Karna reined his horse in by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2023-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

Three

H

e repaired to his tent and changed his clothes. Padmavathy was overseeing the packing of his clothes and hers for their trip. Two neat bundles, one larger than the other lay on the floor of her tent.

He proceeded to see if the chariot was ready. It had to be modified to carry her and the luggage. Some more changes had to be made to enable it to go through the forest paths without damage.

The horses were sturdy animals who were not very fast but would endure.

Lastly, he had to meet the commander of his armies. While there, he received a message that Suyodhana wished to meet him.

Suyodhana was not alone in his tent. Bheeshma was with him. Suyodhana looked angry, but Bheeshma’s face had a pleased look. Vasushena couldn’t help the frown that appeared on his face. What had happened suddenly?

“Vasushena,” Suyodhana said, his voice as angry as his expression. “Pitamaha has received a message from my father.” He spat out the words, as if they were poison. “My father has implored Pitamaha to avert this war at any cost. He has sent a similar missive to the Pandavas too.” He paused. “He has said he is coming to Kurukshetra himself. He has requested Yudhishtira one last chance to make amends. He has said he will accede to a peace proposal.”

Vasushena was stunned. This change from Dhritarashtra was completely unexpected. He could not understand how it came about.

“What happened to him?” he asked Suyodhana, trying to make sense of what he heard.

“He had a nightmare, he says.” Suyodhana’s voice was full of scorn. “And it was so horrible that he refuses to even contemplate the possibility of war!” said Suyodhana. “He has ordered me to accept his command as he is still the King.” Suyodhana clenched his fists.

Vasushena looked at Bheeshma who looked even happier. Why shouldn’t he be? He had never wanted the war in the first place. Vasushena turned his attention back to his friend.

“A nightmare?” he asked. It didn’t make any sense. He recalled his own nightmares, full of portents. He hadn’t abandoned his duty over them even though he understood their meaning.

Suyodhana picked up a scroll from a table and handed it to him. Vasushena read it through. Twice. He lifted his eyes to look at his friend.

“He had a vision of the future, he says. The same vision was shared by your mother.”

“Vision!” Suyodhana snorted. “They are being scared by dreams. He has said he realised uncle Vidura was right all along. Mark, my words, this is all my uncle’s doing! He’s taking advantage of our absence to bend my father to his will.”

Bheeshma compressed his lips, his eyes flashing in anger, but remained silent. Vasushena suppressed a sigh. He was Suyodhana’s Pitamaha. Couldn’t he at least try and pacify him?

“Whatever prompted it, your father has changed his mind,” he said, attempting to be logical.

“How can he do this to me!” Suyodhana burst out. “To all of us! He has no right to do this!”

Vasushena did not know what to say.

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