An interlude to Sunset

The part of misunderstandings (maybe?) - Arjun

The part of misunderstandings (maybe?) - Arjun

"What are you..."

"Angaraj; please come in." Yudhistira's hand found purchase on Bheem's shoulder and Arjun was well aware that his eldest brother was reining in his Bhrata Bheem.

Karna lingered just inside the doorstep and Arjun felt the dark eyes looking him over, lingering at the sight of the wounds and the bruises. The Pandava prince found himself at a loss to understand his emotions in the light of the knowledge that Angaraj Karna was his brother.

That they had the same mother.

Krishna had asked him to keep this secret to himself, and so he would. Also, Arjun could not, with any modicum of truth, say that he had gained any overwhelming feelings of affection towards Karna. Their history was too embittered with unprovoked attacks, personal insults and so much more.

But now there was the knowledge that Angaraj Karna was his brother. That they shared blood and the man has essentially done something, along with his other brothers, to save his life. To help bring him out of that terrible cesspit his mind had created.

"Pranipat, Angaraj." Arjun kept the salutation short but polite, though a shade of distress rushed through the King's eyes.

"Are you al...better, now? Rajkumar Arjun?"

And Krishna's sakha understood the reason behind Angaraj's previous reaction; knowing what they did about their relationship, the formal reception felt hard on the ears and dare he say, his heart too.

"Better, Angaraj. Thank you for your concern. And for your help...your help in the forest."

Arjun had almost slipped up and conferred something that was supposed to be held as a secret but a peacock feather tinged touch reached out and he calmed down.

"But of course." The Angaraj visibly pulled himself together. "I... How was it Mamashree Shakuni, Vasudev? The man is capable of atrocities and of that, I hold no doubt, but against his sister-sons?"

"Who knows how the mind of that wretched person works! It may well had been an elaborate plot to get to Arjun? Now that I think of it, it may well have been. Right, Vasudev? Dushyala is a kid; she would not have suspected had Gandhar raj convinced her to make Arjun accompany her."

Before Bheem could elucidate on the conspiracy theory any further, Yudhistira placed a hand over his brother's shoulder and made a sound at the back of his throat. A verbalisation of warning, though amusement coated it.

"I doubt that even Mamashree would have been able to formulate so convoluted a plan." He smiled.

"But Jyestha..."

"I am sure that Jyestha Yudhistira is right, Bhrata Bheem," Krishna interjected, drawing astounded looks from around the people in the room. "What?" The dark skinned lord narrowed his lotus eyes.

"Er... Madhav, it was you who said that Mamashree Shakuni was behind the entire thing? How can that be and Jyestha be right, both at once?" Arjun had pulled the Angavastra around himself, and though he had sat up courtesy of Angaraj's presence, his body was already tiring from this minimum exertion. "Pardon our surprise, Madhav, but mere mortals cannot be expected to keep up with the thinking process of the Dwarakadhish."

"Oh really, Parth? You, and a mere mortal? You would go there, Sakha?"

Yudhistira cleared his throat and the two friends looked over, slightly chagrined. They had quite overlooked their audience and had started off on their own tangent.

Angaraj Karna was looking especially uncomfortable, Arjun noted, though it did not bother the archer too much.

"Were you serious about the perpetrator being Gandhar Raj?" Angaraj asked again, sounding suspicious.