#dhrishtadyumna

[friend-shaped-but]

“A king was like a gardener”, his grandfather had told him once. “He nourishes new life, all the while weeding out that which is unsuccessful or harmful. He has to have his hands in the dirt, his head in the blazing, burning sun. But the kingdom is his garden, and he has to make it the best damn garden he can,”

~ Drishtaketu, Drishtaketu. 

"जितू, सर्वात जास्त कशाचा त्रास होतो माहित आहे? आता- आता आरश्यात बघितल्यावर समोर तिचा चेहरा दिसत नाही! जी निराशा आणि तळमळ आजन्म मला अपल्या ताकदीने मृत्यूच्या जबड्यात ओढून घेण्याचा सतत प्रयत्न करत असते, तिच्याशी लढायची शक्ती आईकडूनच यायची. आणि मग ती नव्हती तरी आरश्यात पाहिल्यावर तिचा चेहरा दिसायचा, आणि एक क्षण वाटायचं कि हो, आहे ती माझ्याबरोबर! पण आता- आता तेही नाही! आता वाटतं, समुद्रात वाहून गेलेल्या, भटकणाऱ्या नावेसारखा झालो रे मी!"

 ~ Shikhandi, Wars and Weddings (trans: Jitu, do you know what bothers me the most(about all this)? That I don’t see her face in the mirror, looking back at me! The hopelessness and anguish that have haunted me across time and space, the apathy that threatens to push me straight into the jaws of death- Mother gave me the strength to fight against it all. And then- and then when she wasn’t there, at least, I could look into the mirror, see her face, and as if for a moment, feel like she was there with me. And now I don’t even have that! Now? I feel like a boat, without an oar or anchor, drifting aimlessly in the sea.”)

[theramblergal]

An ask reminded me of this rough piece I'd written a couple months ago. It has no purpose but I like it enough to post it lol:

Nakula and Sahadeva are a unit. None understand it more than Krishnaa and Dhrishtadyumna, understand the bond that goes beyond skin-deep, a knowing more profound than a normal sibling relationship. 

Dhrishtadyumna walked out of the fire to be followed by Krishnaa; Sahadeva entered the world with a sharp cry scarce minutes after Nakula, a cry that naught could silence but being placed next to his twin.

Yudhishthira has always been comfortable in the presence of sages; Dhrishtadyumna is Bhima's dearest and likewise. Arjuna and Krishna are two halves of one soul, each dimmed without the other. 

Each of the Pandavas have been blessed with a companion that understands the other unlike any other, is it merely chance or something higher that Nakula and Sahadeva were always together, even in their mother's womb? Is it destiny that Krishnaa and Dhrishtadyumna were blessed enough to be born from the same fire?

Even though Dhrishtadyumna loves Bhima the most out of the Pandavas, there are moments when the four twins retreat to a private chamber, hand in hand with the one who has always been with them. For there are none who know them better than a twin, rarer even is the knowledge of the burden and blessing that a twin brings.

There need not be any words said. The four sit in silence, basking in the joy of being known.

On quiet nights in the forests, the twins curl up with Krishnaa as she weeps for her twin; they have never been apart this long. Sahadeva has never been far from Nakula but out of her five husbands, it is the youngest two who understand her anguish for the one who shared the fire's womb with her.

The night after the war is ended and Panchala has been utterly destroyed, Krishnaa will accept no comfort but the twins' hands on her shoulder as she wails into the void: for her babies, her father, her brothers, for the twin whose burning mind she'd always felt on the edge of her consciousness but there is nothing now, no remnant but the smouldering ashes of a fire.

[stxrrynxghts]

THE most underrated MB characters

1. Dhrishtadyumna: this dude is fcking underrated. No one likes him well enough to actually write a story on him, or give him the recognition he deserves.

He was the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Pandava army, and he did fight exceptionally in the War, and the reason he survived was definitely NOT pure luck.

Also, he gave Ashwatthama a strong fight when he tried to kill him sneakily.

2. Satyaki: again, gr8 warrior, amazing person, but recognition =0. No one bothers including him these days (yep, MB 2013, I blame you for this.)

Satyaki was the only one apart from the Pandava bros who lived despite being an active participant of the war.

He was also the VP of the Arjun fanclub, and he learnt stuff from Arjun so idk why he gets excluded despite being closely associated with the Pandavas.

3. Uttara: now don't get me started on this one. This girl is just your normal princess with expensive tastes (she did want the clothes of warriors for her dolls) and she is married to one of the best warriors of that time.

Flash forward, girly loses everything in the span of 18 FUCKING DAYS, while she is pregnant. And she ends up raising her kid (who will be the next Emperor) in a perfectly decent way.

Idk why she is underrated, or reduced to the always crying female, when you can do so much more with her character.

4. Kunti: now, Kunti IS well known but....for what? Abandoning Karna? Or apparently "planning" to make Draupadi marry her five sons.

This is one of the most strong women of the Mahabharata. She has stood like a pillar and withstood every wrong thrown in her direction. She has so many interesting relationships, like that with her bio family, or her kids, but we only care about Karna.

Kunti's life is a roller coaster, and it is extremely interesting. From being the kid who was sent away, to the mother whose kids were away from her and ultimately being cursed by her own son, she has come a long, long way.

I deliberately included those characters who have a direct impact on the story in some way.

[aru-loves-krishnaxarjuna]

Arjuni: does anyone want to come with me to commit arson?

Krishna: count me in, Parthavi!

Draupadi: me too

Dhrishtadyumna: me three

Subhadra:...

Balaram:...

Kunti:...

Nakul:...

Sahadev:...

Yudhishthir:...

Gandiva bow:

Bheem:

Gandiva bow: don't leave me!

Bheem: i am coming too!

Yudhishthir: NO!—

[livingtheparadoxlife]

Vibhatsa Snippet:

Dhrishtadyumna cast another glance at the scroll, slowly tracing the lines with his shaky hands.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦....

As if if he tried hard enough, the lines would change to his satisfaction, as if fate would bend to his will, as if he hadn't said that to himself for the last....

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯?

Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away from the wretched prophecy of his birth, to the beckoning moon outside his window.

The rising sun greeted him instead, blazing red blooming against a white canvas, leaking crimson hues.

White like the robes his teacher so loved.

Blazing red like the fire's womb he and Krishnaa had emerged out of.

Crimson like the blood he was born to shed.

𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦?

[theramblergal]

I think everyone approached this situation from different views of dharma. I read through the entire conversation and here's what each of them said/why they said it (if you don't want the long-winded version, scroll to the bottom, there's a tl;dr):

Arjuna: His well-known compassion is at the very forefront here. Moreso than most parts of the story. He approaches this situation in the point of view of the dharma of a student and a son. Arjuna's view is, as it has been from the start, that they have been performing "ignoble deed(s) for the sake of the kingdom and because of [their] limited intelligence" by killing their family.

He cannot manage to overcome his affection for his dear ones, for good, because his compassion and devotion is what makes the core of him. For that, he censures his older brother and Dhrishtadyumna.

Bhima: This is one of the few (maybe the only?) times Bhima is angry at Arjuna. He did his tasks in his view of kshatriya dharma. He reminds Arjuna of all the transgressions the Kaurava side did to them and scolds him to fortify his heart.

Dhrishtadyumna: Same as Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna views his part in Drona's killing as his kshatriya dharma. He argues that Drona never followed dharma in the first place, thus he is well within his own dharma to have killed Drona and Yudhishthira is right to have lied.

His point can be summarized with these words: "Yet again, the dharma of kshatriyas is to kill, or be killed. O Pandava! In accordance with dharma, I have killed my enemy in the battle."

Most people there actually seem to agree with Arjuna than Dhrishtadyumna.

Satyaki: Ah, this hot-headed boi. He insults Dhrishtadyumna pretty badly. Exchange insults. Then they both fling themselves at each other, trying to kill each other and Bhima and Sahadeva both try to calm them down.

So yes, it was the one moment where the Pandava army was divided.

tl; dr: Arjuna's compassion makes him value his dharma as a student/son higher than kshatriya dharma, while Dhrishtadyumna values his kshatriya dharma/the purpose of his life higher than his own feelings for his teacher. Very suited to their personalities, but there's no real and simple right or wrong here. Arguments can be made for both sides.

Mahabharat tumblr what do we think about Arjun’s breakdown post Drona’s death?

For those who don’t know: when Krishna suggests the double cross of killing Ashwatthama the elephant, Arjun point blank refuses to cooperate. After Yudhishtir speaks the dooming lie, Drona has a breakdown, almost destroys the universe, feels terrible about it and then drops all his weapons at which point he’s beheaded by Dhrishtadyumna, much to Arjun’s protest.

After this Arjun rails against Yudhishtir and Dhrishtadyumna which is about the only time the high command of the Pandava army are all at odds with one another (usually the status quo of the Kaurava army where everyone mindlessly hates each other, the Pandavas however were always a unit). Arjun’s emotions are all over the place throughout the war but it comes out most prominently over here. Arjun believes the rules shouldn’t have been broken. Dhrishtadyumna believes the ends justify the means in a war like the Kurukshetra, especially after Abhimanyu.

It’s one of the great debates on war ethics, especially from the tongue of Vibhatsu himself. Was Arjun right for this or nay?

[yoddhasblog]

Mahabharat is and will always be my favourite tale to reflect upon and talk to people about. This book was immensely hyped up along with the author. I have now read three of her books. The Last Queen, which admittedly I adored. Then, the Forest Of Enchantments, the book I'd been looking forward to for such a long time. That one left me in a rage.

I went into this book expecting to be pissed off and disappointed. And I wasn't let down on that assumption.

The Palace Of Illusions is a retelling of the great Indian epic-Mahabharata. A tale incorporated so deeply into our hearts that everyone has their own takes and beliefs and opinions about it. I sincerely believe that you cannot write a retelling without angering a number of people. Well, I'm one them.

The writing style:

I didn't have too many issues except i did not get why there were so many rhetorical and philosophical questions? Literal, paragraphs that were nothing but questions.

Draupadi, the enigma, the fire-born, the one person I would fight for as long as there is life in me, why was acting as though she was a little more than a sullen child? In the book that was supposed to be from her point of view, the person, the author did the most injustice with was-Draupadi.

The plot assassination:

As I mentioned above, most of everything in the plot of the epic was butchered and mangled to fit into the author's narrative of women, good-men,bad. It is common knowledge that women's position in society was as downtrodden as depicted here. Don't get me wrong, horrific crimes happened against women and justice was also delivered adequately but the author pulled apart the entire social structure only to be able to say that every bad thing happened to Draupadi was because she is a woman.

~ In the very first chapter, Draupadi said it was egoistic of her father to give her a variation of his own name when her brother, Dhrishtadyumna got an original name. In Vyas Mahabharat, her birth name was Krishnaa but like many people in Hindu beliefs, she was also known as Draupadi, though that is the most commonly used name. So, no points to the author trying to convince everyone that this was sexist.

~ Draupadi was highly educated and trained in many things including economics and she was the one who was in charge of the treasury of Indraprastha. She was a finance minister of sorts. So, saying that King Droupad refused to let her train because she is a woman is stupid.

~Also, I've grown up listening to that Draupadi stepped out of the fire as a young woman. She wasn't a child. Some sources say she was around 16 some say around 25.

~ Are we still stuck about 50 years ago that we're going to be okay with authors portraying that all women in power are evil? Kunti and Draupadi viewed each other as rivals? Draupadi throwing temper tantrums over other women? wtf

~ Draupadi as a pick-me? Half the book Draupadi's internal dialogue is nothing but I don't know how to socialize with other women, they're jealous of each other, they're always giggling, I won't survive the world of women, I can't dance, people don't find me pretty because of my dark complexion(where did white supremacy even came in this conversation) but suddenly out of nowhere Draupadi just knows that every woman is envious of her. She adores the saris and jewellery that she used to find impossible to handle.

~ Maharishi Vyas giving Draupadi Divya drishti to see the battlefield of Kurukshetra came out of nowhere. It felt a forced action done only to show Draupadi's emotions about the deaths.

~ Draupadi harbouring hidden feelings for Karna and him secretly returning those feelings felt like a teenager's fever dream. A teenager who's hellbent on sexualizing everything they come across.

~Bhagvat Gita was witnessed by everyone on kurukshetra including the Virat roop? Again, it felt like a move forced that was done in order to show Draupadi's internal dialogue. How did the author even think she could fit Bhagvat Gita in half a chapter?

~The Pandavas just had no personality whatsoever outside of being obedient to their mother and scared of Draupadi's temper tantrums.

~Krishan ji was told to be this charismatic, carefree, silvertongued diplomat but he was simply shown as someone who randomly showed up and gave unsolicited advice.

~And I don't know what that ending was but you can't be serious telling me that Karna and Draupadi somehow end up together in heaven?

~WHAT WAS THE AUTHOR'S PROBLEM WITH RESEARCHING ABOUT MAHABHARATA???

There was no way the entire plot of Mahabharata could've fit into one book. She tried too but this book sucked. I understand it's a retelling and sometimes had to change but everything here felt so forced. The author broke everything in context to fit into her supposedly feminist ideal. Don't get me wrong, i dislike the Pandavas, the Kauravas and their elders with all my heart but they all had one dimensional personalities. They had caricature-ish depositions. I had no emotions attached to anyone in this book whatsoever. This was a headache.

[krsnaradhika]

Krishavyayam behind the scenes ❥

Krishnaa: Now that Govinda and Arya Arjuna are off to frolicking in the outskirts again—

Krisha, about to put her apples away but stopping midtrack: 👀👀

Krishnaa: You are coming with me. To sit beside and NOT show me shenanigans for a while. Just plain quality time.

Krisha:

Krishnaa: And so is your daughter. Give me my niece.

Krisha: Gladly but—

Krishnaa picking up a bamboo stick: This is a threat. Do not counter me.

Krisha, gulps: Sure :D ✨

Krishnaa: Also, I will ship you to Panchala if you don't finish your apples.

Krisha: NOOOOOOOO-

Dhrishtadyumna, sipping tea: This is NICE.

[chaanv]

A headcanon on Abhimanyu and Uttara, if Abhimanyu had somehow survived the war.

Hi anon,

I don't think THIS is what you have asked for, but you did ask me, so.

Enjoy!

(It kind of reminds me of something @avani008 once wrote.)

Drona, the Kaurava Commander on the 13th day of the bloody war, is swept over by a sudden wave of compassion and orders his army to free a badly-wounded Abhimanyu. It is practically sundown anyway, and the Pandava Army has suffered heavy casualties.

The boy, on the cusp of death, fights a second battle for life back in his camp. His father is greeted by a faint smile from him, and the violent storm within Arjun calms for a moment.

Kunti's youngest takes no pledge that night.

Duryodhan, however, is furious, more so than on any previous night. His son has perished, while Arjun's lives on. And so, Drona is relieved of his duties and sent back to Hastinapur, while Karna takes charge of the Kaurava Army.

The prophecy regarding Dhrishtadyumna is not fulfilled on this battlefield.

No other threat looms over Arjun on the 14th day, and Karna, given sharp instructions by his friend, wastes no time before releasing Indra's weapon onto his brother.

Krishna knows he could have kept them apart no longer, but it isn't enough to console him. He grieves in chilling silence, arousing in the people around him a fear the world is unfamiliar with.

He had told his Parth he wouldn't use a weapon in this war, so he does not. Instead, he takes Arjun's body to their camp.

Bheem, on the other hand, has made no vows of nonviolence. He causes a chaos not yet seen in the war.

But grief too great can kill you. And it gets him killed.

Yudhishtir is more distraught than he has ever been, yet his speech is soft. He bargains his freedom for the lives of the remaining Pandava warriors.

Nakul and Sahdev join their jesht in this bargain.

("They will be prisoners, not slaves... we'll spare them no more attention," Duryodhan declares.)

The Pandavas' vows are not fulfilled on this battlefield.

Panchal and Dwarka offer to provide shelter and protection for Draupadi, Subhadra, and their children. The former empress, whose hair shall never be bound again, accepts a promise of shelter from Bhanumati, instead. She hopes her presence in Hastinapur will help keep three of her husbands alive.

That it won't let Hastinapur forgive itself.

She sends her sons to Panchal. The Kuru capital is not a safe place for a son of Yudhishtir.

Subhadra stays with Draupadi, and Abhimanyu ignores proper recovery to split his time between Matsya (a land now void of princes) and in the service of his mothers.

Uttara is in constant awe of how the two women, bereft of so much in life, manage to smile at her and spoil her in the final months of her pregnancy.

But she does not fail to notice how Subhadra's breath catches when she caresses Abhimanyu's cheek, how a look of devastating confusion mars Draupadi's face every morning when she has to decide how much jewelry to wear.

How much color to wear.

Other men do not come to their chambers often. Sometimes Vidur visits to give them the encouragement he can muster.

Gandhari's is a common presence for them. Kunti spends most of her time in the dungeons, bestowing any comfort she can onto her surviving sons.

For weeks, Drona and Vidur try to convince Yudhishtir to welcome a sentence of house arrest in lieu of this one. Yudhishtir refuses - he will not dishonor those who have died for him.

Even at the peak of her pregnancy, Uttara sends gifts for her uncles with Draupadi. Small things, like the flowers she has been told they loved, to remind them of life's simple beauties. After all, she knows how it feels to lose brothers.

Draupadi always hugs her tightly in response, without a word. Agni's daughter speaks less than she used to.

Uttara doesn't know how it feels to lose a husband. She doesn't want to know.

She misses Arjun, too, but how can she explain that to anyone? To his son? His widows? His mother?

In her silent torment, she forbids herself from wearing ornaments adorned with bells of any sort.

The quiet that results rings loudly in Abhimanyu's ears.

How can he help her? He hides his skin from his own eyes because he cannot forget how his wounds hadn't allowed him to see off his father's body. (Srutakarman has refused to give him details.)

Abhi studies Subhadra carefully when he is with her, desperate to protect her as well. She is composed and tired at the same time; kind to them, but distant from her reflection. As if she has buried anger deep within her.

Without his father, without his mighty uncle, Abhimanyu's family feels like a house without walls. Exposed and ready to collapse...

But somehow, it holds itself together.

He's reassured of how when a scroll from his mama ignites divine sparks in Draupadi's sad eyes, when messages from his brothers make Subhadra's lips curve up into gentle smiles.

And when his uncles share stories about their childhood, filling those dark cells with a bit of warmth.

Just over three months after the war, Uttara gives birth to a healthy baby boy. And, before her mothers can agree on a suitable name for the child, they receive a flood of visitors:

Draupadi's sons arrive to meet their nephew, Krishna and Balram bear gifts from Dwarka, and even some of Karna's sons bring their mother's blessings from Anga (this surprises Uttara the most).

Sudeshna rubs her daughter's hair fondly, relaying Virat's blessings for the baby. For a brief time, Uttara isn't so weighed down by what they have lost.

But then, after a few days of pleasant conversations and attempted normalcy, Sutasom breaks apart in Draupadi's arms. He questions his mother about their uncertain future and begs her to undo the 14th day, so that he may swap his fate with his father's.

Drupad is being turned into a puppet in his own kingdom, he says.

Karna's sons are gone now, and Hastinapur's palace has grown bored of its new resident. It is to this intimate assembly of Panchal, Dwarka, and Matsya's ties to the Pandavas that Krishna finally speaks again of politics.

He speaks under his breath, with a hollow and mirthless tone:

(His voice makes Abhimanyu miss the whispers of death.)

"Duryodhan may be a good king, but an emperor has to take responsibility for more than his own city. No one is immune to greed and corruption, not even Dwarka. His allies mustn't..."

"We need to choose a name by tomorrow," Draupadi cuts in, her solemn gaze fixed on the baby in Subhadra's arms. This is the first time she has ever interrupted her sakha.

She shifts her eyes to Krishna and blinks, and the son of Subhadra could swear he hears her say, "I won't forget."

-----

The group takes the baby to Bhishma, who still lies on the bed of arrows, his wishes incomplete and his body embraced by Arjun's memories.

"Parikshit," the aged man suggests when asked for a name, "because his... our future will surely test him."

Krishna nods in agreement, and Uttara cannot remember where she has heard this name.

[typingtess]

NCIS: Los Angeles Season 14 Rewatch:    “Sleeping Dogs”

The basics:  When several Drona subjects are attacked, NCIS is on the case.

Written by:   Andrew Bartels wrote or co-wrote "Allegiance", "Zero Days", "The Grey Man", "Humbug", "Fighting Shadows", "Driving Miss Diaz", "Angels & Daemons", "Where There’s Smoke…", "Glasnost", "Old Tricks" "Battle Scars", "Fool Me Twice", "Warrior of Peace", "Reentry", "The Prince", "Smokescreen", "The One That Got Away"/"No More Secrets" two-parter, "Yellow Jacket", "Missing Time", "If the Fates Allow", "Red Rover, Red Rover", "Divided We Fall", "Genesis" and "Survival of the Fittest".

Directed by:   Gonzalo Amat is directing his first NCIS: Los Angeles episode. 

Guest stars of note: Ava McCoy as Jordyn Rountree returns from “Perception” in season 13, Ashley Sharpe Chestnut as FBI Special Agent Summer Morehurst returns from "Let it Burn", both Kavi Ramachandran Ladnier as Agent Shyla Dahr and Duncan Campbell as Agent Castor return from “Shame”, Milissa Sears as Leah Novak returns from “Genesis” in season 13, David DeSantos as Anthony Beltran.

Our heroes:   Keep droning on about Drona.

What important things did we learn about: Callen:  In a roundabout way, asks Sam to be his best man. Sam:   In a roundabout way, says yes t being Callen’s best man. Kensi:  Absent. Deeks:   See Kensi. Fatima:  Hacks into the Drona files with Shyla. Rountree:  Willing to be shot at to protect Sam and Fatima. Kilbride:  Leaving after work to see his son.

What not so important things did we learn about: Callen:  Worshipped by Castor. Sam:   Thinks Castor getting knocked out twice in three months is a bad look. Kensi:   See Deeks. Deeks:   Absent. Fatima:   Likes Rountree with Summer. Rountree:  Runs after school buses, bad guys and through sand castles. Kilbride:   Hired Shyla because Shyla remembers everything.

Where in the world is Henrietta Lange?  Seemingly in a small town on the border of Turkey and Syria warning Drona subjects that they are in danger.

Who's down with OTP:  Kensi and Deeks are off doing family things.  Rountree and Summer seems to be doing well. 

Who's down with BrOTP:  Callen popped the question – will Sam be his best man?  Callen has a side buddy in Castor.

Fashion review:  Callen wears a green, blue and yellow plaid shirt.  A long-sleeve black tee for Sam.  Fatima wears a tan leather field coat over a black turtleneck.  A pale purple fleece sweatshirt for Rountree.  Kilbride has on a dark brown three-piece suit with a white dress shirt and a brown and gold tie. 

Music: Not today!

Any notable cut scene:  Not today!

Quote:  Shyla:  “Oh, uh, your ride to the airport just pulled up outside.” Kilbride:  “I thought I told you to cancel that flight.” Shyla:  “Did you? Oh, I-I don't remember.” Kilbride:  “You remember everything.  That's why I hired you.” Shyla:  “Do you still want me to cancel it?  Bear in mind, it is nonrefundable and I know how much you hate wasting money.  Not to mention missing an opportunity to see your son after all these years...” Kilbride:  “All right, all right, I'm leaving.  Remind me to fire you when I get back.”

Anything else:  A gentleman is out walking his dog in a small park area surrounded by businesses.  The dog, Rebel, starts barking and jumps into a bush.  Returning to his owner, Rebel gifts the man a dead squirrel, which was not on the man’s breakfast meal plan.  The man’s phone rings – it is an older, flip phone.  A text message reads “DHRISHTADYUMNA”.  The man breaks the phone in half and tosses his phone, causing Rebel to play fetch.  While the dog is away, a person wearing a ski mask shoots the dog owner in the back of the dead.  Rebel returns to his fallen owner and sits right next to him because dogs are the best.

At a table by a coffee shop, Fatima, Rountree, Jordyn and FBI Agent Summer Morehurst are chatting.  Fatima is teasing Rountree for yelling “Federal Agents” as they were trailing a suspect.  The suspect ran (because he’s obviously watched the show).  “Tree” caught the guy after a 10-minute chase.  Jordyn is all in for the Rountree mocking.  Rountree always liked to show off how fast he was.  He’d forget to give Jordyn her school lunch on purpose and then run alongside the school bus to give it to her like Keanu Reeves.  And she hated his lunches – avocados and bean sprouts.  She was 14 and didn’t want to eat that stuff back then.  Summer says she’s not interested in eating it now.  Rountree says it all worked out for the best.  Jordyn aced her MCATs and is on her way to medical school.  Summer starts mocking “Treefontaine” when she gets a call – FBI wants to see her.  Jordyn is off to class as well.

Shyla is giving a not paying attention Admiral Kilbride notice about a meeting with his British and Australian counterparts.  Still not paying attention.  She would be willing to go.  Still not paying attention.  Kensi and Deeks are out because Rosa’s aunt had a stroke.  Still not paying attention.  Office minutiae like the security system doing a reboot and Agent Castor’s performance review aren’t capturing the Admiral’s attention either.   Shyla mentions a radioactive group of pubescent turtles foiling and armed robbery at the Santa Monica Pier and nothing.  Shyla sees a suitcase and realizes that he’s flying up to San Francisco to see his son.  She will arrange transport to the airport at 7PM but he wants to leave at 7:30PM – he’s not much of an airport guy.  With spring break, Shyla recommends the earlier departure time but the Admiral promises her he’ll be fine.  Eventually he relents but warns Shyla that if he is stuck with a “posse of frat boys you will never hear the end of it.”  She thinks that would be a great story.  As Shyla leaves, the Admiral wants a BOLO on the turtles and their giant rat leader – can’t have mutant vigilantes running around.

Sam walks in to the bullpen, greeting Callen.  On Sam’s desk is a printout of a man in a tuxedo.  Callen explains it is the tuxedo Anna, sorry, he and Anna, want Sam to wear to the wedding.  Sam thinks he can dress himself.  Callen brings up Anna’s, his and Anna’s color palate for the wedding.  The tux is just for Sam.  “Is this your way of asking me to be your best man?”  Callen thought Sam being the best man was a given.  Sam’s not so sure.  Callen has been spending quality time with Castor – they had some drinks and dinner after Castor was knocked out by Miraslava.  Sam notes that Castor worships Callen, even dresses like him.  Castor arrives, dressed similarly to Callen.    Callen breaks down and asks if Sam would be his best man.  Of course, Sam replies but he hates the tux.  Callen agrees.

Shyla walks down the stairs.  Callen asks if they have a case.  She replies “you tell me” as she brings them up to Ops.  Once in Ops, she launches all the security protocols that lock the door, shut the shutters and turn down the lights.  She was sent two encrypted files through a DOD top secret/special compartmented information channel, JWICS.  The first file is the driver’s license for the man the park – John Jenkins.  He’s the CEO for a software company.  The second file is the ID card of an FBI Analyst, Patrick Hertel.  Both men were found dead that morning.  Hertel was killed in his backyard, Jenkins in the park.  There were numbers with the file – eight, 11 and 22.  Maybe August 11, 2022. 

Callen isn’t interested in figuring out what eight, 11 and 22 mean.  JWICS files are sent by known people.  Who sent the file?  Shyla doesn’t know, it came from a SCIF on the border of Turkey and Syria, the town of Al-Rai.  It was Hetty’s last known location, who else would send cryptic clues.  Shyla seems excited –“are you talking about who I think you’re talking about?”  Callen confirms – Hetty.

In the Admiral’s office, Callen makes the case that to Kilbride that the JWICS file came from Hetty.  The Admiral wants to know why she would send the names for two men and some random numbers.  It isn’t an urgent message, it is a top secret butt dial according to the Admiral.  He’s checked – the SCIF was closed months ago.  Callen thinks Hetty could have routed the JWICS through the SCIF but if she did that, why didn’t she identify herself the Admiral asks.  Maybe Hetty thinks JWICS is compromised according to Callen.  More being a pain in the ass according to Kilbride.  Callen wants to investigate the victims to see if there is anything there.  Since Hetty bailed Kilbride out with the Simon Williams case, Callen can investigate as long as he stays in his lane – stay away from the official investigations.

Fatima and Rountree show up at Hertel’s home, which is covered with police tape.  They start to work on a story to get involved with the case when they see Summer working the case.  She comes to see Rountree and Fatima, who think there is a connection between Hertel’s killing and an NCIS investigation into John Jenkins.   Summer starts asking questions and Rountree drops “national security”.  Since Rountree and Fatima can’t share their info on Jenkins, which is none other than Callen and Sam are investigating what Hetty sent, Summer can’t working with them.  When they can share, so can she.  Hertel is FBI – they’re working for one of their own.

At the park area, Callen learns from LAPD that all the cameras were down due to routine maintenance when Jenkins was walking his dog.  Callen also shares that Summer is working the Hertel case.  Sam thinks it was a robbery – no wallet, no keys, no phone and the killer took away the shell casings.  LAPD found half the phone in Rebel’s mouth.  Callen gives Shyla a call.  She has not found a link between Jenkins and Hertel yet. 

Looking into Jenkins, his start up tech company has one employee – Jenkins.  They haven’t created a product in the last five years.  Jenkins and his company have been doing very well, despite offering no products.  He’s likely laundering money.  Asked about family, Shyla tells Callen and Sam that Jenkins was adopted and his adopted parents are long dead.  Turning back to the crime scene, if the dog found one half of the phone, Sam would like to see if he could find the other half.

Back at the FBI crime scene, Rountree sees an older couple arrive and go right under the police tape.  Fatima is on the phone.  Rountree calls for Summer, who is a bit embarrassed.  She asks about the older couple – they are Hertel’s adopted parents.  An arriving Fatima, who was on the phone hears adopted and notes that Jenkins was also adopted.  Summer isn’t impressed until Fatima tells her both men were shot in the back of the head to make it look like a robbery.  Summer never told them how Hertel was killed.   NCIS is now part of the FBI crime scene.

Callen and Sam talk about Callen setting a date but Anna is giving him time to find Hetty.  Sam hopes this is the case that gets them to Hetty.  Callen doesn’t believe that.  If Hetty wanted to be found, Hetty would be found.  She would tell them where to find her.  Callen wants to get married and it is unfair to make Anna wait so long.  Sam is looking forward to his best man speech – he has a lot of wisdom to share.  Callen thinks he’s heard most of Sam’s wisdom but the wisdom is for Anna, who needs to know what she’s really getting herself into.  Callen is having second thoughts about Castor.  The dog finds the other part of the phone.

As the Admiral arrives in Ops, Shyla has an update about eight, 11 and 22.  Both Jenkins and Hertel went through the LA foster care system.  They are both single, in their 40’s and both had government jobs.  Hertel is with the FBI, Jenkins is an NSA Analyst.  He’s not in most common databases for the NSA.  Shyla learned about his NSA role through some friends in Washington.  Shyla is about to call this in to Callen and Sam but the Admiral wants her to way.  He needs her to pull some files instead. 

Hertel was watering his plants when his killer walked up behind him and fired one shot into his head.  There was no cartridges left behind, just like the Jenkins crime scene.  Summer apologizes for stonewalling NCIS.  Fatima says they would have likely done the same if the roles were reversed.  Summer doesn’t understand the connection between the two killings. 

Fatima gets a call from Shyla, who asks if Hertel has a birthmark on his back.  A little reluctantly, Fatima asks Summer to pull up Hertel’s shirt.  There is a rather large birthmark on his back.  The Admiral, with Shyla, wants her to call Callen.   When Callen answers, he starts a sit-rep for Shyla but the Admiral stops things.  Eight, 11 and 22 are people, not numbers.  Hertel and Jenkins were eight and 22 from the Drona Project, “your alma mater Agent Callen.”  Callen has a flashback to his time with Drona.

The Hertel-Jenkins cases are now joint FBI-NCIS investigations.  Shyla is told by Kilbride to share everything they have on the case except Hetty’s involvement.  Since Hetty’s involvement was speculation anyway, Shyla wasn’t going to share it.  With subjects eight and 22 accounted for, who is subject 11?  That is Leah Novak, who Callen contacted in the prior year.  Callen is trying to find Novak now.

Callen calls Leah who doesn’t want to talk to him.  She is walking through a really sketchy looking indoor parking lot.  There is a team of masked men following her.  Sam tries to get Leah to listen to him but the masked men open fire.  Shyla, who was monitoring the phone call is able to trace Leah’s location to a Mid-City parking garage. 

In the garage, Callen and Sam find an empty shopping bag with wrapped up money inside.  Callen sees a badly wounded Leah, who says “14” before losing consciousness.  

Returning to Ops, Fatima and Rountree are told by Shyla that Leah is in surgery.  With someone targeting Drona subject, Callen could be in danger.  Rountree disagrees – Hetty would have warned Callen in her JWICS communications if he was in trouble.  The Admiral arrives, warning Rountree not to read too much into anything Hetty does.  There is another Drona subject who may be danger – number 14.  The Admiral wants Shyla to cancel is flight to San Francisco to see his son.  As he leaves, Shyla tells Rountree and Fatima to go to the gadget area to study Jenkins’s phone.  When she knows who number 14 is, she’ll update them.

There was brass left behind at the Leah’s shooting which means she likely hit at least two of her assailants.  Callen found a go-bag in Leah’s car with water, MREs and a satellite phone.  She knew she was in danger.  Sam thinks the same of Jenkins – that’s likely why he tossed his phone.  Callen thinks Pembrook is behind the killings – Callen found him and is now cleaning up what’s left behind of Drona.

While Rountree is sweet talking Summer, Fatima is working on Jenkins’s phone.  Once in, Rountree is off his phone and working with Fatima.  The “DHRISHTADYUMNA” text message is the name of a Hindu warrior who killed his teacher Drona.  There are contacts in the phone – Hertel and Leah Novak are there.  So is an Anthony Beltran, a former Army Ranger turned history professor.   Fatima sends his address to Callen and Sam.

As Callen and Sam pull up outside of Beltran’s home, Beltran is putting a duffle bag into his trunk.  When Callen and Sam try to speak to Beltran, Beltran runs.  Callen makes things worse by yelling “federal agents” while Sam gets in his car to cut Beltran off.  Beltran starts shooting at Callen, who promises they are not there to hurt Beltran.  “Leah sent us.”  Beltran is talked into putting his gun down.  Callen introduces himself as Special Agent Grisha Callen, subject 17.  He assures Beltran he’s safe.

In the boat shed, Beltran is in interrogation while Callen and Sam in the main room.  The duffle bag in Beltran’s truck had MREs, cash, burner phones.  He also got the same text message sent to Jenkins before Jenkins was killed.  Callen wonders who sent the text message and Hetty earns a message.  Callen isn’t pleased – this is Hetty training an agent, people are being murdered. 

Shyla pops up on the screen.  There was one vehicle seen on security/traffic cams at the Jenkins/Hertel/Leah shootings.  Backtracking with Kaleidoscope, Shyla traced the vehicle to a building downtown. Rountree and Fatima are going to the building and Sam will meet them.  Callen wonders why he’s not going but Sam wants answers from Beltran.  Callen is the best person to get the answers.

Callen starts to question Beltran, who won’t sit on the wrong side of the table right away, wanting to stand instead.  Beltran eventually sits.  As an alibi, Beltran says he was home when Jenkins and Hertel were killed.  Callen asks about the text message.  Beltran was preparing a lesson – he teaches ancient history – and missed the message when it was sent.  Once he saw it, however, he called Leah.  Leah told him about Jenkins and Hertel.  Beltran put his phone in his garbage disposal, packed his things and was going to hit the road when Callen and Sam drove up. 

Beltran thought Callen and Sam were working for “him” – Howard Pembrook.  Beltran shows Callen scars on his arm from Pembrook’s abuse.   Jenkins, Hertel, Leah and Beltran started working together a year ago, after Callen told Leah about Pembrook.  They wanted to take him down with lawsuits.  There was talk about bringing Callen in but the men in the group were angry Callen lied to Leah.  Beltran believes Pembrook found out about them and now he’s having them killed.  Beltran wants to see Leah – they are “very close.”

With Summer’s FBI team 30-minutes out, Sam, Rountree and Fatima in tactical gear go into the downtown building.  The vehicle has not returned to the location.  This is their best chance to scope out the building.  Sam breaks down the door.  It is a warehouse with huge computer servers, a desk, file cabinets.  While Fatima and Shyla try to get into the server, Rountree finds a photo of Callen on the wall from when he was in Pembrook’s garden.

Callen shows Beltran the photo and explains he was trying to confront Pembrook about the past.  Pembrook was fine.  Beltran is interested in what was in the building where Sam, Fatima and Rountree are.  He’s also furious at Callen for going to see Pembrook.  Everything bad that’s happened started when Callen met Pembrook.  If this was true, Callen asks, why didn’t Pembrook go after him?  Beltran talks about the lawsuit being a bigger threat.  Castor appears – the doctor says Beltran can see Leah now.  In Leah’s room, she’s on a ventilator.  Beltran is holding Leah’s hand, saying Pembrook must pay.

As Fatima and Shyla get access to the server, the previously opened files pop up. There were files for black-ops missions in Crimea, Somalia and Brazil.  Pembrook is still in the game.  An audio file has Leah and Jenkins using their Drona numbers as they work on a mission.  They aren’t being targeted by Pembrook, they work for Pembrook.  Sam can’t contact Shyla to warn Callen – signal jammers knocked out the cell service.  Gunmen rush near Sam, Fatima and Rountree.  Gunfire is exchanged.  Fatima and Rountree are pinned down.

Sam is able to get Fatima and Rountree to a safer location – people are still shooting.  If they can hold out, the FBI could rescue them but Sam is more worried the FBI is walking into an ambush.  More gunfire is exchanged.  Sam takes out at least one of the shooter.

In Leah’s room, Callen gets a call from Shyla about the lost comms with Sam and company.  The Summer-led FBI team suddenly is unreachable too.  Callen is going to the building, Castor will take Beltran back to boat shed.  Beltran wants to stay with Leah.  He’s not worried about his safety, he just wants to be with her.  Callen realizes there were only three Drona subject numbers – eight, 11 and 22.  Hertel, Leah and Jenkins.  Beltran wasn’t on the list – he was never warned. 

Rountree is willing to create a diversion by running – but not in a show-offy way.  Fatima thinks he’ll get killed.  Sam assures them nobody is getting killed today.  He has a plan.

Callen has his weapon out and orders Beltran away from Leah.  Leah said 14 to Callen before losing consciousness – Beltran was 14.  Callen knocks on the door to get Castor in as back-up.  Beltran is impressed that Callen figured it all out but is more impressed with his own handy work when a Drona gunman, not Castor, walks into the hospital room.

Using some flashbangs, Sam, Fatima and Rountree move the people shooting them out of their secure locations.  Once they were seen, team NCIS shoot them.  Summer and the FBI arrive.  Sam finds the signal jammer and shuts it off, he’s quick to contact Callen.

Explaining that once again, Agent Castor is out cold, Beltran takes Callen’s gun.  Beltran doesn’t kill people who don’t deserve it – he didn’t have Castor killed, won’t kill Callen.  Callen notes that Beltran was going to kill Leah, who was in a coma in a hospital bed.  Beltran wasn’t going to kill her – she’s no longer a threat.  He just needed eyes on her to make sure.  Beltran says he and Callen are on the same side – they want to kill Pembrook.  Beltran’s partner has a sedative prepared for Callen – not going to kill Callen, just a long nap like Castor.  Callen hits the partner.  Beltran runs and after Callen gets the sedative in the leg, he runs after Beltran.  As Callen runs after Beltran, he has some Pembrook flashbacks before the sedative takes hold.  Callen is out cold and Beltran is gone.

Shyla updates Kilbride.  Callen and Castor are fine – it really was just a sedative.  Beltran and his partner are gone but the FBI are hunting them down.  Shyla also has Kilbride’s ride to the airport waiting outside of the office.  She doesn’t remember his order to cancel the flight.  Kilbride is not amused – he hired her because she never forgets anything.  She offers to cancel the flight but is non-refundable.  The Admiral hates wasting money, according to Shyla.  “Remind me to fire you when I get back.”  And the Admiral is off.

In the Armory, Fatima and Rountree are packing up their things.  Fatima asks about a story Summer started at breakfast.  Seems Rountree and Summer were having a lovely walk on the beach when the wind kicked up.  Summer’s hat went flying and Rountree went flying after it.  As he was catching up, he destroyed a kid’s sandcastle.  He got the hat back and then spent an hour helping the kid rebuild the castle.  Fatima thinks Rountree really likes Summer.  He admits he does but realizes he’s late for dinner with Summer.  He races away.

Callen is at the back balcony in the boat shed when Sam arrives.  Callen said had Beltran and he let Beltran get away.  And maybe he did it because he wants Beltran to kill Pembrook.  But if Beltran kills anyone else, well, Callen knows that’s his fault.  Sam thinks they need to find Beltran and Pembrook.  Callen wants to know how Hetty knew the Drona subjects were being targeted.  “Add it to the list,” Sam replies.  Callen is going for a drink with Castor.  Sam notes that it is the second time Castor got knocked out and lost his gun – maybe Castor shouldn’t be trusted with the wedding ring.   Callen tells Best Man Sam to knock it off.

What head canon can be formed from here:   So done with the Drona/Callen’s childhood storyline.  The program has a handful of episode left and this one and one down the road eat up valuable time with this tedious storyline.  And the episode down the road – where I will be screeching about retconning Pembrook – could have been used for more of Rountree’s history beside his sister, more of Fatima’s history period, more of Sam with Raymond, Kensi’s mom’s with Rosa.  There were other “personal history” episodes besides this nonsense.

As for the episode itself, it was really well done, if a bit talky, for a set-up episode for what comes in episode 19.  It was all about Pembrook without Pembrook physically in the episode (flashbacks don’t count).  It is still up in the air if Beltran, Leah, Jenkins and Hertel are villains or victims.  Beltran is a mess – no issue with killing Leah, Jenkins and Hertel but knockout syringes for Callen and poor Agent Castor.  The Drona drama is such a mess.

Episode number:   Episode number 16 in season 14.  This is the 318th episode overall.

[eremin0109]

Mrityunjay: Durykarna (2)

“Karna, you win Yagyaseni/Draupadi in the wager (here; the swayamvar)! If she rejects you, then I’ll see what is to be done. Win this wager, not for yourself but for me.” 

“I will do anything for you. Grandsire Bhishma won the princesses of Kashi and offered them to your grandfather Vichitravirya--in the same way I shall offer Yagyaseni to you!”

Karna paused for a bit before continuing, “I will offer the lotus of Yagyaseni (here; she is referred to as the lotus flower) at your feet, but on one condition--”

“What condition? Pray tell! I’ll accept it regardless.”

“I will participate in this wager at the very end. Moreover, after winning you ought to fulfill a wish of mine.” 

“What is it that you wish for, tell me!”

“The town that I was born and brought up in...Champanagari is fortunately in the kingdom of Anga. So, I wish for you to declare my hometown as a royal city! The renovations for the city shall be announced in Kampilya itself.”

“Karna, you really are something else (literal trans. ‘You are blessed’)! Even if you had asked for the entire Kuru empire in exchange of Yagyaseni, I would’ve given it to you. But you simply asked for the rehabilitation of the place you were born in. I swear Karna, you are the divine symbol of true, selfless love!” 

I drew him in a close embrace, hugging him tightly. He was overwhelmed. He took my hand in his and patted it gently, affection evident in his action.

For the love of--! I just couldn’t figure out who Karna actually was.

I glanced around the entire pavilion. All the known-unknown kings of Aryavarta were present there. The fragrance of Draupadi has maddened everyone then! Magadh’s emperor Jarasandha, Shalya--the ruler of Madra, the king of Sindhu Jayadratha, Chedi raj Shishupal. It was an assembly of many mighty heroes! 

But I don’t know why none of these warriors felt as brilliant and attractive to me as Karna! To tell him as much I leaned to my right side to whisper in his ear (the literal trans. is ‘I brought my mouth near his earlobe’ DEAR LORD), but he was distracted. He was just staring at Shri Krishna without so much as blinking once! I tried to grab his attention with our usual tactic, by lightly hitting his elbow! He was startled as he turned to look at me. My lips parted to tell him about his beauty but was interrupted as the Panchal crown prince Dhrishtadyumna walked in with his sister...Yagyaseni. 

@rorapostsbl​

[friend-shaped-but]

[theramblergal]

For @livingtheparadoxlife, who asked I write something on the twins and Krishnaa after the war.

This is gonna be long and angsty as hell, warning.

Krishnaa can barely look at her youngest two husbands nowadays.

It is no fault of their own, she knows.

But the kalachakra has spun, wreaking untold devastation across every single person, ripping their very souls out of them.

She can barely look at them together for a few seconds before she is reminded by the ghost of what is, what was, and bile rises in her throat and she has to excuse herself, their sad eyes trailing her as she flees, eyes burning.

She gets as far as the next room before she falls to her knees, chest heaving, her insides screaming for breath because every inhale chokes her with the red dust of Kurukshetra and the rank stench of rotting corpses and the metallic tang of blood even though she is hundreds of yojanas away from Kurukshetra. Her eyes do not see the gaudy wealth of the Kurus but the headless and mutilated bodies of her family.

Krishnaa Draupadi—once affectionately called Panchaali, the saubhagya of Prishata's line, is the last daughter of Panchala. The only survivor of the royal family.

She is sonless, fatherless, brotherless—

Twinless.

Dhrishtadyumna.

She cannot think about him without feeling her soul crumble into thousands of pieces, but he is never far from her thoughts.

His luminous eyes, always so full of life, glint at her from a dark corner of the room, but now they are bloodshot, listless, empty, so empty, too empty—

She had always been aware of Dhrishtadyumna through a fire-edged bond in the back of her mind, no matter the distance between them. But that connection had burned to pieces, a choked and whimpering spark being put out instead of the glorious roar of a warrior, leaving ashes drifting in the wind.

They had won.

They had won.

And then they had lost—everything.

Krishnaa had always been blessed with companionship and love beyond any normal person and she had been eternally grateful for it. But there had no one who knew her best but her twin. She had been with him from the first moment her awareness sparked into existence, cradled by the fire's womb, twin sparks in two bodies.

All her secrets, all her tears, all her joy was his—and all of his was hers.

She told him everything, things she'd never tell her husbands.

But he wasn't here anymore.

And Nakula and Sahadeva still had each other.

They were the only two of her husbands who truly understood her bond with Dhrishtadyumna. They understood what it meant to be a twin, more than she could put into words.

But they had always had each other. There was never a moment they were separated. The sons of Maadri had never been torn from the other's side—not through their exiles, their sojourns in other kingdoms, not through the battle.

And she hates that.

She hates that she hates it—hates that she hates her husbands for something so—so small.

(But it isn't small at all.)

She wants to wail, scream at fate: why were they allowed to keep their souls intact when I have burned myself over and over for them and my soul is torn into two—

You have no right to take my twin from me—

The pain is too much, please bring him back—

Please—

Have I not given enough?

A twin is a mirror, a double helix, Dhrishta had said once, orange-brown eyes smiling at her, hand warm in hers—and Nakula and Sahadeva, she and Dhrishtadyumna have always been that. Similar yet different, but always together.

She had stood alone, eyes reflecting the burning pyres of her dead family, clear vision and chin tilted, watching Nakula reach for a weeping Sahadeva—a comfort in a hand reaching in the blind darkness but knowing that they will always reach back for you.

She wanted that—needed it more than anything.

But the one who used to give her that comfort was burning on the pyre in front of her.

They had approached her a few times after that. She would not look at them. Resentment, bitter and sharp, would curdle a vicious poison in her but she could never bring herself to snap at them. Deep down, she was still their Krishnae but that part of her was lost with Panchaali.

She lets out a cry, sharp and wordless, throat choked with a thousand different emotions.

They come to her, rushing to her side.

He will never come back to her.

"Don't—" she whispers, emotions a frenzied storm in her.

"Krishnaa please—we can't see you like this—" Nakula pleads.

"Leave. Please."

"Dhrishta wouldn't want to see you like this, Krishnae.." Sahadeva murmurs.

But they respect her wishes—they always have, even when they don't want to—and leave her.

The sky is perfectly blue; the wind is soothing; the people go about their lives and the world spins on; but Krishnaa presses the back of her hand to her mouth as she weeps alone, shoulders shaking, wondering if she'll ever be able to look at her youngest two husbands without feeling the hollow emptiness of her twin's absence beside her again.

(She never will.)

[stxrrynxghts]

MB headcanons that might be true, pt. 2

Balarama is shorter than Krishna, height wise.

Arjun has the best hair out of his brothers. *screaming Nakul noises*

The kurus have only one thing in common: impeccable, shiny, lustrous hair

Yudhishthira has insomnia and depression

Draupadi is TALL (by female standards)

Subhadra LOVES pink.

Rukmini has literally no enemies

Arjun is absolutely oblivious regarding romance, but has done a PhD in bromance

Shatanika is bi.

Pradyumna is more like Ram in personality than Krishna.

Charumati is closer in age to Aniruddha, than to her brothers.

Satyavati is younger than Bhishma.

Pradyumna becomes a grandparent before Subhadra.

Nakul was a fashion influencer before it was a thing

Karenumati and Subhadra are quite close, as they are blood-related, and close in age.

Virata and Drupad are besties.

Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki run an underground Arjun appreciation club.

Both Karna and Ashwatthama think that Duryodhana is their best friend. One of them is wrong

Vrishasena and Abhimanyu admire each other, but never get the chance to say it.

Arjun honestly does not care that Karna is his brother.

Krishna hates seeing Abhimanyu, because he sees his corpse instead of his smile.

Subhadra stayed more with Rukmini and Revati than her own mothers, as a child.

Satyaki and Kritavarma never liked each other, really.

Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna never get along, except when the other one needs them.

Kunti feels she was not loved, hence why Shurasena gave her up.

Balarama has a favorite nephew, and is not afraid to hide it.

Prativindhya loved someone, but could never tell, because of the war

Lakshman would rather not fight in the war, not that he has a say in it.

[aru-loves-krishnaxarjuna]

Arjuni: can i burn my hands off?

Draupadi:

Arjuni: can WE burn our hands off?

Draupadi:

Arjuni: can we make a really big fire—

Draupadi:

Arjuni: AND burn our hands off?

Draupadi: yes!!

Dhrishtadyumna: Guys NO!!

[skyred-blog]

Maybe you missed this fact (actually, I also missed this): Arjuna is actually the grand commander of Pandavas side during Kurukshetra war, not Dhrishtadyumna.