"Now call the one who is dearer to me," Acharya Drona said loudly.
Duryodhana stood with his 98 brothers, and his friend Ashwatthama was next to him when Acharya Drona stepped forward and announced.
Duryodhana noticed the sad expression of Ashwatthama and the jealousy pressing on his heart.
He knew how Ashwatthama felt when he stood here, and his father announced that Arjuna was dearest to him, instead of his own son.
Duryodhana placed a hand on his shoulder. Ashwatthama turned towards him and smiled.
No one said any words. Duryodhana felt they were alike.
Just a shadow of Arjuna. Arjuna always stood shining in front of them, always taking the praises of everyone, as if he were some kind of perfection.
Duryodhana clenched his fists. He was aware that it was only Arjuna who was the real wall between him and his throne.
Yudhishthira was no match for him.
Bheem was just a stupid, angry bull.
Sahadava and Nakula were just kids.
But Arjuna- just his presence- pressed him and all his brothers; Arjuna alone could defeat them, and He was also the favorite of Pitamah Bhishma.
I trained for fifteen years! I became equal to Bheem! I will surpass him in a mace fight! But could I ever beat Arjuna?!
Duryodhana was looking at Arjuna. He heard Acharya Kripa announce the name Arjuna.
Arjuna touched the feet of Acharya Drona, who placed his hand on his head, giving his blessing.
Suddenly, a hand was placed on Duryodhana’s shoulder, and a familiar voice whispered in his ear.
"Careful, my boy. Your thoughts are leaking."
"Mamashri!"
(Mamashri= uncle. Brother of his mother)
***
Karna watched as Arjuna stepped forward with his more than five-foot-long golden bow.
Arjuna was six feet tall with a lean physique, fair white skin, and long black hair. He walked calmly and confidently and stopped in the middle of the arena.
People in the audience stood up, throwing flowers.
"Arjuna! Arjuna! Arjuna..."
Flowers rained, while his name echoed in every direction.
"AGNEYA!" Drona shouted from behind.
Arjuna raised his bow, pointing toward the sky. He effortlessly pulled the bowstring, and the arrow appeared with golden light that rose from his string-holding fingers towards the bow.
Arjuna released the bowstring an arrow shot with a thunderous sound and shockwave. In the sky, the arrow turned into flames, covering everything, and soon those flames began to fall.
"VARUNYA!"
Before the public panicked, Drona shouted again.
The same way Arjuna pulled the bowstring, an arrow appeared instantly with golden light. He shot the arrow, creating another shockwave.
The arrow became a wall of water, like earlier, the flames covering the sky, vaporizing everything in the air.
"VAYAVYA!" Drona shouted again.
Arjuna shot another arrow, creating a big tornado.
Then Arjuna showed some more divine arrows.
"SHABDAVEDI!"
Arjuna was blindfolded by one soldier in front of the moving iron boar that was spinning.
He listened to the sound only and shot 21 arrows into its mouth. At the same time, with the last arrow, Arjuna split the arrow in the center into two parts.
"Who is better than my Arjuna?!" Drona suddenly shouted, facing the audience. He praised Arjuna more and more, calling him the best archer and so on. He kept going without stopping.
Karna thought Drona had gone crazy, but it looked like it was only him, as everyone else clapped. Even Bhishma.
"Well, I think that all’’ Karna looked at Hidimbi.
"We should leave now; there was nothing to watch, I guess," Karna said; she was in a hurry to leave all the time.
"Yes, Husband, let’s leave." Hidimbi nodded.
Suddenly, Karna’s ears picked up the sound.
He raised his head and caught the arrow at the front of Hidimbi’s face. His divine armor and earrings appeared shining golden bright.
"Now, what is this for?’’ Karna chuckled..
"They were welcoming us so late. Were they not? ’’Karna asked.
"You’re right, Husband." Hidimbi narrowed her eyes.
Karna looked at the arrow. He thought it would blast or something, but it didn’t. It was just a normal arrow.
Seriously?! What does this mean?
***
Duryodhana was listening to Acheray Drona praising his favorite Arjuna, without stopping to take a breath. Arjuna! Arjuna! Arjuna! It echoed in every direction.
It was very hard for him to stand here even one more second. But he remembered his Mama Shakuni’s teaching, so he stood there; it didn’t matter how hard it was.
Then suddenly, Drona pointed his finger at the crowd; Duryodhana carefully heard what he was telling Arjuna.
"Capture her, Arjuna. She was an Asura who used Asuri Maya to take human appearance."
On Acharya Drona’s order, Arjuna didn’t hesitate to draw the string of his bow.
Duryodhana heard his Mama chuckling.
’’Asura here? Has the fear of Mahamahim Bhishma disappeared?’’His Mama Shakuni muttered next to him, but ignoring him, Duryodhana looked in the direction Acharya Drona pointed his finger.
’’ Ashwatthama, I will make that Asura unconscious before she starts harming anyone. You go there and capture her," Arjuna said.
Ashwatthama moved from his place, and Arjuna shot his arrow.
Duryodhana clenched his grip on his mace.
He thought once again that the glory was going to fall into Arjuna’s feet. It was always like this, son of Pandu were always ahead them and loved by everyone.
But something unexpected happened: the person sitting next to the woman caught the arrow.
He stopped Arjuna’s arrow!... but just as he was about to take a good look at him; he was blinded by the glow of his armor that suddenly appeared on his torso.
’’ H-how was that possible? ’’
Duryodhana heard Arjuna.
Duryodhana opened his eyes and glanced at Arjuna.
He was shocked. Too shocked.
Duryodhana scoffed in his heart. Did he really think himself invisible...his arrow was blocked by a bare hand; what a slap, Arjuna. Tsk, tsk. You humiliated a whole Kuru Vansh and Acharya Drona. What an embarrassment!.
Durydana smiled, his mood finally improved.
’’ Mamashri, who was he?"
’’We will know soon, my boy. Just quietly observe everything... ’’