Alternative | ?

Stunned silence spread throughout the room.

The Pandavas were tensed at being so thoroughly questioned, their actions paraded in front of all and a mockery made of them by two females. None of them were happy. All were frustrated and immensely angered. Yet Yuddhisthira's steady gaze on his younger brothers, made them not say a word in response.

Bhishma, Vidura and Drona had become speechless at the questions asked. An uncomfortable feeling griped them as words after words left the lips of the two females. 

"Perhaps we should ask Yuvraja Duryodhana his conditions in stopping the war."

Krishna's voice bought everyone from their blank thoughts, while his own whirled. He was reluctantly impressed at the way the VasusenaJāyā easily turned the tables. He could understand that from another perspective, the exile had never been a punishment. 

Emotions are subjective to a human being. Guilt is an emotion. It depends on a person, what emotions he feel and how intensely he feel them. It cannot be considered as punishment by an objective perspective. The Maharani of Anga had presented her words in an objective manner. After all, he knew that Vasusena was also guilty of his conduct in Dyut. He had admitted as such to him.

If guilt can be considered punishment, for Pandavas, why not for him too?

Duryodhana gave a wry smile as the question was finally asked, for which his Bhabhishri and Priyā (wife) had teared the exile of his cousins apart one by one.

"I will not answer now," said he, wanting to speak with his best friend before anything else, "The war can stay suspended until Vasusena returns. I will inform my conditions after consulting with him."

Bhishma looked startled and desperate too. He wanted to pay off the debt as soon as possible. He was very uncomfortable in the presence of the Queen of Anga and even more frustrated at owning her a life debt. He hadn't even asked to  be healed. He had long since realized that she had manipulated him. How could he say no to healing, when his great grandson was captured and his wife pregnant? An heir of Hastinapura would have lost his father even before being born. That had no doubt struck a cord. 

He said, "Do you know where he is? Perhaps, we could search for him?"

Duryodhana looked indecisive, wanting yet not wanting their help. Their help could speed up the process yet he did not want help from whom he had gained nothing.

"That will not be possible," Ira replied, glancing at Duryodhana, "Suyo, Vrisha had journeyed towards Mahendragiri. He will not arrive until he had met his Gurudeva."

"Oh," Duryodhana replied, while despair griped the Grandsire, "Then I would like to speak with Mata. Can you wait till then, Mahamahim?"

Bhishma nodded relieved. At least Gandhari would sow some seeds of compliance inside this obstinate Duryodhana. He can speak to her about it. The eldest Kuruvadhu of the previous generation would not deny him.

"As this had been settled," said Ira, getting up from her seat, "I need to leave for I wasted enough of my day in this pointless meeting."

Bhanumati and Duryodhana got up along with her, as Ira left the tent. 

As the Pandavas and their sympathizers came out of the tent, noticing that Duryodhana, Ira and Bhanumati were speaking amongst themselves, standing in front of an opposite tent. They watched as the Queen of Anga nodded towards them before going off towards another direction.

"Bhabhishri!!" "Jiji!!"

The sudden yells of Duryodhana and Bhanumati shocked even the onlookers. They all watched with widen eyes as a missile approached from the sky heading towards the standing Ira, whose eyes were calm and posture relaxed.