"The friendship between Prince Suyodhan and the son of the head charioteer is one of the oddest developments I have seen as the maid to Prince Suyodhan, Prince Arjuna," Sughandha said when enquired about Vasusena by the third child of Prince Pandu. "Odd because the Prince doesn't care about rules, easily gets jealous and is extremely hot-tempered. Radheya, on the other hand, was a by-the-book kind of person who doesn't break rules, doesn't give a shit about others, cold-blooded but does not get angered easily. The only similarities both have in common is that both are extremely arrogant and disrespectful. It actually shocked everyone in the palace that both could be friends due to the Prince's jealousy and Vasusena's... well everything."

"The story goes like this..." she started "Radheya, seven years ago, was one of the rising stars in the army. A child of eleven who defeated several soldiers above his age and the only person who managed to complete the army training in less than a year. He was the prime target of gossip in the kitchen for his handsome looks. How on earth did Adhiratha and Radha produce such a handsome-looking child she would never know and despite being one year her junior Vasusena made my heart skip. It was the same with several dasis around her age.

With long lotus petal-shaped eyes, sharp nose, skin that has radiance like the sun and a calm neutral smile, he was considered to be more handsome than everyone in Hastinapur"

"He's not that handsome." Prince Arjuna grumbled and the maid hid a smile at the childish reply of the Prince.

"Maybe not as handsome as you and Princes Nakula and Sahadeva but he is very handsome nonetheless my Prince.

Whenever he was training, there were several dasis who stopped their work to spy on him and he was that beautiful when he was one and ten years old. He then disappeared for four years citing that he wanted to train under a guru. When he returned to the army at five and ten years of age, his admirers grew exponentially in numbers. Because if he can be called beautiful at one and ten years, he's gorgeous at five and ten years.

But all of his admirers' admiration died a sudden death after his altercation with Mahamahim Bhisma. He's a fairly distant child, who never formed friendships with anyone in the army but no one knew how obstinate he is until he made Mahaamahim Bhishma to apologize to him in front of the entire army of Hastinapur. Do you know about that story Prince Arjun?"

"Yes..." he replied. "Pitamah Bhishma himself told me that story.

"That incident made him and his entire family outcasts in Hastinapur." She stated. "Prices were raised targeting the family and no one even allowed that family into their social circle. Merchants of Hastinapur banned them from purchasing their wares and the family even stopped going to temples."

"They don't have the right to do that." The little Prince exclaimed. "The only person who did wrong in that family is Vasusena. Why did his family have to suffer...." He trailed off.

"Mahamaahim Bhishma was a respected elder in Hasthinapur, Prince Arjuna." The dasi said smiling indulgently. "So the fact that a child whose entire lifespan is not even equal to half the experience of Mahaamahim Bhishma made several soldiers and families mad. So their mistreatment has begun."

"Among the family the ones who got it the worst were Adhiratha and Radheya. The rest of the family stopped coming out of their home but the father and son have duties to the army of Hasthinapur. They still fell under the employ of the Army of Hastinapur and had to bear sneers and insults. Adhiratha stopped Vasusena from attending the army so that he would not feel hostility among the army by citing that he was too young to be in the army. But all was for nought when he fell gravely ill, unable to bear the emotional toll of facing the humiliations.

There were rumors that even the doctors refused to treat Adhiratha and even medicines were not sold to that family. So by the law of the land... Vasusena as the eldest son became the Head Charioteer of the division after his father Adhiratha failed to recover. "

"Does Pitamah Bhishma know about the treatment done to that family?" Prince Arjuna asked in anguish. "I don't see him tolerating anyone doing this in his name."

"Adhiratha was a non-confrontational person. He always bowed down to sneers and insults. Vasusena... looked unaffected by anything that was said to him. Most of the time he didn't even care about the insults thrown at him. As for our knowledge, Mahaamaahim Bhishma never knew what the family went through." She confirmed

"But the entire situation changed after Radheya became the Head Charioteer of the Samudra division.

When he became the Head Charioteer, there was a lot of gossip in the kitchens. There were bets made about how many days will the arrogant child would stay in the position of Head Charioteer. There was a bet that the boy would break down in less than a month and that's the highest amount of time predicted. "

"He's still here though."

"Yeah... the boy lived to break expectations. The first day for Radheya to take up his duties as a Head Charoioteer has arrived and half of the palace have assembled to witness the boy's humiliation. Do you want to know what happened on that day Prince Arjuna?" On seeing him nod she continued. "It was an unforgettable day that still haunts my nightmares, Prince Arjuna. The boy is a rakshasa. Radha might insist that God have given her a son as a result of her prayers but she must have mistakenly prayed to a rakshasa and got this child. There's no other explanation for it."



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The day started with a lot of anticipation around the palace. Most of the people completed their duties and scattered around the training grounds. The boy completed the formalities for the transfer of power around the afternoon and walked into the training grounds without a care in the world. The soldiers of the division which he is instilled as the Head Charioteer were lazing around in a corner.

"Where is the division Samudra? " He asked the servant beside her on that fateful day. His voice held no nervousness and was calm and soothing.

When he was shown where his to-be subordinates were, Radheya thanked them and went to greet his division.

"Greetings to you all. From today onwards, I will be the Head Charioteer of this division." The soldiers didn't even bother to greet him. The boy shrugged not bothered that much.

"This boy is going to be our Head Charioteer it seems. Go suck your... " The rest of the words are not suited for polite company. The man beside him sniggered.

Radheya didn't lose his smile. "Glad you spoke up... Vinay is your name, right? And you are Vardha aren't you?" He clicked his tongue. "Both of you come up. Fight each other without weapons. I need to gauge your capabilities. That's an order."

The reply was less than polite. But the crowd, including her at that time, laughed at those words.

"You do know that what you are doing is insubordination right? " He asked neutrally.

"So what? You will go home and complain to that bedridden fool you call father?" Vardha sneered.

"You do know that insubordination is a punishable offence, right? During wartime the punishment for insubordination was death... Do you know that?" The tone didn't change even a bit.

"Come and clean my piss. And I may listen to you." Vinay brayed. The soldiers around him laughed. Sughandha too hid a smile with several other dasis. Serves the idiot right for insulting their divine commander.

"This is the final time I'll order you," Vasusena stated calmly even in the face of all insults. None of them expected it to be a calm before the storm.

"And what will you do if we disobey? " Vardha drew himself to his full height but seeing as he's nearly a foot smaller than Vasusena the intimidation fell short.

"So be it." Radheya smiled and without a single warning, the right hands of Vinay and Vardha were chopped off at the wrists.

The entire assembled soldiers and servants fell silent and stood in shock. There was a pin-drop silence which was broken after a few moments when Vinay and Vardha started screaming in pain. Several dasis and servants fainted around her. No one even saw when Radheya drew his sword, let alone chop off their wrists. One of the servants ran out of the place towards the palace.



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"What!!!" Phalguna exclaimed.

"Yeah... Just for disobeying orders, Radheya chopped off the right wrists of soldiers on the very first day itself." Sughandha stated softly.



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"Division Samudra... Formation Diamond." The monster in human flesh ordered disregarding the screams of two soldiers he mutilated. He carried on calmly as if he didn't chop off the wrists of two soldiers just for disobeying his orders. Seeing none of them followed the orders frozen in fear, he turned slowly and deliberately towards the soldiers making their hearts jump in fear. "Will you follow the command or do I need to teach you the same lesson as these guys." The entire group scrambled around and stood in formation in less than a minute.

"What on earth are you doing? " Mahaamahim Bhishma came roaring into the training grounds. "By gods, stop staring and get a doctor for these guys. "

"Isn't your penance to keep your nose out of my business, Commander Bhishma? " Vasusena interrupted his voice going cold for the first time.

"You cannot kill everyone who insults you, Vasusena." He roared. "This is a gross abuse of power."

"Do you really want to do this again, Commander Bhishma? I always do everything by the book." He smiled coldly. "Still you are my Commander and I have to answer to you, I believe. What is the punishment for insubordination? "

Bhishma's eyes grew cold. "Death during war-time. During times of peace, it depends on the commanding officer. The common punishment is chopping off two limbs after three transgressions and any other punishment they deem fit. There is no need for trial but the officer should give an explanation to his higher officer."

"You... " He called one of the soldiers. "Relay to Commander Bhishma what happened today."

When the soldier explained whatever happened, Mahaamahim Bhishma gritted his teeth. Vasusena smiled menacingly. The smile sent chills down the spine of all the people present. They came here expecting humiliation but are now witnesses to an execution.

"The punishment is the removal of two limbs, right? " He then cut off one of their legs at the knees. "Go to the doctor." He said not even bothered a bit by their renewed screams. Turning towards others he ordered "None of you are allowed to help them. " He stated cruelly. "Because anyone stopping the punishment will receive the same punishment as them"

Both Varadha and Vinay bled to death before reaching the medical tent. There was a trail of blood from the training grounds to the medical tent as both the soldiers crawled dripping blood all over the place. Seeing two men dying that brutally injected fear into the hearts of the people watching it.

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"How on earth did Pitamah Bhishma not stop him? That seems...."

"Excessively cruel... yes. But by the law, Radheya stated that he could do so." She said softly. "Radheya memorized every rule set upon the army and worked within the law. Because however brutal it might be, the law is final. He then started exploiting the rules for his benefit."

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"Alanka... " He walked towards the treasurer of the army who turned pale when the boy turned his attention towards him. '"I heard that budget cuts have been done to Division Samudra, so my father hasn't been paid for the last four months. Can I see the decree? "

The man pissed himself in fear. Adhiratha might be a meek sheep who bowed his head in the face of scorn. But his son is a completely different beast. He's a silent tiger who tears off your limbs after biding for time. "I... That" He stuttered.

"No budget cuts have been decreed for the army. " Mahaamahim Bhishma glared at the rat-faced man.

"Commander Bhishma... This is my problem and I can handle it by myself. Please leave. " Even though it was stated as a request, the tone in which he said it was clearly an order. "Stay out of my business, please." He left soon after that.

"Embezzlement of army funds is a crime punishable by death and seizure of all assets you own by the state. Do you know that... Alanka?" Vasusena's calm smile was marred by the blood of the insubordinate soldiers. He cleaned his blood-stained sword with the angavastra of the rat-faced man and patted his cheek condescendingly. "You are not foolish enough to do that, right?"

"No... Vasusena." Alanka croaked out.

"Then I expect my father's salary by this evening." He stated smiling at the man. It was not a nice smile. "Or by tomorrow I'll have you fed alive to the vultures."

That was the last day anyone dared to cross that child. Insult him to his face, he would laugh with you unless you mention his parents. But disobey any order, the consequences will be severe.

He was an extremely efficient but ruthless officer. He might have gained respect from the soldiers but never gained love from them. Most of the time he was a loner and stayed far away from parties and other bonding activities in the army.

Their division was given orders to hunt for bandits, cruel beasts and sometimes even rakshashas, by higher officials despite not being their job to do so. To any soldier being sent to the Samudra division was supposed to be a suicide. The most dangerous jobs always went to the Samudra Division and it was assigned with the intent of killing off that boy.

But those tasks given to kill the boy were successfully completed and it only made him and the division of soldiers richer. Because those tasks should never be allocated to sutas, the pay he got was very high. With that money, Radheya started trading with merchants outside Hasthinapur for the needs of his house. However, Radheya never took his division with him whenever they were sent to hunt rakshashas and usually completed those tasks by himself.

He always made back nary a scratch on his body, further cementing his reputation as an extremely dangerous soldier. During practice drills, he participated only in those that were mandatory for him. But during those drills and mock fights, he gained a reputation as the most skilled soldier in all forms of combat. As it is said 'If you want to see if your rice is done, one grain is enough.'. Watching his skills during the mock fights is enough to say that he's far above the skill of any normal soldier.

Division Samudra gained infamy for completing dangerous jobs no sane people would take on.



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"Radheya with the money he earned from his jobs bought a large field near his house just on the outskirts of Hasthinapur in less than three months after he became Head Charioteer.. No one dared to fleece him or inflate prices again but he made his home self-sufficient, Prince Arjun. He built a house for his parents and it has been a year since any of the residents other than Vasusena have been seen outside that place." Sughandha said. "He usually after his work goes straight home and works in that field. Anything they need but cannot produce, Radheya purchases them from the visiting merchants. Most of us speculate that Adhiratha might have died because no one would be bedridden for this long amount of time without support from a doctor."

"So no one even visited the old Head Charioteer when he's bed-ridden"

"Considering that most of them have a hand in his condition... none of Adhiratha's co-workers visited him." Sughandha sighed. "The rest of them, well... they were deterred by traps around that place."

"Traps?"

"Radheya placed iron fences around his new home and the field. The place was close to the river so irrigation was not much of a problem for them. And the entire pathway to that place is filled with traps. Not enough to kill but enough to deter anyone from visiting the place. Radha herself closed off and broke the friendships and relationships she had. Only people who go there are curious children and tax collectors."

"So the entire family lives like outcasts in society." Sughandha simply nodded at the statement. "That cannot be healthy."

"The entire family is self-sufficient. The anger the populace had with Radheya might have lessened but the family never forgot the treatment they faced from the society. As Vasusena received training from the army, he was bound to serve in the army for a minimum of ten years. Adhiratha never sent any of his other children to the army for training or service. We think after Vasusena's term is over after their obligations have been complete... the entire family is planning to leave Hasthinapur."

"So how on earth did Prince Suyodhana and this outcast become friends?"

"Oddly enough they became friends very easily. Vasusena was Prince Suyodhana's bodyguard only for a week and a month later the Prince has declared that a child of six and ten years would be his teacher in Mala Yudh."



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Guarding the Crown Prince might be considered an honour in any other kingdom, but in Hastinapur... it was a nightmare duty. Prince Suyodhan was a mulish child prone to tantrums and no one wanted to be on the wrong side of the boy. So most of the time, the guard duty went to the Samudra division.

Radheya initially refused to take up the guard duty so for most of the time, the soldiers under him took the posts expecting an easy job. None of them lasted more than a day. So finally he stood guard to the Crown Prince, not before threatening his superior that if he found that the lots had been rigged against Division Samudra there would be hell to pay.

The little prince held the pigeon in his hands, stroking its head, studying the shades of pink & blue shining at its neck. The pigeon seemed finally ready to test its injured wing. Setting it down he waited for it to take flight & soar towards the skies. The bird turned its neck, looked at the boy, cooed softly, and trotted about a little before spreading its wings. First slowly, then with a little more confidence the bird started to leave the ground behind. But the bird must have misjudged its strength for it soon started falling down again. Unable to control its fall, it fluttered its wings in panic. The prince leapt forward, catching the bird in his palm just when it would have hit the ground.

Prince Suyodhan had found the bird gravely injured in the Royal Gardens. Crows had gathered around the bird waiting for it to die so they could begin their feast. But Suyodhan had driven them away. He had picked up the tiny thing & ran up to the Royal Vaidya. The man had tried to make the Prince understand that he treated humans and knew little about birds. But the stubborn Prince wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally, the Vaidya had given the Prince a paste to apply to the wounds, instructing him on how to take care of his winged friend. That had been weeks ago.

Over the weeks as Suyodhan had nursed the little thing back to health, he had grown fond of it. He had decided he would make it his pet. He would feed it, nurse it back to health & train it. Hence it broke his heart to see the bird in pain once again. He started running towards the Vaidya's house. The Vadiya had a set of rooms assigned for his family & him near the royal palace. Now the man was home, watching his wife coax his daughter Laxmi to finish her meal quickly. He smiled as Laxmi insisted on another story.

"Tell me the story of the Prince who brayed like a donkey."

"Laxmi!"

Both mother & daughter were startled by his raised voice. Looking angrily at his wife he said, "How many times must I tell you not to repeat such lies? Don't you understand how dangerous it could be if someone overhears you? Or if she tells this story to someone else?"

His wife, seeing an easy way to get her daughter to finish her meal finally, ignored her husband & began telling the tale she had already told the child many times. For some reason, it was her daughter's favourite. In all the commotion that had ensued since Laxmi's request, she had missed the arrival of the Prince who now stood quietly behind the open door, rigid, as if struck by thunder.

"Long ago, in a faraway Kingdom was a great King. His Queen was expecting their first child. She waited patiently for months, for the day when she would hold her bundle of joy in her hands. Months soon turned into years & the Queen's anxiety grew. Her child, stubborn & stupid, refused to be born. One day in anger & desperation the Queen cut her baby out. As the midwives attended to the bleeding Queen, the mass of flesh which had been her child was discarded. Much to the horror of the people, that very night, vultures descended on the city in great numbers. Wolves howled & amongst all the racket they could hear the steady braying of a donkey."

By now the little girl had started giggling uncontrollably. Her mother often told her stories of Gods & demons but this was ridiculous to fool even a little girl like her. She always knew her mother was making this all up as she went.

"The wise minister of the King commanded that the animals be driven away. Extremely terrified were the royals that not one of them dared come out and investigate the strange happenings. Sheets of rain fell, accompanied by thunder & lightning. The animals continued wreaking havoc with everyone's senses. And through all this, a single donkey brayed. Finally, the animals stopped their screaming & the rains seemed to have abated. Everything was still for a moment. There was a loud knock on the doors of the royal chambers. The Queen almost leapt out of her skin."

"The minister was standing at the door. The King himself ushered him in. Much to the chagrin of the royal couple the braying started again."

"Have you brought a donkey inside the palace you fool?," thundered the angry Queen.

"No Maharani. It is just a little child"

The little prince, instead of becoming angry, bowed his head, placed the pigeon he was holding on one of the benches, and bowed his head so that no one would see his tears. But for the first time, the guard who followed him spoke up.

"Pray tell me Vaidya... who the Prince in this story is?" The steel in the voice of Radheya chilled the spines of everyone present. The Vaidya and his wife then noticed the Crown Prince who was standing there with tears in his eyes.

"My Prince...Please pardon us. I didn't see you here." the doctor begged.

"I think my guard has asked you a question, Vaidya." Prince Suyodhana stated softly.

"My Prince it is just a story..." The healer's wife begged prostrating herself at his feet. "Please don't take it to heart."

"Sughandha...take the Prince away," Radheya stated. She hastily took the crying prince back to his chambers.

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"Did this actually happen?" Arjuna asked in a shocked tone.

"So many times, Prince Arjuna." The maid stated softly. "It was the first time anyone got punished though."

"What are you saying?"

"Prince Suyodhana was not liked by the court, Prince Arjuna. Most of the court thought that as Prince Yudhishthira was the firstborn in Kuru Vansh... he must be the Crown Prince. Whenever the Prince complained about incidents like these before, it was dismissed out of hand as a fanciful tale." Sughandha sighed.

"Our father may love me but Pitamah Bheesma, Kripacharya and the court do not like me too much. I am a dirt-born child and an ill omen in their eyes. Whatever good qualities I have... all will be nothing in their eyes as I am born under the wrong horoscope. If Pandavas beat us black and blue, they'll tell us to suck up. If we retaliate we will be adharmi in their eyes. Don't give them even more ammunition against us. Just be on your best behaviour."

Suyodhana said these words to his brothers when Arjuna spied on him. He never thought those words to be true till then. No wonder why Suyodhana hated him and his brothers in his previous life. It didn't absolve him of his wrongdoings but living with scorn all his life will make a person a bit twisted.

"This time though... Radheya had the woman's tongue cut off. One glare from that boy was enough to intimidate her into admitting that the tale was about Prince Suyodhana. He personally had cut off her tongue for daring to spread slander against a Prince of the Kingdom. The child still hates him for cutting off her mother's tongue."

"So Radheya was the first person who showed my cousin kindness. So that's how they became friends."

"Not exactly, Prince Arjuna." A smooth velvety voice spoke behind them both. So engrossed in that story, Arjuna didn't notice Karna approaching him. "Sugandha... it is time for Prince's lunch. Why hasn't it been served to him on schedule? And Prince Arjuna, your brothers Princes Nakula and Sahadeva have been searching for you since the last hour. They told me to inform you that your brother Prince Bhimasen has eaten your portion of food."

The maid scampered off leaving the children of gods behind. "I asked the servants in the kitchen to prepare another portion for you, Prince Arjuna. It will be delivered to your room soon. If your brother's hunger is not satiated and have polished off that portion too, inform one of the guards and they will bring another portion for both of you."

"Wait..."Phalguna ordered. "How did you two become friends?"

"When I first met Prince Suyodhana... he was a small cute child. He was gently cradling a pigeon in his hands, trying in vain to save its life when everyone said that it was going to die. The poor thing died a month after though." Radheya said softly. "He cried so badly in his chambers and became nearly inconsolable. Forgive me for overstepping my bounds but... your elders said that he is the blight on Kuru Vansh just because he was born under the wrong horoscope. An innocent child who cried for the life of a bird will bring destruction to Hasthinapur? And their bias against him turned the entire palace against him and his brothers."

"He might do something that may cause Hasthinapur's fall in future," Arjuna stated but even it sounded lame to his ears.

Karna threw his head back and laughed, shocking the prince who didn't expect that. "Do you know he hated me for cutting off that woman's tongue?"

Arjuna stood dumbfounded. "Yes...he hated me for cutting off that woman's tongue. He thought that I was a sycophant trying to rise above my station by gaining his favour." Karna snorted. "I was just doing my duty though. For the next seven days, he got on my nerves, irritating me like none other could. On the day when it was time for the next rotation, he asked what I wanted for mutilating a woman in his name. My temper was already frayed at the edges at that time so yeah... I said a few choice words to him."

"Oh..."

"The funny part is that no one reprimanded me. No one cared that I cussed out the Prince of a Kingdom who was just a child and just being a child. Feeling guilty about my actions, I went to beg him for forgiveness. The little prince looked shell-shocked that someone cared about his feelings to ask his pardon." Karna smiled wanly. "He was actually shocked that someone came to his defence."

This was so different from Suyodhana he knew. What the hell happened to this world?

The prince then requested me to be one of his personal guards. "I think he grew fond of me during that time. There was a conversation between us that made the prince warm up to me even more but even though he's a bit of a brat, I really like him. He reminds me of my brother, Shon."

"Your brother who died because he heard the scriptures." Karna nodded.

"I really cannot tell you the conversation as it is private between us... So anyway you are late for your lunch, Prince Arjuna. Apologies for keeping you from your meal. I'll take my leave."

Mother Kunti stopped him from tearing his hair off from roots in frustration on that day. He really wished for the world to make sense again.















Notes:

Please please please review. I'm writing this as practice for my TOEFL and IELTS exams. And sometimes reviews are like inspiration to writers so that they can understand what the readers want and write accordingly.

Any POV you want, any backstory you need please comment and I'll do my best to write a story as a side story about it.

Thank you for reading this.





I started to have a bit of a soft spot for villains after I completed my graduation. And you'd be a bit shocked when you learn who in my eyes is one of the best villains in Mahabharat. I bet you'll never be able to guess him. Don't comment here just PM me. Whoever guessed my character right I'll write a chapter based on their wish. I loved that character immensely for his dedication to his family and his hard choices. I want you guys to guess who it is.



This fic is actually on ao3 which I'm gradually shifting here. Here's the link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42169560

Anyway please do read it over there if you want to and try to guess who my favourite villain of Mahabharat is. It'll be revealed in chapter 10.



Thank you