Chapter 55 55. Arrogance
Duryodhana seating in the lotus position opened his still blazing green eyes as the golden light surrounding him slowly started to disperse revealing his now metallic bronze skin.
"Mata (Mother), I feel weird all around my body."
Duryodhana looked in the crows just to lock his eyes on his mother and said to her in a confused tone.
He did not know what happened to him all of a sudden. Even the seating in a lotus position was all done by instinct. There are many questions in his mind after this to ask his mother.
His body felt weird though even before his body was not normal but as time went by he got used to his Vajra body but this time it was way too different. Not only could he feel the hardness of his body increase but also there was immense strength in his body.
He could feel his bulging muscles and power in them. He felt that if he punched the ground now it would shatter into pieces. There is also the overwhelming urge to practise as his body is craving for it.
He wants to fight the strong, He wants to wrestle the elephants as his body asks for him to do it and to his surprise he wanted to do it without any fear, There was no fear in his heart of getting hurt.
It was not like this before, He with his Vajra body he knew he can get hurt so he alway be careful but now it was not the case, He didn't try it but he can tell his body was now literally indestructible.
"Don't worry Putra, It will feel that way for some time. After that feeling goes away, Wash yourself. We have to go to the temple to thank the gods for giving this blessing."
Gandhari could not contain her happiness seeing her son looking like a celestial being glowing in the glory of his immense might bestowed on him, She who always worried about her son's wellbeing and safety could feel safe.
If her children have this elder brother then do they even have to be afraid of any mishaps happening to them? Her eldest will surely be capable of protecting him and his siblings all on his own.
So she was of course proud of him, No seeing him like this she finally accepted that they need to study soon if not she while trying to protect them in selfishness of hers to have her children around her, She would harm him severely.
He needs to learn, Learn and get strong so much so that there will be a day when she can be sure he will be the one who protects everyone, even her if she ever needs it.
Though it would not be possible for that to happen but knowing that her mighty son can and would protect her, That is all one mother needs to be proud of her son.
"I would do that Mata, Indeed this is a blessing of gods, I even felt that not to mention beating but can harm me, This is a strange but quite good feeling, I feel invincible."
Duryodhan stood up from the ground and told his mother in excitement, He really felt that he was now invincible, No one can harm him as his body yelled at him to challenge the strong.
He now has enough confidence. No, he was sure he could beat that fat mad bull without fearing to be overpowered by him, He even had the urge to go look for him to payback all the pain he gave to him and his brothers.
Gandhari was proud of her son, She walked near him and took him in her arms for a warm hug which he greedily accepted feeling the long-lost warmth of his mothers care.
"Huh?"
Shakuni on the other hand raised his eyebrow upon hearing the words of Duryodhana, His words did not sit right with him as Shakuni could feel there was arrogance contained in them.
He did not check Duryodhana but just seeing his metallic skin could feel an indestructible property of it, Which is a thing to be proud of but not a thing to be arrogant about.
Wise men like him know pride is good as it moulds the person but marriage is like water pouring in a wet unbaked clay pot. No matter how good one is and how big their potential can be it will be useless when arrogance fills the mind of a person.
He did not want Duryodhana to waste this blessing and turn it into a curse, So he started to think of a way to teach his nephew on how one can be prideful but not arrogant.
While he was busy thinking about how to deal with this, He did not notice Karna standing beside him already walking towards Duryodhana with a hypocritical smile on his face, cooking something only he and gods know in his mind.
"Ohh Mitra, Your body really looks indestructible, Is it really the case?"
Karna stood in front of Duryodhana who was reluctant to let go of the warmth of his mother. After all, he was carving for a warm hug like this for a very long time but Gandhari was always busy not getting time to take care of her children as she used to do.
Though the Hastinapur palace is luxurious, It lacks warmth, Its walls are like the cold iron rods of a bird cage, A golden cage. They get food, water and safety but not love and freedom.
So it is reasonable that in the few rare expectations where he gets this warmth, He did not want to let go and enjoy it as long as he can.
"Mitra, It really feels indestructible, I feel like I am invincible no one can harm me, with this next time I will be the one who will protect you hehe."
But seeing it was his friend Karna coming to him, He broke free from the hug and rushed to Karna telling proudly and excitedly to him, answering him in a boastful voice.
While she was saying he did not see the change in the expression of people around him, Not only did Shakuni's frown deepen but even Gandhari felt weird because of his answer feeling uneasy.
Vikrama the brian of Kauravas brother also felt the arrogance in his elder brother's voice which made him uneasy, He knew this has to be a nip in the bud if not it is going to harm their brother and might turn this blessing into a curse.
Eklavya too was being uneasy, He knew what arrogance can do to one he had seen it how mighty people fall in their arrogance in the forest, He was racking his mind hesitating to point this out or not.
He did not forget his identity even through Karna's gracious treatment and because of that he could not say anything or he did not have the right to say in the royals, Which he did not care about.
But now it was Duryodhana, the friend of his teacher. He felt like it should be his duty to warn them to prevent any mishaps but he was not sure how to break the news.
Other Kauravas did not get what was happening or felt the worry of others, They were just happy for their elder brother for it, They too did not feel anything bad with his words but seeing they were just 4 years old kids that is understandable.
Sushala followed Gandhari like her shadow, So she too was standing behind her mother's legs with stars in her eyes looking at her big brother.
Only Karna's face was the same as it was before with that same hypocritical smile adoring on his petal-like enchanting lips making him look divine with effect to smooth anyone's emotions.
"Ohh really? Mind if I give it a try to check the claim?"
Karna patted on their shoulder of Duryodhana in a friendly manner and asked in his bewitching voice as his inherent alluring aura surrounded him, Duryodhana looked at Karna and was stunned for a moment.
But then he quickly shook his head pulling himself out of his thoughts and looked at him with pride and puffing his chest he said
"Yes Mitra, Try as much as you want I don't think I am even going to feel a thing, I didn't lie when I said I feel invincible now, My whole body is as hard as diamond, So be careful as it might hurt you mitra."
There was immense pride in his voice which was not bad on it's own but the touch of arrogance mixed in it made it sound worse to the people present, Though he was genuinely concerned about Karna getting hurt but because of that touch of arrogance it felt like he was mocking him.
"Ohh don't worry, I also forgive you in advance, It's for your own good."
Karna said with the same hypocritical smile on his face which now turned into a grin as he said to him.
"Why forgive- Pfffftttt"
Duryodhana got confused about what Karna was talking about but before he could ask that question he got an answer to it.
(A/N : I know it is going slow but It is needed. I can't introduce characters too quickly and I have to introduce them for the story, hence the slow pace but don't worry only two important characters are remaining to introduce it, So the story will speed up.
Like always thank you for reading and have a good day 😁.)