Hastinapur
'A great king he was, our father he was. Hastinapur has not only lost a monarch but also lost her son. Her father was a kind soul. Promise me that dharma shall again sit on this throne. Fulfill the dreams of our Samrat'
The words of various subjects filled Amrita's mind as she looked at her brothers and cousins, who played amongst themselves. Events of the past played on her mind as if they were happening right in front of her.
"Jiji, see, the floral pattern looks so pretty," a sixteen-year-old Dusshala said as she proudly displayed her recent embroidery artwork, making Amrita smile at her excitement.
"That's pretty. Will you teach me how?" Amrita requested with a sweet smile as she watched over the brothers. The knowledge of the future did no good, as she was extra cautious, especially when the sons of Dhritarashtra were around.
"Sure, anything for my Jiji. You know I was alone until you came, no one to play with other than my handmaids. But now, you are here, and it makes me happy to have an elder sister," the young girl's voice and eyes reflected her excitement.
"But now Jiji is here, right? We shall do a lot of things that sisters do. It's going to be a lot of fun," Amrita said, matching Dusshala's childlike excitement.
It had been three months since they arrived in Hastinapur. During the first month of Pandu's grievance, everything seemed fine; it was a family that cared for them. In the succeeding two months, the royals started showing their true colors. Irritated was a small word she used to describe her interactions with some of them.
"Bhratha Bheem! Put him down, now!" Arjun yelled as Bheem held Dusshasan upside down and laughed sadistically at the young lad's inability to defend himself, shocking his brothers.
"One second, I take my eyes off. These boys behave like chimpanzees. Give me a moment, Dusshala. Maa is right to call them monkeys," Amrita grumbled as Dusshala tried to hide her giggles and walked along with Amrita, who was already making her way to the princes.
"Bheem, put him down now," Amrita said sternly, crossing her hands across her chest and glaring at the two boys. Nakul and Sahdev immediately shifted to Amrita's side.
"Do you even know what he did, Jiji? If you knew, then you would do the same or worse, drown him in a lake filled with crocodiles," Bheem said nonchalantly. Amrita sighed, and Dusshala looked on curiously. It was not a surprise if her brothers had offended her cousins. But what had they done that Bheem was ready to drown them?
"Leave him, Bheem. Staying upside down for a long time can kill a person. I don't want you being accused of killing this spineless idiot here," Amrita's voice was firm and steady as she grumbled the phrase 'spineless idiot' in English.
Couldn't these sons of Dhritarashtra at least let them be in peace for some time? But what was she expecting here when most people were heartless?
"Just because you are saying," Bheem said as he practically dropped Dusshasan, who groaned in pain as the boys laughed at him. However, the Pandavas quietened the minute they noticed Amrita's stern gaze.
"Tell me what happened first? We shall see what to do next," Amrita said in a slightly higher voice, making the Kaurava brothers look at her.
"Pita Maharaj says women do not order around, especially the children of forest dwellers," Duryodhan said. The boy always got on her nerves, whether in a fictional retelling or reality.
Amrita thought one needed courses to handle the nonsense named Duryodhan. She needed to talk through this with her mother and Vidur. Both knew about her and her past and would also have the best advice.
"I am older than all of you present here; that's enough reason for you to listen to me," Amrita said sharply as she glared at Duryodhan, who glared back at her but couldn't care less about him.
"Tell me what happened now?" Amrita asked again as she faced her brothers and cousins. She knew who could have started the fight in the first place.
For someone who knew the epic in great detail, it took little time to conclude what could be the issue or why Bheem behaved the way he did. Right now, she was no historian analyzing their behavior but an elder in their lives who had to have a command over her behavior and also behave like an elder. Tiring, she thought to herself and groaned internally.
"Jiji, "Sahdev called Amrita. He slowly looked at his cousins from behind as he clutched the end of Amrita's saree.
"Deva, tell me, baby. What happened?" Amrita asked as she looked at him with concern. Those little eyes were scared of something, and the unknown scion of Bharadwajs knew that Bheem's words were genuine. She was ready to attack the sons of Dhritarashtra. It took a great deal of effort to keep herself composed.
"Jiji, "Sahdev again sobbed and hugged Amrita, who looked puzzled as Bheem stepped forward.
"They bullied Deva, Jiji. Only they can access what was in the palace, and we can't because we are..." Bheem said as he swallowed the words' forest dwellers'.
Filled with rage, Amrita glared at the sons of Dhritarashtra. She was tempted to release a string of curses but held herself back for her brothers. They were too young to hear what she wanted to utter.
"Forest dwellers. Unfortunately, ethics and class do not come with mere wealth. Come on, the five of you. There's no need to waste your energy on entitled idiots, "Amrita instructed the Pandavas, suppressing her anger at the insult. The only reason she held back was the boys' age. They were young and impressionable.
Bheem was unhappy with his sister's move but moved along after Yudhishtir nudged him. He was filled with rage when his baby brothers were bullied by his so-called cousins.
Only if he knew his sister was protecting him in the best possible way she could. Only if he knew his sister knew every possible event of their lives and protected them.
"Why?" Dusshala asked as soon as the children of Pandu left the gardens and were out of hearing range.
"What do you mean by why?" Duryodhan questioned her instead as Dusshala glared at him.
Did he not understand that he insulted his brothers for no reason? Did he not realize he was hurting them more than they already were? They had just lost their father, and he kept rubbing salt in their wounds.
"You are heartless, Duryodhan! They are our family. The least they deserve is a little bit of humanity from us, "Dusshala reprimanded her eldest brother, who rolled his eyes.
"Get one thing straight, Dusshala. They are no one to me. If they are anyone, then they are the ones who will snatch the rightful throne from me. You better get rid of their thoughts. The earlier, the better, "Duryodhan said with an air of arrogance, making Dusshala grow angrier.
She had always known Duryodhan to get what he wanted, which scared her—scared of the consequences. What if this exceeded beyond mere childish want of attention? What if this resulted in something irreparable? Instincts could never lie. She knew her worst fears could come true, but her brother never listened.
"And you get one thing straight, Duryodhan. They mean a lot to me. They are just as precious to me as you are. And I will not be able to tolerate if anything happens to any of you. You keep your scheming mind to yourself. Because if you harm my brothers, then get ready to lose your family—the very family you are so prideful about, "Dusshala yelled at him as her eyes burned in anger, unaware of the truth those words held.
"Dream on, because as we grow up, it's not those forest dwellers ..."
"Dream on because with that attitude, forget about being the King or crown prince. You can't be fit to be called an Arya!" Dusshala screamed at him and walked away.
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There goes the 2nd chapter!
I honestly don't know how this chapter has turned out. This was meant to introduce the Kauravas and a sneak peek into the dynamics of the Pandavas and Kauravas. I hope it was good.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Until then, take care, and see you guys in the next chapter.
Love Siya.