"mending bonds", the changed epic, book 1✔️

4. trapped.

In the royal dining hall."where are our 2 guests?". Mamanshri Shakuni asked . "oh, Arjun has gone to call them, mamanshri". Duryodhana said with a smile. Shakuni was beyond surprised. Since when did his nephew smile when he talked about the Pandavas?."are you fine, my priye Duryodhana?". Shakuni asked. "yes, mamanshri, why do you ask?". "nothing, nothing, putr Duryodhana. Just-"."pranipat, maharaj, maharani, rajamata, mahamahim Bhishma, mahamantri Vidura, and gandharraj Shakuni". Balram's deep voice rang out in the dining room. A smiling Krishna was beside him, bowing respectfully to each and everyone of them, smiling sweetly at mamanshri Shakuni who returned it with no hesitation.the Pandavas entered, Yudhishthir went to touch the elders' feet, followed by his younger brothers. .Soon after, Karna entered, and in the next moment, he was in the arms of Duryodhana, who embraced him so tightly that Karna lost his breath."mitr, you're late. Why?". Duryodhana's question made a smile appear on Karna's face. After he had the conversation with the fair-skinned prince, he had gone to his humble abode to meet his Radha ma and Adhirad baba. He had told them everything that had transpired in the rangbhoomi and about the 2 unknown princes who appeared out of nowhere. When asked from which kingdoms they belonged, they were hesitant to reveal it. Also, he said how he had been offered the angadesha so that he could fight the prince Arjun. He had said about his friendship with the eldest Gandharinandan, and his Radha ma had immediately objected. "putr, be careful when you're being friends with the prince. He is not that –". Karna cut off his mata's sentence. "Radha ma, he is not at fault in whatever he did. Someone else is there behind all his wrongdoings. I do not know mitr Duryodhana so very much. But from what I know now, he is an innocent soul. So innocent that his mind could be poisoned easily ...".His mother had smiled at him as he hugged her. "mata, there's a royal dinner arranged in the palace... mitr has asked me to go there. Can I, if you don't mind?"? Karna asked. Radha was reluctant to agree. Still, she nodded her head, Adhirat asking him to be careful in whatever he did. Both of them had wished to meet the 2 unknown princes someday..., to thank them for saving his putr's honor in front of everyone. They had to thank the Gandharinandhan for his big heart. Though, both of them were least interested in letting their son delve into politics. But being the loving parents that they were, they wanted their son to be recognized. If that would give their son happiness, then they would go with the flow happily..****"Oh that, mitr. I went to meet my ma and pitashri. " Karna said with a smile."what's your mata's name?" Duryodhana asked. "Radha," Karna replied."sweet." Duryodhana said as they proceeded to the table.Karna was astonished. Never in his entire lifetime had he seen so many delicious dishes on the table. For him, whatever his Radha ma made was equal to amrit.He tasted some of the dishes and smiled. It tasted nice, but not as nice as his Radha ma's food. After all, it is made with pure love, pure love for her son."Kunti was not there at the feast, she had ordered her food into her chambers. She didn't have the mood to get out of her rooms today...•"where is rajakumar Govind and rajakumar Sankarshan?".Karna's question made Duryodhana look at him, confused. "Govind and Sankarshan? Who are these princes, now?".Karna laughed. "if I say in your words, mitr, the 2 unknown princes. The elder prince revealed their names to be Sankarshan, of the elder one and Govind of the younger one."."didn't prince Govind wake up yet?" Karna muttered under his breath, smiling to himself.Out of the blue, Duryodhana asked Karna to open his mouth. "why, mitr?". A confused Karna asked. "I'd like to feed you a small bite.".Karna had tears in his eyes. Other than his Radha ma, no one cared for him this well. He promised to himself to lead his friend in the right path. He promised to be by his side throughout his ups and downs in life."oh, angraj Karna."Mamanshri Shakuni addressed him. He blinked twice. "pranipat, gandharraj." "call me mamanshri, putr." He said, his extra sweet voice and fake smile did not go unnoticed by Karna.Still he smiled and nodded his head. "sure, mamanshri." He said.Somehow, Karna had a bad feeling when he was around this person. He didn't know why, yet he kept his distance from the man."mitr, open your mouth." Duryodhana said again, and Karna did so. Duryodhana fed him a bite of his food, after which Karna returned the favor....Shakuni turned away with disgust. This son of Gandhari was an idiot. A royal feeding a soota.Someone was noticing all these and smiling so brightly."why are you smiling, Kanha???"His question brought Krishna back to reality. "nothing, dau. I was thinking about the future.""kanha, only Mahadev can understand your words and the meaning behind it.""what did I say that you didn't understand, my poor Balram dau?" Krishna teased.Their conversation was cut off as Nakul ran to them for help."please, help me. Rajkumar. Brata Arjun is coming to hit me." saying thus, he hid behind Balram, and Krishna laughed.Arjun came there after a few moments with a stick in his hands. "pranipat, rajkumar." He greeted them with a smile. "have you seen my younger brother, Nakul by any chance?". Krishna smiled mischievously as Balram smacked him on the head. "no, no rajkumar Arjun. We have not seen your brother." Balram said, a sigh of relief escaped Nakul's mouth. Arjun looked confused. "oh, ok. I thought he had come in this direction."."why are you holding the stick, rajkumar Arjun?". Krishna's voice held a glint of mischief in it. "oh that that- Nakul just , uh-,-,- he was teasing me for a love letter Ireceived from the Rajkumari of some kingdom." He said, blushing as Krishna tried his best to keep in his laughter."who is that lucky one?". Krishna teased, and Arjun's blush widened. "nothing like that, rajkumar." He said shyly.He turned around and walked to the other direction. Nakul gratefully came out from his hiding spot and hugged Krishna and Balram. "thank you, rajkumar."He said and ran off, like a 5-year-old.None would say that he was a royal prince who was 17...•Midnight.Everyone had retired to their chambers. Mamanshri Shakuni had decided to put his plan into action this same night.His plan would work, he was sure...In the royal garden.Duryodhana was restlessly walking around the garden. He strangely didn't feel like sleeping.He heard footsteps and turned around to find Karna do the same.He had asked Karna to stay here for a day and then return to his house. His coronation would be within a week; that's what he had decided."mitr?". Both of them called each other in unison."are you ok?". Both of them asked again."yes." Karna replied, and Duryodhana laughed."I just did not feel like sleeping tonight," Duryodhana said, and Karna nodded in agreement.Me too.Suddenly, they heard a gasp from the other side of the gardens.•Arjun was there in the garden; he too did not feel like sleeping. It seemed like sleep had evaded him. He was oddly feeling something bad was about to occur. Shrugging off his thoughts, he spotted Duryodhana and Karna in the garden and gasped in surprise.What were they doing here in the dead of the night?He went to both of them. Duryodhana had a grim look on his face as he saw him.Karna just smiled as Arjun straightaway came to the point."brata, Duryodhana? ". What are you doing here at this hour?"I can ask you the same, Arjun"."I did not feel like sleeping tonight." Arjun said."same here," both Duryodhana and Karna said.•Shakuni had to pass the royal garden to reach the guest quarters. He knew what he was doing would cost greatly if someone notices it. But it would taint the name of the maharaja of Hastinapur, anyway.As he was passing the royal gardens, he heard hushed voices. He peeked in to find Duryodhana, Karna, and Arjuna sitting under a tree, talking to each other.It was the first-ever time Duryodhana was happy and smiling when with a Pandava.Shakuni knew he had to do something.He must first send the unknown princes away; only then would his plans work out.Unfortunate for him.He hit his arm on a vase, breaking it immediately."uf". He huffed and hid behind the pillars as he saw the 3 people come out of the gardens hearing the noise."who is there?".Arjun asked, his voice a whisper, but echoing through the empty hallway.He saw a shadow in the moonlight that came in through the garden doors.He pointed to the shadow to the others who looked puzzled. Was this an intruder? Or a spy from a far-off kingdom?Little did they know that this was no spy, but the gandharraj himself.Shakuni tried his best not to make any noise as he headed to the guest quarters.Arjun, Karna, and Duryodhana followed him, cession clear in their posture and eyes.Arjun and Duryodhana had their swords with them all the time, whereas Karna had a small dagger."he/she is heading to the guest quarters..." Duryodhana whispered."means they want something from Govind or Sankarshan?". Yeah, maybe". Karna said as they followed Shakuni quietly."what do we do if the person is a spy of their kingdom and wants to report something secretive about our kingdom to them?"Arjun asked."I don't think the person is going for that reason."Karna said."his posture screams danger ... what if it's an intruder who wants to attack the prince?".Karna asked. His observatory eyes scanning the intruder who's face was covered."we cannot take any spontaneous actions. For that would alert the entire palace we don't want it now.Let's follow this person and see what he wants."Arjun said, and the other 2 nodded.Shakuni entered the chambers where he had seen the dark-skinned prince, or Govind as was his name, just a few hours ago. He had come to invite them for dinner for the very reason of finding out their chambers."he's entering a chamber."Karna alerted the other 2 who snuck in without any noise.They stood peeking in through the small hole on the door.Shakuni had closed the door, but unfortunately forgot to lock it.Gandharraj had managed to close the door with no noise.The people standing outside the door could only see the intruder's back.So they tried the handle, and it opened slowly.Karna, Duryodhana, and Arjuna peeked in through the open door and were shocked.There was the dark-skinned prince, sleeping peacefully, unaware of the danger that awaited him.•Shakuni was unaware of the followers and so started off with his work.He took a dagger out, its tip greenish with the poison on it. It would not wake the prince up, but would weaken him. This poison was an Illusory poison. This would create a hatred to the place you are in, wanting to get out of the place wherever the person is. This, Shakuni thought, would work, and the prince would never, ever come to the kingdom again, amidst him and his ploys.•Krishna slept peacefully, so peacefully than ever before. As he felt Shakuni's presence in his room, he smiled. He shifted to Shakuni's side, eyes still closed. "so you're here, mamanshri. Mayavi poison. Hm? Playing with the world's biggest mayavi? he chuckled in his mind. Yogmaye? He called, and a beautiful woman appeared in his mind."you called for me, brata?" her sweet voice greeted his ears, and he smiled. "yes, yes.  Krishna mischievously said as Yogmaya chuckled.•Suddenly, a furious wind blew, swinging the door fully open. Shakuni, even though being a warrior, failed to notice the door swinging open as his complete concentration was on a sleeping Krishna.

Karna and Arjuna, along with Duryodhana, had only seen the intruder take a weapon. Their swords were ready in their hands. Trying to taint the name of the kingdom?... Duryodhana thought as fury coursed through his veins.

The wind blew again, removing the cloth that covered Shakuni's face. The latter did not seem to notice, as he was in full concentration, advancing toward Krishna.

Duryodhana, Karna, and Arjuna were shocked to their core."Gandhar naresh."Karna hissed."mamanshri?". Duryodhana whispered, and his heart broke. Anger filled him. he knew his mamanshri was violent; he had never in his lifetime thought his mamanshri would attack a guest, a prince, who had done no harm to them or their kingdom.

Arjuna almost jumped in shock and opened his mouth to shout. thanks to Karna, who had put his hand on the prince's mouth at the right time.

•

Shakuni slowly advanced toward Krishna. He lifted the dagger in his hand, and the trio were shocked again by seeing the poisoned tip.

anyone could say that it was poisoned due to the color of the tip of the dagger.Karna felt anger, sorrow, all clouding his mind.He wanted to protect the prince. But he knew taking action immediately would alert the cunning man, who would immediately make an excuse.he prayed to all the possible gods for the prince to wake up.He felt so furious that he drew out his dagger and wanted to throw it at the man."no, mitr." Duryodhana's hoarse whisper stopped Karna in his tracks."why? Why?". Karna whispered.No mitr. We'd catch him at the right time.Arjun and Duryodhana said in unison.As Shakuni advanced toward Krishna and was about to strike, there was a shift in the atmosphere as the scent of jasmines filled the air.The tinkling of anklets stopped Shakuni in his tracks as he looked over Krishna.There, beside him, stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman.Her golden skin, her dark deep blue eyes, her long wavy hair. her pink sari that looked so Illusory. Her face was like a full moon at night. Her eyes held the innocence of a child; her face was as cute as that of a child.Yet, her eyes had suddenly turned furious looking at Shakuni, who had tried to harm her brata, her prabhu Narayana.Shakuni was awestruck at the sudden appearance of the woman.He thought all of it to be a dream.The others' condition was no less.Karna was surprised; he had never expected a woman to appear out of nowhere all of a sudden.Arjuna was lost somewhere in her deep, ocean-blue eyes.Duryodhana was looking at her like he had seen a goddess."who are you, young lady?" Shakuni's sweet voice made her turn more furious."im Yogmaya, and I protect him from his childhood."."it's great that his elder brother wasn't here. If I signal, he'd be here within a moment."She whispered, ensuring not to disturb Krishna's sleep."what were you going to do?" she asked, her sweet voice cold. They could not complete their conversation as Krishna's eyes fluttered open....................................a/n, this is it.The fourth chapter.Hope you enjoyed it.What would Shakuni do now? He's trapped from all sides 😉😉😉😉 lets see in the next chapter.