Episode - 2

Krish started a sound avalanche by pressing the horn of his vehicle. Hearing that, Arjun blew whistle. Both the sides, the drivers were buzzing the horn like a competition. Other army people started whistling and jeering. The sound was horrible and nonstop. Duryo ordered a bull horn in eBay for his vehicle. To create louder noise, the goodies (Arjun’s side) switched on their indicators. To counter that, badies (Duryo’s side) started accelerating their vehicles in neutral. Maximum possible noise and air pollution was created before the war. It had created havoc in the hearts of the fighters. It was an indication that there would be a huge war; a war that would be talked about for many centuries.

‘Madness is like gravity. All you need is a little push,’ said Koushik to Arjun.

Arjun pulled his finger out from his mouth and wiped it. ‘It is from dark knight, you crazy bugger,’ said Arjun.

‘Is it? I am quoting it from Mahabharata. Ha ha ha...’

Arjun again scoped his rifle to spot the enemies. He couldn’t get the correct range. He asked Krish to move forward and if possible, to drive in-between the two armies. Krish did the same and took him between the two armies. The humvee was in such a position that the rear mirror showed all his army behind and the transparent front glass showed the enemy army in the front.

‘A perfect view,’ said Koushik.

‘Yeah! Nice work,’ Arjun chuckled and scoped.

The sound and smoke started subsiding from both the sides.

The view shocked Arjun. All the army chiefs were his cousins, uncles, nephews, grandfathers, martial arts teacher, his sons and students and so on. He realized that he had to kill them in the war. The sentiments and older days flashed across his mind. He stumbled. He realized that it would be difficult to kill the blood relations and teachers. A drop of tear blurred his view.

‘I see them, Krish. They are all my friends, relatives and teachers. I can’t fight them. I really can’t fight them. I don’t want to kill them. My mind has lost its peace,’ said Arjun to Koushik.

‘Look at them, Arjun. Look at them. The relatives of yours want Duryo to win the battle. They are supporting him and came along with him to fight you. ’

‘I am seeing them, Krish. I see their faces. I am becoming very weak. I am shivering. I can’t grip my gun. I am confused. I can’t even stand. I see ill omen here. Nothing is good. What am I going to gain by killing all other relatives in this war? A kingdom. A small piece of land in this mighty world. I don’t want to win. I do not like it. I don’t want kingdom. I don’t want to be a king. I don’t want to be luxury. I don’t find any use in fighting this war. What is the use in living a luxurious life after winning this war? I don’t find any. I have my blood brothers and half-brothers with me to fight in my side. I came here all the way to fight for them. I want my elder brother to become the king. But now I feel that they are standing here risking their lives in the war. What if they die in this war? All my purpose is lost.’

Koushik looked at him in awe. He listened patiently. He realized that Arjun was completely lost his mind and speaking sentimental dialogues like a girl. Sometimes men do behave like girls, he thought. He didn’t laugh. He knew that it could be misinterpreted in a wrong manner. He was silent.

‘Krish, If is say to them now that we don’t need the kingdom, then all my brothers will be safe. Even after that, if my cousin wants to kill me, let him. I can’t kill them even at that stage. I don’t want to. I know they have done many bad things to me and my brothers. But still my heart says that I can’t be happy by killing them and winning the war. See, they are my cousins. I am clearly seeing that it is impossible for me to kill them. There is no use. A purpose less deed shall not be entertained. I am thinking of averting this war. It is good to stop this before it begins. All the lives would be saved.’

Sanjay was listening to this conversation. He had implanted secret microphones before the war. He became happy. If Arjun stops the war, then I can go and have dinner tonight with my girlfriend, he thought. He typed a quick text: “Sure dear. We’ll go out for dinner. Luv u.”

‘Krish, Just imagine the effect of this war. If we fight them, then we’ll surely win. But the post war incidents will be too bad. The men gathered here would be dead. What will happen to the wives of those people? There won’t be too many men who can marry them again. Those women may go in a wrong path. What would their children think? They will carry vengeance till death. All those people are our clan. There is a possibility that other clan people convert them to their clan. It will happen, I know. Then this will lead to complete destruction of our clan. All the practices in our clan will be lost. I don’t want to see that. It is better if I get killed here. I have decided. I am not going to fight,’ said Arjun to Koushik.

‘My king, Arjun has put his rifle down and sat on the backseat. He told Krish that there won’t be any war. He won’t fight. He wants peace.’

‘Is it? I am very happy,’ said king Rashtra to Sanjay.

‘Me too,’ said Sanjay and started to day dream about that evening.

Koushik didn’t interrupt Arjun while he was speaking. He allowed him to complete all he had to say. His eyes trued cold. Arjun was sitting with eyes full of tears. I became too sentimental. The tear drops flowed over the cheeks and fell on the seat. Koushik could hear the sound of the tear drop touching the seat. The place, which was filled with noise a moment before, was devoid of sound. Koushik turned his face away from him. Arjun cried for some time. Koushik played a beautiful sound track and adjusted the volume. The sound from the mp3 player soothed Arjun. His mind got relaxed.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Koushik.

‘Yes, Krish. I am okay now. May I go and tell them that we are going to quit the war?’

Koushik turned his face and gave a stern look.

‘What?’ asked Arjun.

‘Wait.’