"Cast away your fears, we never misunderstand servants."
I tilted my head to catch a glimpse of the bearer of the voice;
a tall boy of almost Bhrata Bheem's age decked up in royals strode from amidst the crowd.
The other ten subtly paved way for him, his slicked and dense hair neatly parted on one side unlike mine which always were in a mess.
His orbs appeared a shade of intense dark as it directly landed on Bhrata Bheema and Nakul, shifting towards me.
I have seen dark eyes, but those were dark. Coldly dark. Till now, none of us have ever came across eyes which portrayed an odd sense of coldness, no warmth, devoid of affection.
His footsteps were harsh on the floor, with eyebrows crooked on his forehead his cold gaze lingered upon me, while mine fluttered over his face.
His lips gradually shifted up, "What happened Jalagandh? Dusshasan? Didn't I inform you to behave cordially with our new servants?"
"They are sons of the Gods after all."
The cold tone in his voice was directed, were almost jabbed at us, my fingers slowly encircled around Nakul's wrist as I held him slightly close.
Bhrata Bheem's lips quivered as his fingers dug into his palm.
"Servants of Yuvraj Duryodhan, must be given their due respect I believe."
He held his head high and then lowered it at us, smirking.
Servants of Yuvraj Duryodhan?
My eyebrows curved in the middle of the forehead in utter confusion, trying to comprehend what he was trying to convey.
As far as we knew that the future King of Hastinapur wasn't chosen yet, how can he be positioned as the Yuvraj?
"Duryodhan, dare you call us your servants." Bhrata Bheem's tone was eerily low, I could almost figure out he was holding his enragement barely, which made me suck in a breath.
That would be the last thing we would've expected.
Bhrata Duryodhan lips left a slight mocking sigh as he scanned Bhrata Bheem like he was a mere piece of meat to be squirmed under his feet, and for once, for the first time in my life I felt a sense of blood quickening its pace past my veins.
Not because of the jibes of pleasantness, not because of the excitement and thrill I used to experience or not due to worry.
It signified something else-His disgusted stare at us, over Bhrata Bheem and Nakul made me stiffen oddly.
Oddly, as I kept on blinking at him as a part of my lower jaw clenched with its upper one. I could, I could feel the warmth from my eyes dwindling for him as each moment escaped.
"Son of servants shouldn't be addressed as servants then what-"
"Bhrata Duryodhan?"
I felt my tongue stiffening, as my eyes rested upon his proudly golden figure,
"I ain't aware of the context of your speech, but its a request from my side not to address our Pita in a demeaning manner."
And for the first time ever did my mouth register those words, the tone which weren't really pleasant to the ears.
"You filthy little-" My pupils widened subtly as he proceeded to take a long stride in order to grab me but neither did I shift back, when I felt Bhrata Bheem's feisty palm grab his shoulder,
"Not him."
He shoved him back instantly, looming his huge figure protectively over me and Nakul,
"No one hurts my brothers, Duryodhan." Chewing on his words, Bhrata Bheem shoved him hard, almost that he was about to fall on his back,
"No one."
"You-" Bhrata Duryodhan steadied himself to lunge upon him and before I could intervene, harsh footsteps from behind me had caused them to pause in their tracks.
"Is this how you are supposed to behave? That too in the palace corridors?" A miffed elderly voice grabbed our attention as I spun around, my eyes resting on a familiar figure we were introduced to during Pita's ceremony.
His calm demeanor was an eminence, reflecting from his jaws cloaked underneath dense dark beard.
Orbs mystified with a certain sense of firmness and grounded, it focused upon all that were present.
Tatshree(Uncle) Vidur.
The revered figure of Hastinapur, after Pitamah Bheeshm and Tatshree Dhritraashtra, the Prime Minister of Hastinapur.
Witnessing his presence made me release a sigh of relief, as Bhrata Duryodhan appear to stiffen back and so did his brothers.
His jaw still clenched, as he glanced down, though not having the will to.
"What is happening here? Raajkumar Duryodhan, is this how you are supposed to behave with your brothers?"
Tatshree Vidur's firm gaze lingered upon the eleven of them and it then shifted to us,
"Prince Bheem, I would like to inform you that creating such ruckus in the corridors is strictly prohibited."
His deep orbs repeatedly relocated from us to the Kaurav brothers, as he took in a deep breath.
"Apologize Tatshree," Bhrata Bheem wasn't the one who would remain quite without taking a stand for him,
"But it was solely Dushassan and Duryodhan who addressed our Pita as servant, demeaning him." His jaws clenched again as he passed a repulsive gaze to Bhrata Duryodhan, earning the same from him.
"Bheem, you could've approached any of us. But such behaviour, no." His voice sterned, almost sounding uncannily like Jyesth,
"Decorum in the palace is a must."
"And Raajkumar Duryodhan, you must report to Maharaani Gandhari. Your such behavior shan't be tolerated anymore. You are requested to follow," He gave us a final nod, my eyes rested back on the brothers who stuttered muttering amongst themselves in a tone of disregard.
I watched the retreating figure of them, slowly following Bhrata Bheem while Nakul passed me a gloomy glance,
"What did just happen Bhrata Arjun?"
That even too I am trying to figure out. What did just even happen?
What did we even do to receive such a welcome from our own brothers?
Neither did we offend them, neither did we speak harshly first.
Could it be misunderstanding?
But why?
I, I had thought that--They would, they would probably be eager to meet us, as much we were to be honest.
I had always heard Pita claiming proudly that we have hundred more brothers, even Maa Kunti.
Hundred more brothers to bond lovingly with, to be with each other like we five always did.
And their stance, their stance for my Pitashree?
How is it possible for them to develop it when Pitamah, Tatshree Vidur and Dhritaraashtra, all hold him in such a high respect?
I didn't knew what to reply, so I simply wrapped a comforting arm around my brother and followed wherever we were taken to.