Standing in the great hall of Hastinapura, Shubham, now teenage Arjun, felt surrealism wash over him. The epic characters he had read all his life now danced vividly in front of him. Bhishma's imposing figure, that proud and great patriarch, swelled his heart with respect and admiration. Wanting to test whether he could interact naturally, Shubham stepped forward and said, "Pranipaat, Pitamah," bowing deeply.
Bhishma's eyes softened in pride and affection as he welcomed Shubham and his family into the palace. Shubham felt relieved, excited—finally able to speak freely and interact as himself within this game. All this made the connection so personal that it sealed his resolve to play out Arjun's story in the most authentic, reverent way possible.
Introductions to the Kauravas began. There, right in front of him, stood the eldest Kaurava, Duryodhana, with his brothers, his eyes flaming in a mix of jealousy and resentment. One could feel the tension in the room. All the courtesies being duly exchanged, Shubham could feel the hostility in Duryodhana. This rivalry between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana, rooted in the latter's envy of Yudhishthira as the eldest and rightful heir, was transparent.
With his brothers by his side, Duryodhana stepped forward, scowling at them, and said in a snobbish tone, "Welcome, cousins. I hope you like Hastinapura"—at all times, obviously speaking in quite an uninviting tone.
A choice interface appeared in front of Shubham at this instant:
> Start a fight immediately because of Duryodhana's behavior
> Keep silent and listen to what your elder brother says.
Knowing the teachings of the Mahabharata and the need to hold fast to dharma, Shubham knew there would be no escalation on Arjun's part, a man famous for his restraint toward and respect for those senior to him. Thus, he chose the second option: keeping silent, watching the reaction of his elder brother Yudhishthira.
Yudhishthira, so composed and wise, went ahead and broke the tension with his demeanor. "Thank you, Duryodhana," he said. "We are grateful to Hastinapura for the hospitality and look forward to strengthening bonds as family."
However, though frowning, Duryodhana swallowed the words as he was not inclined to argue explicitly with the eldest Pandava in the presence of Bhishma and the court. Feeling accomplished that this was the right choice, Shubham did precisely that—by being true to the character and value set for Arjun.
The formalities over, Shubham looked back at the encounter. The choices he was going to make would set the tone of the narrative and the relationships for this epic saga. The decision to follow Yudhishthira's lead thus reiterated an adherence to dharma and the path of righteousness, setting the tone for further challenges and decisions.
As he walked down the halls of Hastinapura, Shubham felt the burden of being Arjun. He was living through the lessons, traditions, and legacies that the Mahabharata had handed down to him—not playing games. The journey had just begun, and at every step ahead, new hurdles were waiting that would have to be passed with wisdom, bravery, and by strictly adhering to the tenets of dharma.