The small emerald studded chudamani stuck in the half bun of her open hair gave proof of her being married even as her choice of wearing a dhoti and choli with a dupatta instead of the preferred saree was an oddity.

"What in bloody hell is the meaning of this!", Duryodhan yelled angrily, moving forward to help Dusashan to his feet even if it looked as if the latter wouldn't be able to stand upright.

"Funny! I could ask the same of you, Yuvraja", the woman's husky voice spat back acerbically.

Her eyes roamed around in the court, seemingly searching for someone while everyone kept gaping at her. Then she froze slightly and her coppery gold orbs widened, landing on Arjun who was still somehow upright but favouring to put his weight on one leg instead, leaning slightly.

"Who are you maiden? And how dare you attack my son thus!", Dhritarashtra who had been filled in of the current situation by Sanjaya, snapped impatiently.

"I am your daughter in law, Your Majesty. But given how you seem to treat them, I'de much rather have preferred, not to be", the lady replied nonchalantly.

"This woman is crazy... Jyeshta.. she.. she attacked me.. out of nowhere..", Dusashan whined.

"You tried touching the Samragyi, you demented creature! I just protected her", the woman retorted while cracking the whip gripped in her hand, threateningly. It made the second eldest of the Kauravas flinch back like a snivelling coward.

"She is no Samragyi! She is our sla--"

"Shut your mouth you vile infidel! If you address the Empress in that horrible way again, I will rip out your tongue!"

The sudden explosive shout from her, made even Duryodhan take a step back in slight fear before a dark anger clouded his malevolent features.

"Who are you my child?", Bheeshma's question went unanswered as the woman turned her scathing gaze throughout the hall, making everyone avert their own, some in shame and the others - unnerved.

"Who I am is immaterial Mahan mahim. The important thing is what I can do to you all."

"Is that so?", Shakuni sneered only for the former to smirk at him dangerously.

"Indeed Gandharaj. This obscene game you are playing is dishonourable and won in a completely unfair manner."

"Don't speak absurdly woman! You have..."

"I am the Queen Regent of Manipur, King of Gandhar. Address me as such or my whip will fall on your unfortunate back next. And trust me, you don't want that", she said in a saccharine tone.

The inhabitants of the Dyut Sabha, gasped in recognition then.

This elusive beauty was Queen Chitrangada.

The daughter of King Chitravahana of Manipur. Married to the third Pandava in a political alliance structured by Indraprastha for the Rajasuya Yagya. She has been rumoured to have been ruling the Kingdom on behalf of her son who was the heir apparent.

Reputed to be spirited and undefeated in war, Chaitravahini of the Manipuris has a temper which could rival her first co wife - the fiery Yagyasaini too.

"You are Arjun's third wife eh? We had heard all about your scandalous affair, My queen. Oh sorry, now that your husband is our slave, you have become our dasi too", Duryodhan grinned lecherously while taking a step towards her.

She was lovely in her all her bubbling rage and Duryodhan could hardly take his eyes off her generous curves which accentuated her athletic figure perfectly.

Chitrangada slammed her whip so hard on the ground that the marble flooring beneath, cracked with the sheer impact, forcing her so called Kuru brother in law to stumble back, like the idiot he was.

"Stay the fuck away, you fiend! I am no one's slave. My husband did not stake me in any game."

Yudhishtir grimaced guiltily, knowing that, that particular jab was meant for him. The Kauravas though decided to burst into distasteful laughter, shameless and raucous, yet again.

"Oh please, he is enslaved by us. Thus by association, so are you."

"Wrong! I am not his property. Just like Jiji is not Bhrata Yudhishtir's property. Neither are his brothers!", the wife of Savyasachi barked at her oldest brother in law, making the latter shrink at the face of her righteous wrath.

"The Pandavas along with your husband had agreed to get staked, my dear child. Ask Bheeshma if you don't trust us.", Shakuni snarked as the Grandsire of the Kurus lowered his eyes.

"It is true daughter. They... Arjun agreed to be staked", Bheeshma answered miserably.

"Then he had no right! He had no right to make that decision! He is not an isolated entity. I have a right on him. So does Panchali and Uloopi and Subhadra. His brother's staking him based on his acceptance is invalid because he does not own himself completely!"

Chitrangada's honey hazel eyes blazed aflame as she glared daggers at her husband, who lowered his fatigued silver orbs in an admittance of guilt.

Arjun had started to become slowly incapacitated by the poison flowing in his blood and was severally weakened by the blood loss. The blistering agony from his several wounds had started to turn numb as his body begun to shut down, slowly.

His wife's pretty face, though being completely white in rage still couldn't mask the aching anguish at seeing him in such a state.

He should feel embarrassed really, but all Arjun could feel at the moment, was a bone deep relief and a massive urge to give in to the fast approaching darkness. But he couldn't allow himself respite till it was completely confirmed that his brothers and his wives would be safe.

"This is bullshit! Wives have no right on their husbands. Say what, Mitra Karn?"

Karna was staring at his self proclaimed rival's wife like she was a messiah having been brought down from Indraloka to lead him to salvation. His trance was broken by his friend's nasty comment and he steeled his heart to what he was about to say.

"No Mitra. She.. the Queen is right. I.. I think we have committed a grave error. Let the Pandavas go."

"Yes! Duryodhan! Please.. listen to Angaraja! This has gone far enough", Ashwatthama, as if waiting for the right moment, added in desperately.

"What! Have you two gone mad? You are backing off now? For what? Hearing some lofty excuses by our slave's wife?"

"Duryodhan! Enough! Enough... stop! Just stop. You have defiled all of the Kuru morals and disgraced our ancestors enough! Fie be upon me if I do not stop you from completely ruining whatever dignity we have left."

Bheeshma growled enraged at his immoral dolt of a grandson, finally.

"Listen to your friends, Prince. For they have finally opened the blindfold of loyalty from their eyes. You are very close to damning us all to a cataclysmic fate. I thank the heavens for the Manipura Queen and her bravery for we all have been sitting here, mum, like a bunch of eunuchs as this treachery is being carried out."

Dronacharya spoke exhausted and pleading to his errant disciple.

"They speak reason Duryodhan. Please, give the Pandavas back what is rightfully theirs. Do not kick a sleeping tiger, child. And get a goddamned doctor for Arjun before something even disastrous occurs. I beg you..", Vidura joined in on the pleadings.

But none of his well wishers' or his closest advisors' wise words could get through to the Kaurava.

Vinaasha Kale, vipreeta buddhi.

They say that they make them mad before they destroy them.

And it seemed to everyone that it was facsimile to Duryodhan at the moment.

The crown prince of Hastinapura had started behaving like a spoilt child throwing a tantrum because his favourite toy had been snatched.

"No! I have rightfully won everything. The game has been played in front of you all. And you remained mute. So stay like that even now. No need for hysterics because a woman decided to cross her bounds."

"For God's sake! Duryo..."

"No Karna! If you have suddenly lost your spine, give up your bow and go wear bangles. Draupadi will pay for her crimes. I will drag her out myself! Let me see, who stops me."

"If he takes a single step towards the Empress, I will declare war on Hastinapur, O Grandsire of the Kurus. Do you think your beloved kingdom can take on a surprise attack from my best warriors?"

Chitrangada warned while fidgeting slightly, no doubt eager to go to her wounded husband. Her patience had been wearing thin and she wanted nothing more than to plunge her sword through the Kuru prince's stomach.

Bheeshma looked aghast. He has heard of the brave-hearts of Manipur. Their army was undefeated and accomplished in martial art forms, unforeseen in Aryavarta. They were the foremost bearers of the coveted yet unknown battle tactics of the ancient tribes of the north east.

Hastinapur's forces had been completely neglected by the current crown prince since his accession to the throne. Duryodhan has been more interested in throwing lavish parties and partaking in all sorts of debaucheries with his rowdy gang of ruffian allies.

Can his men survive such a surprise attack.

Moreover, should he, their Commander, let his soldiers die in spades for a war which essentially would be a punishment meant for Duryodhan alone.

Why should his innocent men suffer for their prince's follies? Grave as they are still.

"Don't forget that you are a dasi! You cannot declare war", Dusashan braved a few meek words at last, his pride having taken a serious bludgeoning.

"I do not give a flying fuck about your dharma or lack thereof, prince. I will attack to protect my family. And trust me, you do not want that to happen."

Chitrangada snarled savagely, unbothered by her choice of crass words.

Everyone's faces had paled with the picture formed though.

"Arjun! Reign in your wife! She speaks too much!"

Duryodhan's words had probably meant to sound more angered than desperate.

There was a smirk painted on Arjun's ashen face, his eyes flashing with sudden vigour. The mere fact that he had the strength to speak, however weakened and broken, was a miraculous feat in itself.

"I.. do not control... my queens... Duryodhan. One can hardly.. trap fire in a.. bottle. I may.. be your slave but.. she.. she is not bound to follow.... any of us.. anymore", he panted slowly, the rasping breaths playing painfully in the air.

"Hah! Bring your armies! I don't care. We'll crush you anyways", Duryodhan spat even as Karna and Ashwatthama shook their heads slightly in warning.

"Is that so, Prince. But know this, Manipur is not the only Kingdom which will attack."

A new voice startled the court and the sudden appearance of another woman right beside Arjun only added to the bewilderment of everyone. She had appeared from what seemed, right out of thin air.

She supported the youngest Kuntiputra who had been buckling slowly, by a solid arm around his waist.

The woman was shorter than Chitrangada, more voluptuous in built which was alluringly wrapped in a dark green fabric. Her addicting beauty stood starkly different than that of the Manipura queen and had an almost supernatural aura around her.

It was pretty certain that she was not human.

Her skin was pale like ivory and she had mysteriously greenish silver scales splattered over her slim shoulders, almost naked to the human eye. Her hair, inky with jade highlights, was open in long wild curls which moved strangely in their own rhythm along her narrow waist.

She was almost half the size of Vijaya but was supporting his evidently incredible weight with hilarious ease.

But what gave away her identity immediately were the piercing forest green eyes which had an eery ring of violet circling the orbs. They had flashed into snake like slits just for a second as her dark pink lips had twisted in a bitter smirk.

"Kauravi Uloopi! The Naga King Kauravya's daughter..."

Bheeshma whispered but the court had become so silent that it rung hauntingly within its walls anyways.

The woman showed her sharp incisors, poised like a pair of tiny fangs, in a macabre display of dank amusement, a parody of a grin which looked more predatory than genteel.

"I had expected a better welcome than this, oh Bheeshma the Great. But looks like all of you are mere puppets to your foolish heir", her voice was threateningly low and silky.

Duryodhan as usual, did not take the taunt too well.

"You are here to join the party as well? No offence, Nagarani but I do not prefer reptiles or else you are pretty enough to join my harem."

The thunder which suddenly crashed outside, split the skies with such a deafening fervour that half of the Dyut sabha's inhabitants had to cover their ears in pain.

The lightening which accompanied Shakrasuta's suddenly swirling prussian gaze could have burnt Duryodhan into a crisp.

The Kaurava prince deftly stepped, further away from Partha.

Who knew, even almost half dead, painted in his own blood, Arjun could look so murderous.

Uloopi only stretched her grin wider, like a shark scenting blood in the water and before Bheeshma or Drona could reprimand Duryodhan like an unruly child, she spoke again. This time the court almost choked as the air suddenly seemed to get heavy with something decidedly venomous.

"Or better Prince Duryodhan, you could join the fodder pens for my soldiers. You see, we were missing the taste of human blood for some time. The wicked ones' taste especially sweet."

The silence which greeted Uloopi's words was ominous.

"Your time is running out Prince. Accept the fact that you have clearly bitten off way more than you can chew and give back the Pandavas what they have lost or else, we'll be forced to snatch it away from you anyways."

Chitrangada had moved to stand at Arjun's free side, wrapping her own arm to overlap Uloopi's, helping with the support, even if clearly it was more for show than anything.

"Meh! You all are bluffing. They are bluffing Maharaja! They cannot attack Hastinapur! Indraprastha is ours right now, the Emperor has lost his throne. They have no authority", Shakuni declared to a rattled Dhritarasthtra.

Uloopi's sudden laughter shocked her audience yet again. There was nothing bitter in it, only a weird amusement that bellied any notion of any doubt that they were sending empty threats.

"I do not need to follow any so called rules that you puny mortals have implemented. Aryavarta's politics bore me. Yudhishtir's dharma has bound Arjun to follow his every order, even if it is wrong. Had he not had such restrictions then he would have snuffed you all out like the insects you are, for merely addressing the Empress in such a dishonourable way."

They wind which had been conspicously absent till now had picked up a nasty pace. The distant howls of jackels and the indecent screeches of the vultures made a low yet haunting cacophony of a congregation of ill omens which did not bear well with the elders of the Kuru court.

"And I for one, have no such compunctions, Gandharaj!", Uloopi spat, her eyes sharpening into glinting emeralds with supressed rage.

The sound a Naga makes while threatening was fifty times scarier than just a mere hissing of a snake. So when the snake queen spoke next, the blood in everyone's bodies almost froze.

"You have hurt my husband. And for that alone, I will slaughter you all. My poison has burnt kingdoms down to the ground. Only the nectar protected by the Gods of Amaravati can counter it. And I am pretty sure, Lord Indra wouldn't be so willing to hand it over to the Kurus at present."

"Princess... but", Dhritarashtra began only to get cut off as Arjun coughed achingly. His brothers who had been standing silenced by shock felt their insides twist with grief as blood splattered out from the lips of their dusky skinned sibling.

Uloopi and Chitrangada's faces were stoic even as their eyes gave away their internal agony as clear as their threats had displayed their wrath. The slender Chaitravahini, wiped off the dripping red liquid from her husband's lips by the edge of her golden dupatta even as Kauravi turned her fiery gaze back to the grimacing court.

"No! I will raise your clan to the ground out of mere spite, Maharaja. Do you want the Kuru kula to meet such a tragic end for the crimes your son has committed? Heed to what Chitra said, for my sister has more patience than I. This is your very last chance."

"Duryodhan, son. Give the Pandavas what is theirs. Please..", Dhritarashtra, having more sense than his idiotic offspring said finally, his sightless orbs harried and shifting in despair.

"Yes, we can win it all back later in a fair fight my friend. Listen to your father..", Karna echoed the king's sentiment.

"No! Never! All this nonsense is happening because of this worthless Arjun. Had I killed him before, these two hags wouldn't have dared to show their faces. Mitra Karna! Take out your divyastras. Mere arrows aren't killing this wretch. Only you can do it", Duryodhan shouted.

The Pandavas who were silent all the while, roared in a scary synchrony. Bheeshma, Drona and Ashwatthama looked horrified even as the Kauravas, chanted the same thing, blindly following their oldest brother's verdict.

Karna surprisingly looked sick at the suggestion.

"Mitra, he.. he is unarmed. And wounded. I can't..", he began shakily only to be cut off rudely.

"He is my slave. It doesn't matter."

"But it is against dharma. Duryodhan just listen..."

"Oh all of your dharma dharma chant is making my blood boil! Kill the bastard Karna! Or are you afraid of that snake? Or afraid that your weapon can't kill Arjun after all? Where is that patented bravery you love to boast about?"

"Mitra, this has nothing to do with my prowess. It is ignominious, I may take the blame on my head but they will curse you too! Please see reason.."

"Fine. Cower behind the skirts of your so called dharma. Let me see how being skewered on my blade stops him from being dead."

It was in a split second that Duryodhan had snatched the sword lying on his seat and reached right onto his younger cousin.

Arjun having anticipated the former's move, pushed away both his wives with the last of his strength, knowing that they would come in front to shield him, otherwise.

He knew he was not surviving the ordeal.

But he was content that his family would be safe now.

This was the final move after all.

"No! Duryodhan!"

"Arjun! No!"

"Arya!"

"My God Duryodhan!"

"No!"

Everyone had screamed, leaping out of their chairs and almost advancing half over the podium by that very second. Their voices had overlapped into a cacophony shrill enough to drive a monster mad.

But it was too late.

The Fates laughed aloud in frightening fervour and lustful delight as the Kaurava Prince in his maddened moment of insanity single handedly brought forth what would be the end of his entire clan with a single move. 

To be continued