PART-8 A- The Final battle
The war had started. The Pandavas had arranged their army in Deva Vyuha to counter the Kauravas Asura Vyuha. In the lead was Shikhandi with Bhima and Arjuna to protect his sides.Beside him were Abhimanyu, Rochangarbha and children of Draupadi. Satyaki and Dhritadyumna were with him. Virata and Drupada had charge on the rest of the army. Kekayu brothers, Dhristaketu, Ghatotkacha and Iravan were in the ranks.
The conches blared and another day of war started. Iravan raced through the battle field till he met Shakuni and his brothers. A battle ensued between them.
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The extensive waters were deadly calm that day. A melancholy silence spread through the Nagloka. It was silence before the storm. Indeed a storm was raging in the heart of a mother who waited for any news of her son. She had sent an army to bring back Iravan from war but she knew that Iravan will never leave the battlefield. So she had commanded the army to protect her son in battle.
A dasi came into Uloopi's room and announced "Madam. A messenger has come from Kurukshetra with news of Rajkumar Iravan." Uloopi jumped on her feet.
"Send him in immediately." Uloopi ordered in a voice that clearly showed the anxiousness that dwelled in the mother's heart.
"My ladyship Prince Iravan has refused to leave the battlefield. The tenth day of the war has already started and the prince has entered the battle in command of the whole Naga army."
Suddenly Uloopi's legs became weak and she plopped on to her bed with a soft thud. The princess of fair complexion had become even paler, as if blood had drained out of all her veins. Her gaze fell beyond the horizon as the blood-coloured red orb in the sky rose to glare at the distant battlefield.
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Broken bodies lay scattered before the Naga army. The Naga army fought with ever increasing viciousness. Stopping them seemed impossibility. The Naga army had brutally slain the brothers Gaya, Gavaksha, Vrishava, Charmavat, Arjava, and Suka who had dared to attack their Chief. The prince Duryodhan was burning in rage at the defeat of Great warriors of the Kaurava army.
Whereas Mamashri Shakuni was fighting with Iravan. They spun around each other analysing the tactics to be followed by the other. Their charioteers drove them skilfully, removing the chariot from position seconds before a poisonous arrow struck the land that had been occupied. Iravan though young was adept at all tactics of war. When a missile missed Shakuni by inches, and a second missile came hurtling by, Shakuni fled from the field. He confessed to his eldest nephew," This Naga boy and his army needs to destroyed. I do not think that anyone other than Bhisma, Acharya Drona or Karna can defeat this lad. But Pitamah and Acharya are engaged in their own battle, and Karna is not fighting." Saying thus he confided his plan to his nephew. The very next moment, Duryodhana called upon a rakshasha "Alambusha come here. I have work for you".
Please do not forget to review. Afterall we are moving towards the end of this FF.
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