"Maa, don't worry. We will make sure bhratas don't sneak into your chamber to meet bhabishrees," Shrutkarma promises. His eyes filled with mischief.
Draupadi bit her lips to stop smiling, "I know you will."
The guests have retired to their chambers and the brides are resting in Draupadi's chamber.
"Go and rest too. You all are also tired," Draupadi instructs her sons.
Making sure everyone has slept, Draupadi moved to the garden. Pandavas were still awake laying carelessly on the mattresses. They were talking about how many kings have came and the relationship between them. As soon as Draupadi's blue lotus fragnance came to their nose, they sat up.
"Panchali, why aren't you resting?" Sahadev asks.
"I came to rest," saying Draupadi began to lay the mattress on the floor as well.
"Panchali, you can't sleep here. Go to your chamber," Arjun says.
Draupadi nods her head in negative and sits on her bed. Pandavas looked at her with love filled eyes. The Samragni of Aryavarta, the pampered daughter of Maharaj Draupad is lying on the floor with them. The support they have been yearning to have for years, they have it now. They finally feel stronge.
"Satanika aur Shrutakarma kintne chanchal Hein, Panchali. Ek shran bhi sthir nehi rehte," Bheem says.
(Satanika and Shrutakarma are really restless. They don't sit calmly for a bit.)
"Shukar kijihe ki shrif itna kar rehe Hein. Aab mein yaha hu, pata nehi Baki oko Kitna tang kar rehe Hein. Inn dono ke janm ka paschat Mera chyan nehi Raha," Draupadi says.
(Be thankful that's the only they are doing. Now that I am here, don't know how much they are teasing the others. After their birth, my peace was stolen from me.)
Pandavas chuckles while Arjun and Nakul shared a proud look.
"Arjun aur Nakul bhi ese hi the, Panchali. Ek shran ke liye bhi Mata saas nehi le pati thi," Yudhisthir smiles.
(Arjun and Nakul were like this too, Panchali. Mata couldn't even breath for them.)
"Arya Yudhisthir, aap Suthanu ki vivah mein sammilit Kyu nehi huye? Aap to yaha the," Draupadi asks.
(Arya Yudhisthir, why didn't you join Suthanu's wedding? You were here.)
Immediately Yudhisthir's smile fall, "We wanted to, Panchali. But Vasudev said it isn't the time. But .."
"But?"
"Suthanu knew about us," Arjun says.
Draupadi eyes widen, "She knew? Why didn't she tell me?"
"She wanted to. But we forbade her," Sahadev says.
"You know Suthanu is expecting, right?" Draupadi asks.
"Yes and Bhanu will be punished for it," Nakul promises.
Draupadi looked at him confused. Why will Bhanu be punished?
"He dared touch our daughter," Bheem growls.
Draupadi looks at them in disbelief. They are angry with Bhanu for what?
Suddenly Draupadi placed a hand on her heart. Her heart filled with joy as she heard a faint wail of a child. Her lips tugged in a smile.
Pandavas were confused seeing her like this.
"Panchali, what happened?" Bheem asks.
"Radhey's son is born," Draupadi says.
Pandavas mood worsen. Not because of the child but they recalled the deep connection she shares with Karn now. So much they feel each other all the time.
"You forgave him," Nakul whispers trying not to sound fanatic.
"Yes, I did. You five were in Devapath that time. You know everything," Draupadi says.
"Did you forget..." Sahadev was cut off with Draupadi's stern gaze.
"I didn't forget anything, don't worry Arya. But I forgave him because of his repentance. His love earned him my forgiveness. If he didn't change, Govind wouldn't have bring us together," Draupadi says.
Pandavas knew she was right and Krishna too. They aren't doubting Draupadi a bit. But another man's name from her mouth, who loves her too much to see her celestial form, they feel someone ignited fire on their body. They didnt think hating someone this much is even possible. What's wrong with Karn to love her this much? The way he looks at her, they are very much familiar with it. His smile while seeing her, his love filled gaze at her everything is intolerable for them.
Draupadi laid down on the mattress. She needs to rest because there are lots of rituals from tomorrow.
Only two days left to complete the three weeks. Draupadi is walking in circles.
"Draupadi, what's wrong?" Hidimba asks.
"Jiji, can you believe it? I have to leave and Govind and Karn both have disappeared in thin air," Draupadi says annoyed.
"I can understand Vasudev's importance in your life. Why do you need Karn to be here as well?" Hidimba asks.
"Jiji, Karn will take my place. I know my sons. Aside from me they only listen to Govind. And surprisingly they listen to Karn as well," Draupadi says.
Hidimba seemed to have a question in her mind.
"Jiji, do you want to say anything?" Draupadi asks.
"Draupadi I fail to understand you giving so much importance to Karn," Hidimba confesses.
"Jiji, I know it's really complicated. Karn staying beside me all the time, our relationship. I also don't know how to explain this. But what I understand is Karn loves me too much that it has reached on the level of devotion. His love is selfless. If you compare that with my love for Sakha, you will understand a bit. I dread the fact that Govind will be disappointed in me, he will stop loving me, he will go away from me," Draupadi shudders just with the thought of it.
"If Karn loves me the way I love sakha, then I can imagine the pain he will go through if I don't accept him. Love gives people rights on each other. I don't want him to feel the pain or the rejection. If staying by my side fulfills his love for me, than I am ready to accept it," Draupadi says.
Hidimba nods her head confused, "I don't get it. I don't even get the relationship between you and Vasudev. Sometimes I feel you are his lover then I feel you are worshipping him."
Draupadi bursted into laughter, "Love can't be defined. It's not about possessing someone. It's about getting lost in that person. And I am completely lost in my Govind."
Hidimba again gives her a confused look, "I give up. I have works to do rather than getting a headache by trying to figure out your relationship."
It wasn't long that Hidimba went out and Kunti enters.
"Mata, come in," Draupadi welcomed her.
"Putri, I need to talk with you"
Kunti's voice was different and Draupadi immediately knew something was off. She dismissed everyone in her chamber and ordered the guards to not let anyone in without informing her first.
"Mata, what's wrong?" Draupadi asks softly.
"Putri...I want to....confess... something to you..." Kunti's voice shook.
Draupadi hold her hand. Her heart beating irregularly. She doesn't know why she is getting scared.
"Putri...your marriage with my five sons was necessary. Except you and I noone knows the truth....Putri...I have another son except five of them..."
Draupadi felt her hand and feets have gone cold. She forgot to breath for sometime.
"Mata....what are...you saying?" Draupadi asks.
"Putri, you know about my boon. Before marriage with Maharaj Pandu, I....was curious about my boon... So I summoned Suryadev...I realized my mistake but it was too late... Suryadev blessed me with a son...I was an unmarried princess... I was scared...what will people make me if this comes out? What will my son be called when his birth will reveal?....so...I...I...floated him...in the Ganga..." Kunti broke down in tears.
Draupadi couldn't believe her ears for sometime. She prayed that she heard wrong. A mother floating her own son...how is it possible? She let go of Kunti's hand and fall on the floor.
"What have you done, Mata?" Draupadi whispers.
"Putri...my mistake...."
"No, Mata. It wasn't a mistake. It's a sin. How could you float a child? How could you?" Draupadi felt her tears flowing.
"Putri...I was so scared..."
"Mata, it's been so many years. Why are you telling this now? Why didn't you tell this to your sons? Didn't you believe they will embrace their eldest brother?" Draupadi yells.
"Putri...they don't like him...I was scared...that my eldest son will tolerate the hatred of his own brothers..."
Draupadi frowns. They hate him? Pandavas? She knows Yudhisthir loves even Duryodhana because he is his brother despite the countless times they conspired to kill them. They don't hate anyone. It's not in their blood.
"Mata, who is he?" Draupadi asks.
"Putri...Karn is my eldest son..." Kunti confesses.
Draupadi felt like the soil under her feet isn't there anymore.
"Oh..my God..." she whispers.
Karn is eldest Kunteya? Radhey Karn? The man who lived among Suta all his life? The man who went through numerous insults for weilding weapon despite being a Suta? He is a Ksatriya? He is the eldest Pandava?
"Mata..."
"I tried...Putri...but they hated Karn from the beginning. Especially his rivalry with Arjun. It scared me. That poor child will go through all the hatred of the society. I didn't want to cause him more harm than I already did," Kunti touched Draupadi's shoulder.
"Why are you telling me this, Mata?" Draupadi asks.
"Because, Karn almost died. You saved him. You and Karn have a relationship that only I know. That's why you were able to share your soul with him," Kunti says.
"What do you mean Mata?" Draupadi wasn't ready for anymore surprise.
"Putri, remember what I said. I said to distribute you among all my sons. Karn is my son. For my words you were married to my sons in Gandharva way. You are also married to Karn that way," Kunti says.
Realization fall in her. That's why she was able to share her soul. But poor Draupadi didn't take this news well. How will her husbands react to it?
"Mata, what will I do now?" Draupadi asks Kunti.
"Putri, that's why I came to you. Please do something. Save them from raising their weapons against each other. Karn is their eldest," Kunti cries.
"Mata, how can you give me this responsibility? How will I do it? How will I tell this to either of them?" Draupadi asks.
"Putri, I know this much that you can. Please Putri, I beg you. You didn't leave my sons hand in their worst times even though they left yours in your worst time. Please Putri, accept this request of mine," Kunti joins her hand.
"No, Mata. Don't do it," Draupadi hurriedly hold her hand.
Her mind is numb for the first time. She didn't know what to do what not to do. Wait...her sons call Karn Tatshree. Did they know about it? They knew about their fathers vanvas but they didn't tell her. Do they know about Karn too?
Meanwhile Karn also had his whole world turning in Hastinapur. His youngest son Vrishaketu was born. But his wife Vrushali didn't survive this time. Leaving a child motherless. Karn didn't know what to do.
Al these years, he requested, Draupadi requested but his parents refused to leave Hastinapur. And Vrushani refused to leave them. Karn kept on visiting them as much as he could. But now...how will he leave his youngest son here? His parents are too old to raise a child.
"Radhey, you seem worried," Krishna comes.
"Keshav, what are you doing here? Aren't you in Devapath?" Karn asks surprised.
"I came to take you and Vrishaketu with me," Krishna says.
"Vrishaketu? What do you mean?" Karn asks.
"You and my Sakhi share a soul. Your son is also my Sakhi's son. Krishnaa is also his mother because they share a close bond. Krishnaa is the right person to raise him," Krishna says.
Karn's eyes widen. He forgot it. He looked at the crying Vrishaketu in his hands. He has refused to drink milk from any woman. He is hungry.
"We need to hurry. Vrishaketu is hungry," Krishna says.
While on the road, Karn felt extreme emotional termoil within himself.
"What happened, Radhey?" Krishna asks.
"Draupadi is going through a very tough time. She is confused, scared and whatnot. What exactly happened?" Karn asks.
Krishna didn't say anything. Soon all those emotions will be felt by him as well.
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