Duryodhana P.O.V
"You are Lord of the earth. The kings of the world are all loyal to you. May your cousins never come back" Mama Shakuni said, a smile made its way on my face, my cousins won't be coming back anytime soon, I will never let their Agyatvasa be successful. "Indeed, you are Lord of the earth now. Your enemies live in the jungle like wild beasts, with as much honor as animals!" Karna responded with pride in his voice, he is my true friend, he always has my back. My body was tense as I think of a way to make my cousin suffer, just then Karna looked at me as I stood up from my seat and started pacing in the chamber.
"I have an idea, Mitra. Would you hear it?" he said.
I stop before him raising my eyebrow in curiosity "Tell me".
"Let us go to the Kamyaka vana and see the conditions of Pandavas with our own eyes, Won't it make you glad to see Yudhishtira, his brothers and the arrogant Draupadi sheared of their pride? They, who were masters of the world, are beggars in the jungle now" he recited the plan with gleeful smile, he wanted to see Pandavas suffer as much as I wanted. Mama Shakuni started beaming in approval at the plan. "Surely, nothing is sweeter than seeing one's enemy in his worst moment" he said chuckling. I nodded sitting beside Karna "I would love nothing better than to see Bheema and Arjuna clad in the barks of trees and the haughty empress of the Mayaa sabha as queen of a hut of logs" I said, the humiliation of mine in Maya Sabha is still fresh in my mind, I wanted them to endure the pain for their entire life; they deserve nothing less. But I sighed and shook my head "My father won't allow me to go Kamyaka and that Bheeshma is always in the favor of his favorite grandchildren, he will make sure I won't be near their precious Pandavas and their family" I growled clenching my fist in frustration, that river son blabber so much in the name of dharma.
"My dear nephew, don't worry, I will devise a plan for you to visit Kamyaka" Mama Shakuni said putting his hand on my shoulder and giving him one of his devious smile. I laughed and nodded my head.
Pandavas! I am coming.
Prakriti P.O.V
I was pouring water to the plants in front of our home, Elder brother was sitting before fire doing his daily worship, other brothers surrounding him with joined hands, Krishne was inside home. Just then couple of Hastinapur soldiers ran towards us in panic, they fell at Elder Brother's feet. I stopped myself and quickly walked in their direction standing beside Sahadeva. "King Yudhishtira, save us! A gandharva has captured Duryodhana and his queens. You must help us or they will die" one of the man cried touching Elder Brother feet. Brother Bheem started laughing hearing the plea, a smile graze on Arya face as well. "Well done, Gandharvas! I am happy to know we have some friends left in the world. Fate has caught up with our cousin. He came here to gloat and he has the payment he deserves" Brother Bheem cried clapping his hand. Hearing the loud laugh of Brother Bheem Krishne came out of the shelter and looked at the scene in confusion. We got the news of Prince Duryodhana coming in Dwaitavana for royal work.
Brother Yudhishtira held his hand up and silenced Brother Bheem "This is no time to gloat, Bheema. The Kauravas are our cousins and between cousins, there will be misunderstandings. But they are our blood, our family and no outsider should harm them. The gandharvas have taken not only Duryodhana and his brothers, but their women. The women of our Kuru clan".
"But they are our enemy!" Nakula cried in disbelief. I looked at him and sighed "The kauravas are our enemy but what about their wife, they are innocent and daughter in law of Kuruvansh so it is our dharma and duty to save them" I said truthfully, he slowly nodded his head agreeing with me. "Arm yourself Bheema; take Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva with you. Go and free our cousins" Elder Brother ordered like a King, they nodded their head and without any further argument went out with their weapon to safe Kuruvansha pride.
Krishne stand beside Elder Brother "Why did you let them go to save Duryodhana, did you forget, he was the one who is the reason behind our pain" she said looking where pandavas went out not a while ago. Brother sighed "Revenge is never fruitful Panchali besides our dynasty pride are also being captured" he responded.
"I am Kuru's daughter in law, no one stood up for me" she said clenching her fist. Brother stood there without uttering anything. "Krishne, think of this way, if we won't save them now how will we able to keep our oath in the future when the time comes" I said, her eyes were shining with unused tears as she barely nodded her head. Elder Brother sighed and resumed his worship as we stand around him waiting for our family to be back. Chitrasena, the Gandharava who taught Arya the art of dance and music was coming towards us dragging Duryodhana along, he was tied by his hands and feet and his head bent low in shame. Elder Brother welcomed Chitrasena graciously and I joined my hands to greet him, he looked at me and bowed his head slightly in respect knowing about my true form, I gave him a soft smile in return.
"He came to gloat over your privation. Say a word and he will die" Chitrasena said pushing Duryodhana forward who hadn't moved his head to look at us once. Elder Brother joined his hands in front of King of Gandharva "Let him, his brothers and women be free" he requested in soft voice. Chitrasena nodded his head and commanded his people to free our cousin and his family. After bidding us farewell, Gandharva went back to his home with his people.
Elder Brother put his hand on Duryodhana shoulder "Being spiteful never brought anyone joy. Go back to Hastinapur and don't be so rash again. Go in peace, I wish you well" he said without any malice in his voice, Brother Bheem scoffed lowly but didn't say anything. Without a word, Duryodhana turned away from us and walked out from our ashram with his wife and brothers. When they were gone Brother Bheem started laughing with twins joining him.
"Did you see his face?" Nakula chortled.
"Ah, that was sweet!" Brother Bheem laughed in his loud voice.
***
Third Person P.O.V
In a daze, Duryodhana walked out of Pandavas ashram bowing his head in shame, he could hear the laugh of Bheem on his misfortune. He reached where his army setup its camp, he sat near the lake and stared at the water blankly, he has lost his pride now by getting saved by Pandavas, it was much better if he died in the fight rather than bear this humiliation. After some time, Karna came towards Duryodhana and embraced him "You vanquished the gandharva. I did my best, but he was invincible: an archer from Devaloka, his weapons unearthly. How did you beat him, Duryodhana? I am amazed" he asked in surprised, he has no doubt on Duryodhana ability but Karna himself couldn't defeat them so he was curious how his friend conquer the almighty Gandharva.
Duryodhana turned his face towards his friend, tears flowing down from his cheeks. Karna was taken aback by the condition of his friend "What is this? Why are you crying?" he asked alarmed.
Sob raked Duryodhana body "It was not I, but Arjuna who beat the gandharva" he confessed the truth with so much effort.
"Arjuna?" Karna asked surprised.
Duryodhana recited the whole story to his friend who growled in frustration "I stood there, wishing I was dead. How much better it would have been for me to have died fighting the gandharvas than have the Pandavas save my wretched life. Karna, what is my life worth now, that I owe it to my cousins? I do not want to live any more. As I left their asrama, I heard Bheema laughing and his brothers as well. I can't bear to go back to Hastinapur. I have decided to stay here and not eat or drink until my miserable spirit has left my body. And then, perhaps, some honor will be salvaged from this shame" he cried turning his head away.
"Do you think Pandavas saved you out of love, they did it only for their precious dharma. They would have done the same for anyone. And why are you talking of killing yourself, do you want to give satisfaction to Pandavas about killing yourself, think with your brain not with your grief" Karna said trying to change his friend opinion. "I agree with Karna!" Gandhara King Shakuni cried coming towards them "You talk of killing yourself over such a petty thing? I am amazed at you, Duryodhana. This is unmanly. It shows an immature nature: too used to comfort, unfamiliar with pain" he said disagreeing with his nephew, how can he accept defeat so easily?
"Remember, you can only kill your enemies if you are alive yourself!" he hissed in Duryodhana ear coming close to him.
"Let us return to Hastinapur! I am resolved to fight. Either I will kill the Pandavas and rule the earth, or killed by them in war, I will find heaven for myself. Let there be no more coward talk among us. My life's purpose is clear to me now" Duryodhana finally responded, his eyes shining with anger, he has to take revenge of the insult to him that has been happened today.
Karna noticed the change in his friend. There was a new maturity and determination about Duryodhana which made Karna more determined to take the revenge for his dear friend even it mean dying in the war.
***
Prakriti P.O.V
I was walking beside Brother Krishna on the shore in Dwarka. He called my consciousness to talk to me about something important that occurred today. "You noticed the change in the environment" he asked me, no smile gracing his face. I nodded my head sensing the change as well, it only happened after Prince Duryodhana went back. "Duryodhana decided to kill himself today out of shame but darkness, the power of evil stopped him to take this step" he elaborated, I could feel the power of Daityas and Danavas from the hell, they contacted Duryodhana and put evilness in his mind more than it was already there.
Brother Krishna took this avatar to cleanse this world from evil power before Kalyug start, he had killed Kansa, Jarasandha and thousands of other incarnate demons. Now an ancient mantle of evil had fallen on the shoulders of Duryodhana of Hastinapur. "Narakasura's spirit has entered in Anga King's body. Whatever dharm he had in his heart will be vanished soon in time" I said sadly, I always thought that there is some redemption for him but I am not sure anymore. He sighed and nodded his head "War is inevitable to fight the darkness and establish Dharma" he said staring ahead and I moved my gaze and looked at the beautiful time of dawn.
"Because Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that"
I woke up and sighed walking out of the ashram and looking at the first ray of light coming from the sun and destroying the darkness. I sat on the steps of our home and looked at nature to calm myself. Darkness is increasing day by day, time is near when we have to fight for whats right.
Next day, a messenger came from Hastinapur, he bowed in front of us in respect. "My lord, the Kuru prince Duryodhana is to perform a Vaishnava yagya in Hastinapur. King Dhritarashtra and my lords Duryodhana and Dusasana have sent me to invite you and your brothers to the sacrifice" he gave us the message, I raised my eyebrow in surprise at the sudden news. Arya scoffed beside me and Brother Bheem glared at the wall. "So Duryodhana means to perform Vishnu's own sacrifice. My family would have been delighted to come, but we have sworn not to enter Hastinapur until we have served thirteen years in exile" he said in pleasant voice, there is no malice in his voice. Brother Bheem growled loudly "And when the thirteen years are served, we will return to Hastinapur. Tell Duryodhana we shall come for another sacrifice then and he and his brothers will be the sacrificial goats!" he said glaring at the messenger who shiver at the voice.
"Brother Bheem, he is only messenger there is no use to yell at him, save your power for later" I said calmly and messenger quickly nodded his head running away from our ashram in fear.
I sighed and finally let my inner eyes roam towards Hastinapur where Vaishnava Yagya was being performed by Duryodhana.
"They are afraid our yagya will be greater than theirs" Duryodhana scoffed after messenger gave back our message to him.
There were many in Hastinapur, most of whom had not attended our Rajasuya in Indraprastha, who said Duryodhana's Vaishnava yagya was the greatest sacrifice in living memory. But some of them were on our side as well.
"Duryodhana's Vaishnava yagya is not a tenth the sacrifice that Yudhishtira's Rajasuya was."
"Whatever you say, a Rajasuya is a Rajasuya."
"This yagnashala does not compare with the one outside the Mayaa sabha. Nor are the priests as holy."
"The truly great brahmanas would not come, because they know Duryodhana is an evil prince."
The people of Hastinapur were overjoyed and they thought this was the most magnificent yagya they had seen, they blessed Uncle and Duryodhana even Grandfather Bheeshma was happy as well with the Yagya.
Let them be happy for one more year and then there will be pain and agony in their future.