" Aa...arya?....Nahi!...Br..brahman devta..Nahiii!..uh...s..swaami?..nahi!..Aryaputra? Rajkumar?......ughhhhhh!!!"
Yagyaseni Panchali, the most radiant, beautiful and confident of women found herself stuttering so badly, she was ashamed. What the hell was wrong! Well apart from the fact that she didn't know how to address her.... betrothed?
She wanted to laugh owing to the ruckus going on in her life. She didn't know her own future, let alone what it had in store for her. As of the previous night, she was dreaming of getting married to a certain archer whose praises she'd heard from all of her daasis and others in Panchal. Who could change destiny, though?
Govind, her sakha, her guide had told her that whatever happened was pre-destinied and always had a reason behind it. Mortals may not understand the almighty's planning but it would all fall in place in the end. Being a firm believer of god, being Agnisuta herself Draupadi had decided to accept her fate wholeheartedly. And also her husband. The one god had chosen for her. She had to forget all that happened previously. She had to forget Arjun.
The majestic figure sitting at a distance looked up at Draupadi, & she was sure she'd lost her voice. Molten copper hued eyes bore into her for a fraction of a second before lowering, as if in shame. The most stunning eyes she'd ever seen in her short life till now.
He was probably the most handsome man she'd seen. Even though clad in the plain garb of a hermit, he looked every bit of the royal crown prince of Hastinapur that he was.
Dharmaraj's well built lion like body, fair golden toned skin and wide coppery eyes was more than capable of capturing the heart of any maiden in the whole of Aryavart. Somehow, Draupadi felt he was unaware of the same. This was the first time she had seen him properly. Previously being focused on Arjun, she'd not exactly taken out the time to.
Yudhishtir, being a skilled warrior was alert and had already seen the beautiful Princess of Panchal approaching, and fumble to address him. Even if he hadn't, the tantalising fragrance of blue lotuses from the lovely Yojangandha herself was proof enough of her presence.
Had it been a different situation, he would have probably chuckled at how adorable she looked with that confused pout as she tried out different ways to address him. But right now he was way too troubled to laugh.
D: R.. Rajkumar?
She decided finally, trying to call him again.
Y: J..ji Rajkumari...?
Came the hesitant reply in a masculine husky whisper. His voice smooth, soothing and gentle yet so manly. His voice caused Draupadi to come out of her thoughts.
Finally taking a deep breath, Draupadi spoke out.
D: Ji...uh...
It was as if her voice was lost.
God! Not again! She bit her lip, her cheeks turning the shade of beautiful roses at dawn as she walked closer to stand near him, still maintaining some distance. She had always been poised, graceful and confident. However, she was beginning to doubt it seeing her current state, unable to even talk to the man she would spend her life with. Here she was stammering before him.
Y: Main aapki kya sewa kar sakta hoon, Rajkumari? ( How may I help you Princess?)
Came the ever calm and polite question of the righteous Dharmaraj, as he looked up at her partially veiled face.
She was devoid of any jewellery or rich fabrics, but even in those simple commoner clothes, he wondered how she still managed to look like a celestial being, far too stunning to belong to this earth.
D: Ji...voh...main....haan...uh..Pr..Pranipat kehna bhool gayi thi......iss kaaran...uh..Pranipat!!!
Wow, just wow! Seriously, forgot to say Pranipat?
Goddamit Panchali! What is wrong with you today? Draupadi thought to herself, scrunching her eyes. What must Rajkumar Yudhishtir think??? It wasn't easy for her, things had been uneasy since she had come to the Pandava's home in the forest. She wanted to say so much, but had no idea how she could approach Dharmaraj Yudhishtir.
She bit her lip nervously, playing with the edge of the veil over her head. She'd been veiling her face ever since her swayamwar, only to be unveiled by her husband on their wedding night. This thought sent a pang of pain straight to her heart. The man she had nearly accepted as her husband, her everything would not marry her. His elder brother would.
Suddenly realising that she was not alone, she shook off her thoughts focusing on the person before her.
She expected him to look at her weirdly or something for her silly ( her words not mine) excuse but the son of Yamraj only smiled his signature calm smile. However, it lacked any happiness. It was only for formality.
Y: Pranipat Panchal kumaari!
Yudhishtir joined his hands in a formal greeting before going back to his task of sharpening his spear & some other weapons.
Panchali almost felt sad seeing as he was so formal still. However, she couldn't blame him. Whatever was happening in their lives was too sudden and unexpected. Finally, gathering all of her courage, Draupadi spoke out.
D: Yadi aapko aapatti na ho, Main kuch samay yahi...baith jau? Main jaanti hoon, vivaah se poorv, hum ekaant mein isprakaar nahi reh sakte. Kintu mujhe aapse kuch avashyak kehna hai.
( If you don't mind, could I sit here for a while? I know we cannot be alone like this before our marriage, but I need to tell you something really important.)
She requested him hopefully, not really ready to go back inside just yet where the other Pandavas and Maata Kunti were. She had not seen Arjun since after her father had raged at him & the others about treating his daughter like an object to be passed on.
Yudhishtir didn't say anything, though he shifted a little away, making space for her while keeping his distance.
The awkward duo sat in silence for another couple of minutes with Panchali eyeing Yudhishtir from the corner of her eyes, still restless. He kept his eyes on the weapons, not once glancing at the celestial beauty next to him. It was as if he believed he had no right to look at her.
Draupadi hadn't missed the pain and deep sadness in those coppery orbs. She knew Yudhishtir blamed himself for everything, even though nothing was his fault or control. She knew he believed that she was meant to be Arjun's and only Arjun's, and that he was in between the way of two eternal lovers.
The mere thought of Arjun, made Draupadi press her lips hard against each other to prevent a sob from escaping, lest she'd alarm the already grief-stricken Kaunteya. He'd taken the sole blame of her misery on himself. Draupadi wanted to console him, tell him that it was destiny but couldn't find words to do so.
Wanting to cut the uneasiness between them, she was about to ask him something when her eyes fell on his bruised feet. An audible gasp escaped her lips involuntarily. She hadn't realised that he had hurt himself this badly. A series cuts littered the skin below his ankle. It looked swollen and nearby were scattered several painful looking bluish-purple bruises. A tear pricked the side of her eye, it was because of her that he was injured. She hastily wiped the tear away before Yudhishtir could notice.
Draupadi winced glancing at his feet again, worry clogging her mind as she reached out to touch the bruises. Yudhishtir abruptly got up from the rock he'd been sitting on.
Y: Ye...ye aap kya kar rahi hai? Ye... uchit nahi Panchal kumaari...
The soft spoken prince told her, not once moving his lowered gaze, as if it was a sin for him to look at her, his would be wife. If anyone, it was only him who had the right to look at her. Atleast thats what the society believed.
Draupadi smiled apologetically at him, her eyes mirroring all of her pain.
D: Kshyama kijiye, kintu aapke ghaav ka upchaar anivarya hai. ( Forgive me, but it is important to treat your wounds.)
She told him softly. Yudhishtir shook his head, and was about to stand up when suddenly....
" RUKIYE RAJKUMAR!!!"
Yudhishtir sat back down instantly, an alarmed expression on his face. Draupadi grit her teeth, she wanted to bang her head somewhere. Why was she acting like this? She only wanted him to rest his injured feet.
What would everyone think, especially, Rajkumar Yudhishtir ? It was surprising how she was suddenly so conscious about what he thought about her.
D: Uh...aap yahi rahiyega....sthaan ( place) se hileyega mat haan! Main bas abhi aayi!
She almost ordered him, ever so cutely that inspite of the situation a small smile creeped on Dharmaraj's lips, but it disappeared as soon as it came.
Y: Avashya, Rajkumari. ( Sure, princess.)
He nodded assuringly and Draupadi almost raced back to the hut in the distance to get the ointment, her tinkling anklets mesmerising the prince behind.
Yudhishtir stared at the starlit sky with a sigh, reclining back slightly against the tree behind.. He never felt so drained out before. It had been a long day. So much had happened. One moment he and his brothers had accompanied their brahmin hosts to Swayamvar of the princess of Panchal and the next moment he was to be the husband of the very princess, the next day. A princess who was to marry his younger brother Arjun, a princess who obviously loved Arjun.
He sighed sadly....like it or not he would honour his mother's words.
That was his dharma. And Dharmaraj could loose his life but not dharm. His vision blurred with tears thinking of how he would face his Phalgun, his Arjun. He hadn't seen him since King Drupad's talk with them.
On the other hand,
In Pandava's hut:
N: Ye lijiye...bhaabhishree. Jyesht ko iss aushadi se araam milega. Uh.... Main aapko bhaabhishree pukaar sakta hoon na Rajkumari?
( Here, sister-in-law. Big brother will feel better with this medicine. Uh...can I call you my sister-in-law?)
Nakul asked hesitantly, his eyeing scanning her face for signs of displeasure or sadness but Draupadi smiled, adept at hiding her pain.
D: Dhanyawaad bratha....avashya...kal pratah vivaah sanskar sampann hone par toh main aapki bhaabhi ban hi jaungi.
( Thank you brother, of course. Tomorrow morning after the wedding ceremony, as it is I will be your sister-in-law.)
Draupadi thanked Nakul for the medicine with a small smile, taking her leave & walking towards the door of the hut.
She just didn't understand anything anymore. It had been a long day, her swayamwar day. Panduputra Arjun had nailed the archery test that had to passed in order to win her hand, the hand of the most beautiful woman of Aryavrat, the celestial blessing of the almighty himself, yagyaseni Draupadi.
Already weaving beautiful dreams of married life, while on the way home, her world turned upside with one single incident. Not Gandivdhaari Arjun, but his elder brother the righteous Dharmaraj Yudhishtir was her future now. Her everything.
Draupadi wiped the tears that had trickled down her cheeks and remembered Govind's words again.
" Sansaar mein har ghatna ka ek kaaran hota hai Sakhi, jo kadachit tumhe iss sanay samajh na aaye. Kintu bhavishya mein tumhaara jeevan sukh se bhar jaayega."
Everything would be just fine!!! Her sakha never lied. With that thought she raced back out of the hut to tend to her injured betrothed.
Yudhishtir broke out of his reverie as the softest of hands grasped his foot, those tender delicate fingers applying what looked like Nakul-Sehadev's special herbal medicine onto his bruised skin.
Draupadi noticed Dharmaraj's stiffened posture, realising he was still reluctant.
Y: Rajkumari, ye main swayam laga lunga. Aap kripya kasht na lein. ( Princess, I will apply this myself. Please don't bother.)
Yudhishtir was not comfortable with a woman tending to his pain, when he was the one to give her a life long suffering. Moreover, his heated red cheeks gave away the fact that he was not used to another woman touching him, except his mother & sister. Even if it was only his feet.
Draupadi hid her smile seeing the shy Prince. Who knew warriors were not only valiant but cute!
D: Rajkumar....
Yudhishtir came out his thoughts yet again. He'd been doing that a lot lately.
D: Main....dhanyawaad kehna chahti thi..jsprakaar aapne pitashree ko samjhaaya. Unhone aapka apmaan bhi kiya kintu aapne waha sab sambhaal liya. Unki orr se main kshyama maangti hoon....
( I wanted to thank you for the way you handled my father. He insulted you, still you took care of everything. I apologize on his behalf...)
Draupadi joined her hands in apology. She was really impressed with his humility and presence of mind. Her father was not exactly an easy person to handle when he was angry or upset, but Yudhishtir had successfully calmed him down in no time.
Y: Nahi Rajkumari, maine jo kiya, mera kartavya tha, mera dharm tha. Aapki yah stithi keval mere kaaran hui hai. ( No Princess, I only did my duty. I am responsible for this condition of yours.)
Yudhishtir almost whispered the last part but the fireborn princess heard him.
D: Aur vaise bhi....Dharm-adharm, uchit- anuchit ka nirnay karna aapka karya hai, mera nahi, Dharmaraj.
Yudhishtir was shell-shocked at what he saw. Even though half her face was veiled, he could make out what looked like a mischievous, cheeky smile on the Princess' lips for the first time in a long time. Draupadi felt victorious as she finally heard a soft chuckle escape the lips of the eldest Pandav. This time his smile stayed longer. This caused her heart to swell with happy feelings.
D: Kintu phir bhi, mera dharm hai apne pati ki sewa karna...unhe kabhi koi kasht na hone dena.
( But still, it is duty to serve my husband and not let him face any trouble.)
The beautiful Princess of Panchal added softly making Yudhishtir numb for a moment. Did she really accept him as her husband? Did he deserve it? All such thoughts plagued his mind. However, this time when she caressed his injured foot, placing it in her lap and continuing to apply the salve, he let her, even though a little reluctantly.
He closed his eyes momentarily as she blew cool air on the wound, hissing and wincing as if she was the one injured while Yudhishtir was as calm as a cucumber even though his foot throbbed with pain, maybe a cracked bone due to the impact. She glanced up at him worried that he was feeling pain but he shook his head, sensing her unasked question, assuring her that he was fine. He had been so lost in his thoughts that what should have been a searing pain, was barely felt by him.
D: Aap swayam ko dosh na dein....
(Don't blame yourself...)
Draupadi looked at his lowered lashes and for the first time in several minutes, Yudhishtir looked up at her. His copper orbs meeting her deep black ones.
D: Maata ke vachano ko apni niyati maan chuki hoon main. Rajkumar, ismein aapka athva aapke brathao ka koi dosh nahi. Main toh aapke grih mein saubhaghya lakshmi bankar aana chahti thi, durbhagya kisprakar de doon aap sabhi ko?
Aap chintit na ho....main aapse vivaah avashya karungi. Aapko sanyas dhaaran nahi karne dungi.
( I have taken your mother's words as my destiny, it is not your brother's or your fault. I wanted to bring good fortune to your home, then how can I give you so much misfortune?
You don't worry, I will surely marry you. I will not let you renunciated everything)
Yudhishtir couldn't help but smile in appreciation. He couldn't believe how strong this woman was. Leaving her own dreams and wishes just so his family could be happy? Just so he could be happy? He thought she might resent him if not hate but here she was tending to his wounds as I f they were hers.
He had no words enough for the praise of such a pious and selfless goddess. He could only hope to make his life a penance just as she had, to make sure she was safe, happy and comfortable.
A frown marred Ajatshatru's otherwise calm face seeing Draupadi tug the thin uttariya closer. It was similar to what the ladies in the nearby ashram wore. Seeing as her family, her betrothed wore no royal robes or jewellery, Draupadi herself had pledged to do that same.It was a cold winter night and he was feeling a little chilly himself.
Without a thought, he took off his own angavastra, forwarding it to the shivering princess.
D: Kintu Raajkumar.....
Draupadi looked up at him,she didn't want him to be cold for her sake.
Y: Kripya ise dhaaran kar lijiye Panchal kumari. ( Please wear it)
He requested her with a small polite smile.
D: Aabhaar, Kuru kumar. Parantu aapko...
( Thank you, Kuru kumar, but.....)
She bit her lip hesitantly. She didn't want him to be cold for her sake.
Y: Aap meri chinta na kare Rajkumari. Mujhe va mere bhaiyyon ko har paristithi mein rehne ka abhyaas hai. Kintu aapko koi asuvidha na ho, yah sunishchit karna mera daitva hai.
( You don't have to worry about me Princess, I and my brothers are used to living in any conditions, but it is my duty to ensure that you are not uncomfortable.)
Draupadi couldn't help but feel admiration for this lovely man. She was yet to see such a sweet, kind soul.
It was not just hers, but his life changing completely too, but all he cared was of her comfort.
Draupadi blushed as unknowingly their fingers brushed when she accepted the garment from him, turning her head away with a light blush due to his now bare upper body.
The soul soothing smell of rich sandalwood engulfed her senses, as she wrapped Yudhishtir's angavastra around her shoulders. The garment was warm due to his body heat and smelt like.....well him.
Finally a soft smile graced her face.....she was pleased that it was him. There were many cruel males out there who would've taken advantage, brother's intended or not. But not him. She was glad it was Dharmaraj Yudhishtir who was her destiny now.
A loud gasp escaped Panchali's lips as she looked up at Yudhishtir.
D: Mujhe aagya dijiye Rajkumar. Maata ne mujhe bhojan pakane ki anumati nahi di kintu bhojan parosne mein unki sahayta toh kar hi sakti hoon. Pranipat!
( Permit me to leave prince, mother didn't allow me to cook, but I will certainly help her serve it.)
Saying so with a graceful swirl of her lehenga, Panchali was off towards the hut calling out to a now smiling Yudhishtir to rest his feet properly & that she would request Bheem help him to the hut.
The righteous Dharmaraj watched as the princess disappeared ahead, the tinkling of her anklets echoing around the silent forest at night. As he stared at the place where Draupadi stood a few moments ago, his mind wandered back into the memory of how all of this started.
--------- FLASHBACK---------
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That's all!!
Will Draupadi accept Yudhishtir completely??? Will Yudhishtir overcome his guilt?
What is in store for these two beautiful souls?