Arjunsangini - An Ardi Novel

The Dilemna and the Solution

It had been 5 days since the five princes had left home. The journey to the kingdom of Panchal could be covered within two to three days but that was not possible as the Pandavas were also accompanied by their hundred cousins. 

Arjun rode towards the end of the entourage with his brute of a brother, Bhim. Both had to discard their angavastrams as their massive torsos were protected by leather and iron-plated armours with the emblem of Hastinapur embed in them. The sun was placed just at the centre whose rays spread across the whole armour. Their muscular arms had armbands made of the same material as that of the wristbands. The princes had discarded their opulent jewellery their ears only bedecked with simple gold kundals. Their hands had on chain mailed ornaments which protected them in close combat. Both had tied their shoulder-length hair into tight buns and were adorned with light cotton dhotis. The entourage had a uniformity to it if not for the variety of weapons they carried. While Arjun carried a silver engraved wood longbow, Bhim was carrying a bronze mace like the eldest Kaurava. Though each warrior carried their weapon of choice each had a sword in their sheaths and daggers were hidden in the depths of their armours for times of need.

They were close to the borders and after half an hour or so they had set up a temporary camp. The princes were not planning to stay encamped for long they would soon send the message of their arrival not that it wasn't obvious but it was the code of war to send a message to the other kingdom giving them the decision to fight or surrender and provide at least a prahar for them to decide.

Arjun sighed as he remembered the incident that had happened before they had left for Panchal. Duryodhana had seemed suspicious of the events that had unfolded behind his presence. He was dubious of why the Pandavas were reluctant to attack the kingdom of King Drupad and why Guru Drona was furious. What surprised Arjun though was that Duryodhana's friend and the son of Guru Drona had not disclosed the identity of Draupadi to him. Maybe because of the shame he had to face, Arjun speculated. What did not surprise him was the decision of Dhritrashtra to make the act of Guru Dakshina a competition to decide the crown prince and the future heir to the throne of Hastinapur. And as always the eldest Kaurava had proposed that he and his brothers would attack Panchal first and as always the eldest Pandava had agreed. Arjun already knew how this would end. The Kauravas would go in, become prisoners and then the five would come to rescue them. It was not that their cousins were not good warriors, they were fearsome what held them back was their arrogance in which they would always commit a mistake leading to their doom if the Pandavas were not there to save them.

"What are you thinking brother?" Bhim asked.

"Just how much time would these hundred baboons last till we come to save them?" Arjun said.

"I bet not more than an hour!" Bhim said grinning

To which Arjun laughed out loud attracting the attention of the elder Pandava twin.

"What are we betting on?" Nakul asked as he sat beside them.

"How long will our good for nothing cousins last in battle. Jeshtha said an hour." Arjun informed him.

"You are being too generous! Just a few minutes I say!" Nakul said as a matter of factly.

Bhim couldn't hold himself back laughing hysterically.

"Shh! Better if Jestha doesn't hear us, he won't approve of this." Arjun said a little guiltily.

"And neither should Sehdev! He may not scold us but would shake his head in disapproval." Nakul said impersonating his younger twin making the brothers burst into peals of laughter.

Arjun hoped life could be simple and happy but that was probably too much to ask for. He didn't want this journey to end because of what waited for him on the other side. He indulged in small chats with his brothers so that he would not think. He didn't want to think because he didn't know what he would do once he came to face her. He had never felt such unease. He was a warrior, it was his dharma to fight, to obey his Guru, to attack Panchal. But how could he? Arjun clenched his fist so that his brothers wouldn't see his trembling hand.