-- THREE YEARS LATER ---

"HAIL RAUDRA ! HAIL RAUDRA !" The army cheered.

Another battle has been won by the son of Vidur, it's been three years since he became the guardian of Kuru-rashtra, and not one battle has been lost by him, he had become the undefeated warlord.

Even the most minor transgression was handled with him with utmost swiftness. In the three years, people have come to know him as Yuddh-jeevi, the one who lives in war.

"YUDDH-JEEVI AS ALWAYS EMERGED VICTORIOUS !" The soldiers cheered.

This mighty warrior had a lot of respect among the citizens, who had began revering him just like they revered the crown-prince Yudhisthir.

As his 1000 Ashwa-rohis cheered for him, Manvendra, covered in the gore of the enemy soldiers, stood there without saying a thing, even his sword was dripping with blood, it's thirst quenched once again.

His face remained expressionless like always, neither did it show the sorrow of killing so many warriors, nor did it show the happiness of winning yet another battle.

In these years, he had truly seen the horrors of war, death and destruction everywhere. But surprisingly, he didn't feel any disgust or sorrow. He fought fiercely in the battle, killing enemy soldiers left and right, but still did not feel any sense of accomplishment or satisfaction.

Days had turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and months into years, but Manvendra still couldn't feel anything. But continued to fight hoping that something would stir up inside him

"Aryaputra ?" Ashwasen kept his hand over the shoulder of Manvendra, causing the prince to look at the middle-aged man.

"I think you should rest now." He said.

"No. We have to head to Uttar Kuru." Manvendra said.

"We can do that tomorrow as well, Kumar. You have tirelessly fought 18 battles in one go this year, you must rest. And also let the soldiers celebrate their victory today." Ashwasen insisted.

Manvendra looked at him, this man had taken up the role of a close confidante. All the advises of Ashwasen were so wise and filled with experience that Manvendra never needed to turn to anyone.

"Fine then. We shall march tomorrow." Manvendra said.

And saying so he left, going straight to Yamuna, to clean himself from all the blood. Kneeling on the banks of the river, he washed his hands and face while drinking some of it's soothing water.

But this river always reminded him to that damned evening in Dronacharya ashram, which happened on the other bank of this very same river Yamuna.

He held his throbbing temples, thinking how he has been constantly in wars but yet he couldn't feel a thing. But atleast he was at peace amongst the Ashwa-rohis. It was ironical how battlefield was more peaceful than Hastinapur to him.

He had been regularly updated about the happenings of Hastinapur by Yuyutsu who wrote to him how Kauravas along with Karn undertook several conspiracies to kill the Pandavas.

Manvendra sighed, knowing that atleast the decision to stay away from Hastinapur was good.

-- NIGHT TIME --

"Forgive me."

"No ! You have killed my husband ! You have killed my heart ! Your condition shall become like mine ! This very moment, your heart shall also die but you shall live !"

The eyes of Manvendra shot open as sat up with a jolt, breathing heavily. Even now, even now he cannot escape the nightmare of that day. The face of that woman, the curse she uttered still haunts him.

His eyes travelled around his surroundings as he calmed down a little, knowing he was in his tent. He covered his face with his hand, but his mind was restless and his head was throbbing.

He got up from the bed and went outside, where he saw the soldiers were still celebrating their victory by drinking and dancing around the fire.

"Yudh-jeevi ? I hope we didn't wake you up." A soldier said.

"No you didn't." Manvendra said.

"Then would you care for a drink ?" He asked.

"I'd like that." Manvendra said.

He went up to the bonfire, where the soldiers made readied a seat for him next to Ashwasen. They handed him a chalice and poured some wine made of Sidhu.

"Another round of drinks for the sake of our lord ! Raudra Yuddh-jeevi Manvendra !"

The soldiers cheered raising their glasses to have some more wine. Some began to sing and joined the already dancing soldiers.

It was quite a celebration but Manvendra seemed lost and out of place. Because he didn't feel anything what those soldiers were feeling.

After completing his drink, Manvendra got up from his seat and swiftly left, without anyone noticing. He walked for some distance, so the sound of celebration didn't reach his ears.

Now in an isolated place, he looked up at the moon, and a sigh of disappointment left his lips. He began walking around the the forest area.

The rustling of leaves underfoot and the songs of crickets and owls awakening all the senses. Manvendra started observing the beauty and serenity all around. The sounds of nature were beginning to take over the thoughts that were once occupying his restless mind.

The cool breeze blowing through the trees and the shadows cast by the moon brought him some much needed peace and relaxation, like always.

Manvendra wondered as to why all the tension and worries seem insignificant to him, when he was surrounded by nature. He often attributed it to his biological father Manyu, who was the form of Mahadev, famously known as Pashupati.

Suddenly a slight chirping sound caught his attention, his eyes went up to the tree, where he saw two birds nestling into each other.

Monsoon was near, he realised. And hence the soldiers were especially happy today in the celebrations as they were eager to return home to their wives and family.

It was a season for rest and romance, but for Manvendra it was a season in which he was doomed and also a season where he had to go back to Hastinapur.

He didn't want to go there, Yuyutsu had told him how the Kauravas along with Shakuni and Karn kept trying to kill the Pandavas. But he had no choice.

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A/N

So three years have been passed 🌝

Chalo jab monsoon and romance ki baat ho hi gayi hai toh.... Let's introduce the heroine now ✨