Laxman gazed into his Pitashree's eyes. "Laxman," Duryodhan rasped. "Don't, Pitashree! Please! Save your strength. We will heal you," Laxman said, determination in his voice. "No, Laxman, it's too late," Duryodhan's breathing became faster. It was so fast that he was hyperventilating. "Pitashree! Hold on! Please! Don't leave us!" Laxman begged. "Lax, I have done m-m-many wr-r-rong t-t-things in l-l-life," Duryodhan started to stay. 

"Yes, you have, but we're human we have to make mistakes. No one's perfect. What matters is how we learn from our mistakes," Laxman declared. Duryodhan chuckled. "Karna said that," he remarked. Laxman didn't even realize that he had just quoted his Kakashree. "Looks like I was right to send you to Anga," Duryodhan observed. "Yeah, you were," Laxman agreed. His time with his Kakashree in Anga was the best he could time he had in his life. It was much better than the Pandavas children teasing him because he was the son of a bad omen.

"Pitashree!" Laxman recognized that voice as Lakshmana's. "Mana," Duryodhan said. "Pitashree, don't leave us!" Lakshmana cried. "Putri, it's going to be alright," Duryodhan said. "No, Pitashree! I can't see you like this!" Mana cried. "It's alright, Putri," he said. Lakshmana hugged their father.

"Tatshree?" Vrishaketu emerged from behind Lakshmana. "Come here, Putra, call your brother too," Vrishu went behind and called Vrishasena. "Putro, me and your father are so proud of you," Duryodhan said. Tears were welling from his eyes. "I and Karna are all so proud of you," he repeated. "Mitra," there was a voice behind him. Lax didn't look though. 

He heard the voice of his Mitra say "Mamashree?" So, Mamashree Ashwatthama is here. Mamashree came near Pitashree and said "Mitra, it's okay you can sleep now," Duryodhan hesitated, but only until Mamashree said "Go see Karna," and started sobbing. Duryodhan smiled.

"Goodbye," he finally said. He closed his eyes and drifted into his eternal sleep.

Laxman completely broke down so did Mitra, Vrishu, Mana, and Mamashree. He stood up, wiping tears from his eyes. "Why?!" he yelled, turning to the Pandavas. He saw how crest-fallen they looked. "Why!" he yelled again. "It was dharma, Putra," Yudhisthir squeaked. "Dharma?" Laxman yelled.

"If your dharma brings tears to one's eyes then how can you call it dharma? It should be adharma, right?" Vrishasena asked, calmly. Laxman redirected his eyes to Abhimanyu. Rage and bitterness welled up inside him. He remembered how Abhimanyu stole his bride-to-be Vatsala. 

He then looked at Vatsala. Her hands were clutched on Abhimanyu's arm. "Do you remember Abhimanyu?" Laxman asked. Facing his cousin with eyes full of anger. "Remember what?" Abhimanyu asked.

"How you stole Vatsala from me!" Laxman spat. Abhimanyu's eyes suddenly clouded with guilt. He finally gathered up the courage and said "She chose me!" his eyes were calm, guilty, and scared.

"Did you assume she wouldn't be comfortable with me?" Laxman questioned dangerously. "Yes!" Abhimanyu exclaimed. "Why?" Laxman said calmly. Before Abhimanyu could respond, Laxman declared "Oh! Because I'm the son of a bad omen, right?" his eyes flickered with hostility.  Abhimanyu put his head down. Laxman continued, "And you think she would be better off with you because you're the son of the 'best archer'!" he was disgusted with Abhimanyu already, this caused him to become even more antagonistic with him.

"I still remember that day. That day when I was betrothed to Vatsala. It was the happiest day of my life! But of course, you were annoyed. Then you asked your maternal uncle, Balaram's brother, and Arjun's ally, Krishna to intervene," Laxman glared at Krishna. "Krishna says he can't and tells him to go to Abhimanyu's cousin Ghatotkach. Abhimanyu meets his cousin and tells him what happened. Ghatotkach hatches a plan to spoil the best day of my life. He goes to my wedding disguised as Vatsala. When we were about to get married, he showed his true colors. He laughed and said the real marriage is happening in the forest and left." Laxman stopped and wiped his tears.

"I knew the marriage was of you and Vatsala. You broke my heart that day, and I'll never forget it." Lax looked at all the faces staring at him. Laxman heard a voice. "Mitra, where you go I go," Laxman turned around at witnessed his Mamashree killing himself. "No!" Vrishasena and Dronacharya yelled. 

Laxman was crying uncontrollably. Laxman mounted the chariot Vrishasena had just brought, they went onward, their chariot gleamed in the moonlight.

Laxman clenched his fists, we will get revenge!

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Hi, guys! Sorry for the late update!

There will be slow updates now that I am COVID positive.

Wish me luck!

The next part will be called, The Chase.

Bye! Aadi, out!