.

" Today, if I am to win, then the greatest snakes of all, Sheshnag will protect me.. And now, I have more than one flame on my side. I have them as my own shree, " He smiled and Kali, " My sisters, " He looked at the others, " And my mother. " He said, his eyes found mine, " If anyone tries to kill me today, I will be strong. I will fight. But I won't lose hope. "

With that, Bheem stood up tall, wiping the blood off his face, eyes dark as he swung his mace in the air.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

I thought Yudhishthir's injuries were possibly minor. Not something which would cause much problem.

Boy was I wrong.

Even as I walked with him, I could feel his hand inching to take support from my shoulders, but unable to.

" You do realize you can take my help right? They won't judge you for it? " I whispered to him as we walked over. 

He sighed, breathing deep, yet wouldn't back down, " I know priye, but now is not the time for breaks. Once we win.. Then I will spend my days in your arms... And occasionally venture out to help the people. " He laughed, a pained smile on his face.

"But-"

" We're here Saag. " AJ's voice cut through my retort, as we walked over to the river bed.

There, at the edge , Duryodhan sat, pained and exhausted... It made me pity him.. Just for a moment before I realised what he and his brother did to my sister. What they cost her.

" Duryodhan! " Bheem challenged, inciting the vengeful prince.

"Bheem! Bheem I will kill you! " He answered back, running over towards my brother, his eyes red with tears and anger coursed through his veins.

As they fought each other, it was evident, that no matter what, Duryodhan possessed more strength today..

Bheem could never win on pure might today. He has to use his mind as well.

On a particular attack, as Bheem's face collided with the ground, Kali collapsed, Sulo holding her close as she called for her husband in pain.

"Arya! " She cried, beating the ground, hoping her rakshas magic would help, but it seemed to be influenced by her emotions, acting irrationally. Her magic didn't obey her. She bent her head low in frustration and I was just about to walk to her, when she raised her head, cold fury in them.

"Panduputron! Jijashree! You all promised to win this war together! You all promised that this was the war for dharm! Why is my husband the only one bearing the loss? Why is he the only one suffering! " She demanded. Her skin began to turn darker, smoke and black soot emitting from it as her anger crossed it's boundaries.

"Kali no! " Vishwa yelled, hoping to stop her but it was in vain. My sister was overcome by grief.. And she was right to.

" You all need to fight him. " I ordered and they looked at me in surprise.

" Sister, " Jyeshth Karn said, " It's a duel. We cannot interfere. But we can guide. We need to find his weak spot. No man can ever truly be immortal. No undeserving man can ever truly be immortal. " He said as the others ruminated over it.

Panchali suddenly got up, running away from the field.

" Sphulingini! " Sudhuma called, sprinting after her, as I looked between Bheem being thrashed and the others wrecking their brain to find out a solution.

Meanwhile, I tried my best to guide Bheem. But it seemed I couldn't help him.

" What if -" Sudhuma's words were interrupted by the sudden crashing of Sphulingini and Vishwa, as they rushed over, panting and breathing heavily.

"Stop! Stop the fight! " They yelled and we all looked at them puzzled, most of all Duryodhan who couldn't care less about Bheem or her, but still did.

" Why! Are you so scared for his life that you want him to escape? " Duryodhan leered and Vishwa shook her head,

" No! I -" But before she could, it was as if Duryodhan had never heard, they began fighting again, if possible more vigorously.

" You need to kill him. But anyone's weakness is their greatest mistake! Karali's weakness is her impusiveness, she doesn't think, Sphulingini's is her fear, she let's it overcome her love. Similarly, Duryodhan's greatest weakness... What is his greatest weakness! " She asked.

I could see Krishn smirk.. But this was not the time for him to go 'I told you so'.

" His heart. He doesn't feel empathy, respect, love -"

" He loves his wife and children,his parents, one of his only good qualities I would say. " Sudhuma cut in.

" Lust. " Kali murmured and we all stared at her in shock.

" What -"

" Only a man who cannot use his mind, for it was overcome with lust and arrogance could ask his own sister in law to undress for him. He dared to touch Karali's hair, using a sword to tear her saree from the back. One who dared to consider her a courtesan. Where does one invite courtesans ? " She said sternly and I looked at Yudhishthir, his eyes were dark as he clenched his fists, jaw tight.

" Arya Bheem! His thighs! His thighs are his weakness!" Kali yelled and Bheem nodded, raising his mace when I realised something, sprinting over to him.

"Sagarika! " A few voices called and I rushed over, placing my hand below Bheem's mace before it hit Duryodhan's thighs.

" Bhabhishree! What are you doing!"

" You can't! It's against the rules! You're wrestling him! Fighting with your mace! If you attack him now, it won't be fair -"

" When have they ever played fair bhabhishree! Where was the fairness when they killed -"

But Bheem's words were cut off as I felt myself being thrown to the side, head about to hit the rocks as I saved myself.

" Sagarika! " Yudhishthir's fearful voice reached my ears the quickest, before I heard Duryodhan's cry of pain and arched my neck to see, his bleeding thigh, Bheem's mace right there.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

To say Dau was angry would be an understanding. He was fuming. When I came to, I felt my head over a cloth and saw my head in Yudhishthir's lap, while Bheem kneeled in front of Dau, while Krishn held him back.

" If you're willing to punish a wrongdoer by doing adharm, by raising a weapon in a war you refused to fight in, what wrong has bhrata Bheem done to punish Duryodhan? You must step out of the hypocrisy Dau. It's the end of the war. " He said.

While Krishn managed to calm Dau down, I sat up, despite Yudhishthir's soft protests and trudged over to them.

" There is still one person left.... Ashwatthama." I said and Krishn nodded.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

In my eyes, we hadn't won just yet. But I could understand the relief the others felt.. But my heart was clutching itself close.

" Sakhi.. What has you so worried? " Krishn asked as he walked with me.

" You know what. " I said, leaving no room for his snark.

" But sakhi.. " He said, though I stopped him.

" Krishn. Isn't a war completely over when all those who are meant to die on the enemy side meet their deaths? Till all the promises are fulfilled ? " I asked and he nodded.

" Yes, it is true. Until Ashwatthama attempts to.. Kill your children, the war will not end. " He said..

I knew what to do.........

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Soooo...

I come back after 2 weeks and leave you on another cliff hanger....

Huehuehue.

But yeah, tell me .. What do you think Saag has planned?

(Hint... The name of this chapter is the content of the next one )

Happy sleuthing.

Much love

Radhekrisn ♥