"My poor legs," Shrutakarma complaines dramatically.
"Just a little more, Karma. We need to work a little hard for life long pampering and good food from our bhabishrees'," Satanika says.
Every one of them were given responsibilities. Shrutasena and Abhimanyu are preparing the necessities. Whereas they are given the responsibility of welcoming people at the front gate. Their Maa objected it for some reason. Why their maa is always so scared when it comes to Satanika and Shrutakarma they don't know. They are the most quietest among all according to them.
"Bhrata, how are you two coping?" Shrutasena asks.
"What are you doing here?" Satanika asks.
Shrutasena was furious and they could tell it. Before they could ask anymore, the guard announced the next guest.
"Aryavarta ke Samrat, Indraprastha ke Maharaj Duryodhana padhar rehe Hein," the guard announced.
(Emperor of Aryavarta, King of Indraprastha, Emperor Duryodhana is coming.)
Immediately, Satanika and Shrutakarma felt their whole demeanor changed. Their hands immediately went to their weapons.
"Calm down both of you. We are guests here so are they. Jyest, bhrata Sutasoma and Bhrata Satanika you three are the eldest of new generation. Did you think they won't attend?" Shrutasena whispers.
"Are we suppose to welcome them?" Shrutkarma gritts his teeths.
"Act civil here. Please, both of you," Shrutasena pleads.
Duryodhana stood in front of Satanika. This boy is extremely handsome. No doubt, Nakul's son. He is the best swordman in entire Aryavarta now. Satanika is also Sarvaga. His eyes are his mother's brilliant blue. Until now only two people have it. Draupadi and Satanika.
No doubt the next is Arjun's son. While entering, Duryodhana's heart thumped while seeing him. He looks exactly like Arjun as if his twin. But there is something more dangerous about Shrutkarma. He is prophecied to be more valorous than Arjun.
And the last one must be Shrutasena. This boy is famous for being extremely clever and tactful. Indeed, he is holding his brothers back so that they don't do something in rage. Such calmness Duryodhana felt just by looking at Shrutasena is unexplainable.
"Pranipath Tatshree," Shrutasena greets first.
Satanika, Shrutakarma and Shrutasena bends down to touch his feet. Duryodhana actually holds no hatred towards them. They are his blood as well. They carry the name of Kuruvansa with them. Besides all the credit of their bravery and strength will go to Kuruvansa anyway.
"Kalyan ho, Putro. Yasasshi vaba," Duryodhana blessed them happily.
(Stay blessed, my sons. May you be valorous.)
Satanika didn't meet his eyes as the only thing he could see is red now. How Shrutakarma and Shrutasena are controlling themselves is a miracle. But despite that they had to greet the 101 sons of Dhritrastra. Their own uncles whom they have vowed to kill.
Rather than going inside, Duryodhana decided to stand beside them engaging in small talk.
"Mahamahim Bhism, Rajmata Kunti, Maharani Gandhari, Mahamntri Vidhur padhar rehe Hein,"
(Mahamahim Bhism, Rajmata Kunti, Maharani Gandhari, Mahamntri Vidhur has arrived.)
"Kirti," Mahamahim Bhism smiled broadly and embraced Shrutkarma.
Bhism has named Shrutkarma Kirti. A name he gave his most beloved grandson Arjun. And now he has given it to his most beloved grandson Shrutkarma.
"Pranipath, Pitamah," three of them bend to touch his feet.
Finally their heart eased a bit seeing their Pitamah.
"Putro," Kunti was tightly embraced by her grandsons.
"Pranipath Pitamah," they bend down to take Vidhur's blessings.
"Yasasshi vaba, Putro," Vidhur blessed them.
Maharani Gandhari was trying to feel them. She touched their faces with shaky hands as her tears flowed continuously.
"Pranipath Jyest Dadishree," they greeted.
"...I am so unfortunate, Putro. I couldn't see your mother. I couldn't see you as well. But I can feel your divinity. They way I felt your mother's," Gandhari whispers.
"Jiji, don't say it. They are very happy to see you," Kunti says.
"Let's go inside," Pitamah Bhism took his grandsons with him inside. Theres a lot he wants to talk with them after seeing them after years.
"Pranipath Pitamah," Prativindhya and Sutasoma bend down to touch their feets.
"Congratulations Putro. I am very blessed that I got to see your wedding with my own eyes," Bhism exclaimed.
"Pranipath Tatshree," Prativindhya and Sutasoma took Duryodhana's blessings as well.
Duryodhana hugged them tightly much to their surprise.
"I am very happy with the news of your marriage, Putro. May your sons be as valorous as you. May your children engrave Kuruvansa's name in golden history," Duryodhana blessed.
Prativindhya knows all of Duryodhana's hatred is focused on his fathers. He recalls his conversation with his mother years ago.
"Maa, that man defines the word evil in every sense," he said.
"I don't blame him for anything, Putro. He is also a victim," his maa said.
"Maa, what are you saying? How is he a victim?" Prativindhya asks frowning.
"Putra, Mamashree Shakuni has raised him like this. A child who was declared as the destruction the next moment of his birth, he was feared, he was despised. And Mamashree pulled him out of that. Bhrata Duryodhana is bound to follow Mamashree after that," Draupadi says.
"I don't get it, maa. Why nobody corrected him? Pitamah Bhism is there with them," Prativindhya says.
"I agree. No one believed he would be ever a good person. No one tried. Even his own mother. I pity him. And that also taught me something," Draupadi says.
"What is it, maa?" he asked.
"We as parents, especially mothers should be extremely careful how our children is raised. That's why I am always very possessive of you and your brothers," Draupadi pulled Prativindhya's cheeks.
Prativindhya grinned happily and laid on his maa's lap.
"Long time no seen, Dadashree Shakuni," Sutasoma greets.
Shakuni who kept close tabs of Draupadi's children felt his throat dry. He is seeing his own demise and the way that Shrutasena smirks at him. Oh God!
"Dadishree," Sutasoma raised Kunti from her feet embracing her.
Laughter echoned in the room. Pitamah Bhism wiped his eyes. This reminds him of his Pandavas. When they came for the first time.
"Congratulations, Jyest bhrata, bhrata Sutasoma," Laksman greeted Prativindhya.
"Thank you. I am glad that you managed to come," Prativindhya embraced him.
"Putra, where is your mother?" Bhism asks.
"Maa is busy with preparations with Matashree Hidimba. Tomorrow is Haldi," Shrutasena answers.
"Poor girl. She must be managing everything all alone," Vidhur says.
"Tatshree, I will go and help my Putri. You all sit and chat," Kunti went to find Draupadi.
"Draupadi, you will meet them?" Karn asks raising his eyebrows.
"I have to Radhey, you think my relationship with Kuruvansa demolished only because I said so? It will never. I will always be their Kulvadhu. And now I am their Rajmata as well. I must greet them," Draupadi sighs.
"Draupadi, Duryodhana, Dussasan and others came as well. What if they have any bad intention?" Hidimba asks.
"No, Jiji. Their fight is with me. Not with my children. Duryodhana will not try to do anything to his nephews because he knows they carry the same blood," Draupadi says.
"But still...."
"Stop it, both of you. Only time you two talk is when you need to scold me about something," Draupadi jokes making the two laugh as well.
"Putri," Kunti enters the chamber.
"Pranipath Mata," Draupadi took her blessings.
"Kalyan ho, Putri. My heart is at peace seeing you finally," Kunti kisses Draupadi's face.
"Pranipath Rajmata," Karn greets her next.
Kunti softly patted his head. Her eldest son is alive only because of Draupadi. Her five sons gained all their fame, name, strength because of Draupadi. Whenever she recalls how much she loves her sons, her love for Draupadi increases. Because unknowingly Draupadi has tied all her sons in an unbreakable bond becoming the string herself.
"Mata, you two talk. I need to meet with my sons. Some rituals should be done today itself," saying that Draupadi Left the chamber.
"Jyest," Sutasoma looked ta his eldest.
In front of them stood their blood brothers. Yaudheya, Savarga, Iravan, Babhruvahana, Niramitra, Suhotra. They seemed nervous as they didn't meet their eyes at all.
"Pranipath Jyest..." Iravan was about to greet when Prativindhya stopped him.
"I am not your Jyest, Iravan. I don't share my father or mother with you. So don't address me as such," Prativindhya's stern voice made them stop.
They wanted to tell that they indeed share their Mata Draupadi with them. She is their mother as well. But they don't have the courage to claim right on their mother anymore.
"If you are done with your greetings then get out," Sutasoma pipes in.
"We...we..."
"Is this the way you mother raised you?" Devika enters as she was quiet enraged.
"I do not want to hear it from someone whom I refuse to even consider a human. From next time do not enter in our chamber without permission," Prativindhya was quick to retaliate.
"How dare you? I am your mother. Rather than asking for my blessings you are talking back?" Devika screamed in rage.
"You are no mother of mine. The woman who gave birth to me, filled me with love and dharma is my Maa Draupadi. I have no relationship with any woman rather than her," Prativindhya was losing his patience.
"Such insolence! I am Yudhisthir's wife. I am Samragni of Aryavarta. You dare!" Devika raised her hand to slap Prativindhya but her hand was topped in the air.
Everyone looked at the person who stopped her hand. Devika turned to see an infuriated Yudhisthir in eunuchs dress up whose eyes could burn her that second.
"Maharani Draupadi has left me in charge of her eldest son, who is the Yuvraj of Devapath and soon will be the Samrat of Aryavarta. I will not let anyone harm him in any situation," Yudhisthir gritted his teeth in anger.
Satanika, Shrutakarma and Shrutasena meet each other's eyes with a understanding.
Devika looked down. Her wrist has turned blue in pressure. She knows it's Yudhisthir but they don't. She stormed out of the chamber yanking her hand back.
"Thank you, Yuvani. But it wasn't needed," Prativindhya says softly.
"Your maa will be very sad if she heard you are hurt in any way. It was my duty," Yudhisthir says.
"We lived with them for 19 years in constant pain. It isn't the first time. We are used to their behavior. I wouldn't have said something if she only insulted me but noone insults my mother. I don't care who it is," Prativindhya says determined.
"Are you alright, Jyest?" Satanika rushes to his side.
"Of course, I am," Prativindhya lovingly ruffles his hair.
"Yuvani, where is maa?" Sutasoma asks.
"Maharani is with Rajmata Kunti," Yudhisthir answers.
"Jyest Tatshree Duryodhana will definitely try to meet mother. We need to put an stop to it," Shrutakarma says.
"We can't do that," Sutasoma says.
"Why bhrata? Maa ...." Shrutasena was stopped by Prativindhya.
"Karma, Sena maa is the eldest daughter in law of Kuruvansa. Even if she doesn't want to she is bound to follow her duties. But that doesn't mean we will leave Maa alone. We will be present when they meet," Prativindhya says.
"As you order, Jyest," others chorused.
The other six sons of Pandavas stood their looking at each other. How they wished to be standing with their elder brothers. Enjoy this moment of happiness with them, stand beside them side to side in danger but they can't. Their beloved mothers have successfully ruined it for them. They slowly went out of the chamber.
"They are still so furious with us," Iravan whispers.
"They have every right to be. Our mothers ruined their life, Jyest Mata Draupadi faced such humiliation, our fathers lost their kingdom," Yaudheya whispers.
"Why can't we meet Jyest Mata?" Niramitra asks.
"I can't face her, Niramitra. I just can't. She loved us like her own. She never differentiated between her own sons and us. We that time were foolish enough to believe in our mothers. We treated our own brothers so badly. How can we meet them like nothing happened?" Babhruvahana says.
They sighed. After years they understood what their mother's have done. They were horrified that they have unknowingly playing a part in that. They wanted to ask for forgiveness from both their Jyest Mata and their brothes. But no matter how much they try the damage is done. It can't be taken back now. No matter how much they yearn to be with them now, it's useless.
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