Videhi is getting ready for their eldest princesse's marriage. Videhiraj isn't leaving a stone unturned. Prativindhya is the eldest of next Kuruvansa generation. Panchal, Hastinapur, Dwarka and Kingdoms thoughtout Aryavarta will attend this marriage. Guests are still coming. Draupadi has asked her sons to help with the preparations much to Videhiraj's relief. Sutasoma is with Prativindhya every second. Whereas Satanika and others are welcoming guests at the front door.
In Videhi, the first meeting between the bride and her in laws are celebrated. And Draupadi recently came to know about it. She must prepare a gift for her new daughter in law as well.
"Maa," Prativindhya and Sutasoma ran towards their Mata.
Draupadi had her arms stretched wanting her sons in them. Prativindhya and Sutasoma embraced their mother with force almost knocking her down if not for Krishna.
"Areh...what a mother's boy they are! You two almost knocked down my Sakhi," Krishna says playfully.
Draupadi kissed their heads affectionately making every person that were looking at them awe. Such a beautiful bond mother and sons have!
"My Prativindhya has grown up so much. I am so fortunate to see him getting married," Draupadi lovingly caresses her eldest sons face.
Prativindhya blushed looking down.
"Maharani, when will you meet your future daughter in law?" Maharani Sunali asks.
"Whenever you think it's appropriate, Maharani Sunali," Draupadi smiles at her.
"Then, Maharani how about at lunch today?" Maharani Sunali asks.
"That would be very appropriate time," Draupadi says.
Maharani Sunali and her second daughter Maya left the chamber to prepare everything. Draupadi noticed how briefly Sutasoma and Maya has locked their eyes. Later Maya turned away blushing and a small smile was played on Sutasoma's lips. Draupadi looks at her sakha who smiled back. Maya and Sutasoma has been friends after the coronation. They exchange letters and gifts frequently.
During Lunch, Draupadi, Hidimba, Karn, Krishna and six princes all came together with Videhi royals. After coming to Videhi, this is the first time Draupadi will meet Siyaanshi per rituals.
"Putri, you will ruin your makeup," Maharani Sunali lightly scolds Siyaanshi.
"Matashree, I am very nervous," Siyaanshi says.
"Why putri?" Maharani Sunali asks.
"Mata, I know Maharani Draupadi is a really amazing woman. Mata, she is so strong. And her sons live up to her legacy. Her only daughter is called one of the most intelligent woman of the new era. What if I disappoint her? What if I fail her?" Siyaanshi asks.
Maharani Sunali kept quiet for sometime, "Putri, Maharani Draupadi is called Mahabharti, the great wife of five glorious husband. Your father and I only met her a handful of time. When she emerged from the fire, on her swayamvar, at her children's birth. And every time she amused us to a different level. We could tell how Mahamahim Bhism was desperate to have her as his grand daughter in law. Putri, she was Samrat Yudhisthir's right hand. Dwarkadesh Vasudev consults her most of the time rather than her husbands. She was the finance minister of Indraprastha. So indeed your mother in law ought to be a person very hard to please and will have a high expectations from all her children and daughter in laws to live up to her legacy."
Siyaanshi paled listening to it. She became more nervous than before. Maharani Sunali wiped her daughter's sweat.
"Putri, she never attained those positions by marriage. She became worthy of them. Samrat Yudhisthir would say that all their glory, their strength, their fame, kingdom everything comes from her. He would say that his wife Draupadi is more obedient to dharma than Dharmaraj himself. Maharani Draupadi is the queen of this entire Aryavarta. She is the mother of Aryavarta, putri," Maharani Sunali says.
"But putri, no woman not in this era or any other era will ever be able to stand on her place," Maharani Sunali's voice was filled with pain.
"Why Mata?" Siyaanshi asks curious.
"Putri, she is so strong. Standing against a sabha full of vile men. Speaking your mind there protecting your husbands as well. Maybe it sounds really easy but as a woman I can tell it was the most terrifying day for her. They were her own brother in laws. In her own home she was abused. Even her husbands didn't protect her. I don't ever wish that fate for anyone," Maharani Sunali caresses her daughter's head softly.
"Mata, why did Pandavas do such a cruel thing to their own wife?" Siyaanshi asks.
"We only know they didn't protect their own wife. Lot of people have asked this question to Maharani Draupadi but during these ten years she never opened her mouth about that incident," Maharani Sunali says.
"Maharani, it's time for our princess to greet her in laws," a maid informed.
"Maybe in future you will be able to know it. Being her daughter in law. Now you should be ready," Maharani Sunali did the finishing touch up.
Siyaanshi served Draupadi the food. Her hands were slightly trembling. All the thousand Brahmins who were regularly served at Indraprastha always praised Draupadi's cooking. She got the name Annapurna by people.
"What is this, sakhi? You scared your daughter in law so much she is trembling," Krishna teased.
Draupadi was also bewildered seeing a pale and trembling Siyaanshi in front for her. She didn't even talk to her. What is she so scared about?
"Putri. are you sick? You appear pale?" Draupadi's gentle voice made Siyaanshi more nervous for some reason.
"Maharani, I am fine. Please excuse my rudeness," Siyaanshi apologizes quickly.
Draupadi let out a breath. Whatever she will say now only result in making Siyaanshi more nervous.
"The food is really delicious, putri," Krishna praises.
"Indeed, putri. You made amazing food," Hidimba praises.
Draupadi looks at her sons who were enjoying the royal delicacies. Indeed the food is marvelous.
"Every food is made with extreme care," Prativindhya whispers only for a few people to hear.
Hearing Prativindhya praise her, made Siyaanshi's heart flutter.
"Come here, putri," Draupadi softly calls Siyaanshi.
Siyaanshi approached Draupadi. Draupadi pats her to sit next with her. Siyaanshi looks at her surprised. Draupadi nods smiling at her. Siyaanshi sits beside her. Draupadi made a morsel and lifted to Siyaanshi's mouth.
People in Videhi gasps in surprise. Krishna only smiles broadly.
"I heard you were preparing these foods from the morning. And you didn't eat anything. How can I enjoy the food when my daughter is hungry?" Draupadi says softly.
Videhiraj and Maharani Sunali smiles through their tears. Their Siyaanshi is way too fortunate to have Yagnaseni Draupadi as her mother in law. She will live in a place that has Yagnaseni's shadow, a place filled with love.
Siyaanshi ate from Draupadi's hand. The insecurity and nervousness she was feeling from the morning, gone in a flash. Draupadi's soft yet sharp blue orbs are making her comfortable and loved.
"Draupadiiiiiii," Satyabhama jumps on Draupadi making her fall on the bed on her back.
Krishna, Karn and Pandavas were present in the chamber. They chuckled seeing them so childish.
"Satya, have mercy on my age at least," Draupadi jokes along.
"Huh? What age? You realize you are Nityayuvani right? You will never age," Satyabhama narrows her eyes at Draupadi.
"Where is my daughter? Don't tell me you didn't bring her," Draupadi asks horrified.
"Well, there's no way Suthanu could come. So i took this chance to meet my best friend who has totally forgotten me," Satyabhama says winking at Krishna.
"Why? Is she sick?" Draupadi asks concerned.
"I don't think so.." a mischievous smile appears on Satyabhama's lips.
"Satya, I am really worried," Draupadi hold Satyabhama's shoulder.
Satyabhama took pity on Draupadi's condition.
"She is expecting," Satyabhama whispers in Draupadi's ear.
Draupadi gasps at first. Then hugged Satyabhama enthusiastically.
"Satya....I am so happy," both friends busted into giggles.
Except Krishna, others stared at them confused. Sure their emotions change to quickly.
"Radhey, Suthanu is expecting," Draupadi shook Karn by his shoulder.
"May her son becomes as valorous as his father," Karn smiles as well.
Draupadi was smiling ear to ear. She let go of her facade for some time.
"Govind, I should inform Yudhisthirr about this. I will write the letter...."
"No, sakhi. You can't," Krishna stops her from leaving the chamber.
Draupadi looks at him shocked, "Govind, how can it be? It's his grandson. How can I not tell him?"
"No sakhi. It's not time yet," Krishna says.
Immediately Draupadi's face drown in sadness. Yudhisthir didn't ever bothered to take any news about his daughter. Of course, it doesn't matter to him whether it's his grandson or not. She nods her head looking down.
Tomorrow will be Haldi. Everyone was in Draupadi's chamber in the lazy evening.
"By the way Maharani, the second princess is also a beauty to behold. I guess she is also at the age of marriage," Krishna says.
"Maya's swayamvar will be held after her her elder sister gets married," Maharani Sunali explains.
"Maharani, what sort of task will be there for swayamvar? You can ask today itself. The best princes of Aryavarta are present here," Krishna points at Upapandavas making them pale. Their Mamashree is planning to sell them no doubt.
Videhiraj and Maharani Sunali looked at each other amused. They truly understand the hint. Draupadi looks at her sakha biting back her smile.
"Dwarkadesh, please say what you want clearly," Videhiraj says.
"My nephew Sutasoma is the son of my sakhi and Bheemsen. I believe he is a very good match for your daughter Maya," Krishna says.
"It is a matter of great joy for us," Maharani Sunali exclaims.
Draupadi was looking at Hidimba who's expression became off the moment Sutasom's marriage was mentioned. Draupadi motioned her sakha to not discuss about this anymore.
Later that night, Draupadi went to Hidimba's chamber.
"Jiji, may I come in?" Draupadi asks.
"Of course, Draupadi. Why aren't you asleep?" Hidimba asks.
"Jiji, are you upset about Soma's marriage proposal?" Draupadi asks.
"I don't know, Draupadi. I think you are rushing and not taking the decision in a clear mind. Why does my Soma need to marry here as well? And what about Rajkumari Maya? What qualification she has to be my Soma's wife?" Hidimba says quite upset.
"Jiji, you are Soma's Jyest Mata. If you don't want, this marriage will not take place and Soma will never marry without your consent. But Jiji, will you give her one chance to prove herself?" Draupadi requests.
Hidimba sighs, "I will give her one chance to prove herself for Soma's sake."
"Maa, why have you called me so late at night? Is everything alright?" Sutasoma asks.
"Come here, putra," Draupadi pats the seat next to her.
Sutasoma sits beside his mother.
"Putra, do you wish to marry Maya?" Draupadi asks.
Sutasoma looks down blushing, "I love her maa. Everything about her interests me so much. She gets angry so easily and calms down very easily as well. They way she smiles, her laughter, her anger everything is really enticing for me."
Draupadi looks at her son smiling. Never once he mentioned how beautiful she is because her inner beauty has won his heart rather than her outer look.
"But Putra, I can't say yes to this proposal until your Jyest Mata approves," Draupadi says.
"Jyest Mata didn't like her?" Immediately Sutasoma's face drop.
"Don't make that face. I requested your Jyest Mata to give Maya a chance. Prove her that Maya is the one that you love and want to marry," Draupadi says.
"I will Maa. You will see Jyest Mata will agree as well," Sutasoma says confidently.
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