Chapter 56 - 54: Suspicious Guys? After A Couple... Night Out...
(A/N):
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At the very edge of Gandhara—Where celebration had not yet fully reached, and shadows still clung to the earth—Two figures emerged from the forest.
Not as travelers. Not as guests.
But as survivors.
Their steps were slow. Measured.
Every movement carrying the weight of exhaustion that had gone beyond pain... into numbness.
They were none other than Devaki and Vasudeva.
Their clothes bore the story of escape.
Torn. Dust-stained all over.
Marked by branches, thorns... and urgency.
In Devaki’s arms—A newborn.
Wrapped carefully. Protected fiercely by her.
Not a cry. Not a sound.
As if even the child understood—Silence meant survival.
Behind them lay the forest.
Ahead—Gandhara.
And with it—Light.
The deeper they stepped into the outskirts, the more the world seemed to... change.
The air grew warmer. Music drifted faintly.
Laughter echoed from distant streets.
A kingdom preparing for joy.
Unaware of the sorrow that had just crossed its threshold.
Devaki slowed seeing all this.
Her steps faltered for a moment.
"...."
"...."
Vasudeva noticed immediately.
His gaze dropped to her feet.
Wounds were covered on. Raw. Bruised.
Marked by miles of relentless escape.
"...Just a little further," he said softly supporting her.
She nodded her head lightly.
-Nod
But her strength was no longer something she controlled.
So they stopped.
At the edge of a corridor—Where townsfolk usually gathered.
Shared stories. Rested.
Tonight—It held two strangers.
Vasudeva gently helped her sit.
Careful. Slow. Since she was still in pain.
As if even the act of sitting might break something fragile.
He knelt before her.
His hands hovering over her wounded feet—Not knowing whether to touch...
Or simply witness.
"...You should have told me sooner," he murmured.
Devaki gave a faint, tired smile.
"And slow us down?"
A pause.
"We wouldn’t have made it this far."
The words were quiet. But they carried truth.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The newborn stirred slightly in its sleep.
Still calm. Still silent.
Vasudeva adjusted the cloth around the child with practiced care.
His movements gentle. Grounding.
Around them—The world continued not waiting for no one.
Voices passed by. As each one was chatting about the day.
Unaware. Unseeing. The couple were paying attention to them.
"...Have you heard?" someone said nearby who had just entered the Gandhara kingdom.
"Gandhara’s princess is getting married in four days!"
"A grand wedding, they say. A prince from afar."
"Even sages have arrived!"
"Four days of performances too—something about Lord Shiva and Sati..."
The voices drifted like passing wind.
Devaki and Vasudeva exchanged a glance.
"...."
"...."
Not jealousy. Not longing. Just... distance.
Because joy, right now—Belonged to another world.
Still—For the first time in days—They were not running.
They were not hiding in trees.
Not listening for pursuit. Not fearing the next moment.
They were sitting.
And that alone—Felt like a blessing.
Vasudeva exhaled slowly. Looking up at the lit streets ahead.
-Sigh!
"...We’ll stay here tonight."
Devaki nodded looking around the happy atmosphere around here.
-Nod!
Her eyes lowering to the child. For some reason she remembered her wedding day.
"...Just for tonight."
Meanwhile... On the other side of street...
Streets shimmered with rows of oil lamps, their flames dancing like tiny conspirators of joy.
Music threaded through the air, laughter spilled from every corner, and the scent of spiced delicacies drifted like an invitation no one refused.
And within that sea of festivity—Walked three figures no one recognized.
Devara had shed his divinity of stage and royalty alike.
Through his
The kind of man you’d pass twice... and remember neither time.
Beside him—Prince Shakuni.
Though "prince" was currently on leave.
Wrapped in a merchant’s attire, expression loosened, posture relaxed... though the sharp glint in his eyes refused to dull entirely.
And then—Ashwatthama.
No disguise needed for him. No effort. No concern. About any one knowing about him.
"Shouldn’t you at least try to look less... you?"
Prince Shakuni muttered while adjusting his hat.
Ashwatthama glanced at him once.
"...Why?"
That ended that conversation.
Since Ashwatthama don’t needed to hide his identity like him who was the crown prince.
Which might cause some security concern around.
"Come, come,"
Prince Shakuni waved them forward, already in his element.
"If you leave Gandhara without tasting this, then frankly, your entire existence is questionable."
Devara raised an eyebrow.
"That serious?"
Shakuni stopped before a stall, dramatically pointing.
"Observe."
A vendor lifted fresh spirals of golden sweetness from hot oil—Jalebi.
"Sweet enough to forgive enemies,"
Prince Shakuni declared proudly.
"Or at least delay revenge."
Ashwatthama took one. Bit it. Paused.
"...Acceptable."
Shakuni blinked hearing Devara’s friend seems to be not excited about it.
"That’s your highest praise, isn’t it?"
Ashwatthama took another.
"...Yes."
Devara chuckled softly.
-Chuckle!
They moved again.
From sweets to savory. From fried to spiced. From loud vendors to quiet corners.
Each stall carried its own story. Each dish—its own memory.
Prince Shakuni narrated everything. Unnecessarily. Enthusiastically.
"This one,"
He said, dragging them toward another stall,
"is dangerous. Because?"
Devara asked curiously.
"You will keep eating ...That is not danger. You say that now."
And yet—Minutes later—Even Devara paused mid-bite.
"...You were right."
Prince Shakuni placed a hand over his heart.
"Validation tastes better than food."
Ashwatthama continued eating.
Unbothered.
"...."
They walked deeper into the streets.
The crowd thickened. Voices overlapped.
Music rose.
And amidst it all—Devara’s gaze shifted.
Not to the lights. Not to the stalls.
But beyond. To a quieter corner. A corridor. Two figures sitting.
Still. Out of place. Worn. Tired. Holding something... fragile.
His steps slowed. Just slightly.
Prince Shakuni noticed Devara as slowed down.
Followed his gaze.
To see two peoples who seems very out of place.
"...Travelers," he said casually.
"Plenty come during festivals."
But Devara did not respond.
"...."
Because something about them—Did not match the noise of the night.
It was as if they carried a different world with them.
His gaze had caught it another thing.
Not the weary couple this time—But the shadows watching them.
Three figures. Still. Too still for a crowd that moved like a river.
Clothed in darkness that tried to pass as night itself.
Eyes fixed on the couples as if afraid they might loose him. Predatory.
Devara didn’t stop.
He turned. And walked toward them.
His instincts were warning him if he don’t step forward now.
Something bad might happen.
Behind him—Prince Shakuni was mid-sentence about food.
"...and I’m telling you, if you mix that chut—"
He paused.
"...Why are we going there?"
Ashwatthama had already noticed. His gaze sharpened slightly.
"...Something’s wrong. I guess Devara must have found something intresting."
They followed him quietly.
The three men in the shadows shifted subtly.
Not retreating. Not advancing.
But Watching carefully so they don’t loose their target from their sight...
Because across the street—Their quarry sat unaware.
Meanwhile Devaki and Vasudeva
Who had been running away for Two days.
That’s how long the hunters had searched.
Through forests. Through roads. Through whispers.
And now—They had found them here at Gandhara.
One of the men leaned slightly closer to another.
"...It’s them. No mistake?"
"None."
A small smirk. Cold. Satisfied. Crossed their face.
-Smirk!
"Message has already been sent."
A pause.
"To our King Kamsa."
The name lingered like poison.
"He’ll be pleased. Very pleased."
A low chuckle followed.
-Chuckle!
"Let them rest tonight. Tomorrow... we take them."
They didn’t notice—That someone was now walking straight into their darkness.
Devara stopped just a few steps away.
Close enough. Too close for comfort.
The three men stiffened.
"...."
"...."
"...."
One of them frowned.
-From!
"Move along."
Devara tilted his head slightly. Almost curious.
"...You’ve been staring at the same place for a long time."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Prince Shakuni arrived beside him, immediately catching the tension.
His eyes flickered once—Assessing. Calculating.
"...Friends of yours?" he asked lightly.
The man’s expression hardened.
"No."
Ashwatthama stepped into place on Devara’s other side.
No words. Just presence showing his support to Devara.
The air shifted.
Not loud. Not explosive. But undeniable that these were the enemies.
Three enemies. Now being seen.
Devara’s voice lowered slightly. Calm. Even.
"...Then why watch them like prey?"
A flicker. Small. But real. The men exchanged a glance.
"...."
"...."
"...."
One stepped forward half a pace.
"You ask too many questions for a commoner."
Devara smiled faintly.
"And you hide too poorly for professionals. And definitely not from this kingdom. I can tell..."
That landed. The tension tightened.
As soon as Devara mentioned they were not from this kingdom.
From across the street—Devaki adjusted the cloth around the newborn.
Unaware.
Vasudeva glanced up briefly—A flicker of unease passing through him.
As if some uneasiness vanished from his chest.
Back in the shadows—The leader exhaled slowly.
-Sigh!
"...Walk away."
Not a threat. But A warning. One last time.
Devara didn’t move.
"...."
Behind his calm green eyes—His resolve solidified as he already marked these three before him as problems needs to be solved..
Because this—Was no longer just observation.
It was a choice.
He was sure now they would kill the couple as soon as what ever they were waiting for is over.
Seeing the situation is getting out of hands.
The leader decided to attack these three men’s before them and silence them once and for all.
Then...
The night cracked.
Not with thunder—But with bone.
The leader’s blade had barely cleared its sheath when Devara moved faster than him.
No flourish in his movements. No warning.
A single step forward and gripping the hand which was holding the sword.
And then—
-Snap!!!
The man’s arm broke at the elbow like dry wood.
For a heartbeat—He didn’t understand what had happened.
"...."
He simply stared... At the angle his arm was never meant to take.
Then—
"-Ahhhhhhhh!!!"
The scream came. Raw. Uncontrolled. By the pain he was suddenly experiencing.
The sword clattered to the ground.
The other two lunged.
Desperate. Reckless. Seeing their leader get’s his hands broken like some wooden twig.
They never reached Devara.
Ashwatthama stepped in with a frown.
-Frown!
No haste in his movements. Just threw a One punch.
-BAM!
The hit was Clean. And Brutal.
The first man dropped instantly, the world leaving him before he hit the ground.
The second tried to turn—Too late.
Ashwatthama caught his arm mid-swing, twisted—Locked—The man cried out as his own momentum betrayed him, his body folding under a strength that felt less human... more inevitable.
"-AHHHHH!!!"
Shakuni stepped back half a pace, eyes wide—not in fear, but in impressed disbelief.
"...I knew bringing you both would make tonight interesting..."
Around them—The street froze.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Music faltered. Voices dropped by the commotion.
Crowds parted instinctively, forming a circle of stunned silence.
And across that circle—Two figures stood up abruptly.
Devaki and Vasudeva
Their eyes locked onto the fallen men.
Not the violence. Not the crowd.
The clothes. Black. Hidden. Familiar.
Recognition struck like lightning.
"...Kamsa’s scouts..."
Vasudeva whispered in shock as his eyes widen in fear.
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(Author note:)
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