Darkness filled Duryodhan's room, while he sat on his huge rocking chair. Oscillating back and forth, the motion matching the inner competition  of his thoughts.

The borders of rights and wrongs had blurred years ago. What remained now was a broken shell of a man who was struggling to hold his family together.

Mighty Duryodhan. Ha! He wanted to laugh at the title. Mighty in what sense? Making a fool of himself.

It had to be.

What else could it stand for? Mighty joke of the universe, was more like it.

That's what his life was.

Agony burned in his chest, high and bright, illuminating the dark corner of his heart that was webbed with wounds, unseen to human eyes.

He was probably the biggest joke that god had made to entertain himself.

His life surely was one.

Conceived first, but was born two years later. So, who was elder him or Yudhisthir?

On birth where children were anticipated with positivity, it was prophesied he would be the end of all.

He had a father,  mighty and loving, who too lost his rightful throne, because he was blind.

Just his luck. Parents had a rocky bond with each other. Uncle was too busy poisoning him against his own family.

As Duryodhan kept on recalling the facts of his life, the flame of agony took the shape of a huge fire, that threatened to burn him alive. 

He hated returning to this phase, he achieved nothing but pain. He always wanted someone to truly love him.

What hadn't he done to do that? He followed every teaching of his uncle, but no matter what he did,  it was never enough,  the sons of Pandu were always considered better.

He always remained a bully, and after a point he stopped carrying. That's when he met the two most beautiful souls of his life.

His Pauravi and Bhanumati, two women who truly loved him. And fate had again decided to snatch them away.

His soul was filled with a restless, walking towards the balcony, he rested his palms on the railing.

Screams of Pauravi still haunted him, crushing his heart with an ache so intense that words failed to summarize it.

The distant sound of anklets had his attention peaking, gazing down at the city of Hastinapur, he spoke softly.

"Can't sleep?" His voice was monotonous.  "When you are restless, how can I?" Her words were soft as usual, walking ahead, she reached behind him.

Arms wrapped around his waist, the familiar weight of her head rested on the back of his shoulder, her small figure pressed in his back.

He sighed in relief,  the tension in his body lessening. "Bhanu, it's not good for you and our baby for you to be awake till so late." He reminded, his one hand cupped the fingers that rested on his stomach.

"And it isn't for you as well Arya." She argued back playfully, making him smile. "You do know I am a grown man right?" He teased, he just couldn't help it.

With her everything seemed perfect, even in the most darkest and deary times.

"You do know, I am a grown woman." She mimicked his tone, humor sparked in his chest, as he hummed, turning in her arms.

Pulling her hard in his chest, he cupped her cheeks, his eyes gazing down at her blushing face, that looked all the more beautiful in the twilight that the moon showered on them.

"Yes, I indeed do know that you are grown woman,  and a very beautiful one at that. One, who is carrying my child in her." He whispered huskily in her ears, making her cheeks warm up.

His fingers traced the apple of her cheeks,  marveling the feel of her soft skin under his touch.

"Dhat." She exclaimed, shying from his constant stare. He laughed, two years of successful married life, and she still blushed like a new bride.

It was adorable, his heart melted at her very sight. Pressing his lips against hers, he pulled her hard against him. She gasped, the feel of his firm lips, had a moan escaping her lips.

Her hands clutched his shoulders, gripping at them harder, sparks cackled around them, stealing their breath away.

"Arya." She moaned, moving her lips against his, in a soft confession of her love towards him.

Everytime he kissed, it felt like he was caressing her soul, the gentleness and care with which he handled her, made her soul sing.

Pulling her in his arms, he picked her up bridal style. She lay her forehead on his shoulder, letting her eyes droop.

"I love you Arya." She whispered, her voice growing distant,  the safety of his arms beckoned sleep.

"I love you more my sweet." He confessed, a smile tracing his lips, he noticed she had already slipped in the land of slumber making him smile. 

Walking towards their bed, he lay her down cautiously and sat beside her head, he ran his fingers down her long curls.

Humming to her sleeping form, a soft grin playing on his lips. He loved too see her sleep, the peace and serenity on her face, gave him a satisfaction and calmness.

Pressing his lips to her forehead, he lingered there a moment longer. Her closer proximity soothing his soul. Pulling back, he looked down at her.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, his voice bouncing off the walls of the room.

Pauravi jolted surprised,  from where she stood in the dark corner of the room, besides a pillar, hidden away in the shadows.

"How did you know I was here?" She questioned instead, his eyes were still focused on Bhanumati, she hadn't seen him lift her eyes away from her, than how did he know Pauravi was here?

She wondered, curiosity unfurling in her chest. He smiled before looking up, his gaze locked with hers, across the room.

"Heart doesn't need a compass to know where it's beat is." His deep voice grew huskier making her breath hitch, her eyes stung, a storm of emotions brewed in her chest.

If only she hadn't been in their life, he would have been so happy. She was the extra burden that he was carrying. He and Bhanumati would have a perfect life without her.

Without all her troubles, they would lead a perfect and happy life. "Whatever it is that you are thinking stop right there. Because I can assure you it is nothing but crap." Duryodhan's commanding voice jolted her out of the dark abysses of her thoughts.

He could read his girls like an open book, it didn't take him a fraction of second to understand that whatever that she was thinking was a result of her insecurities.

She turned around, facing away from him. Her throat tightened, if she could, she would disappear from his life.

Far away from him, so his life would go in peace.

Covering Bhanumati with the thick duvet, he got up from the bed and moved across their room.

Erasing the distant between her and himself. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her back flush in his chest, lowering his head near her ear, he whispered softly.

"What are you thinking?" He asked, nuzzling her neck,  pressing his lips to her neck, kissing his way up from her shoulder to her neck.

Her heart thumped hard, goosebumps spread on her body, while she trembled shutting her eyes against his touch.

Familiar sparks ignited within her, erasing every last of her thoughts, she bit her lip, trying to control the moan that threatened to slip past her lips.

"Just that how perfect life would be, if I wasn't a part of it." Pained laced her words, she whispered them against his lips.

Fury blazed in his chest, agony cackled with a vengeance.

Swirling her around, he pushed her back against the wall, his front pressing in her chest, caging her between him and his arms.

"What my life would be is, hell." He growled, silver of ache showing through his words.

His eyes though were filled with fury, also shone with tears. "Life without you won't be worth living. I am a very selfish man. You and Bhanumati are my love, my greed, my very last reason to live." Passion and fury laced his voice, that had suddenly taken a gruffer edge.

Pushing her back, he turned away. His fists clenching. He hated when she doubted their bond. He felt like a complete failure.

What hadn't he done to make her understand,  just what she meant to him. But, it was never enough.

"Arya." Vulnerability laced her words, she took hesitant steps towards her. Tears marked down her cheeks, they flowed steadily.

Her throat tightened.

"Arya, I don't want to doubt us. I swear I never mean to. It just happens. The fact that I could be someone's only reason to happiness seems impossible. 

Bhanu is easy to love. She is caring, loving, and has so much life in her. I, on the other hand am nothing but a broken mess..." Her voice faded, silent sobs wrecking her body, agony overpowered her senses, making it impossible for her to stand still.

Her knees turned jelly, arms wrapped around her, slowly lowering her on the ground, Duryodhan crouched beside her.

Embracing her hard against his chest. "You have no idea how perfect you are. Maybe not for the world, but for me." He whispered, his silent confession making her sob harder.

She couldn't believe even after so much, how did he love her so much. How could anyone love her?

But he did.  He always did.  Picking her in his arms, he carried her towards the bed. Laying her down, he lay in between the two.

"I love you." He reminded her, laying her head on his chest, Bhanumati muzzled his neck on the other side. "I love you more." She replied with a smile on her face.

"And I love you both. But, I also love my sleep, so shhhhhhhhh." Bhanumati mumbled sleepingly, making the two laugh.

"Meanies." She complained playfully huffing. "So what if we are?" Teased Pauravi.

"Aryaaaa jiji is teasing." Duryodhan laughed hearing her whine, "Now now kids it's time to sleep." He admonished playfully.

"Haww are you saying you're a pedophile?" Bhanumati teased in mock shock, Pauravi doubled over laughing, as Duryodhan squinted his eyes playfully at her.

"Bhanu." He called in a mock warning tone, "yesss." She answered innocently blinking her eyes.

"Sleep." He chuckled, pulling the two closer, a broad grin playing on his lips, as both laid their heads on his chest.

His arms wrapping around their waist, as sleep over took the three. . .

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

DO VOTE AND COMMENT!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆