The Bend in the Road (A Karna-Arjun what-if story)

Hastinapur's everlasting advocate

Arjun's pov

Karna emerged with Duryodhan and Dussashan from the enemy camp. Arjun wondered if the latter, who was pretty much a blind follower of his elder brother, had simply come along for moral support or if he actually understood the issue. Since he pulled at Draupadi's saree, it was difficult for him to imagine Dussashan as a human at all.

"Greetings," Madhav told the eldest two of the Kaurava brothers courteously.

At a stern look from Karna, Duryodhan and Dussashan muttered back their greetings.

"All of us are, er, convinced that the war needs to be ended right now," said Karna awkwardly. "If Hastinapur and Indraprastha are divided again--"

"I will not give up Indraprastha," said Duryodhan.

"Dur--" began Karna.

"Then we have no deal," said Bheem bluntly.

"We are not dying to make a deal with you, you vagrant!" said Dussashan.

"No, you depraved swine, but your friend is," said Bheem.

"So is your elder brother!"

Madhav coughed.

"Yes, now that we have established that your friend--" He nodded at Duryodhan and Dussashan. "--is the same as your elder brother--" He looked at the Pandavas. "--can we try to be a little more civil to each other for his sake?"

Karna gave him with one of his deadpan expressions.

"We cannot be the only side sacrificing, Vasudev," Duryodhan said coldly. "We will apologize to our sister-in-law. If she forgives us, the war will end and--"

"--and you will return our Indraprastha to us," said Arjun and the twins in unison.

"And what will you be losing?" demanded Duryodhan. "You widowed my sister and then you presume for us to end the war with a lopsided--"

"She is our sister too," said Arjun furiously. "If you care for her, why did you fix her marriage to a bastard like the King of Sindhu?"

"Arjun," scolded Yudhishthir as Duryodhan went scarlet in the face with rage.

Arjun subsided, the unfairness of the accusation still rankling, because he adored Duhsala, and always had.

"Not to forget you practically killed our grandfather, too," Dussashan butted in in Duryodhan's support.

"Dussashan," said Karna in a quiet, dignified voice. "All of you are to apologize to each other at once for the insults you have been exchanging. We are here to reach a midway."

Under Karna and Yudhishthir's gazes, Bheem, Arjun, Duryodhan and Dussashan were forced to mumble apologies.

But Arjun suddenly wanted to talk to the one person whose advice he would soon be unable to ask for. Making sure no one was looking in his direction, he slipped off into the darkness.

***

Pitamah's eyes were closed. In spite of lying on the bed of arrows which was bound to be exceedingly uncomfortable, his face was peaceful. Too peaceful...

But it was not the solstice yet.

"Pitamah," he whispered.

Bhisma smiled and opened his eyes slowly. Arjun fell to his knees near his feet, tears gushing up to his eyes at the smile that was so achingly familiar.

"Come here, my dear..."

"Pitamah." It was the first time he'd dared to visit his grandfather, and he was in no way prepared.