A String Of Pearls

The sixteenth night seemed to stretch on and on, and the fear for the next day only seemed to increase with each passing moment.

There was sleep in none of their eyes. Even though it was important for the warriors to get rest, none of them seemed to want to waste a moment on it as it could be the last time they could spend time with their loved ones. Not that too many warriors were left in the first place. Compared to the early days..... the devastation wreaked by the war was obvious.

Once Bhrata Karna had brought Vrushali Di back, he wouldn't let any of them leave the tent until the men had to leave to plan for the next day.

Everyone was agitated and apprehensive but Bhrata Karna especially seemed to want to soak up every moment he could in their presence, as if he was certain that he would not get another opportunity. 

He was acting rather unlike himself. Despite the fact that tears and watery eyes and taken up a permanent residence on all their faces, Bhrata Karna chattered on and on, through hitched voice and occasional gasps holding back sobs as if he had to get out as many words as he could.

His golden eyes wildly flitted all over each of them.

Seeing Bhrata Karna, who was always generally rather conservative in the usage of words like this, was... unsettling. So unsettling.

At one point, he had gotten up and just hugged each of them tightly.

All this scared Bhanumati more than ever.

Everyone else also seemed to find this odd, but at this point none of their mental states were stable enough so... everybody just went along with it.

Vrushali di was completely pale and had a tight hold on both of her sons' hands.

No. Bhrata Karna could not die tomorrow. He could not. He must not. If he did.... no. No. He couldn't. They would definitely lose the war and they would lose him. She would definitely lose Duryodhan. They had lost almost everyone. No more. It couldn't be. Surely Fate couldn't be this cruel?

 But if it were, should she even be surprised at this point?

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In the Commanding Tent, The Yuvraj humbly requested the King of Madra to be The King of Anga's Charioteer, so that they could be a proper match for the third  Pandava Prince and the Lord of Dwarka, for there was no better charioteer on their side who could support their Commander.

Madraraj Shalya raged at the proposal.

Fighting under the Command of a lowly Suta was insulting enough to them all, he claimed. By making him Commander in Chief, Duryodhan was insulting his Grandsire and Preceptor already. And now he wanted him, the Mighty King of Madra, who they had tricked into joining their side, to be a charioteer, for the Charioteer's son?!

The Yuvraj defended his friend's strength as a warrior and the King of Madra commented harshly on how his younger brother had been killed so brutally while his friend was commander, but was wryly questioned on whether he could last against Arjun for even a single minute.

Before the argument could proceed further, Hastinapur's scion surprised the older man by genuinely, humbly requesting him to protect his friend in battle the next day like the Lord of Dwarka protects his cousin so that their victory may be assured.