A Long – Awaited Holiday (A Mahabharata AU story – 2)

Link to the first part: https://everlastingvistas.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/a-long-awaited-holiday-a-mahabharata-au-story-1/

Crossing the Vindhyas

Sahadeva panted to a halt beside the banks of the river. “No Bratha shri,” he gasped, “this can’t be the right path. The trail disappeared in the forest itself”.

Arjuna stood looking at the evening sun softly shimmering on the serene river. It was nearly dusk but the sun showed no intention of settling in for the night. He kicked a pebble into the waters and gnashed his teeth.

They had run for so long, but could find no trace of their brother. Now it seemed that they had been fooled. “That must have been a false trail,” he muttered with set teeth, his eyes burning dangerously. His brothers looked at him. “This is Angaraja Karna’s doing. I will find them if I have to burn this whole land to do it!” he shouted, and the echoes rippled over the harsh landscape, falling on the ears of the two truants who were fleeing in the chariot.

Karna and Yudhishthira looked skywards as the echoes reached them. Yudhi pulled a face. “Arjuna swearing an oath,” he explained glumly. Karna’s jaw grew rigid with suppressed tension. “For now, I’ll just forget that he is my brother and use all my strength to get us away. I won’t be beaten by him,” his eyes lit with a fiery glow that made Yudhishthira bite back a sudden smile. They were so alike, his hot-headed Arjuna and his elder brother. Angry sparks would definitely fly when they met.

“Where could they have gone?” Nakula asked.

“Not Viratanagara,” replied Sahadeva. “They must know that they would be discovered”.

“So where?” insisted Bhima, swinging his mace angrily.

“I’m sure they’ve left Mathura,” said Arjuna. “Let’s go”.

The four brothers raced back with a speed that rivalled even the king of the gods and soon reached the edges of Mathura.

The moon had risen high into the night sky by the time they reached the borders. They stopped at a fence separating the last farmhouse from the deserted land and keenly looked around. Suddenly Nakula bent to the ground.

“Look! Wheel marks from a chariot!” The others gathered around him. “Where from here?” asked Sahadeva anxiously while Bhima went to a stream to refill their water pots.

Arjuna took a few steps into the dark night. Silhouetted against the moon were the vast, towering peaks of the Vindhya mountains. The full moon shone directly above its highest peak, challenging the wilderness with its pristine beauty.

Arjuna’s eyes widened as an idea forged in his brain. He fixed his eyes on the mountain peaks. “Impossible…,” he muttered. “Who would dare to go there?”

“Huh?” questioned Nakula and Sahadeva in unison.

Arjuna jerked his head towards the peaks. The brothers followed his gaze. “No,” said Nakula, “No one would go to the Vindhyas!”

“Why not?” countered his twin. “It’s the perfect place to hide in”.

“But Jyesht would never go there!” objected Bhima.

“Wouldn’t he?” Arjuna eyes sparkled. “He will soon be the king of all kingdoms in the world. If he has Angaraja Karna by his side, can we still say that he wouldn’t dare to enter the vast peaks?”

Everyone fell silent. True. Their Jyesht was known for his dharma, but he was an excellent warrior too. Not to mention steadfast. Once he chose a path, he stuck to it. And Angaraja Karna was one of the best warriors in the entire world. They did not question his courage any more than they questioned their brother’s wisdom.

“Come on!” said Arjuna, resolutely striding forward.

“Where are you going?” asked Bhima.

“To the Vindhyas”.

His brothers looked aghast. Arjuna looked squarely at them and said urgently, “What, are we going to let a bunch of mountains defeat us? Are we going to go back to mother Kunti and tell her we lost her eldest son? Lost our Jyesht bratha? Lost the crown prince? We have to find him!”

Bhima nodded and walked forward. “Yes!” he shouted.

The ever practical Sahadeva intervened hastily before his brothers could march into the darkness. “I’ll get a chariot. We can’t cross this next stretch on foot”.

Some minutes later, the four brothers set forward, eyes fixed on the towering peaks.

Karna and Yudhishthira reached the first of the Vindhya peaks by dawn. Yudhi rubbed his eyes sleepily. “We really have to get rid of this habit of staying awake during the night. It’s exhausting”.

Karna yawned. “Aye aye brother. Let’s hunt for a cosy spot and set up camp.”

“I don’t want Arjuna hovering over me again,” said Yudhi petulantly, as he always did when he was sleepy.

Karna shook him briskly. “Yudhi, focus. Cosy place-camp-sleep”.

Yudhi pranced forward excitedly. “Let’s find it!” he shouted, waving his hands in the air. Karna looked at him and shook his head. So this is how Yudhi acts when he doesn’t get enough sleep. Grasping his arm firmly, he propelled his younger brother up the path, eyes searching for a likely spot.

That cave looks secluded. Away from the wind and prying eyes. He took a few steps forward and tripped over Yudhi’s outstretched leg. Awkwardly regaining his balance, he glared at his younger brother, who was giggling helplessly.

Karna groaned. “Yudhi!” he said sternly. “Stop that or I’ll smack you!”

Yudhi continued his insane giggling. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “My Jyesht bratha promised. Wouldn’t hurt me”.

Karna looked at him for a minute or two and decided that this was the only course of action – he lifted Yudhisthira and inelegantly swung him over his back. Yudhi protested loudly, pummelling Karna’s back with his fists. But Karna paid no heed and walked into the cave. Quickly scanning it, he nodded his approval and deposited his luggage on a clump of moss.

“You stay there like a good boy,” he commanded and went outside to get their stuff. When he came back, he was greeted by soft breathing. His brother was fast asleep, his cheek curled into a mossy palm.

Karna smiled and quietly set up camp, covering his tracks the best he could. After quenching his thirst, he brought a couple of blankets and sat beside Yudhi. Carefully wrapping his brother in the folds of a thick rug, he snuggled into one himself and soon joined his brother in a dreamless sleep.

“Whew!” panted Nakula, leaning against a rock. “Finally”.

It was noon by the time the four brothers reached the bottom of the first peak.

“The tracks end here,” Bhima pointed to the ground. “Sahadeva, find our Jyesht!”

Sahadeva nodded and came to stand next to Bhima. Taking a set of tools from his bag, he carefully examined the ground for Yudhishthira’s tracks.

Arjuna leaned against a rock, glancing upwards. The dark peaks towered challengingly over them. He narrowed his eyes.

Some minutes passed. Voices of Bhima and Nakula could be heard in the distance, splashing in a stream. His youngest brother was still fiddling on the ground.

Arjuna closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on one single point – Yudhishthira. As he meditated on him, the recesses of his mind grew misty; memories came flooding back; he saw his Jyesht on the battle field, battling with a tense, unhappy look on his features; he saw him in their tent, preoccupied and distant….

New images flooded in. Yudhishthira in a forest, near a stream. He concentrated harder. He saw his brother’s frown vanish at the sight of a tall figure. Who was it? A golden light filled his mind. The images shifted to a different scene.

Angaraja Karna. Their million fights. Their harsh words. His tall, muscular figure on the battle field, combining strength and chivalry. Laughing with Duryodhana. Arjuna gritted his teeth. Challenging Arjuna’s archery skills. A charioteer’s son who seemed to resemble the splendour of Surya deva himself.

Karna on the battle field. Keeping the Pandava army in check. Karna in a moonlit, shadowy place… could it be a forest? Arjuna focused all his energy. Karna grabbing someone’s arm, holding the reins of a chariot, speeding into the night… who was it behind him? All he could see was a shadowy figure. Arjuna focused harder. Karna smirking his usual infuriating smirk. Karna holding his bow to the skies, looking at the sun. Karna carrying someone over his shoulder on a mountain path. Arjuna clenched his fists. The figure was wriggling, trying to get away. Who was it? He strained harder and noticed a sparkling green stone on the finger of that pounding fist. A ring! Jyesht’s ring, he was sure of it!

“Arjuna!” a hand shook his shoulder, snapping him out of his vision. He dazedly looked at his worried brothers.

“Give him some water!” ordered Bhima and Arjuna splashed some of the soothing liquid down his parched throat.

“I saw him,” Arjuna panted, “I saw him, carrying someone who looked like Jyesht”.

The others stared at him. “Who?” Bhima stepped forward. “Angaraja Karna?”

Arjuna nodded. The others shifted angrily.

“How do you know it was Jyesht?” asked Sahadeva.

“The figure’s hand was adorned with an emerald ring”.

“Jyesht’s ring,” breathed Nakula.

Arjuna nodded again. “He was carrying him over his back. The figure was struggling to free itself”.

“Angaraja Karna has kidnapped our Jyesht,” said Nakula in a decided voice. Sahadeva looked worried, Bhima furious and Arjuna determined.

“Come we must find him,” the wielder of the Gandiva strode forward. “The path?” he looked questioningly at Sahadeva.

His brother nodded. “This way,” he said, leading them on the narrow path to the caves.

A cool breeze blew through cracks in the cave and swept across Yudhishthira’s face. Opening bleary eyes, he stared for a moment at the rocky ceiling. He stretched his body and accidentally thumped Karna’s face.

Karna grunted sleepily and turned on his side. Yudhishthira chuckled and got up. Washing his face with the pot of water, he went to the entrance of the cave and peeped out.

The evening sun cast dancing shadows on the rocky hillside. Gurgling streams flew in crevices; the peaks were vast, dotted with multi-coloured foliage. A hushed silence surrounded the caves. Yudhishthira looked keenly about him. Moving outside, he peered carefully at the ground. Footprints, hilt of a sword, the round cap of a mace – all these imprints were mixed together with the mountain sand.

Yudhishthira shook his head. He was really proud of his brothers. On the other hand, their dogged tenacity could be trying. The reason he and Karna hadn’t been discovered yet was because of his father’s boon.

Karna came up beside him. Yudhi silently pointed to the ground. A smirk curved Karna’s lips. “So close, yet so far,” he mouthed, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

Yudhi laughed. “At least they didn’t come into the cave”.

Karna looked up, shading his eyes from the sun. “Let’s find a nice sunny spot to eat and talk.”

Yudhi nodded vigorously. “Yes yes. It’s story telling time!”

Carrying baskets of food and pots of water, the two brothers scrambled up the path, searching for a spot. They soon settled down against a huge boulder with the brisk wind whipping their faces and the sun angled behind them. Munching happily, they gazed at the peaks, eyes darting to lush landscapes some miles east.

After they had eaten, Yudhi stretched himself flat on the ground and folded his hands behind his head. “Now, tell me your story,” he said. Karna sat against the boulder, smiled at his eager younger brother, and began his tale…

Bhima tripped over a stone and threw his mace against a rock. He yelled in frustration.

Nakula limped over and squatted against a comforting patch of heather.

“We’ve been searching the whole day,” grumbled Sahadeva. “Now it’s sunset. Still no sign of them”.

“We’ve seen signs,” protested Nakula. “Footprints, vessels, disturbed heather. We just haven’t seen them”.

Arjuna fingered his Gandiva and looked at the setting sun. “The sun is setting on time today,” he remarked. “I wonder what made it change its mind yesterday”.

Sahadeva shrugged, as if disclaiming all responsibility for the universe’s eccentricity.

“What do we do now?” Bhima asked, stuffing some grapes into his mouth.

Sahadeva and Arjuna exchanged glances. “I’ve run out of ideas,” Sahadeva said flatly.

“Where have the Kauravas got to?” asked Nakula.

“A messenger came while you were asleep,” grinned Arjuna. “They’ve gone to Anga, to discover if Karna went there”.

“It is possible,” said Sahadeva thoughtfully. “But the signs here are clear. I don’t think they could have reached Anga so soon.”

Arjuna nodded. “Yes, they are in the Vindhyas. I feel their presence. If only we could discover how to find them!” He plopped beside Nakula.

The four brothers watched the sun set and set off again.

Yudhi rolled around the ground, holding his sides in acute laughter.

“Oh this is too funny!” he gasped. “Poor Duryodhana. Where would he be without his Karna!”

Karna laughed. “Quiet you little wretch. Making fun of my friends”.

Yudhi gurgled even louder. “This’ll never get old. I must tell Arjuna about this. Oh this is so funny!”

Karna punched him and Yudhi squealed even louder. “Not so loud!” said Karna, looking around him. “Someone else might hear us!”

“Sorry,” gulped Yudhishthira, still weak with laughter.

“Now you must tell me your story”.

“On the way,” said Yudhi, picking up their bags. He slung one over his shoulder and they walked towards the setting sun.

“After escaping from Ashwattama, we went into the forest of illusions. And there, we met Hidimba….”

Yudhi told his story as the brothers tracked their way across the cold slopes. Karna would pause now and then to exclaim in surprise or to chuckle with laughter. Clearly his Pandava brothers were a handful.

“However did mother Kunti control all of you?” Karna asked in mock surprise.

“She had her eldest son to help her,” said Yudhi in a lofty voice, tilting his chin up. Ignoring Karna’s snort of disbelief, he continued, “and they do listen to me, you know”.

“Clearly,” said Karna, amused.

“Well they’ll listen to you better, I’m sure,” Yudhi smirked at him. Karna snorted again. “The twins might. You think Arjuna and Bhima will? Let’s see.”

“They will follow their Jyesht bratha,” said Yudhi sternly. “Otherwise I’ll thump their heads”. The image of his serene, good-natured Yudhi thumping his brothers’ heads was too much for Karna and he burst into uncontrollable laughter.

They spent the rest of the night’s journey talking, laughing, exchanging gossip, and commenting upon each other’s notion of dharma. They argued (mildly), agreed to disagree, defended their particular friends, spoke of Krishna’s wisdom, laughed over the Pandava-Kaurava fights, made plans for each other’s swayamvara, and generally had fun.

Suddenly, Yudhi scrunched his nose, a sure sign that he had forgotten something important.

“Why didn’t Lord Indra visit you?” he exclaimed, in response to Karna’s raised brows.

“I don’t know. Maybe he thought it wasn’t necessary any more.”

“Why not? He couldn’t have been so sure that you would never fight his son!”

“No, but…. I don’t know. These gods move in mysterious ways”.

Yudhi huffed. “Why are you irritated?” asked Karna.

“Because I had thought of some very good answers for you not giving away your kavach and kundal.” Yudhi pouted and half-heartedly kicked a pebble.

Karna laughed. “And now all that effort has gone for a waste. My poor little Dharmaputra”.

Yudhi pulled his hair and the two engaged in a friendly wrangle. But Yudhi was no match for Karna, who playfully swung him around the mountainside.

………………..

Discovered

“We’ll reach Dwaraka in a few hours,” said Yudhishthira looking at the sinking moon. “Rest, and then have fun”.

Karna strode along beside him, keeping a watchful eye over the lands. “Won’t Sri Balarama reveal our presence?”

“He’s gone on a pilgrimage. Let’s enlist local support”.

Karna laughed. “Yes we’ll make some new friends who’ll fall in with our prank!”

“Sure to,” Yudhi twinkled.

There was a long pause. Karna once more turned to contemplate the landscape.

“Why are you so silent?” Yudhi looked at him.

Karna paused before replying. “Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t know what exactly, but these lands feel… unsafe.”

Yudhishthira stared at him and then cast a sweeping glance. The lands were quiet and shadowed; no movement could be seen, nor the breath of any living creature felt.

“The night animals are too quiet,” went on Karna, still looking around him. “I feel we’re being watched.”

Yudhishthira grimaced. “I was too preoccupied to notice anything. What should we do? Go back and find another route?”

“If we go back, we’ll bump straight into our brothers. Is there no other path?”

“None that I know of,” Yudhi looked worried. “Let’s go faster. If we reach the borders by dawn, we will be safe”.

Karna nodded and the brothers quickened their strides, weapons in their hands.

“Here!” Sahadeva pounced on a blade of grass excitedly.

His brothers ran up. “What is it? What have you found?” demanded Bhima.

“Footprints,” replied Sahadeva, bending to look closer. “Jyesht’s”.

Arjuna strained his eyes to look ahead. “We are gaining on them. Let’s go!”.

The four brothers raced into the night, hearts beating a little faster, Arjuna’s strides more determined.

At the next halt, Nakula stood on a rock and looked over the lands. He narrowed his eyes. “I can see two shadows! Over there, close to the lands of Dwarka”.

Arjuna grinned and nodded at Bhima. “Yes!” shouted Bhima and the company sprang forward once more.

Yudhishthira suddenly stopped by a tree stump. “Jyesht bratha, I don’t feel all right”.

Karna stopped and ran back. “What is it?” he asked bending over in concern.

Yudhi shook his head. “I feel something is bent upon harming us. I don’t know what though”.

There was a heavy silence. Karna took his brother’s arm and urged him to his feet. “Whatever it is, we can’t linger here. These open lands render us easy prey. We must move on”.

Yudhi nodded and put a hand on his shoulder. Supporting each other, they ran on.

A rumble of thunder shot through the sky, followed by a bright blue light.

Yudhishthira and Karna stopped in astonishment, gazing upwards. Where had this sudden light sprung from?

Karna’s eyes widened in shock. “Brahmastra…,” he muttered. Yudhi looked at him. Karna turned towards his brother. “Someone has let loose the Brahmastra weapon on us!”

Yudhi’s frame grew rigid. His wide eyes took in the lightning and racing clouds, the blue waves encircling the skies.

“Who would do this,” demanded Yudhi, voice shaking. “Why, why would they discharge such a destructive weapon?”

Karna’s face was grim. With an impulsive swoop, he strung his brow and pointed it to the sky.

Yudhishthira grabbed his arm. “No Jyesht!” he exclaimed. “Two brahmastras will destroy the universe!”

Karna paid no heed; he had already closed his eyes and begun chanting the mantra. Yudhi stepped back and fidgeted helplessly. He glanced back at the sky. The weapon seemed to be pointed straight at Karna. What was to be done?

“This Brahmastra will destroy us, Yudhi,” said Karna opening his eyes slightly. “I must counter it with my own”. Yudhishthira’s frown deepened and Karna’s brow furrowed. Why didn’t his brother want him to use his Brahmastra?

Yudhi nodded. “I understand Jyesht. But…”

“But?”

Yudhi sighed and repeated, “The collision of two Brahmastras will destroy this universe. The weapon is aimed at you Jyesht,” said Yudhi in a flat voice but Karna heard the note of despair in it. “What should we do?” 

Karna looked at the tears gathering in his younger brother’s big eyes; he took a few steps forward and revoked his Brahmastra. The red orb shuddered and vanished from the skies. 

Yudhi enveloped him in a bear hug. Karna hugged his brother back and patted his head. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Whatever happens, keep yourself safe”. Yudhishthira broke away and turned to the sky, the mounting anger inside him made his eyes a fiery red. 

“I don’t want it to hit you,” said Karna, stepping away from his brother.

“Nonsense! If it hits you, then it hits me too”. Yudhishthira stepped forward. Karna looked at him and sighed. He knew the latent stubbornness of his brother. Yudhishthira would never stand aside. Karna stared at the ground and thought frantically of a means of escape.

Meanwhile, Yudhishthira was eyeing the weapon and chanting under his breath. He closed his eyes and invoked his father, Lord Dharma, as well as Lord Surya. In a few seconds, his meditations found fruit; his spear was enveloped in a celestial light, and a sharp, flowery tip was encased at one end.

Yudhishthira opened his eyes and fixed them on the hurtling weapon; he stood in front of his elder brother. Karna again stepped to one side and vehemently shook his head. “No. You must escape. You must win the war and become the king of Hastinapur. Leave me”.

Yudhishthira royally ignored him and continued to twirl the spear in his hands.

The weapon was close now, its tip burning with fire. Karna put out his hands to ward his brother off, but Yudhishthira sprang forward. He expertly swung his spear against the weapon. A loud crash and the Brahmastra swerved wildly, its potency destroyed by the combined powers of the gods.

The Pandava brothers reached the hill top and were just in time to see their Jyesht destroy the Brahmastra with his formidable spear. They saw their brother risking his life for their enemy and stood still, too dazed to move.

Yudhishthira turned to look at his elder brother. As their eyes met, Karna let out a sudden scream of pain and doubled up on the ground. For a moment, Yudhishthira stood rooted to the spot. Hadn’t he just destroyed it? And how on earth did the flying shards manage to pierce Karna’s kavach? 

Then echoing Karna’s cry, he rushed forward and fell on his knees; he lifted Karna’s lolling head tenderly and placed it on his lap. Karna twisted in pain, eyes filling with a reddish hue. Yudhishthira quickly unbuckled his brother’s armour and laid the upper body bare. He stared at the wound.

The tip was firmly lodged in Karna’s shoulder. Setting his teeth, Yudhishthira massaged the surrounding area, and yanked it out in a single pull.

Karna screamed in agony again and Yudhishthira’s tears were falling fast. Stroking his brother’s head, he tried to reassure him.

“It’s all right Jyesht bratha,” he said, voice breaking, “the pain will go. I promise”.

Karna lifted heavy eyes and met his brother’s tearful black ones. “The pain…” he gasped, clutching Yudhishthira’s hand, “I don’t think…. if anything happens… you must go to Dwaraka…. go back to mother Kunti….,” Karna sank tiredly against Yudhishthira’s knee.

“No,” Yudhishthira’s voice was calm now. “I’m not going back without you”.

Karna opened his eyes. Yudhi looked squarely at him, brows raised. Then he searched his bag for some herbs. Soaking them in water, he concentrated all his knowledge into healing the wound.

“I wish Nakula or Sahadeva were here,” he grumbled. Karna grinned faintly, still twitching in Yudhi’s lap.

“Jyesht bratha!” the shout rippled across the lands, causing Yudhishthira to pause in his work and whip his head up.

Silhouetted against the sunrise were his four brothers, weapons in hand, eyes and mouths open in shock as they saw their elder brother tending to Angaraja Karna.

Karna too turned his head slightly, wincing at the pain. “Your wish has been granted. Look who’s here,” he gasped, wryly smiling at Yudhi.

Yudhishthira shushed him with a half-smile-half-frown and beckoned to his brothers.

“Nakula! Sahadeva! Thank god! Come here quick!”

His brothers ran up and stood in a circle around the pair.

“Jyesht, what are you doing?” demanded Bhima.

Yudhishthira waved an impatient hand. “No time for that now. Nakula, Sahadeva, you must help me cure his wound quickly,” he gestured at Karna’s shoulder.

But the twins didn’t move. Yudhi glanced at them. Sahadeva swallowed. “But Jyesht…” he stammered, “He’s our enemy!” finished Nakula.

Yudhishthira stared uncomprehendingly at them for a moment. “He’s not our enemy. Now please come here and help me make him all right!”

Arjuna came forward. “Jyesht,” he said sternly. “I don’t know why you disappeared. I don’t know why a Brahmastra appeared in the sky. But we saw you risk your life to save Angaraja Karna. Surely that’s enough for him”.

“Yes, I think so too,” muttered Karna faintly, his eyes smiling at Yudhi. As Yudhi looked at him, he shook his head. “Let it be,” he whispered. “It’ll take too long to convince them. What does the truth matter now?” He smiled faintly.

Yudhishthira’s eyes filled once more, and he grasped Karna’s head firmly. “You’re not going to die Jyesht, do you hear me? You’re not going to leave us… your brothers, your friends… what of all the plans we made?”

“Jyesht? Why are you calling him Jyesht?” asked Arjuna, as thoroughly confused as his brothers.

“Because he is my Jyesht,” replied Yudhishthira, refusing to expound on the logic of this statement.

The four gazed dumbfounded at their elder brother. Arjuna swallowed, not knowing what to say. Nakula and Sahadeva cast Bhima anguished looks.

“Don’t stand there gaping!” Yudhishthira’s voice was low, indicating a little anger. The Pandava brothers looked helplessly at each other. Then Nakula and Sahadeva slowly approached Yudhi. With palms folded, they said humbly, “If it is your wish, Jyesht, then we will help heal Angaraja Karna”.

Yudhishthira smiled. He was calm and tranquil now. Karna smiled despite the pain, “You’re mad you know, Dharmaputra,” he said. Yudhi smiled wryly. “That’s why you should be king”. Karna smiled. His gaze transferred from Nakula to Sahadeva to Bhima to Arjuna. His eyes rested on the latter for a moment or two, then transferred back to Yudhi’s face and closed.

Nakula and Sahadeva opened a few bottles and sat beside Angaraja Karna. Slowly, the twin Ashwinis applied paste on his wound, draining away all the ill effects of the Brahmastra. There was complete silence, Yudhi’s eyes were focused on Karna’s shoulder.

An hour later, the twins got up and closed the bottles. Yudhi looked at Karna’s face. It was peaceful and devoid of pain; eyes were half-shut, chest heaving steadily. Yudhi looked gratefully at his youngest brothers. “Thank you,” he said softly, tilting his head.

The twins shifted uneasily. “Please don’t thank us Jyesht bratha,” they sounded close to tears, “you have no need. You know that we will always follow you.”

Yudhishthira looked at Karna, who had now fully opened his eyes, and gave him a cheeky look. Karna’s eyes twinkled responsively, acknowledging the allusion to their earlier conversation.

“Jyesht,” said Arjuna tentatively. Yudhishthira looked at him. Swallowing, Arjuna continued, “You are our Jyesht aren’t you? Why… why did you leave us?” The four surrounded the pair and sat on the ground, unhappy eyes fixed on Yudhishthira. “Does Angaraja Karna mean more to you than us?” continued Arjuna, his voice breaking, “please, if we have committed some mistake, please forgive us”. Tears filled Arjuna’s eyes and he sat with bowed head.

Karna regarded them for a moment or two and then turned to Yudhi. “See what you’ve done,” he scolded lightly, a dimple in his cheeks, “how dare you make my brothers cry?”

At this, Yudhi chuckled infectiously, and Karna joined in with his booming laugh.

“Can we share the joke?” cut in Bhima, scrubbing his eyes and looking at the two in mounting exasperation. “We’ve chased after you without a break, without food and we demand an explanation!”

Yudhishthira smiled his usual calm, enchanting smile. “Calm down Bhima. Yes, we will tell you everything. But first, go get yourself something to eat. Then we’ll begin.”

…………………

Dwaraka

Dawn was just a few hours away by the time Bhima and Nakula emerged from the trees, arms laden with food.

Sahadeva was still examining Karna’s wounds, muttering incomprehensibly under his breath.

Arjuna filled the water pots and sat next to Yudhishthira. He picked up Karna’s fallen bow and placed it near him, not meeting his eyes.

Karna, who was glancing frequently at Arjuna, smiled a little and quirked an eyebrow at Yudhi. Yudhi, whose right arm was around Arjuna’s shoulder, shrugged abstractedly.

“What ails you now Dharmaputra?” Karna smirked.

Yudhishthira pulled a face. “You, if you must know,” he huffed. “About you…I don’t know where to start”.

Karna laughed. Sahadeva and Arjuna looked between the two, incredulous at their easy intimacy. Arjuna had never seen Angaraja Karna so carefree – laughing and joking, with a dancing twinkle in his eyes.

“Where are our Kaurava brothers,” asked Yudhishthira suddenly.

“They’ve gone to Anga,” replied Arjuna.

Karna chuckled. “Duryodhana must think I’m there. We hid our tracks well Yudhi.”

Yudhi smiled. “Well enough for Duryodhana. But not for these four,” he twinkled at Sahadeva and put a hand on his head. “I’m proud of you for tracking so well”. Sahadeva blushed a bright pink and smiled. Karna gripped his hand as well and Sahadeva’s eyes opened wide in shock.

Both Karna and Yudhi giggled at Sahadeva’s expression.

Yudhishthira turned to Arjuna. “And you too. For not giving up. For infusing confidence in your brothers,” he said gently, placing his hand on Arjuna’s head.

Arjuna smiled widely and gripped his brother’s hand. “I couldn’t let you just disappear like that. We didn’t know what had happened. We thought….” he looked at Karna and trailed off.

“You thought I had kidnapped your Jyesht,” said Karna in an amused tone.

Arjuna looked shamefaced. “Yes… I was wrong. Sorry”.

Karna shook his head. “No need to apologise. I am on the enemy side after all. It was a logical conclusion”.

“Why do you keep calling each other brothers?” said Sahadeva suddenly. “Why do you call Angaraja Karna Jyesht, Jyesht?”

Yudhishthira and Karna laughed. “That is part of the story, Sahadeva,” said Yudhi, amused. “Wait till the other two come back, then I’ll tell you”.

After they had eaten, Yudhi helped Karna into a sitting position. He leaned his back against a tree, looking into space. Everyone waited expectantly. Karna, still feeling weak, closed his eyes.

Yudhishthira coughed, then cleared his throat, and coughed again. Karna opened an eye. “Yudhi, would you rather I told them?”

Yudhi shook his head. “No you rest. I’m just…” He heaved a long breath. “All right, let’s start from the eve of the first day of battle. I went into the forest to take a break from all the madness….”

“What!” exclaimed Bhima. Arjuna turned pale and looked at Karna, tears filling in his eyes. Nakula and Sahadeva just stared at Karna.

“This is our Jyesht bratha,” announced Yudhishthira with a flourish.

Karna opened his eyes and looked around. He smiled at his brothers. “Continue Yudhi”.

“But Jyesht,” said Sahadeva.

Both Karna and Yudhi looked at him.

“Sorry, I mean, bratha Yudhishthira,” stammered Sahadeva, wincing at the sound of his own voice.

“You know, Yudhi,” pondered Karna for a moment. “This Jyesht thing is going to become very confusing. All of them are used to calling you Jyesht for so many years. I don’t think they’ll like to call you bratha Yudhishthira”.

Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva nodded vigorously in assent.

“So,” continued Karna, “They must go on calling you Jyesht.” Yudhi moved to protest but was cut short. 

“And what will they call you?” asked Yudhi sarcastically.

“Angaraja Karna is fine. Or they can call me Jyesht when you’re not around,” laughed Karna, eyes dancing.

Yudhi grunted in annoyance. “How will we know which Jyesht they’re referring to?” His sarcasm was more pronounced.

Karna giggled his infectious laugh. Arjuna giggled too.

Yudhi looked at the two of them and leaned back helplessly. These two were definitely going to be a handful.

“Call us whatever you want. Now can I continue with the story?”

“Yes Jyesht,” said everyone in chorus, including Karna. They all laughed. Yudhi sighed, held up a hand for silence and continued.

The morning sun was well up in the sky by the time Yudhi finished.

“But who shot the Brahmastra at Angaraja Karna?” asked Arjuna, frowning perplexedly.

Yudhishthira shrugged. “We’ll have to find out”.

“What do we do now?” asked Nakula.

Everyone was silent.

“Well, Yudhi and I were on our way to Dwarka,” said Karna. “We haven’t finished our holiday yet. Want to come along?”

Bhima snorted. “Of course we want to come along! We want a holiday too!”

“Not to mention some good food,” Nakula threw his big brother a cheeky look.

Bhima huffed and got to his feet. “Let’s go,” he said, swinging his mace over his shoulder.

Karna stood up. “You’re all right?” asked Yudhi anxiously. Karna smiled at him. “Yes I’m fine, thanks to Nakula and Sahadeva”.

Arjuna handed him his bow. Karna smiled his thanks and clapped a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. Arjuna smiled back and they walked forward together.

The brothers reached Dwaraka by noon. Arjuna espied a few friends and introduced them to his brothers.

Whilst they were exchanging pleasantries, Bhima tugged Yudhishthira’s arm. “I’m hungry!” he whispered loudly. Yudhishthira threw him a warning look and turned back to the conversation.

Bhima’s eyes met Karna’s. The latter smiled understandingly.

“Excuse me, is there a place where we can eat? We’re very hungry,” Karna’s voice was very polite.

“Yes, of course,” said their new-found friends, and hosts. “Follow us”.

Bhima slapped Karna’s back in enthusiasm, thereby stamping his approval on his big brother. The other four laughed, and followed Bhima and Karna into a large house, where a banquet, in true Dwaraka-style awaited them.

“Oh my, I’m so sleepy!” breathed Nakula, sinking on the grass.

“That lunch was good,” said Bhima appreciatively, throwing his mace on the ground and  sitting beside Nakula.

Sahadeva and Yudhishthira entered the clearing in a more sedate style, and quietly sat on the moss.

Karna and Arjuna were walking beside a small lake. Judging by their faces, they were engaged in earnest conversation, with a contented look in their eyes. Often, they would smile at each other and cast laughing eyes at each other’s bow.

Yudhishthira looked at his two brothers, completely at ease with each other and smiled. His heart bubbled with warmth to see his two brothers (and former enemies) getting along so well.

“Well, it’s nice to see for a change that bratha Arjuna and Angaraja Karna are having a conversation without fighting,” remarked Sahadeva, following Yudhishthira’s gaze.

Yudhi nodded. “They look calm and peaceful. You remember, every time they met, it was as if a huge storm burst upon our heads?”

Sahadeva laughed and stretched, placing his head comfortably on Yudhishthira’s knee. “There was never a dull moment when those two met”.

“Electrifying is not the word,” said Yudhi. “I always dreaded those meetings”.

Sahadeva laughed again and closed his eyes contentedly. Nakula and Bhima had already fallen asleep. Yudhishthira too closed his eyes and let the wind lull him into a comforting snooze.

Karna and Arjuna came into the clearing. They exchanged amused looks when they saw their brothers happily snoozing in the shade.

“So this is how they spend a holiday. Sleeping,” said Arjuna, raising an eyebrow. Karna laughed. “This is their idea of fun”.

“I’ll tell you what’s fun?” said Arjuna, “Putting grass into Bhima’s open mouth”.

Karna looked at his brother Vrikodara and narrowed his eyes. “He’ll kill us,” he said, in a matter-of-fact voice.

Arjuna raised an eyebrow. “Are you scared?”

“You’re not trying that trick on me again,” Karna poked him in the ribs.

“Please,” Arjuna pouted, with puppy dog eyes.

“Fine,” relented Karna. “What do we do to the others?”

“Smear mud on Sahadeva’s clothes and hide his axe, draw squiggles on Nakula’s face with kajal and kumkum, pour water into bratha Bhima’s ears….” continued Arjuna.

Karna raised both his eyebrows, his lips quirking into a smile. “You are an experienced prankster aren’t you?” he quizzed his younger brother.

Arjuna chuckled.

“And what do we do to Yudhishthira?” continued Karna.

Arjuna rubbed his nose thoughtfully. “Now there, you have me at a loss. By the time I pranked the others Jyesht would find out. I’ve never actually played any trick on him”.

Karna laughed. “We have to think of something. How can we not prank the crown prince?”

They went behind some trees and squatted.

“Oh gosh, this is hard,” groaned Karna, as he and Arjuna racked their brains on finding a trick to play on Yudhishthira.

“See! I told you!” Arjuna sighed and leaned against Karna’s shoulder. “I couldn’t ever think of anything!”

Karna absently swung an arm around Arjuna and frowned into the distance. “There must be something…” he muttered.

“If we hide his spear, he’ll just raise an eyebrow at us and ask us to bring it,” said Arjuna.

“If we put a snail into his ear, he’ll just take it out serenely and place it back on the grass,” said Karna.

“If we throw water on him, he’ll just smile and go back to sleep”.

“If we put mud on his clothes, or draw on his face, he’ll just wash it off in the stream”.

“If we… oh god I give up!” Arjuna closed his eyes, his mental faculties exhausted.

Karna suddenly sat up straight. “War… Pitama Bhishma… mata Kunti….”

“Huh?” Arjuna looked thoroughly confused.

Karna turned to him with sparkling eyes. “What if we imitate Pitama Bhishma and mata Kunti? After all, we have escaped. Yudhi will think that they’ve come to drag him back to his princely duties”.

“Jyesht will get the shock of his life!” said Arjuna excitedly punching Karna’s shoulder. 

The two high-fived and quietly went about the tricks appointed for the others. Soon, strands of grass decorated Bhima’s open mouth; Sahadeva’s clothes were decked in mud, his beloved axe was flung into a ditch, and Nakula’s face and arms were a startling mixture of black and red squiggles.

Then Karna and Arjuna, satisfied with their labours, went further away from the clearing. Taking up opposite positions, carefully hidden behind the bushes, they nodded to each other.

“Putra Yudhishthira!!!” roared a deep voice in the forest. “Are you trying to run away from your duties as a crown prince?”

Arjuna was impressed at his elder brother. That was a perfect imitation of their Pitama Bhishma. He cupped his mouth and opted for a falsetto voice. “Putra Yudhishthira!!” he squeaked, “Where are you? How could you do this to me?”

Karna stifled his giggles. Arjuna sounded exactly like their mother Kunti!

All this got over in 5 seconds. The effect was much more than they had ever hoped for.

Yudhishthira had jerked awake at the first roar of Putra Yudhishthira. He pushed Sahadeva off his lap and sat up, his body tensing. “Pitama?” he said, his voice trembling ever so slightly. He cast a quick glance around but saw no one. Nor could he hear hoof beats or the trundling of chariots.

At the sound of a female voice, his head whipped to the left. He groaned. “Mata?” he rubbed his palm across his sweaty forehead. Were the whole lot after him?

Yudhishthira sprang to his feet and snatched his spear. He looked frantically around and decided that there was only one thing to be done. He couldn’t see anyone, but he wouldn’t wait till they jumped on him.

Holding up his dhoti with his left hand, and spear in the right, he darted past his brothers and ran out of the clearing. In his haste, he didn’t even notice that Karna and Arjuna were missing.

“He can certainly run fast!” Karna laughed, his eyes fixed on the fleeing figure.

Arjuna collapsed against a tree and held his sides. “Ouch!” he gasped, “I’ve… never… seen Jyesht… run like that! The look on his face!” he panted, still weak from laughter.

Karna joined in and the two rolled on the ground, laughing like maniacs.

The roars had awoken Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva. But each was too busy cursing at his own predicament to notice Yudhishthira running away like a hare.

Bhima shook his head clear of the last drops of water. “Arjuna!!” he roared in fury, his eyes darting around the clearing.

“Bratha shri!” complained Nakula and Sahadeva together. Nakula immediately ran to the stream and splashed water on himself, frantically rubbing out the squiggles. Sahadeva stared dismally at his ruined silk clothes.

“We’d better go,” Arjuna nudged Karna, jerking his head towards the infuriated Bhima.

Karna nodded and the two tried to slink away into the foliage.

But Bhima was too quick for them. A couple of strides and he had swung his arms around the necks of the pranksters, dragging them backwards into the clearing.

The five brothers wrangled with each other, a mess of warriors (tangled curls, fists, shouts) on the forest floor. Finally, exhausted, they sat up and and looked at each other.

“Where’s Jyesht?” asked Sahadeva twisting his head around.

Bhima and Nakula looked round too. Arjuna and Karna burst into uncontrollable laughter again. “What did you two do to him?” asked Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva in unison.

Arjuna pointed to some distance in front of him, still holding on to Karna and laughing.

In the distance, a figure was darting between the trees, spear in hand, his dhoti flying in the wind. Soon he was lost to sight.

Karna and Arjuna recounted the trick they played on Yudhishthira and soon all five were laughing loudly. They collapsed on the grass and lay there, their cackles echoing through the forest and the nearby dwellings.

Yudhishthira panted to a halt beside a stream. Catching his breath, he looked behind him. No one was chasing him. He tried to listen to the sound of footsteps, or spy a shadow amongst the trees. Nothing. Then suddenly he heard wild laughter on the wind. His brows furrowed. Guffaws and cackles followed. “Some people are very happy,” he muttered. He turned in the direction he came and squinted into the distance, an unwelcome thought filling his head.

A hand grasped his shoulder from behind. Yudhishthira let out a wild yell and wriggled, lifting his spear. He swung round in fright; his eyes fell on the tall form of Krishna, laughing at him with a knowing, mischievous gleam in his eyes.

“Vasudeva,” panted Yudhishthira, “why did you scare me like that?” He mopped his brow.

“Me Jyesht?” said Krishna in a surprised voice. “What did I do?” His eyes twinkled.

Yudhishthira sighed and sagged against the tree. “I thought Pitama and Mata were after me,” he muttered. “Have you seen them?”

Krishna cast him an innocent look. “I haven’t seen anyone.”

“I’ll bet it was Arjuna!” Yudhi fumed, “and Jyesht bratha! Yes they both thought of this prank together!”

Krishna laughed. “Mischief makers,” continued Yudhi, “oh gosh, I knew this would happen”. He flung his spear on the ground.

Krishna bent and picked it up. “Well you deserve it”.

Yudhishthira cast him an affronted look.

“You do,” said Krishna serenely, “after playing that trick on us and running away from battle”.

Yudhishthira blushed and looked at his feet. “We just wanted a holiday. We were going to come back,” he mumbled.

Krishna raised an eyebrow. “All right!” said Yudhishthira a little defiantly, “I don’t want to fight. By the way, why didn’t you tell me that Karna was my brother?” Krishna shook his head. “That was mata Kunti’s responsibility”.

“Huff,” Yudhi kicked the ground. “Everyone keeps mum about an elder brother, we create a big scene over the heir to the throne, and people still expect me to be sane. Huh!”

Krishna laughed and put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I understand, Dharmaputra. We’ll talk it over”.

“After our holiday is over,” said Yudhi sternly. Krishna smiled and nodded. Together they made their way back to the clearing.

“Look who’s here!” announced Yudhishthira as they stepped into the clearing. He stopped and gazed at his brothers who were still laughing and rolling on the ground.

They saw him and laughed even louder. Yudhishthira sighed and looked at Krishna. “I’m never going to live this down, am I?”

“Never Dharmaputra,” replied Krishna, chuckling.

Finally Karna got up and walked over to them. Saluting Krishna, he gave Yudhi a cheeky grin. Yudhishthira pulled a face and finally smiled. “I knew you and Dhananjaya would create havoc once you got together”. Karna laughed. “Not that you didn’t create havoc when you were enemies…” muttered Yudhishthira, going to find the pot of water that lay in the shade.

“Jyesht is talking to himself,” said Arjuna cheekily. Everyone laughed again and turned to welcome Krishna, leaving Yudhishthira to steady his nerves with cold water.

They were definitely going to have a lovely holiday.

…………

A/N: Just a wee bit of angst and fluffy drama weaved into Yudhishthira-Karna’s relationship. Leaving the holiday details to everyone’s fertile imagination…. 😀

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to me, the author. Based on original sources. No copyright intended. Creative thoughts. No insult, harm, disparagement etc. meant to any person, living being, thought, or non-living entity. Completely fictional. No offence is meant to the actual story, authors or characters or any others who hold the text sacred and possess different views. This is merely a creative, personal take on the real story. All copyright of content belongs to the owner of this blog and cannot be reproduced or distributed without my permission.