Week 6 Story: Poker Night

It was another Thursday night and Zak's longtime friends were about to arrive. As Zak finished setting the table for another relaxing poker night the first guest arrived. It was David, Zak's longtime friend from high school bringing his famous chips and dip. Next came Eli and Dave, twin brothers who Zak had met at the gym in college. They brought the beer. Finally came Shalashaska another longtime friend of Zak and David.

Once the four guest had arrived they chatted for a few minutes and then sat at the poker table. The buy in was only $20 dollars, because David's wife told him if he gambled more he would not be allowed to come to poker night anymore.

 As Zak was about to deal Eli chimed in, "Shouldn't we wait for Hue?" "I don't think he's coming. He texted me earlier saying he has to help his kids with homework tonight", said Zak. "That's alright", said Dave. "He's busy with his new job, and I am sure he's stressed with his wife expecting in a few months."

"His wife is pregnant again?!" exclaimed Shalashaska . "I didn't know that either." said Zak. "Well I am sure he just forgot to tell you since he has been busy recently, but I still am surprised. They announced it to their family a few weeks ago. I only know because I am dating Hue's sister, and it's not like she told me to not say anything."

"Whatever," said Zak. "Let's just play poker."

After the game had ended and all the friends had left Zak wondered if his friend Hue would ever come to another poker game again. It's unlikely he will come to one while his wife is pregnant , and once his kid is born he will have double the responsibilities he has now. And as he thought this he felt saddened. After all, poker night was how his friends and him were supposed to keep in touch, but Hue could not even make that.

Poker Night

Author's notes: This story is loosely based on the gambling match between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana. But instead of the focus being on gambling the story focuses on dialog that happened during a group of longtime friends during their poker match. The primarily focuses on how one of their longtime friends Hue hasn't shown up for a poker match in a month and how their has become a distance between him and their friends due to Hue having to take care of his responsibilities. 

Bibliography: Pubilc Domain Edition of The Mahabharata by Donald A. Mackenzie Link

Reading Notes: Mahabharata PDE Part B

 Vindru warns the sons of Pandu of Duryodhana's plot to kill them. The Pandava brothers move into the forest with their mother. Bhami marries Hidimbi (Rakshasa) after he kills her brother.  They then had a son and Hidimbi left. In hiding the pandava brothers go on various adventures. The princes wanted to marry Draupadi. The daughter of Drupada. Karna tried to win Draupadi, but she said she did not want to marry him.

Draupadi then marries all five of the Pandava brothers. The Pandava brothers were then invited back to the country and they ruled the southwest part of it which was prosperous. Arjuna then goes into exile for a bit and has some adventures. He then had a child Iravat with the daughter of the king of nagas. Arjuna then continues on his adventures and marries a bunch of women and has kids with them. 

Arjuna and Krishna help Igni burn a forest so he can be restored. Maya builds a palace for the Pandava brothers since Arjuna saved his life in the burning of the forest. Duryodhana was acting like a clown in the palace that was built and he became angry. Yudhishthira gambled everything away.  Then the princes went away.

The Princes Gambling

Bibliography: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore, Public Domain Edition of Mahabharata link

Reading Notes: Mahabharata PDE Part A

Devavrata (Bhishma) has the powers of 8 gods. Vyasa is the composer and main character of the Mahabharata. Ganga became Shantanu's bride only if he never treated her badly. Vyasa is the son of Satyavati. Satyavati marry's Shantanu and gives birth to Vyasa. Devavrata became Bhishma (the terrible) because he said he would not marry or claim the throne so Shantanu can have Satyavati as his bride. Amba lights will be reincarnated to defeat Bhishma.

Pandu is Vyasa's pale son who becomes king. Dhritarashtra is his blind son. Vindru is Dharma as a human. Karna is the son of Pandu's wife. Pandu died from a curse because he killed a brahmin.

Dhritarashtra becomes kings and his and pandus sons become rivals. His son Duryodhana became evil. Duryodhana hates Bhima because he's powerful. Bhaima gets strength. Arjuna is the best warrior. Karna and Duryodhana became friends.

Sun God

Bibliography: Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore, Public Domain Edition of Mahabharata link