Shaivyaa : Sword Of Justice ✓

Hope Against Injustice

"This is no madness, because for King Dhritarashtra, his firstborn Duryodhana is the only Yuvaraj who deserves to stay in Hastinapura!"

"And his nephews?" Devika's face had changed its colour. "They are no one to him?"

Shaivya sighed. "Maharaj Dhritarashtra has given them the land of Khandavaprastha to rule. Rajkumar Yudhishthira has been coronated as the King of that place."

"Khandavaprastha! That barren land occupied by poisonous snakes?" Devika fumed. "Such an injustice! And no one protested? What were Ganga putra Bhishma and Aacharya Drona doing? How come Mahamantri Vidura not interfare?"

"I don't know, Didi!" Shaivya sounded helpless. "Maybe they tried and failed. But whatever the reason is, it cannot be changed now! Yudhishthira has accepted his uncle's wish as his order!"

Devika's chest pained. She closed her eyes to hold herself.

Why, Yuvaraj? Why do you have to obey that uncle as your father who does no duty of a parent to you? What did you get from such innocent goodness? The hardships of a barren land instead of the entire Kuru kingdom that was rightfully yours! Why didn't you protest?

Tears rolled down her closed eyes. Once again, he would have to suffer a painful life along with his family! Is there no happiness in his destiny at all?

"Didi!" Shaivya shook her arm.

"Where is Pita?" Devika asked, wiping her face. "Has he returned from the Sabha?"

Without waiting for Shaivya's reply, she hurried and left the room. The youngest Prince of Shivi kept watching, confused.

Who was Yudhishthira whose grief could make this warrior Princess cry?

***

Hastinapura

Draupadi found a visible broken Yudhishthira stare vacantly through the window where Ganga was visible.

"Natha!" She gently called, holding his arm.

Yudhishthira sighed. "Mata Ganga, the mother of our clan, is witnessing so much bitterness in her own family! Still nothing stops her from flowing in her own way, doesn't it?"

Draupadi smiled. "Does it bother you not to be able to let go of this bitterness?"

Yudhishthira half-turned to her, his brown eyes betraying guilt.

"I'm guilty to you, Krishnaa! I couldn't even give you a loving marital home! And now..."

"Swami," Draupadi held him tenderly. "Pray, don't blame yourself for your cousins' misconduct! You are not responsible for how they behave with me."

"But I am indeed responsible for the sufferings you are soon going to face in Khandavaprastha!" Yudhishthira's eyes avoided Draupadi's blue lotus ones. "Am I not?"

"What suffering, when I have you five by my side?" She beamed.

"That's your love for us! But can we take unfair advantage of your love, Krishney?" Yudhishthira's palms caressed her cheek, gloominess clouding his eyes again.

"You, the beloved Princess of Panchala, Yuvarani of the Kurus, who was supposed to spend her life on bed of flowers, - for my reason she has to be in the thorns of a deserted land! How can I forgive myself?"

"You five too are princes of this kingdom. Have you ever get any royal luxury that I will get? Swami, I chose this destiny for myself at the very moment I accepted the noble Pandavas as my Lords! Happiness is not in opulence, Natha, it remains in love and Dharma. And that's what will form the foundation of our new kingdom!"