Next day,

The palace of kuru started the next day, everything is going on as usual but if you have looked closely you will find there is a difference there. Especially for new yet old acquaintances of the palace, they were isolated; there are no words to describe that or sugarcoat it. Anyhow they all gathered for breakfast but tension was still there and none were unaware of it. Duryodhana especially took notice how his family was clearly divided in two halves one side were his brother and their wife who he considered as sisters and on the other side were his wife, sister and mother. He knew why all were angry but also knew forcing these matters wouldn't be good because his brothers would give respect if he said but that would not be from their heart and such a shaky relationship is not something he wants his family to have. He also in some parts of his heart felt the same as his brothers but seeing his loved ones once again in front of him he decided to let go of his dark emotions but others sure couldn't do that either he expected them to do so easily. 13 years of absence could not be forgotten in a day or two, it will take time. He understands that and also believes everything will be resolved at the end because like him his brother has missed them and respects them regardless. So breakfast was awkward and tense to say the least.

After the breakfast, sabha was arranged because duty of the king is above the family and Duryodhana was king because he knew as he woke up none of his brothers would sit on the throne for another moment now that he is well. Rajyavaid has visited him along with his family and informed he is all good and even better. That is the reason his brothers have not lashed on others because they knew it's their arrival that helped him. Sabha was as usual as it could be. Everyone was sitting in their usual place but the difference was his brother was there with their wives unlike before where they used to be on the balcony. Duryodhana too took bhanumati's hands and moved on his throne which was big enough to accommodate them. Ghandhari was also led by Dhritrashtra to sit beside him. Eklavya was also given a place there so was Dushala and her daughter which was small. Everyone sat in their place but there was one who was hesitating and he was none other than Bheeshma himself.

Bheeshma and others watched the changes in sabha with pride in heart. Bheeshma especially proud and guilty, proud because yesterday when Vidhur came to him, from him he got to know how prosperous Hastinapur has become in reign of Duryodhana and guilty because he has failed to see capabilities of Kauravas but none the less guilty is nothing compared to proudness he was feeling because how Hastinapur turned out to be. But still he thinks that he is not eligible for the post of Mahamahim that was kept empty in his absence. He nearly spent a century on that post but still Hastinapur has declined but just in 13 years everything is as different as surreal it feels. Duryodhana of course saw this.

Duryodhana : Pitamah, please take your seat. Hastinapur is still like an orphan without his guardian who protected it like his own children.

Kauravas' brother wanted to retort by asking where he was when Hastinapur was facing the biggest danger of its existence but kept quiet. Bheeshma was getting emotional because he can hear respect and love from Duryodhana but thinks he truly deserves that?

Bheeshma : Putra Duryodhana, I am now not worthy of that prestigious post. I have retreated from any involvement that has anything to do with the throne but you can't imagine how happy I truly am. I know many people are angry at me and I don't blame them but its rule of nature that new would and should replace the old. After seeing the prosperity of Hastinapur in my absence I think it's apt to say Hastinapur doesn't need me there.

His words brought silence to court because no matter what anyone could say but it's truth Bheeshma has nurtured the Hastinapur like his own children and served it at servant despite being truly eligible to be the king but ever he was just Mahamahim. Now that he talked about abdicating his post Everyone can feel the emotions behind those words which were of nostalgia, longing and relief. Even other Kauravas were very disheartened because they thought they have lost their Pitamah's love and care again. No matter how angry they were they truly respected him but Duryodhana could understand his Pitamah.

Duryodhana : As you wish Pitamah. You can't sit there as Mahamahim of Hastinapur but as a teacher of the son of king prince Lakshman you are eligible to be part of Sabha. Please don't deny this request.

Duryodhana's words shocked those who didn't know about him being Guru of Lakshman. Kauravas felt relief that Pitamah was connected to them through a connection at least. Bheeshma didn't deny this request. So another grand throne was arranged. After he sat there Duryodhana addressed the sabha again.

Duryodhana : Members of honourable court, I am happy to declare that the queen mother of Hastinapur, the queen along with my children prince Lakshman and Princess Lakhmana has returned to Hastinapur completing the kingdom as it was supposed to be. I would like everyone to welcome them as royal decorum dictates.

The Sabha rang with cheers of hail queen mother, hail queen, hail Prince and princess of Hastinapur. It was silenced after some time. Four people who were addressed stood up and bowed their heads to Sabha as decorum dictates.

Duryodhana : Not only that but also my sister, former princess of Hastinapur Dushala who is now wife of Prince of brahmanagari maharathi Eklavya and their daughter Princess Apoorva, has come to Hastinapur for the first time. Please welcome them.

Sabha was shocked by this, they never knew that but it's good as they now have familial relationship with brahamnagri. Another round of hailing resounded in sabha.

Duryodhana : Now I would like to invite the divine healer Bhaskar who came with everyone to treat me. As you all know how hard it is to meet him but my family did it for me because their love for me or anyone didn't decrease despite their absence.

Duryodhana said this for several reasons, one for his family to think on positives instead, second it was not just royal family but citizens of Hastinapur also didn't have good opinion for those who left because they love jing that much. His words would start to spread automatically and with the help of his spt system he would make sure to shift the negative to positive perspective. Shakuni was feeling proud because he was one behind the smooth words and manipulation of his nephew. In these years he literally molded and taught not only Duryodhana but all Kauravas power of words and politics that he was master. It was his way of atonement. Everyone was proud how Duryodhana was handling everything. They all waited for some time but not long as Bheeshma stood up.

Bheeshma : Maharaj, Vaisya Bhaskar has already left Hastinapur. Here is his scroll he left. Please don't be offended because its Nature.

He gave scroll to servant to pass to Vidhur, yesterday night Karna came and told him about that he would leave. Bheeshma understood his reason and agreed too.

Duryodhana : I wanted to thank him but it seems impossible now. I won't be offended because entire Aaryavrat know nature of Bhaskar he came like rain and disappear like wind. Still I am grateful to him. Mahamantri please read the message ge left for us.

Vidhur took the scroll and opened it. In the scroll it was written that Bhaskar was grateful for their hospitality and also there is no need to thank him as it was Maharani Gandhari's love that helped him to recover not him. Duryodhana was very happy hearing this, with this his plans would go more smoothly but one thing astonished him how the letter was worded, undoubtedly it was the work of a master politician and he seemed aware of the condition of “guests” and was helping them. Not only him but Vidhur and Shakuni too thought that. There could be only two reasons first Bheeshma and others knew bhaskar or bhaskar was being very helpful. Their guts were telling them it was dormer because no Vaidya would help like Bhaskar did but it was odd at the same time.

After everything the serious matters were addressed like loss of lives of soldiers and other things because of war.

Duryodhana : Mahamantri, princes of Hastinapur. It is your responsibility that apt compensation would be provided for those who fought with us and for those who are very badly injured or lost their lives and their families will be taken care of by us in the future.

Yes was the answer from those who were addressed. Then the matter of the kingdom that lost to Hastinapur was brought up.

Duryodhana : We will send a messenger from our side to negotiate for alliance. I am not in the mood for ashmegh or vaishnava yagna for two reasons. First it will have conflict with Digvijaya by brahamnagri and second we have already lost too many innocents in this war. Send a message to all those kingdoms that were defeated that next in line of throne would be king but the reforms are non negotiable and they don't need to send offering for alliance instead the offering should be donated to families of soldiers and the messenger or anyone that would go for negotiation must overlook at the arrangements.

Like this many topics were brought out but one by one Duryodhana tackled everything. His family was proud and happy with all his decisions. But without anyone knowing a pair of eyes was watching everything that's happening in the sabha and the pair belonged to none other than Karna who was getting impressed by Duryodhana as a king. The proceedings of court are done and now Duryodhana announced that he would go for a walk around his kingdom with his wife, children, parents and newly arrived jamai, sister and their daughter to get blessings of citizens and assure them of his recovery.

The citizens of Hastinapur were waiting outside of the palace because news of their king being recovered had already spread. The moment they saw him a huge cheer spread out amongst them. Duryodhana addressed them and thanked them for their prayers. He assured them there is no need to worry he ahs completely recovered. Then told them he would be there for them and with them the entire afternoon with his family. Like this their tour started it was really surreal for others that accompanied him because it was a familiar sight in different places. Many of the changes and reforms Duryodhana did were based on the structure of Brahamnagri and they have spent a long time there but to see almost similar things was surprising. They can see the fruit of hard work of Kauravas because the citizens who behind their back called them bad omen now genuinely love them. The children didn't shy away from coming and giving flowers during the tour and it can be seen it was not the first time they did. Entire afternoon was spent in familiarising the facilities like school, ashram, training ground etc in the city. The newly arrived could also feel hostility from the citizens but not very surprised how they love Duryodhana and even the royal family is angry much less the citizens because after all what they did was abandonment.

When all this was happening, a horse along with its rider had left Hastinapur. This person was none other than Karna. He was there in Hastinapur till Sabha and left soon after. It wasn't hard for him to leave. He was genuinely very impressed by the son of mata Ghandhari. Everything about him has changed and he can see that. The rash and hot headed prince of Hastinapur was long gone and in his place a calm and composed King was there. He would no doubt share his experience of Hastinapur with others, especially with Draupadi.