"Mamashree, where are you taking us?" Prativindhya asks.
"Putra, Videhiraj has invited us all in the palace. Let's go," Krishna says.
Four of them were special guests in Videhi. Videhiraj was escastic to to have the Vasudev Krishna is his kingdom along with Yagnaseni's sons.
"Pranipath Maharaj," the brothers greeted.
"Kalyan ho Putro. I can't say how happy I am that you all have arrived. Why didn't you came to the Palace?" Videhiraj asks.
"Mamashree ordered us to stay and mix with the common people. We had no intention to ignore you," Prativindhya answers.
"Of course Putro. Let's move towards the kitchen," Videhiraj says.
Prativindhya was looking around anxiously. Just a glimpse of her would be enough. But where is she?
"Jyest, you are being too obvious," Sutasoma whispers.
Prativindhya looks straight immediately blushing. Satanika and his Mamashree grins. It's so fun to be around newly fallen in love people. And Prativindhya who is extremely shy with women is an entertainment on so many levels.
They sat down to eat. Videhiraj was arranged a grand feast in their honor. After months they are having royal delicacies and they are enjoying the taste of it. After lunch, they all sat in the common room. Having conversations among themselves and enjoying deserts.
Prativindhya though was feeling restless. Doesn't she knows he is here? Why isn't she coming out for a bit? His eyes are traveling towards the door again and again.
"Vasudev, I can't express how happy I am that you all came. I have send an invitation letter for the swayamvar of my eldest daughter. And look how fate made you come," Videhiraj exclaimed.
"It's fate, Videhiraj. If Niyati wants, we soon will celebrate a grand wedding," Krishna smiles.
"Videhiraj, I am curious to know what is the task of swayamvar or is this a self choice swayamvar?" Satanika asks.
"Come with me," Videhiraj took them in another chamber.
A huge bow was kept there.
"Putro, whoever will succeed in raising this bow and tie the the string on it, will win the hand of my Putri," Videhiraj says.
"This bow is a blessing from Lord Shiva. Only the strongest of warriors will be able to do it. That man won't be only strong in physical but also mentally. He must have confidence in his Valor," the ministers added.
Three of them looks at the bow amused. This is almost as big as Gandhiv. There is so divinity in this bow as well. Prativindhya sighs. Seems like this bow will separate him from Siyaanshi.
"Of course. I also believe any of the elder three sons of my Sakhi will win this swayamvar," Krishna says.
"Mamashree, we can't participate!" Prativindhya voice boomed.
"Why Putro?" Videhiraj asks worried.
"Forgive us, Videhiraj. But we are on an expedition over Aryavarta. We don't have our Maa's permission to attend any swayamvar," Sutasoma explains.
"But Putro..."
"Videhiraj, calm down. Has the letter from Devapath arrived yet?" Krishna asks.
"It arrived today morning," a minister says.
Krishna requested them to read the letter in the Sabha. As the letter was read out, Prativindhya's face lit with joy. Of course His maa knows what he wants.
"Told you Jyest. Maa knows everything," Satanika winks at him.
"I hope you don't have any objection anymore," Videhiraj smiles at three of them.
"Forgive us for our earlier rudeness, Videhiraj. We will be more than honoured to participate," Prativindhya says.
"Videhiraj, won't you make preperations for them to stay with the participants or should we go back to the ashram?" Krishna asks.
"The best of arrangements are made. Princes please make yourselves comfortable," Videhiraj himself escorted them to their chamber.
"Jyest, what's wrong?" Sutasoma asks.
"Soma, I am not an Archer. Shrutkarma should have been here not me," Prativindhya says.
"Jyest, you have Excelled every weapon. We all have have trained for every weapon by Lord Shiva. Why are you saying this?" Satanika asks.
"I know. But still. How will I be able to win?" Prativindhya sighs.
"Jyest, why don't we ask Mamashree?" Sutasoma asks.
"I tried. But he ran away," Prativindhya frowns.
As their Mamashree, he should be the one taking care of them. But the reality is totally opposite. They are the one taking care of him. Satanika is in charge of stealing Makkhan. Sutasoma got beaten up yesterday for breaking the pots of women near the shore with his Mamashree. And Prativindhya's task is to clean up the mess and apologize to everyone.
"Then, let's ask maa. She knew we will be here and participating. She of course knows what to do," Satanika suggests.
Prativindhya nods his head. The only person now who can help him is his maa.
"So, that's why Keshav said to prepare for new guests!" Karn laughs.
"Yes. My sons soon will be married," Draupadi smiles as well.
"Draupadi, the task is for archers. And Prativindhya....," Karn hesitated.
"My Prativindhya can weild any weapon. I believe he will win. Besides this is not an archery contest," Draupadi says.
"Then what is it?" Karn asks confused.
"If it was an archery contest, there would have been a task of archery like my Swayamvar. Videhiraj is trying to test devotion and mind," Draupadi answers.
Pandavas were sitting with documents as well. Karn and Draupadi's relationship is totally getting under their nerve. They trust their Panchali and they also know if Karn had any bad intentions their Madhav wouldn't have brought him here. But still it's hard to see the person you love talking with another man, laughing with him.
Suddenly both of them hear a cry of an Eagle. Draupadi quickly went to her balcony. Karn followed suit. Nakul understand immediately. Their sons has send a letter.
The Eagle sat on Draupadi's shoulder and Draupadi gently caressed it's head. Giving the Eagle food and water, she untied the letter from its leg.
Pranipath Maa,
We are currently in Videhi with Mamashree. We have been invited to participate in Rajkumari Siyaanshi's swayamvar. Thank you maa for permitting us. Satanika told us you already knew.
Maa the problem is this is an archery competition. Maa I know what you will say that I excel in every weapon. But still maa. If me and Shrutkarma has a duel, of course he will win. He is an Archer maa I am not.
The task is to raise the bow and tie the string. It may sould easy but it isn't. A man has to have a deep devotion to be able to lift it. A man has to be strong both mentally and physically, has to have strong determination and confidence to be able to tie the string. Maa, I am not proud about my devotion. Is it wrong? I am confused what to do maa. Guide me please.
"Karn, my son has the same question as you," Draupadi laughs and hands the letter to Karn.
Karn began to read it.
"Why does he has to see the letter which our son send to their mother?" Nakul chews his words.
"Nakul, shut up. Don't act like this," Bheem whispers though he is equally annoyed.
"What will you tell him?" Karn asks.
"You will see," Draupadi began to write the letter.
Karn looks over the letter from her shoulder standing beside her desk.
My beloved Prativindhya,
I know you all are in Videhi and well. And as you know you have my permission to attend the swayamvar.
Putra, remember the times I told you about Mata Sita's swayamvar? Lord Ram was able to lift the bow and break it because of his pure devotion. Devotion should never have arrogance in it. And I am happy that you understand it. Putra, if the swayamvar was about physical strength only, Ravan could have easily won. But he wasn't able to lift the divine bow a bit.
You are the deciple of Mahadev and Vagwan Parshuram. Think deeply. When you lift the bow, your heart should be filled with devotion for your masters and unconditional love for everyone. Devotion and Love will crave the path of your victory.
A smile played on Karn's lips. Draupadi is infamous in Aryavarta for her knowledge in every field. She keeps her title intact. It didn't came to his mind at all.
Draupadi ties the letter in the Eagle's leg.
"Go to my son as fast as you can and reliev him of his dilemma," Draupadi whispers and kisses the Eagle's head.
"What did you write, Maharani?" Nakul asks not being able to hold his curiosity.
"That Devotion and Love will crave the path for him," Draupadi answers.
Karn looks at her amazed. How every people that comes to meet her falls in love with her, he understands it very clearly.
"Draupadi," Hidimba enters the chamber.
After Suthanu's marriage, Draupadi didn't let them go. The Raksaash have a more safe and secured kingdom and can live well in the forest of Devapath. Ghatotkach, as the king mostly stays with his citizens. Whereas Hidimba has decided to stay with Draupadi.
"Jiji," Draupadi went and took her blessings.
"Draupadi, any news from them?" Hidimba asks.
"Jiji, the news are well. If everything goes well, we might need to get ready to depart for Videhi," Draupadi says happily.
Hidimba glares at Karn who looks down avoiding her eyes. Draupadi might have forgiven him, but Hidimba just cannot. This man called her a whore in a sabha full of men. Hidimba fails to understand how much soft Draupadi can be to forgive him?
"It's a good news indeed, Draupadi. Come let's talk in my chamber," Hidimba threw one last glance at Karn and took Draupadi away.
Karn sighs. He didn't expect them to forgive him at all but still they did. Draupadi's sons call him Tatshree even. He never imagined such happiness will be experienced by him.
"Seems like Hidimba doesn't like you," Bheem chews his words.
"I don't need her to like me. I already got what I wanted," Karn returned his rudeness.
Pandavas took a deep breath calming themselves. Firstly, Draupadi shares such an intimate bond with him. Secondly he confessed his love for her even when her husbands are alive. They are tolerating this so they don't have to be separated from their Panchali. But seems like it will not be an easy task.
"Bhrata, can't we just kill him and finish everything?" Nakul grumbles while they walked towards their chamber.
"Calm down, Nakul," Yudhisthir says.
"How can we calm down, Jyest? Panchali is our wife, our woman. How can we tolerate her sharing such intimate bond with that Sutaputra?" Arjun grumbles.
"Arjun...."
"No Jyest. I am also hanging on my last thread of patience," Bheem growls.
Nakul has been noticing for the couple of days. His twin is too quiet. He is always a very calm and quiet person but recently his silence has been too much.
"Sahadev, what's wrong with you?" Nakul asks finally.
Others turned towards them as well. Sahadev's silence has been noticed by them as well.
"I have been noticing as well Sahadev. What's wrong with you?" Arjun asks softly.
Sahadev looks at his brothers and four of them were shocked to their core. Sahadev is too pale, his eyes were red and eyebags almost masking his handsome face. He looks so exhausted as if he will collapse any moment.
"Sahadev, my dear brother, what happened to you?" Yudhisthir and Bheem both rushed to his side.
Sahadev sighs and walks away leaving his brothers baffled. His brothers followed him to their chamber worried.
"Sahadev, won't you tell us what happened?" Bheem asks softly.
"Bhrata, I don't deserve her," Sahadev says looking down.
Four of them exchanged glances at each other. They understood what he is talking about.
"Why are you thinking like this Sahadev?" Arjun asks softly.
"Bhrata Arjun, how can a woman sacrifice this much for anyone? Bhrata, Vasudev always told us Panchali is our only soulmate. I read something long ago and now it makes sense," Sahadev says.
"What are you talking about? What did you read?" Yudhisthir asks furrowing his eyebrows.
"Bhrata, we will feel not only mental but physical pain if....if our soulmate is touched by any other than us.... That's why Vasudev asked us to take the vow to never marry again...Bhrata we all broke the vow to her...." Sahadev broke down in tears.
Pandavas were too shocked to reply. It all makes sense now. They felt immense pain when Panchali's hair was touched by that wretched Dussasan. When she was abused brutally. That time they thought it was the metal pain.
"Jyest...Jyest...that pain is so intense that...that it can kill the person who is feeling it," Sahadev cries.
Pandavas paled. How did they forgot that? Krishna told them this time to time. How did Panchali tolerated that?
"Why she never said anything to us?" Yudhisthir whispers.
⭐⭐⭐
Vote and Comment