---------------------------------------------------------

The Kauravas sat scattered around the room, each doing their own thing.

Suyo and Ashwa sat together with Sahadev, who was quietly reading a book.

Nakul stood in front of a tall mirror, adjusting his hair for the tenth time in just a few minutes, as if one strand out of place would throw the world into chaos.

After watching Nakul for while, Vikarna smirked and said, "Nakul, if you keep this up, the mirror is going to break from exhaustion."

"The mirror won't break from overuse, Bhrata Vikarna." Nakul pointed to himself with both hands and said, "But from trying to handle this much perfection. I mean, just look at me - who wouldn't admire this?"

Sahadev, still absorbed in his book, sighs without even looking up. "The only thing more constant than the sun rising in the east is Nakul staring at himself in the mirror."

Sushasana, lazily tossing dice on the floor, laughed. "You should just marry the mirror, Nakul. It's the only thing that looks at you the way you do."

All the Kauravas laughed at what Sushasana said.

Unbothered, Nakul ran a hand through his hair. "Jealousy doesn't suit any of you. You should be taking notes instead."

Meanwhile, Suyo, casually chatting with Ashwa, noticed scars on Ashwa's hands. With genuine concern, he asked, "Mitra, what happened to your hands? These scars...."

Ashwa looked at his hands, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he was silent, lost in thought.

Unknowingly, while thinking about how he got the scars saving Karna, he murmured, "I got them when I was saving yo-" he stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering the arrow Karna had sent him. His eyes widened, and he quickly stood up, thinking, "How could I forget the arrow Karna sent? It must be important..."

Everyone stopped what they were doing, their attention now on Ashwa.

Suyo stood up as well, concerned. "What's wrong, Mitra?"

Ashwa was about to reply when -

Out of nowhere, CHIRAYU swooped into the room, startling everyone. The bird flew straight at Ashwa and began pecking at his head.

"Aahhh!! Chirayu?!.... What are you doing here? Stop it!" Ashwa yelled, trying to shield himself.

Seeing Ashwa struggle, Suyo quickly turned to Sushasana. "Sushasana, shoo the bird away!"

Sushasana, following his Jyesth's order, immediately got up and waved his arms. "Go away, Shoo!" But instead of flying off, Chirayu went after Sushasana.

Sushasana tried to catch Chirayu, but ended up running in circles with Chirayu chasing and pecking at him. "Get this bird off me! Help!" he shouted, ducking behind a chair. Chirayu followed him, pecking at his rear, making Sushasana run in circles again.

Everyone laughed at the sight of Sushasana running around in panic.

Nakul, finally distracted from the mirror, noticed Chirayu and was curious. "A white eagle? I've never seen one like this before."

Sahadev called out to Nakul, "Nakul, you're good with animals! Do something! Otherwise, Bhrata Sushasana will keep running until he faints!"

Confidently, Nakul stepped forward. "I've got this!" he declared, approaching Chirayu.

"Come here, beautiful bird!" he called, but things didn't go as planned because he failed miserably. Chirayu pecked at him too turning his hair into a bird's nest.

"No! Not the hair! You're ruining my masterpiece!" Nakul shouted, trying to shoo Chirayu away with one hand while fixing his hair with the other.

The Kauravas were nearly rolling on the floor laughing.

Seeing the chaos Chirayu was creating, Ashwa finally shouted. "Chirayu! Stop!! Now!!"

Chirayu immediately halted, and this time turned toward Suyo.

Suyo looked at Chirayu, instinctively covered himself with his hands, thinking he would be the next target. But to everyone's surprise, Chirayu calmly landed on Suyo's shoulder instead.

Suyo noticed a letter tied to Chirayu's leg. He hesitated but, seeing Chirayu stay still, not stopping him, he carefully removed it and handed it to Ashwa.

Still rubbing his head from the pecking, Ashwa muttered. "I told Mitra not to send you! Stupid Chirayu!! Is this how you greet me?"

He took the letter from Suyo and quickly reads it, his expression turning serious.

Ashwa looked at Suyo, tension clear in his voice. "Mitra Suyo, the arrow.... Arjun... He did not give it to me. I need to get that arrow from him. NOW!"

Sahadev, hearing Arjun's name and the arrow, said. "Bhrata Arjun is practicing archery in the courtyard."

Nakul, who was sulking as he fixed his hair again, corrected Sahadev without looking up. "No, Dev, I saw Bhrata Arjun go to our room just a while ago."

Chirayu, hearing this, immediately took off, flying out of the room in a flash.

Without wasting another second, Ashwa rushed out after Chirayu, thinking, "How could I be so careless... What if it's about another vision Karna had... I just hope I'm not too late..."

"Wait, Mitra!! I'm coming with you!" Suyo called, hurrying after Ashwa.

Sushasana always the one to follow his Jyesth, ran after Suyo, still rubbing his sore backside.

Nakul and Sahadev exchanged glances, and they too followed since it was related to Arjun.

Pandavas' Room

The room is calm, a peaceful contrast to the chaos with the Kauravas.

Yudhishthir is sitting near the window, reading scrolls.

Nearby, Bhima is happily munching on a mountain of food he arranged like a banquet, savoring every bite of parathas, laddoos and fried snacks.

Arjun, however, is staring at the arrow in his hand, turning it over as if expecting something to happen. He remembered how a similar arrow turned into a letter in their father's hand just the other day.

"Will this one change into a letter like it did for Pitashree?" he wonders aloud.

Bhima, noticing Arjun's concentration, grinned as he popped another sweet into his mouth. "Arjun, you're staring at that arrow like I stare at food. If I were you, I'd just eat it and be done with it." he said, laughing at his own joke.

Yudhishthir looks up from his scrolls, a small smile forming on his lips. "Is there ever a moment when food isn't your first solution, Bhima?"

Bhima, still chewing, gestures to his massive plate, which nearly covers half the bed he's sitting on. "Well, Jyesth, it's working out pretty well for me so far, hasn't it?" he said proudly.

Arjun frowns, still turning the arrow in his hand. "Should I give it Ashwthama? He did say this arrow was sent for him...."

Just then, Chirayu, entered the Pandavas room.

Arjun tried to shoo him away, but Chirayu looked at the arrow in Arjun's hand and began pecking at him, eager to snatch it.

"Get off me!" Arjun shouted, dodging the bird.

Chirayu dove at him again, making Arjun stumble and almost drop the arrow. He quickly grabbed it back, clutching it tightly as Chirayu flapped his wings agressively around him.

Bhima, watching the chaos, yelled, "Someone stop that bird!"

In his attempt to shield his food, Bhima grabbed a nearby plate only to accidentally knock over his huge pile of snacks. Laddoos and samosas went flying everywhere.

For a moment, everyone froze, even Chirayu, staring at the mess.

Bhima let out a loud dramatic gasp, eyes wide in horror. "My... my poor food! What have I done?! I didn't even get to taste the mango pickles!" he cried, completely forgetting about the bird.

Yudhishthir stood up, more concerned about Arjun than Bhima's loss. "Arjun be careful!"

But Chirayu showed no signs of stopping.

"Argh! What do you want?!" Arjun yelled, clutching the arrow even tighter.

At that moment, Ashwa, Suyo, and the others arrived. Ashwa took one look at the scene and immediately realized what was happening.

"Chirayu, stop it!" Ashwa commanded.

Chirayu paused mid-peck, let out a soft squawk, then resumed, this time trying to gently take the arrow from Arjun.

Ashwa looked at the arrow in Arjun's hand, and he understood what Chirayu was doing. "Arjun, give me the arrow... it's not meant for you..."

Yudhishthir also noticed how the bird was targeting only Arjun and the arrow in his hand. "Arjun, drop the arrow. It seems this bird, Chirayu is only after it."

Arjun hesitated, glancing between Yudhishthir and the arrow. "But, Jyesth..."

"Just drop it." Yudhishthir insisted, his tone firm.

Finally, with a frown, Arjun loosened his grip.

Seeing this, Chirayu quickly grabbed the arrow with its talons and flew straight to Ashwa, clearly indicating that the arrow was meant for him.

Everyone in the room went silent, watching as Chirayu gently placed the arrow into Ashwa's hands. To their surprise, Chirayu then landed on Suyo's shoulder, it's head held high as if it had just completed an important mission.

Still in shock, Arjun asked. "What just happened? Did that bird just steal my ar-"

Before Arjun can finish, the arrow in Ashwa's hand began to glow and transformed into a letter. Ashwa reads it quickly, his expression turning serious.

Without a word, Ashwa crumbled the letter, turning it into ash and rushed out of the room, looking worried.

"Mitra! Wait!" Suyo called after him, but Ashwa didn't look back, disappearing from sight. In his hurry Ashwa dropped the letter that Chirayu had originally brought.

Yudhishthir, always the responsible one, stepped forward to pick up the letter. But before he could touch it, Chirayu swooped down and pecked at Yudhisthir's hand, preventing him from taking the letter.

"Ow! What is wrong with this bird?" Yudhisthir exclaimed, pulling back and rubbing his hand in surprise. He bent down again, but Chirayu blocked him a second time.

Suyo noticed Chirayu's strange behavior and bent down to pick up the letter. This time, Chirayu remained still, making no attempt to stop him, and perched quietly on Suyo's shoulder, watching him intently.

Nakul and Sahadev exchanged curious glances.

Sahadev, always the keen observer, watched the bird's actions closely. He couldn't help but voice his thoughts aloud, "This bird... It's far more intelligent than any bird I've seen... It acts like it knows exactly what it's doing. It even attacked Bhrata Sushasana, and now Bhrata Arjun."

"It attacked me too!" Nakul added, as he eyes Chirayu's behaviour with a mix of suspicion and frustration, because he was not able to understand this one bird. "Looks like this bird will only listen to Ashwathama and Bhrata Suyo."

Arjun, still holding onto his pride, crossed his arms but couldn't deny what he had just witnessed. "But why the arrow? And this letter... What's so special about them that we cannot read?"

Meanwhile, Bhima, still upset over the spilled food, is crouched on the floor, trying to salvage what he could. "My poor, delicious food... I didn't even get to taste the Kheer or puris... All ruined!"

Arjun, frustrated but amused by Bhima's reaction, asked. "Bhrata Bhima, I nearly got attacked by a bird and you're worried about your food?"

Barely looking up from the mess, Bhima sighed dramatically. "We all have our battles, Arjun. Yours is with the bird, mine is with hunger. Such a loss..."

Suyo, still holding the letter, glanced at Chirayu perched on his shoulder. "I don't understand... Why didn't you let anyone else touch this letter?"

Chirayu flapped it's wings lightly, tilting it's head as if trying to communicate. It let out a soft chirp and then nudged Suyo with its beak, pointing to the letter in his hand.

Suyo, noticing Chirayu's insistence, furrowed his brow in confusion. "You want me to... read this letter? But it's for Mitra Ashwa... "

Chirayu flapped its wings again and pecked at the letter, clearly urging him to read the letter.

Suyo hesitated, glancing at the letter. "I don't know... It was meant for Mitra Ashwa."

Before Suyo could decide, Yuyutsu entered the room, looking tense. "Bhrata Suyo, Pitamah has called for everyone in the royal sabha. All of us are expected to be there."

Suyo nodded, still holding the letter. "Let's go."

---------------------------------------------------------

As they headed toward the royal sabha - Ashwa hurriedly searched for Shon, his heart racing with worry.

Karna's message was a vision of Shon dying, molten gold poured in his mouth as punishment. Ashwa just hoped he wasn't too late.

When he neared the royal sabha, he noticed a commotion. His eyes widened when he saw Shon being dragged by guards, with Radha crying helplessly nearby. Adhirath stood beside her, trying to console her as tears streamed down her face.

"Shon!" Ashwa whispered, quickening his pace. He approached Radha ma to console her that nothing will happen to Shon. Then followed the guards inside with her and Adhirath.

Inside the royal court, Shon stood in the center, his wrists bound by chains, but his head held high. He refused to show fear.

It had all started earlier that day.

Shon saw a young boy being punished badly for drinking water from a well. A group of Brahmins accused the boy of dirtying the water just because he was a Shudra. The boy cried and begged for mercy, but the Brahmins scolded him for trying to quench his thirst, blaming him for his low birth.

Filled with righteous anger, Shon stepped up and drank water from the same well to show his support for the boy. The Brahmins were shocked by what he did, which made them even angrier. But Shon didn't stop there. He walked over to a group of Brahmins performing a yagna and, without hesitation, started chanting the Vedas, the sacred verses that only higher castes were usually allowed to recite. As a Suta Putra, Shon's actions made them even more furious.

Now, standing before Maharaj Dhritarashtra, Shon awaited his punishment.

The Brahmins demanded a severe punishment, insisting that molten gold should be poured into his mouth for reciting the Vedas and for his defiance.

Dritharashtra listened carefully, his voice was calm but firm as he addressed the Brahmins, trying to offer a balanced judgement that considered both sides. But the Brahmins were not satisfied.

Suddenly, one of the Brahmins spotted Yudhishthir, recognising him as the son of Pandu and a Dev Putra - born of Dharmaraj, the embodiment of righteousness.

The Brahmins turned to him. "Pandu Putra Yudhisthir, son of Dharmaraj, you must give your judgement. You are the rightful one to decide the fate of this boy."

Yudhishthir, who had been silent until now, looked at Bhishma as if asking what he should do. Bhishma, gave a subtle nod, encouraging Yudhishthir to speak his thoughts.

Yudhishthir recalled what he had learned. "According to the laws and traditions, Shon's actions defy the established rules of caste and conduct. He should not have drunk from the well, nor should he have recited the Vedas."

A murmur of approval rose from the Brahmins, but Yudhishthir felt a heaviness in his heart as he spoke the words. Though he had repeated the laws he had been taught, something about his judgment didn't feel right.

Shakuni, was just silently observing, neither supporting Shon nor Yudhishthir nor speaking against them. He simply watched, his expression unreadable.

Suyo, listening to Yudhishthir's words disagreed inwardly. "Is this truly right?" he thought.

While Suyodhana was lost in his thoughts, he noticed the letter he was holding. He remembered Chirayu telling him to read it and decided to read it.

Suyo opened the letter and began to read quietly.

---------------------------------------------------------

Mitra Ashwa, you did not reply to my message... I hope Shon is fine... I am worried about him, so I am sending Chirayu...

Do you remember what Rishi Vishwamitra taught us...

'Śūdro vā brāhmaṇo vāpi vidyā sarveṣu sāmyā | Na jātyā na kulaṃ vidyāṃ, pātram asti yatra tatra ||'

This means...

'Whether one is a Shudra or a Brahmin, knowledge is the same for all. Knowledge is not limited by birth or family, it belongs to anyone who is deserving.

I am waiting for your reply...

Karna

---------------------------------------------------------

Suyo blinked in surprise after reading the letter. The words seemed to light a spark of courage inside him. Could this be the answer to defending Shon?

Suyo looked around, thinking, "Should I speak up?"

Suyo looked at the letter again and whispered to himself. "I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT I WILL TRUST YOU."

Just as Ashwa was about to argue - Suyo spoke up. "I wish to speak," he announced, capturing everyone's attention in the room.

Dhritharastra, nodded. "Speak, Putra. You have my permission."

Suyo also glanced at Bhishma, who gave him a small smile, and nod of encouragement.

Stepping forward, Suyo said, "Yudhishthir, I respect your understanding of dharma, and you're right about the laws as we've been taught. But I think we need to look deeper into these laws instead of just following them blindly."

The hall fell silent, everyone watching Suyo.

Suyo then addressed Yudhishthir respectfully, "You said Shon broke the rules by drinking from the well and reciting the Vedas. But I have to ask - is it wrong to stand against injustice when we see it? Shon saw something unfair and chose to act. He was defending the simple truth that everyone has the right to the things that sustain life. Water, like knowledge, is pure and should be for everyone, no matter their caste or birth."

He paused for a moment. "And as for chanting the Vedas, Shon did it to challenge the idea that knowledge is only for a few. The real purpose of the Vedas is to unite and enlighten us, not to divide. By reciting them, Shon showed that knowledge is for everyone, not just a select group."

Suyo continued, "As it is said,

'Śūdro vā brāhmaṇo vāpi vidyā sarveṣu sāmyā | Na jātyā na kulaṃ vidyāṃ, pātram asti yatra tatra ||'

which means...

'Whether one is a Shudra or a Brahmin, knowledge is the same for all. Knowledge is not limited by birth or family, it belongs to anyone who is deserving.'"

He turned to Yudhishthir, his voice firm but respectful. "Shon's actions ALIGN WITH THIS TRUTH. He did not disrespect the Vedas, he upheld their essence by showing that wisdom and knowledge belong to everyone, not just those born into certain castes. Shon's defiance was not an act against our traditions - it was a reminder of their true meaning."

Suyo finished, looking directly at Yudhishthir. "So, I ask again: Is it right to punish someone for doing what is right? For standing up against injustice? For speaking the words of knowledge that should belong to all?"

The Brahmins taken aback by Suyo's bold defence.

Yudhishthir's expression showed conflict. He had been taught to follow the law strictly, but Suyo's words stirred something within him. The clarity with which Suyodhana spoke made him realise that sometimes, following dharma means challenging outdated rules that harm rather than protect.

The Brahmins looked at each other nervously. Even those who had strongly criticized Shon now found it hard to argue against Suyodhana's points.

The hall fell silent as Suyodhana finished his argument.

Shakuni, watching the scene, smiled. "Satya Vachan, mere bache. What you said is true. Suyodhana had spoken with clarity and wisdom that goes beyond mere laws. It takes great courage to defend what is right, especially when the odds are against you." he said, for the first time, supporting his nephew, without his usual cunning or manipulative tone.

Dhritarashtra nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Suyodhana has shown us a different perspective. Let us not forget that laws are meant to guide us, but we must also reflect on the principles behind them."

He addressed the Brahmins directly, his tone firm. "The punishment you demand is too severe and goes against the true meaning of Dharma, which is meant to uphold justice, not causing cruelty."

Shon, looked at Suyodhana with gratitude in his eyes. He had not expected anyone to stand up for him.

The court talked quietly among themselves. For a moment, it felt like Shon's chains were not just physical but also represented the chains that held back society's thinking. In that hall, Suyo's words sparked a challenge to the old beliefs that had never been questioned before.

The Brahmins, though their pride was hurt, they could not argue against the truth Suyo had spoken.

In the end, Dhritharastra ruled in Shon's favor, and Shon was released. The sabha dispersed, tension lifted.

KARNA THROUGH SUYO HAD SUCCESSFULLY PREVENTED THE VISION OF SHON'S DEATH.

As everyone began to leave, Bhishma walked over to Suyo, his eyes filled with pride. "Putra Suyodhana, the way you defended Shon today was impressive. It reminded me of someone..."

Suyo looked up at him with curiousity. "Who are you talking about Pitamah?"

Before Bhishma could answer - Shakuni spoke with a slight chuckle. "Someone who would stand up against injustice - someone who can even make your Kakashree Vidur question his own position as Mahamantri."

Vidur smiled, recalling the day when Aditya defended Dhritharastra. He nodded in agreement, saying. "Well spoken, Putra."

As the royal sabha emptied, a tense atmosphere lingered among the Pandavas and Kauravas.

Radha and Adhirath had already left after Shon told them he would thank Suyo and come later. So, Shon and Ashwa stood near the exit.

Suyo approached them and overheard part of Ashwa's conversation with Shon.

"Idiot, you really scared me today." Ashwa said, half-relieved, half-annoyed. "If anything happens to you, what will I tell Mitra Karna?"

"Sorry, Bhrata Ashwa... But tell me, what Suyo said - It's because of Bhrata Vasu, right? I know it is. I even saw Chirayu watching me - when I was defending that boy"

Ashwa nodded, "Yes, what Suyo said was from the letter Karna sent through Chirayu."

Just then, Suyo joined them, and Shon quickly rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "Suyo! Thank you for standing up for me!"

Ashwa smiled to himself, thinking, "Mitra Karna... If you did not send Chirayu, then maybe I wouldn't have been able to stop your vision of Shon's future."

The hall was silent as the Pandavas made their way out, but Bhima noticed Suyodhana standing with Shon. Anger flared up in him, remembering what had happened during the sabha.

He stepped forward, glaring at Shon. "You defended this Sut Putra, Suyodhana? And for him, you spoke against OUR JYESTH?"

SUYO SENSED THE TENSION AND LOOKED AT YUDHISHTHIR - WHO REMAINED SILENT - NOT STOPPING BHIMA.

Without hesitation, Suyo moved Shon aside, and looked at Bhima. His voice was calm but firm. "Mitra Shon has a name, Bhima. Don't forget that."

Bhima looked at Shon, his voice filled with disdain. "He's a Sut Putra! You can't just ignore that. And I don't understand why you make a Sudra and-" he looked at Ashwa, standing nearby, "-a Brahmin your friends."

Suyo's face hardened. "Why can't you understand that friendship has no limits? What's wrong if I am friends with them?"

Before Bhima could reply, Yudhishthir stepped forward, trying to calm things down. "Let's not make this worse, Bhima. I only spoke according to the laws -"

"But was it right?" Suyo interrupted, his voice rising. "Tell me Yudhishthir. Was it right to punish Shon for standing up against injustice? Sometimes, doing what's right is more important than following laws. You may be a Dev Putra, the son of Dharmaraj, but that doesn't mean you're always right."

Suyo mentioned Yudhishthir being a 'Dev Putra' because earlier the Brahmins had insisted that Yudhisthir should be the one to give judgement because of his divine lineage.

Yudhishthir remained silent, thinking of Suyo's words. He had given his judgment according to what the laws dictated, but deep down, he wasn't sure if it was entirely right. Hearing Suyo's words made him question whether following them blindly was the right course of action.

Yudhishthir glanced at Bhima, who was ready to fight, and then back at Suyo. He sighed, feeling torn between the principles of dharma he was taught to uphold and the undeniable truth in Suyo's words.

Before Yudhishthir could speak, Bhima's anger exploded. "How dare you question OUR JYESTH?" he growled, furious that Suyo was challenging his eldest brother.

Suyo, looked at Bhima, refusing to back down. "What did you say? OUR JYESTH?"

Suyo's tone shifted slightly, as he stepped closer to Bhima.

"Yudhishthir is YOUR Jyesth, Bhima. NOT MINE."

Yudhishthir had always felt that, as the eldest, he bore a responsibility for all his brothers. After meeting his 101 brothers and 1 sister, that sense of duty extended to them as well, as he considered them all his kin. But hearing Suyo say those words, made him feel a distance growing between them.

Suyo looked at Yudhishthir, his voice still firm but respectful. "You call yourself my Jyesth, Yudhishthir, but you never earned that title from me. Where were you when Shon was insulted? You stood by silently, letting your brother call him a Sut Putra as if it was okay to disrespect him. Just yesterday, I made it clear that Shon isn't just my Mitra (friend) but he is like a brother to me and my brothers. We Kauravas stand by those we consider our own. And when it was time for you to prove yourself, you did nothing."

Yudhishthir flinched slightly, realizing the truth behind them Suyo's words. He had choosen to stay silent because he did not see anything wrong in Bhima calling Shon a "Sut Putra". To him, it was simply a reflection of Shon's lineage as the son of a charioteer. But now he could see that his silence had cost him Suyo's trust.

Suyo continued, his voice steady but intense. "I grew up as the eldest among a hundred brothers. To me, Being their Jyesth means more than just being the firstborn. It means guiding them when they're lost, protecting them when they're vulnerable, and standing by them no matter what. It's not just a title - it's a duty that requires you to earn your brothers trust, loyalty, and respect through your actions."

He looked directly at Yudhishthir, his gaze unwavering. "AND YOU, YUDHISHTHIR - YOU DID NOT EARN MY TRUST, LOYALTY OR RESPECT."

The others - Pandavas, Kauravas and Yuyutsu - watched silently.

Suyo's tone remained firm but respectful as he continued. "I'm not disrespecting you, Yudhishthir. But you can't just show up and expect me to call you my Jyesth because others say so. If it's not you, it could've been someone else - but to me, no one earns that title 'Jyesth' without proving themselves first."

Suyo's words were clear, as if he was drawing a line between them - he do not see Yudhishthir as his Jyesth, and he wasn't afraid to show it.

Bhima clenched his fists hearing Suyo's words, anger burning inside him. "You can't just talk about MY JYESTH like that!" he shouted.

Yudhishthir, seeing Bhima's rising anger, placed a hand on his brother's arm. "Bhima, let it go. Enough."

But Bhima's loyalty to his Jyesth wouldn't allow him to remain silent. "Jyesth! He can't talk to you like that! How can you let him disrespect you?"

Yudhishthir turned to Bhima, his voice steady but full of pain. "It's not just about respect, Bhima. Suyodhana doesn't see me as his Jyesth, and I can't force him to. Instead of fighting, we should understand why he feels this way. We can't let pride create a rift between us."

Yudhishthir's words were meant to calm the situation, but Bhima's anger still remained, though he stayed quiet.

Ashwa, standing nearby, had been watching the entire exchange and he did not like what he heard. He understood Suyo's perspective - from Suyo's point of view, his words made sense.

But for Ashwa, who knew the truth hidden from everyone present here, Suyo's words made him uneasy. He thought to himself - How will Suyo feel when he finds out about Karna? WILL SUYODHANA ACCEPT KARNA AS HIS JYESTH BHRATA?

Suyo, realizing that arguing with Bhima would only escalate things, stepped back. His expression softened slightly. "I don't want to talk about this anymore," he said firmly.

He gestured for Shon, Ashwa and his brothers to follow him and left the hall, leaving the Pandavas behind.

Yudhishthir watched them go, the weight of being the eldest brother and the future king, pressing down on him more than ever.

A RIFT has started to form between them, an invisible wall that none of them could see, but all could feel - a growing distance between brothers.

---------------------------------------------------------

Later that evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Bhima quietly dragged Nakul to the kitchen. Bhima searched for food while Nakul stood by the door, keeping watch.

"You know, Bhrata," Nakul whispered nervously, glancing around, "one day, you're going to get us both caught."

Bhima chuckled as he found some fruits and a plate of sweets. "Nonsense! We won't get caught. Besides, what's wrong in grabbing a little midnight snack?"

"Little?" Nakul raised an eyebrow. "You could feed half the kingdom with what you've taken!"

Before Bhima could respond, they heard footsteps approaching from the corridor outside the kitchen. They froze, and Nakul quickly pulled Bhima behind a large pillar just as two guards walked by. Their conversation became audible as they passed.

"Rajkumar Suyodhana is really good." One guard said thoughtfully.

The other guard nodded. "Of course, Rajkumar Suyodhana is always kind to everyone. Did you hear how he defended Shon today?"

The first guard sounded curious. "But I heard Rajkumar Suyodhana was called a bad omen when he was born, and even named Duryodhana. I never understood before why do people of Hastinapur celebrate the birthday of a 'bad omen' every year, but now I understand... He's really good."

Their voices started to fade as they moved further down the corridor. The second guard's tone became serious. "You must be new to Hastinapur, so let me tell you this - Remove any thoughts of Rajkumar Suyodhana being a bad omen from your mind. If anyone in Hastinapur hears you say this, there's no need for Maharaj to give you punishment - the people will take care of that themselves."

As the guards footsteps faded, Bhima's eyes widened. He looked at Nakul. "Duryodhana? A Bad omen?" he whispered, clearly in disbelief.

Nakul, equally shocked, nodded. "That's strange.... Why would they say such things about Bhrata Suyodhana?"

Bhima still angry at Suyo, said, "Nakul, don't call him Bhrata when he doesn't even see our Jyesth as his Jyesth."

Nakul silently nodded.

---------------------------------------------------------

The next day, the Kauravas and Pandavas were sent on a picnic. The lush green landscape surrounded them, and a gentle river ran nearby, creating a serene atmosphere to their outing.

Bhima sat under a large tree by the water, unusually quiet, still thinking over what he had overheard the previous night.

Nakul and Arjun sat with him, chatting.

Yudhishthir and Sahadev were elsewhere, enjoying the day.

Noticing Bhima's silence, Arjun smirked and nudged Nakul. "Nakul, is Bhrata Bhima okay? This is the first time I've seen him thinking."

Nakul shrugged. "Maybe he is thinking about what we overheard last night."

Arjun frowned, confused. "What?"

Finally breaking his silence, Bhima spoke. "Yesterday, Nakul and I overhead some guards talking about Suyodhana. They said he was called a bad omen when he was born and that he was named Duryodhana because of it."

Arjun looked even more confused. "What? That doesn't make any sense. Bhrata Suyo is always called Suyodhana. Why would they say such things?"

Before Bhima could respond, they were interrupted by Sushasana and his brothers, who had overhead the conversation. Sushasana's face was red with anger.

"How dare you call my Jyesth a bad omen!" Sushasana yelled, rushing towards Bhima angrily.

Another Kaurava, Sumukha, stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Our Jyesth's name is Suyodhana, not Duryodhana! Don't you dare spread lies, Bhima!"

Bhima stood his ground, fists clenched. "I didn't call him bad omen or Duryodhana! I merely repeated what I heard. If anyone is to blame, it's those who said it!"

Sushasana spat, "You think you can insult our Jyesth and walk away?"

A fight quickly broke out between Bhima and the Kauravas.

Nakul and Arjun exchanged worried glances, realizing the situation was escalating.

"I will go get Jyesth Yudhishthir!" Nakul said to Arjun, running off.

Arjun nodded, staying back to try and stop the fight. "Wait! We should try to talk -"

But before he could finish, Bhima, filled with anger, easily overpowered the Kauravas with his strength. He pushed them back, throwing some of them into the water with a loud splash. They shouted in surprise as they struggled to get back on their feet. They fought to stay above water, and eventually managed to climb out, soaked from head to toe, looking both shocked and angry.

Sushasana roared in frustration, pulling himself back onto the bank, water dripping from his clothes. "You will pay for this, Bhima!"

Bhima shot back, "Your threats mean nothing to me in front of my strength Sushasana."

As the fighting escalated, Arjun tried to step in to stop the madness.

"Bharat Bhima, please! Stop!" he shouted, but In the chaos, Bhima did not hear him.

At that moment, Bhima pushed Sumukha back with such force that he stumbled toward Arjun. The collision sent both tumbling. Sumukha hit a tree hard and collapsed, while Arjun stumbled backward, hitting his head against a rock. BOTH SUMUKHA AND ARJUN SEVERELY INJURED, LAY UNCOUNCIOUS.

Unaware of what had happened to Arjun, Bhima remained caught up in the fight. The younger Kauravas rushed forward to defend their elder brother, but Bhima's punches landed hard, and the sounds of pain and bones cracking filled the air.

After fighting them off, Bhima finally stepped back, panting heavily. It was then that he noticed the still figure of Arjun lying on the ground.

"Arjun?!" Bhima shouted, rushing over in alarm. Panic flooded his chest as he knelt beside his brother, shaking him gently. "Wake up, Arjun! Please!"

Fear gripped Bhima, as he realized the gravity of the situation. His mind raced. How did this happen? He was convinced it had to be the Kauravas. They must have hurt him while he was fighting the other Kauravas.

Sushasana, witnessing his brothers getting hurt and seeing Sumukha lying uncouncious, become more angry. "Get our Jyesth Suyodhana!" he barked, sending one of the Kauravas to bring Suyo.

Despite being badly hurt himself, Sushasana refused to back down. He charged at Bhima.

This time, Bhima was even angrier because of the sight of Arjun hurt and unconscious. He fought Sushasana with all his strength, landing harder blows with every strike.

Bhima believed the Kauravas were responsible for this tragedy, unaware that it was his own actions that had led to Arjun's injury.

The misunderstanding deepened the divide between the brothers, slowing setting the stage for further conflict between brothers.

Moments later, it was Suyo and Ashwa who arrived first, both rushing to the scene after hearing about the fight.

Suyo's eyes widened as he saw his brothers - injured, bruised, and some barely able to stand. Anger surged within him. The sight of his brothers in pain filled him with rage.

"Last time, I let it go when Bhima hurt my brothers. But now? Again? This cannot be a mistake." Suyo thought, determination hardening his resolve.

Spotting Bhima still fighting with Sushasana, Suyo stormed forward. His voice sharp and commanding. "Stop! Bhima, Stop!" he yelled, stepping between Bhima and Sushasana, freeing his younger brother from Bhima's grip. His presence halted the fight, if only for a moment.

Meanwhile, Ashwa spotted Arjun and Sumukha lying uncouncious on the ground. Concerned, he rushed over, kneeling beside them checking their injuries. "Mitra Suyo, I WILL TAKE THEM TO THE RAJ VAIDYA," Ashwa said urgently, looking up at Suyo.

Suyo nodded, his voice steady despite the rising anger within him. "Vikarna, help Mitra Ashwa."

Vikarna quickly stepped forward to assist Ashwa.

Ashwa carefully lifted Arjun and Sumukha, quickly carrying them away from the scene.

Bhima, seeing Arjun being taken away, tried to move towards them, his worry for his brother momentarily taking over. "Arjun-"

Suyo's sharp voice cut him off. "Stay, Bhima." Bhima paused, his steps faltering as Suyo stood in his path like a barrier.

The remaining Kauravas stood behind their Jyesth Suyo, clearly exhausted but still anger.

Suyo's voice cut through the silence. "What is happening here? Bhima, this is second time you are hurting my-"

Before Suyo could finish, Sushasana interrupted, his voice filled with rage. "Jyesth! He called you a bad omen!" Sushasana spat, pointing an accusing finger at Bhima.

Chitrasen, another Kaurava, quickly chimed in, his voice equally furious. "Yes, Jyesth! He even said your real name is Duryodhana, not Suyodhana, when everyone knows your name is Suyodhana!"

Suyodhana froze, his expression shifted from anger to pain. He turned toward Bhima, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "Did you... Did you really call me.... a bad omen?"

Bhima, always proud and never one to back down, crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes, I did. I heard it from the guards yesterday. They said you were a bad omen, and that's why you were named Duryodhana when you were born, not Suyodhana."

Suyo's breath hitched as Bhima's words struck him hard.

A bad omen? The words echoed in his mind, crushing him.

Suyo looked down, clearly angry and hurt.

Was I really a bad omen? Was my name really Duryodhana and not Suyodhana? Confusion and pain swirled in his thoughts.

Seeing their Jyesth Bhrata's pain, the Kauravas became even more angrier.

Sushasana's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare insult our Jyesth like that!" he shouted, stepping forward.

Chitrasen glared at Bhima, stepping forward, "Don't you dare call him a bad omen again, Bhima!" he growled.

Another Kaurava, stepped forward, his face anger. "I don't care what you heard, Bhima! Never speak about our Jyesth like that!"

But Bhima stood his ground, his pride refusing to let him back down. "I said what I heard! If it hurts you, that's not my fault!" he retorted, his words only fueling their anger further.

The Kauravas hearing Bhima's words, lunged toward him, but Suyo quickly stepped between them, trying to prevent the fight from escalating again. "STOP! ENOUGH!" he ordered, holding his brothers back with his arms, his voice firm yet strained.

Bhima was angry at the Kauravas for accusing him of insulting Suyo and for starting the fight first without fully understanding the situation. Seeing Arjun lying uncouncious only increased his anger.

Suyo turned to Bhima, though his voice filled with hurt but firm. "Fine... Call me 'that' if you want, Bhima. But don't hurt my brothers again. They are just angry because you called me 'that'" He could not even bring himself to say the words bad omen.

In that moment, Bhima felt guilty hearing Suyo's calm yet hurt words.

Bhima took a step back, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. But then, his foot slipped on the wet grass near the riverbank. Before anyone could react, Bhima lost his balance, his body tilting toward the river.

Suyo, acting on instinct, reached out, trying to catch Bhima's hand. His fingers grazed Bhima's wrist - but HE MISSED.

Bhima let out a surprised yell as he fell backward into the river with a loud splash. As he hit the water, Bhima realized the cruel twist of fate: he had always bragged about his great strength, but now it felt like a burden - sometimes, our biggest strengths can lead to unexpected problems.

Earlier, when Bhima had thrown the Kauravas into the river, they had easily climbed out because they were lighter and quicker. But now, here Bhima was sinking like a stone, his heavy muscles pulling him down. The river seemed to work against him, and in no time, he was struggling, thinking if all the food he had eaten was finally catching up with him.

Before he knew it, the cold water wrapped around him, and he lost consciousness - Leaving the readers to wonder 🤔 if Bhima had just become the world's first 'drowning - heavyweight - champion'? 🏆

(A/n - Just a quick note! This scene is written just for fun and isn't meant to make any comments about muscle, weight, or body types. It's all in good humor and because, well... I wanted to have Bhima in water and get lost - I mean, go missing! 😅 )

For a brief moment, everything was still. FROM ANY ANGLE - IT LOOKED AS THOUGH SUYODHANA HAD PUSHED BHIMA INTO THE RIVER.

At that exact moment, Yudhishthir, Sahadev, and Nakul arrived. Their eyes widened in horror as THEY WITNESSED BHIMA FALLING INTO THE WATER. FROM WHERE THEY STOOD, IT DEFINITELY LOOKED LIKE SUYODHANA HAD PUSHED BHIMA.

"Bhima!" Yudhishthir shouted, seeing his brother fall, his heart skipped a beat as he ran towards the river in panic. Yudhishthir wasted no time and dove into the water, desperately searching for his younger brother.

"Bhrata Bhima!" Nakul and Sahadev screamed, running after Yudhisthir with fear on their faces.

Suyo stood shocked, only one thought echoed in his mind. "I tried to catch him... But I couldn't."

As Yudhisthir searched for Bhima, Suyo stepped forward, wanting to help. BUT before he could get any closer, Nakul's sharp voice stopped him.

"You pushed him! You pushed Bhrata Bhima into the river!" Nakul shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Suyo.

Sahadev, always the calm and logical one, glared at Suyo in disbelief. "How could you do that?"

Suyo was stunned, his mouth opening and closing in shock. "What? Nakul, Sahadev... no, you misunderstood I - I tried to -"

Before he could explain, Bhishma arrived at the scene, accompanied by Gandhari and Shakuni.

When Ashwa had taken Arjun and Sumukha, both unconscious, to the Raj Vaidya, Ashwa told the royal family about the fight between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Gandhari had insisted on going to her children when she heard the news, and Shakuni, ever the protective brother accompanied her. Together, Gandhari, Shakuni and Bhishma rushed to the scene.

The situation already tense, was about to escalate further.

Seeing the Kauravas injured and drenched, Bhishma's eyes narrowed with concern. "What happened here?"

Nakul opened his mouth to accuse Suyo again, but Sahadev, suddenly started feeling uneasy. He grabbed Nakul's arm and whispered. "Nakul, stop. Let's not say anything until we find Bhrata Bhima."

The Kauravas, equally eager to defend themselves, were about to speak.

But before anyone could say anything, Yudhishthir came out of the water, dripping wet and worried.

Nakul and Sahadev rushed to him.

Yudhishthir shook his head, panic clouding his face. "I can't find Bhima anywhere."

Seeing Bhishma, Yudhishthir ran to him, his voice thick with worry. "Pitamah!! Bhima he fell into the water, and I... I searched for him... but I... I couldn't find him..."

For the first time, Bhishma saw Yudhishthir, lose his calm and panic like this. He placed a reassuring hand on Yudhishthir's shoulder. "Don't worry Putra. I will not let anything happen to Bhima. You should be with Arjun for now."

Yudhishthir, confused, asked, "Arjun? What happened to him?"

Bhishma explained that Arjun and Sumukha were severely injured and were being treated by Raj Vaidya.

Hearing this, Yudhishthir felt the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him like never before. He had promised his father that he would take care of his brothers, and now... Not only one brother was lost, but another was also injured.

Sahadev felt more restless, his instinct telling him something was wrong. He didn't want to speak and make things worse but he couldn't shake the image of Bhima falling into the water and how it might have been the Jyesth Kaurava's doing.

Nakul, however, pointed an accusing finger directly at Suyodhana. "Pitamah! He pushed Bhrata Bhima into the river!"

Yudhishthir and Sahadev remained silent, and their silence said everything - they too believed Suyodhana pushed Bhima.

Bhishma turned to Yudhishthir, asking him. "Putra Yudhishthir, is what Nakul is saying true? Did you see what happened?"

Yudhishthir, ever the honest one, looked at Suyo and spoke slowly. "When I came here, I saw... Suyodhana pushed Bhima..."

Hearing Yudhishthir's words, the Kauravas immediately stepped forward to defend their Jyesth. They knew what had truly happened.

Sushasana, trying to defend his brother, stepped forward. "Do not accuse our Jyesth without knowing what happe-" But he stopped and looked down to see Suyo holding his hand, stopping him from speaking.

Sushasana looked at his Jyesth confused. For the first time, he couldn't tell what his elder brother was thinking.

Suyo stood silently, his face unreadable.

Suyo looked at Bhishma, waiting for his Pitamah to ask him his side of the story, just as he had done for Pandavas.

Bhishma's concern for the Pandavas, who were alone in Hastinapur while their parents were away and his promise to Pandu to take care of them - clouded his judgement.

Without even asking Suyodhana's side of the story, Bhishma turned to him, disappointment clear in his voice. "Putra Suyodhana, you should have been more careful... I did not expect you to do something like this."

Suyo's heart sank.

Pitamah thinks I did it.... He didn't even ask...

Just then, Shakuni stepped forward, he pointed out. "Mahamahim Bhishma, surely you, of all people should understand the weight of words and the damage they can cause. WITHOUT HEARING BOTH SIDES - WHY ARE YOU SO QUICK TO PLACE THE BLAME ON SUYODHANA?"

Gandhari spoke up, concerned. "Tatshree, we must find Putra Bhima first. And I am sure there must be a misunderstanding. Suyodhana would never do something like this."

No one even asked if I really pushed Bhima or not. Are they all assuming I did it...? Suyo thought.

He looked around, for at least one person to just ask him....

At this point, Sushasana, who had been quietly standing by his brother, finally spoke up. "Pitamah, Jyesth did not push -"

But Suyodhana stopped him with a raised hand. "Sushasana, stop."

Sushasana blinked, confused. "But Jyesth-"

Suyodhana shook his head, his voice soft yet resolute. "Let it be."

Sushasana clenched his fists in frustration, but he obeyed. The other Kauravas exchanged glances, ready to defend their brother, but Suyodhana's silent plea stopped them.

Suyodhana looked around once more.

Why stop my brothers from defending me? he asked himself.

Suyo blinked quickly, trying to hold back his tears.

BECAUSE, EVERYONE ALREADY DECIDED THAT I PUSH-

Before he could finish that thought - GANDHARI called out for her son. Blindfolded, she reached out. "Putra Suyodhana?"

Suyo rushed to her side, holding back his tears. "Ji, Mata?"

Gandhari cupped his face gently, her voice filled with maternal concern. "What happened here, Putra? I don't care what others say. I just want to hear the truth from you. I know you would never push Bhima, so tell me."

Through his tears, Suyodhana smiled faintly. His mother believed in him. "Mata... I tried to catch him when he fell.... I did not push him....."

But the Pandavas were not convinced by his words.

Sahadev's voice, quiet but firm, broke through. "That's a lie! We saw it..."

Nakul added, "Yes, we saw you push Bhrata Bhima into the water. Jyesth, you never lie - tell everyone."

Yudhishthir, struggling with his own emotions, looked at Bhishma. "It really looked like... Suyodhana pushed Bhima..."

Tears welled up in Suyo's eyes, but he blinked them back, refusing to let them fall in front of everyone.

His mother's support, his Mamashree's defense... none of it mattered anymore. Because in his heart, the damage was already done.

His silence spoke louder than words as he thought...

"NO ONE BELIEVES ME...."

Just then, a voice came from behind

A voice - CALM, CLEAR AND CONFIDENT.

"I BELIEVE YOU...."

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To be continued...

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