Geetha Krishnan's Blog, page 26

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Eleven

A day and a half’s hard riding brought Vasusena to the Pandava camp. The sentry at the entrance stopped him.

“I am Vasusena, an envoy of King Dhritarashtra. I have a message for King Yudhistira.”

The sentry led him to a tent where he had to wait till messages were sent to Yudhistira. He was given refreshments which he declined, though not the water. His horse was being cared for in the stables, he was told in response to his query.

It must have been nearly half an hour later that Nakula and Sahadeva entered the tent.

Vasusena could sense their hostility even though their words were civil enough.

“King Yudhistira is waiting for you.” Said Nakula. “We shall escort you to him.”

Vasusena nodded. They walked to Yudhistira’s tent in silence. It was a very small camp, Vasusena noticed. But this was only a temporary arrangement till a decision about war could be reached. The military camp would have been bigger if it came to war. Which was not going to happen now. The Pandavas could break camp and go to Indraprastha. And he could go back to his life and forget he ever learnt that he had brothers.

The last thought startled him. I must be growing senile, thought he. Or maybe I am too tired.

The tent loomed in front of him. It was slightly bigger than the others. And the reason for it became evident as soon as he stepped inside. It was the command tent, he saw. And it seemed at first glance to be too full of people.

He sat down at the chair to which he was led and accepted the goblet of fruit juice. It was bitter-sweet and tangy too. But it refreshed him. The room was too silent as he handed over the scroll to Sahadeva who took it to Yudhistira.

Vasusena watched the way Yudhistira’s whole face lit up as he read the missive. He handed the scroll to Arjuna.

“Krishna has succeeded in the peace mission.” He said, beaming at them all.

A Babel of voices broke out, all who were in the room talking at the same time. Apart from the five Pandavas, there was Drupada and his sons, King Virata of Matsya and his sons and a few younger men whom Vasusena thought might be the sons of Pandavas.

He wondered if it might be considered offensive if he slipped out. The loud noises coupled with the heat of the day were beginning to make his head ache. He could not understand what the argument was for. Surely, they would not have sent Krishna with a peace mission if they did not want to have peace.

The voices died down slowly, but the throbbing of his temples did not ease.

“You must be tired,” said Yudhistira. It took Vasusena a moment to realize he was being addressed. “You must stay with us tonight. You can leave in the morning.”

“When will you be leaving to Indraprastha?” He asked.

“We have to discuss and decide,” said Yudhistira. “When will Krishna be back?”

The throbbing was now a pounding. “He said he will join you at Indraprastha.”

He did not miss the troubled glances they exchanged.

“I will take you to your tent,” said Sahadeva.

Vasusena accompanied him. The tent was spare but clean. He sat down on the chair pressing his hand to his temples. He wondered why Sahadeva was not leaving as he stood in one corner, busy with something.

“Here,” Sahadeva handed him a goblet. “It will help with the headache.”

He drank it down gratefully. The pounding eased almost immediately, settling down to a dull throb.

“How did you know?”

Sahadeva shrugged. “It was evident. Many are having it here too. The heat is the reason.”

“It is unnaturally hot here,” he agreed.

“It will be cooler back home,” murmured Sahadeva, a faraway look in his eyes. Then he gave an absent minded smile to Vasusena.

“I will have someone bring you food,” he said.

Vasusena nodded. “Thank you.”

Sahadeva paused at the door. “Did Krishna really succeed?”

Vasusena nodded again, not trusting himself to speak.

“Pity,” muttered Sahadeva. “I wanted war.” There was real regret in his voice.

Vasusena was saved the trouble of answering as Sahadeva went out.

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Ten

Suyodhana looked moodily at the ground. It was dry. He looked up at the sky. It was raining. And no ordinary rain either, by the looks of it. The trees outside the clearing were swaying in the wind. Lightning lit up the forest beyond. He could hear the thunder too.

Inside the clearing where they were, all was still. The two horses, tethered at its edge grazed calmly. The fire flickered very slightly. Not a drop of water fell on them. It was as if they were inside a protective bubble, one which prevented the fury of the elements from reaching them.

Krishna was sitting on a log. He looked thoughtful as he put a few more twigs in the fire.

“I’m bored,” said Suyodhana suddenly.

Krishna raised his eyebrows at that. “Boredom won’t kill you,” he replied.

“Easy for you to say. You are not the one stuck here with nothing to do and with no company.”

Krishna chuckled. “You are hardly scintillating company yourself.”

“I am the prisoner,” retorted Suyodhana. “I am not supposed to be good company.”

“And gaolers are? Isn’t there something wrong with that logic?”

“I don’t feel like being logical. I am bored. Entertain me.”

Krishna laughed. “You are worse than a child. How am I supposed to entertain you?”

“I don’t know. Sing, dance, play the flute. You are supposed to be good at those.”

“I don’t sing and I hardly think you want to see the sort of dance I do,” Krishna sounded amused. “But I can play the flute.”

“Whatever.”

“How gracious,” murmured Krishna as he raised the flute to his lips.

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Nine

Not much debate happened over Krishna’s message. The King would have given Hastinapura too to Yudhistira if that would bring his son back. And Vasusena, Sakuni and Duhsasana were also of the same mind. Bheeshma, Drona and Vidura were openly relieved.

The agreement was written by Vidura and Dhritarashtra placed the royal seal on it. Bheeshma himself put it in a container and sealed it.

“Now that there won’t be a war,” Bheeshma said to Vasusena while handing over the scroll to him. “You could take Kunti with you to her sons. You are going there anyway.”

Vasusena stood still. Take that woman with him?

“I can’t travel fast with a woman,” he said curtly. “And I want to get this over with as soon as possible. Unlike you, I am rather eager to have Suyodhana back!”

He did not intend to be that rude, but it was the mention of Kunti that did it. Bheeshma’s face was inscrutable. “Perhaps you are right. I shall send Kunti with an armed escort. I hope you won’t mind conveying that news to her sons.”

Vasusena nodded. “I will tell them.”

Duhsasana came there and Bheeshma left with a nod to both of them.

“I wish grandfather wouldn’t be so openly happy about this,” said Duhsasana.

“I know,” said Vasusena. “But this is what they wanted all the time. And now they have it.”

“Suyodhana is not going to be happy when he comes back,” muttered Duhsasana morosely as he sank to a chair. There were dark circles under his puffy eyes.

“When was the last time you slept?” Vasusena asked, concerned.

“I will sleep when he’s back with us,” muttered Duhsasana. “Do you trust Krishna? What if he does not keep his promise?”

Vasusena frowned. He had not thought of that possibility.

“I have not thought of it,” said Vasusena. “For now, we have no choice but to trust in him. If he does not keep his word,” he shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Krishna has really been very clever,” said Duhsasana. “By making it sound as if his peace proposal was successful, he is making sure that our cousins won’t press for war.”

He sounded upset.

“I know,” said Vasusena. “But he’s got us where he wants us. We have no choice.”

“No,” said Duhsasana. “And frankly, I don’t care for the stupid Kingdom or anything as long as Suyodhana comes back safely!”

Which was exactly what was there in Vasusena’s mind too.

An Unexpected Twist….. Chapter Eight

Suyodhana watched his captor. Krishna looked as unreadable as ever as he built up a fire. It was a cooking fire and suddenly Suyodhana was ravenously hungry.

“Food will be ready soon,” said Krishna.

Suyodhana watched the meat roasting over the fire. The smell was making his mouth water.

“Have some patience,” Krishna said, sounding amused. He was turning the meat over and over. “Unless you want your meat raw.”

“If you were as hungry as I was,” said Suyodhana. “You wouldn’t be so picky.”

Krishna shook his head. “I can’t get my mind around how pampered you really are.” Said he.

“I am a prince,” he growled as his stomach rumbled.

“So are your cousins,” reminded Krishna. “And they survived life in the forest without much trouble.”

“Yea, well, they had plenty of practice,” his tone was vicious.

Krishna chuckled. “I have a good mind to starve you. Hunger is good for developing discipline and self control.”

“Oh really? I thought it was only good for killing people!”

Krishna laughed. “Don’t worry. I don’t intend to starve you.” His tone changed. “And if I wanted to kill you, you would be dead by now.”

Suyodhana was silent.

“And by the way,” said Krishna, apparently still engrossed in turning the meat over. “You should be happy to know that your captivity might be over soon.”

Suyodhana stiffened. “Meaning?”

Krishna had doused the flames and was slicing the meat into pieces and putting it on to a large leaf. He took a pouch and sprinkled something over the meat before handing it to Suyodhana.

“It’s still hot,” he cautioned.

Suyodhana took it, took a small piece, blew on it and put it in his mouth. It was cooked to perfection.

“Didn’t know you were such a good cook,” he said, forgetting all else.

“I’m not,” Krishna’s voice was dry. “But there’s nothing like hunger to make a man appreciate food!”

“What was it you were saying about my captivity?” Asked Suyodhana between mouthfuls.

“Just that I met your friend and gave him my message. If your father agrees to my terms, you shall be free within the week.”

Suyodhana frowned. “You think you have won, don’t you?”

“I think I have averted this war for the time being.”

“What makes you think I shall not attack them in Indraprastha?”

“You will find out how thin your alliances are if you do that without provocation.”

Suyodhana finished his food. He had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that Krishna was right about his allies.

An Unexpected Twist… Chapter Seven

Vasusena stared as Krishna walked into the tent nonchalantly. The man might have been walking in at his own front door. He looked calm unlike Vasusena whose mind was in turmoil. He still had not forgotten his last meeting with Krishna when the man had all but destroyed his life.

Vasusena wondered why none of his guards stopped him.

“Your guards are asleep,” said Krishna calmly.

“In the middle of the day?” Vasusena was suspicious.

“Yes. So tough to find good soldiers these days.” Krishna’s tone was bland.

“Of course.” Vasusena could not keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “You are not at all responsible for it. It just happened.”

He smiled sarcastically.

“I have your friend,” Krishna’s voice was conversational.

Vasusena jumped up. “Where is he?”

“You really think I am going to tell you?” There was real amusement in Krishna’ voice, but Vasusena was not feeling amused.

He snarled and lunged at Krishna, intent on getting his hands around the throat of the smiling man. He would choke Suyodhana’s whereabouts out of him.

“Don’t be silly,” muttered Krishna as he sidestepped and tripped Vasusena with his feet. It was a child’s trick and Vasusena was mortified. But before he could rise, he found himself with a blade on his throat.

“I have not harmed him. And I do not intend to. All I need you to do is to carry a message to his father for me.”

“What message?” Vasusena grated out, furious now.

“On the table,” said Krishna. “Be sure to deliver it. And if I were you, I would make sure the King agrees to the terms contained in it.”

“And how are we to convey that to you?”

“I will know.” Said Krishna. “And you shall have your friend back unharmed too. You have my word on that.”

“Why are you doing this?” Vasusena asked bewildered.

Krishna laughed at that, it was a pleasant sound. “Because I can,” he said.

Vasusena found that the blade was gone from his throat and he sprang to his feet. He looked around in confusion. He was alone in the tent. He ran outside. The heat of the day was overpowering. The few soldiers whom he had brought were all there, some patrolling, some standing guard.

He came inside, frowning. Where had Krishna disappeared to so quickly? Or had he imagined the entire episode?

He ran his hand through his hair. He wiped the sweat from his face. He wondered if he was being delusional.

Then he saw the letter on the table. It was placed on the table and held down in place with his own ink pot. Vasusena removed the ink pot and picked it up and scanned it. Krishna had put his name and seal on it. The contents were as he expected. Krishna had demanded that Indraprastha be returned to the Pandavas in return for Suyodhana. And Dhritarashtra was to put his agreement on paper under the royal seal. The agreement was to be delivered to the Pandava camp by Vasusena. Suyodhana would be returned safe on the day the Pandavas re-entered Indraprastha.

Vasusena’s face was grim as he read this last part. Krishna was not leaving anything to chance.

There was a separate letter underneath which was addressed to him. It contained a few instructions. He was to deliver the letter to Yudhistira in person, tell them Krishna’s efforts at peace were successful and Krishna would be rejoining them in Indraprastha.

Vasusena fumed at the peremptory nature of the missive, but he was helpless. He furled the message to the King into a tight scroll and put it into a container. He would break camp and go to Hastinapura. The sooner they got this over with, the better.

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Six

Suyodhana sat in the clearing under a tree. He was securely bound to the tree. Krishna had gone away some time back and had not yet returned.

Suyodhana was frowning. All his attempts to break the rope had failed. His attempts to free his hands had failed. And he was growing more and more angry and frustrated by the hour.

He felt that if this captivity were to last any longer, he himself would give in and agree to all the demands the cowherd might make. He grimaced. That last thought was not like him. Was the cowherd playing mind games with him?

He could only imagine the anxiety of his parents and brothers. He did not know how long it had been since he was captured. But he hoped that in their anxiety, they would do nothing foolish. Like giving his cousins back their Kingdom.

He sighed. He knew his father. He would not put it past him to ask his cousins for help in finding him. He gritted his teeth. He would rather remain a captive than be rescued by his oh-so-noble cousins.

He yawned. And wondered what the time was. He was not hungry. He could not remember the last time he had eaten. But still he felt no hunger.

More illusions! Thought he. He wondered where Krishna was. Irritating as the man was, he was at least company. He was getting bored. Of course, he could not taunt Krishna since the man refused to be baited. But at least, he could have someone to talk to.

He sighed. How pathetic, thought he. I am actually looking forward to the cowherd’s company!

An unexpected Twist…. Chapter Five

Vasusena wiped the sweat from his brows. The day was not all that warm, but he was perspiring more than ever. He knew worry had more to do with it than climate.

It had been two days and no news had come of Suyodhana. Their spies had brought no news either. The Prince did not seem to be in Hastinapura or in any if the neighbouring Kingdoms.

Vasusena was scouting the forests on the border. He had set up camp at the edge of the forest. He and a few soldiers had already made a few searches in the surrounding area, but could find nothing out of the ordinary.

“My Lord,” the man bowed respectfully.

Vasusena recognized him. He was one of his own spies from Anga. Vasusena had sent him to the Pandava camp with a few specific instructions. From the man’s expression, Vasusena could tell that he had some news.

He dismounted from the horse and went into his tent, accompanied by the man.

“Tell me,” said he, once inside.

“I went to the place where the Pandavas were living as you instructed. From the spies already there, I came to know that Prince Yudhistira and his brothers are as yet unaware of all that has happened. I think we may safely rule out their involvement in this affair.”

Vasusena nodded, noticing with irony that his own spy seemed more relieved than disappointed that their enemies were not involved in this.

“Did you enquire about Krishna?” He asked.

“Yes, my Lord. And I received a rather strange report.”

Vasusena leaned forward. “Tell,”

“Lord Krishna has not returned to the camp of his cousins. Those who came with him to Hastinapura had gone to Dwaraka with instructions to join him once he reaches the Pandavas. They are still in Dwaraka,”

Vasusena frowned. “Have we spies in Dwaraka?”

“Prince Suyodhana is not in Dwaraka, my Lord if that is what you want to find out. I do have a few sources there.”

“Any news of Krishna’s whereabouts?”

The man shook his head.

“Lord Balarama had postponed his pilgrimage, my Lord,” said the man. “That is the only strange news I could glean from my sources in Dwaraka.”

“Strange indeed!” Murmured Vasusena. “He was opposed to this war and said he had no desire to see the certain blood bath or to be a part of it.”

He looked at the spy. “You have done well. Go back to Anga and give my ring to the Prime Minister.” He removed the plain gold ring he was wearing and gave it to the man.

The man beamed. The gold ring meant he was to receive gold in return for his services. He bowed and left.

“What are you up to Krishna?” He spoke aloud. The return of Krishna’s companions to Dwaraka, the postponement of Balarama’s pilgrimage all pointed out to one thing. Krishna was involved in Suyodhana’s disappearance.

Vasusena did not hazard any guesses as to Krishna’s purpose. There was no need to guess. He could have only one purpose. But how that purpose was to be served by remaining silent puzzled Vasusena.

An Unexpected Twist… Chapter Four

Suyodhana was awake. He was no longer bound, but he still could not escape. His mind was clear and his thoughts lucid, but his body seemed to have a will of its own. It simply refused to obey his brain.

“What have you done to me?” He asked furiously.

Krishna shrugged. “What I had to do. Don’t worry. It is not permanent. It’s only till your father gives back the Kingdom.”

Suyodhana glared at Krishna and Krishna gazed calmly back.

“Are you so afraid of war, cowherd?” Mockery was his only weapon.

But it did not affect Krishna at all. He simply smiled.

“If that’s how you choose to see it,” his voice was calm.

Suyodhana fumed in silence. It was no fun to mock a man who refused to be provoked.

“How long are you going to keep me here?”

“That all depends on your dearest friend.” Said Krishna. “On how soon he gets here and carries the message back to Hastinapura. And returns with an answer.”

“He will return with an army,”

“Do you think your father will take a risk such as that? I do not, but you know him best.”

Suyodhana glowered in silence. Krishna was right of course. Dhritarashtra would send an army only if there was no other option. War was at best a chancy affair. And Krishna had already proved himself to be not quite human.

He’s a monster, thought Suyodhana. But there was nothing he could do. He sighed. He missed Vasusena. He hoped Krishna would not harm him.

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Three

Duhsasana tried not to display the worry that was eating him. Under normal circumstances, Suyodhana’s disappearance would have gone unnoticed till the morning. But a passing attendant had seen the unconscious guards at the door and had alerted the King.

The room was bolted from the inside and they had banged on it. It was a heavy door, all carved wood and breaking it down would have taken time.

The guards had reported that the window was open. It was Sama who climbed up and entered the room. He had opened the door, looking pale as death and they had all rushed inside.

Duhsasana thought he would never forget the nightmare that the room was. The room was in shambles. The chairs had been flung aside haphazardly. The bed was pushed to the far corner. A big space was cleared in the centre of the room.

In that space lay two swords and two maces. Duhsasana recognized his brother’s sword and mace. The other two were the ones he kept in his room for practice. Both maces were heavily dented. The swords had been nicked as well.

But the room was empty. No one was there in it.

There was also a curious absence of blood stains on the weapons and in the room.

From the weapons, it seemed as if a fierce fight had ensued but if so, there must have been some blood.

And in spite of the unconscious guards in the corridor, someone might have heard the noises. It was inconceivable that no one heard anything.

He cursed the circumstance that had caused his sister-in-law to be away on that night. The ladies of the palace were having a vrata and they had all spent the night in the Siva temple. If Bhanumati had been there, she might have raised the alarm at least.

Vasusena too had not returned yet. It was an added worry for Duhsasana. He was not good at this. He was not a natural leader. Responsibility was something he shirked as a rule. With Suyodhana and Vasusena around, it had never been a problem.

He wished he knew what to do. Pitamaha and Uncle Vidura were alerting the spies and Uncle Sakuni was trying to comfort his parents and reassuring them. His wife was comforting his sister-in-law. His brothers were also planning to scour the Kingdom.

He felt so useless. His brothers, son and nephew, all were looking at him for guidance and directions. And other than telling then that Suyodhana had to be found at any cost, he had not been able to give them anything useful.

Duhsasana felt like weeping with relief as he saw Vasusena running towards him from the apartments allotted to him.

An Unexpected Twist…. Chapter Two

Vasusena reached Hastinapura after dark and went straight to his apartments without meeting anyone and as such he missed the news of Suyodhana’s disappearance. He had not wanted to meet anyone and felt relieved that neither his friend nor any of his allies came to him.

The emotional upheaval that had happened to him also meant that he noticed nothing amiss in the lack of guards outside his room as also the fact that no discussions on battle strategy happened that day.

He wanted to go back to Anga, to the comfort of his parents’ arms. In this time of upheaval, he sought to find security and peace in the familiar.

He had the perfect excuse to go too. With the war looming large, the armies of Anga had to be mustered. He had to bring his men to join Suyodhana’s army.

He looked at the carved ceiling depicting the night sky. Every room in the palace had a ceiling depicting the night sky with the moon having a prominent place. In some, the moon was shining full, smiling benevolently down as on the ceiling in the assembly hall. In some, the moon was waning and in some others, waxing.

In some, the ancestor was wrathful and in some, he was smiling. In some, the other celestial bodies were there paying homage to him and in some, he was paying homage to some unknown entity.

Vasusena had always liked the ceiling of his room which was why Suyodhana never gave this set of guest rooms to any one else but him. The ceiling had the clear night sky, indigo in colour. The stars shone brightly on it. The moon and the sun stood face to face. They both were smiling, as if sharing some secret joke.

Vasusena had often wondered about that carving. No one in the palace knew the story behind it. The moon and the sun together on the night sky seemed an impossibility, and yet, that carving seemed real.

But tonight, that carving failed to soothe him. The sight of the sun only reminded him of who he was in reality. How ironic! Thought he. He had both the sun and the moon for his ancestors! And yet, he had been mocked all his life for his low birth.

He turned on to his side to shut out the view of the ceiling. Tonight, the room seemed too small and suffocating. He rose and went to the windows and flung them wide open. He stood there at the open windows, gulping in the night air, in an attempt to ease the suffocation he felt.

He knew it was of no use. It was his heart that felt suffocated. And there was nothing he could do to relieve it.

It was then he noticed the unusual activity in the courtyard. Soldiers were running hither and thither. Duhsasana was shouting commands. Some of Suyodhana’s other brothers were mounted on horses, as if ready to move out.

He noticed with some trepidation that Suyodhana was nowhere to be seen in the midst of all this activity.