Story Unfolds :
At a small secluded House near the outskirt of Hastinapur: At Afternoon:
One boy of thirteen was nodding his head dismissively. He was not ready to go back. Alone. His Choti Ma or little mother declined to go with him. So he was not prepared himself. He vowed to his mother that he would bring back his Choti Ma along with himself.
"Vrish, tuh Yuvraj hain. Tujhe wapas jana hoga. (Vrish, you are a crown prince. You have to go back as you have huge responsibility.)" His Choti Ma tried to resonate with him.
The boy looked at her direction and nodded his head violently. In both sides. To signal no. He was not going back.
"Vrish, hath mat kar. (Vrish, don't be adamant.)" She told him again. In the utter shock.
He nodded his head dismissively once again.
She made a face. Disappointed one. She knew how much this boy loved her. But she could not keep him with herself forever. As her condition was not good now. He was a Prince while she was a simple commoner. She was not be able to afford his royal lifestyle. But the boy was not interested to hear her pleads. What she failed to notice that for her he was just her adored eldest son, not a Crown Prince of any prosperous state.
He bent down and put his head on her lap. He loved to do that always. Till his early childhood he loved to sleep on her lap and listen her lullaby. She had good singing voice.
She bent herself too and put her face on his head. He smiled brightly. He had the apt knowledge of his mother's nature. She could not be able to be strict with him. She always tried to do that in vain.
"Vrish!!!" She whispered again softly. In his right ear. Near her mouth.
He demanded from her something unexpected "Janani suna, Maiya. Bahat din tune mujhe kahani nahin sunai. (Tell me a story, mother. You don't tell me stories nowadays.)"
Her eyes got blurred in tears instantly. By recalling her another son. Chitra who also demanded the same from her time to time. That boy also loved to hear stories from her. God knew who was telling him the stories?!!
At Far eastern corner of India, a boy of five was lying on the lap of another beautiful lady and listening to her life stories. His eyes were blurred too. In tears. He was also remembering his mother. The boy was Chitrasen and he was now lying on the lap of his elder Mother Padma.
Chitra with Maiya Supriya
Chitra sleeping in lap of Padma
Padma caressed his hairs lovingly and uttered softly "So ja. Bahat bilamb Ho gayi. (Go to sleep. It is too late now.)"
He hugged her waist tightly and then nodded his head dismissively. He was not ready to let her go. She bent down her upper body and kissed softly on his forehead. Then she lifted her eyes to the sky and murmured softly
"Kab tak ayegi, Su?!! Aur kab tak tere Putra ko mithya dilasa deti rahoon?!! Kyun nahin samjhti ki ek santan ke liye uski ma ka sthan koi nahin le sakta hain?!!! (When will you come back, Supriya?!! How long I have to tell him lies?!! Why don't you realize that for a son a mother's love is so necessary?!!)"
Supriya was, at that time, recalling her son Chitrasen when she heard the voice of her elder sister Padma in her eardrum repeatedly
"Kyun nahin samjhti ki ek Santan ke liye uske mata ka sthan koi nahin le sakti?!!"
She sighed deeply and then answered slowly
"Jiji, woh mata ap Ho. (Elder sister, you are that mother.)"
Padma heard her baby sister's voice clearly. In just one word her Supriya had gave the entire responsibility on her able shoulders. She twisted her nose in fake rage. She was not ready to uplift the responsibility anymore.
At Hastinapur, Vrishasen and at Anga Chitrasen both young boys were now seen fighting with their own ways. To convince their respective mothers. To unite again.
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The next day: At morning:
Supriya was sitting at her door front by putting her left palm on her chin. She was thinking deep. The foodgrain she bought yesterday had ended. She had to buy fresh foodgrains today. If Vrish insisted to stay with her then it was the only option. But the problem was that she had not left any valuable ornamant with her. Except the same golden bracelet that she tried to sell yesterday. With a sigh she tried to pull off the braclet. From her left hand. The pair of the bracelet was already been sold. To the same jeweler. One month ago.
All of a sudden she stopped dead on her track by sensing a soft female tug on her hands. She sharply lifted her eyes and saw her baby sister Uruvi was sitting at her feet. It was she who stopped her from pulling out the gold bracelet.
Devi Basavi Uruvi
She sat down and told her slowly "Mat becho inhe Jiji. Apki Mata ke Antim nishani hain yeah!!! (Don't sell it, my dear elder sister. It is the last symbols of your mother!!)" in moister eyes. She knew how much Supriya loved to wear them all the times.
Supriya looked at her and tried to pull her up. She declined to get up. In deep respect. This girl saw her Goddess in her elder sister!!! She could not even think to sit in the same seat with her Deity!!! At that time she herself was abandoned (after meeting with her five dearest Pandava brothers) by her husband Karna. So she knew the pain of seclusion and abandonment all by herself. She could understand what a great soul was her Jiji to leave alone in this self-seclusion!!!
Supriya nodded her head in dismissal and replied calmly "Uru, in kangan se adhik priya bastu tuh aur Vrish hain mere pass. Mujhe aur kisi bastu ka koi abasyakta nahin. (Uruvi, you and my son Vrish are far more valuable and significant for me. Than this mere braclet or bangel.)"
Uruvi looked at her elder sister's face in disbelief. She did not understand how could Supriya be so selfless!!! She did not know that Supriya learnt it from her elder sister Padma!!!
She clutched the palms of Supriya in love and touched them in her eyes. As if to pay tribute to her Goddess!!! She then slowly bent down on her feet and touched her forehead on them. Supriya tried to stop her in vain. She was not listening. Then for the last time she looked at the direction of her Goddess for the last time and ran out of the premise.
Supriya looked at her disappearing shadow and sighed softly. This girl!! Always behaved as if she was not a mere human, instead a Goddess!!! She then tried to get up but saw a glitter on the floor. She sat down again and bend over the place. Then she noticed a gold bracelet!!! On the floor!!! Now glittering in the bright sunlight!!! She had lifted it absentmindedly and then within a second opened her eyes wide in deep shock. It was the pair of her own!!! That she sold a month ago!!!
Instantly her eyes got blurred in tears. She understood it properly that her baby sister Uruvi had bought it again for her sake. She had done the same thing that yesterday her son, Vrishz Her Lalla, had done once.
She lifted her teary eyes to the road from where Uruvi ran away and then clunged the bracelet in her chest. So tightly that her knuckle got white in an instance.
"Tune kya kiya, Uru?!! Kyun kya aisa mere liye?!! (Why did you do that, Uruvi?!! Just for my sake!!)" She told it in whispering tone.
She did not know that her baby sister had loved her wholeheartedly just like she loved her. Lord Krishna was so right in telling that all of the Karna Sangini were different in bodies, but united in hearts and souls.
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At the same House: In afternoon:
"Mujhe nahin khana, Choti ma. Pehle vachan de tuh apne Vrish ka sath ghar wapas jayegi. Barna tera Vrish bhi nahin jayega!!! (I don't have any such apetite, little mother. First promise me that you will go back with me. I will only go back to home then. Only then.)"
The boy made a face. He was truly so much determined to bring her back.
Vrisasen (2nd Karna Son)
"Lalla bhojan kar le. Pehle khana toh kha. (My son, first eat your foods. It will be waste. Eat first.)" She insisted him repeatedly in vain.
"Pehle tuh kasam kha. (No. First you have to promise me.)" The boy was truly adamant.
She got up and hurriedly came out of the kitchen. To hide her tears from the boy. She knew that he had seen her distress. That was the reason he seemed so eager to bring her back. Yet she was not ready to face him!!! She could share her husband Karna with her baby sister Uruvi but perhaps she could not see someone else's face in his doe shaped hazel eyes!!! She was not jealous!!! Never!!! But in true love it happened seldom. You feel worst to see that your lover is not yours now but someone else's. She was not like her elder sister Padma!!! She could be able to see hatred for herself!!! But not be able to see love for someone else!!! It was a very complex human psychology!!!
She was a tender and selfless gentlest soul as assumed by most of us. She had tremendous respect for her Jiji Padma and love for baby sister Uruvi. She could simply die for them both. Yet she was afraid of loosing love of her husband Karna!!! She could give away her every single belongings to her both sisters including her beloved husband too. But she could not share her God!!! Every devotee preferred to think that her Aradhya, Her Deity, was her alone!!! Don't think her in wrong light. For her, Her husband was not a simple mortal being, but a Aradhya or God himself. And she could not share her Aradhya a bit.
(Crying) Devi Supriya
Her eyes got blurred in tears. Her own pink cheeks were flooded with them. Her vision was not clear now. But she could not tell the truth to her son. What would he think of herself?!! He was worshipping her as a Goddess yet she was a simple wife who did not want to look even at the face of her husband in the fear of rejection?!! Yet in her own heart she identified her duties. She had to go back now. Not for her sake. But for her baby sister Uruvi whom he was punishing so much. Now by detaching from his tenderness. Just on the false rumours about her closeness and proximity with Prince Arjuna!!! It was a baseless accusations on her baby sister that she had to refute by herself. Yes. She had to face him. She had to ask for his explanation. She could cope up with her seclusion and banishment. She did not mind that a little bit. But for her Uruvi she had to fight with him!!! Her Jiji Padma alone could not be able to confront him!!! You can see all by yourself how selfless is this girl!!! She always thinks about the well-being of others, instead of her own!!!
Vrish ran to her and touched her feet in utmost respect. He replied her in slow manner "Maiya, tujhe liye bina tera Lalla wapas nahin jayega. (I can't go back to my state without you, my dear mother.)"
She put her left palm on his hair and raffled off it in love and adoration. He smiled brightly. He knew that his Choti Ma would listen to her pleads!! She loved him most!!! Even more than her own two sons!!!
She whispered softly "Main tujhe lene ke liye unhe sammat karungi. Tab tak Apni jiji ke pratiksha karna. (I will sent him to bring you to Anga. Till then wait for me.)" She could bring Uru with herself but it would not be welcomed by the masses as at that time the people of Anga were ignorant of the existence of Uruvi. Only her in-laws, Her sons and husband Karna as well as her elder sister Padma knew of Uruvi!!! She had wanted a worthy welcome apt for a deserving queen!!!! Like her baby sister!!! She vowed to make her baby sister Uruvi the bride of her own husband Karna!!!! Hats off to you Supriya!!! You Really are a Devi or Goddess!!!
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At the main entrance gate of Anga Palace: 15 days later:
One beautiful lady was looking at the road expectantly. She carried a lamp on her hands and was trying to fight against the gust of wind. Her heart had informed her about the arrival of her Supriya earlier!!!
Devi Padma waiting with Supriya's lamp or Akhand Jyot in her hands
None had informed her yet she knew that Vrish could convince her Su. To come back soon. She knew that her baby sister could ignore her pleads and put deaf ears to her husband yet she would never be reluctant to refute the urge of her Lalla. Her Vrish would definitely bring her home.
All of the sudden she heard the loud sound of the chariot wheels. She had lifted her teary eyes to the road. To welcome her Supriya. Like the very first time.
The chariot stopped in front of her and from their two persons stepped out. One a boy and the other was a pretty girl. The boy smiled at her by arching eyebrows slightly. As if he in total silence wanted to show her his recent victory.
The girl came down and ran to her in great speed and then sat hurriedly down before her. On the muddy grass. Without considering a bit about her expensive Saree gifted by her beloved son Vrishasen. By touching her both feet in utmost devotion. She had a soft yet proud look in her eyes. She had at last been able to bring her back!!! The girl was crying fanatically too. Both these lovely sisters welcomed each other. In between their sobs and tears.
Supriya touching Padma's feet
"Jiji dekho apne bulayi aur Main a gayi. (Elder sister, see you call for me and I come back.)" Supriya told her in between her sobs.
Padma twisted her nose in rage. And looked at the left. To hide her tears. She was so happy today!!! Her effort had become fruitful!!! Now she had only work unfinished!!! To bring her Uru here!!! She was dying to meet and welcome her Uruvi too. At Anga.
"Ja. Ja. Jhuti. (Go away, liar.)" She had answered her in equally choked up tone of voice. She was emotional too.
"Apne hi toh bulaya barna Vrish kyun aya mere pass?!! Main sab samjhti hoon!! (You surely had called for me unless Vrish will never come to meet me. I know all of your tricks.)"Her baby sister Supriya replied her firmly.
She made a crying face and ordered her with authority "Ab toh gale lagale. Kab se tere Akhand jyot ki bhar se dab gayi hoon. (Now at least hug me in your arms. I am tired to lift your this weighty lamp.)"
Supriya smiled divinely and hugged her Jiji too tightly in her arms. Padma smiled brightly too. Then she looked at the most dark corner of the Royal balcony. At the first floor. She knew it perfectly by heart that someone else was also standing there. To welcome her Supriya too!!! That man was not a vocal person!!! He loved to suppress his emotions!!! Only his eyes were surely not twinkling brightly!!!!
Karna (Husband of Su-Padma)
The masses gathered around cheered aloud and threw flower petals on her head lovingly
"Rani Supriya ki Jai...
Maharani vrushali ki Jai..."
From sky Lily petals (favourite of Supriya) had been scattered on her head lovingly by the Gods who too welcomed her wholeheartedly in her kingdom for the fist time (at last time they would do the same at the time of her premature death at the epic war of Mahabharata)
"Mahasati Supriya ki Jai..
Satio ki sati Padmavati ki Jai.."
Both the sisters stood up and folded their palms in respect. To all. In deep respect. They knew that their masses loved them very much.
In this way, after one long unending year of pain, suffering, hunger and seclusion Devi Supriya was welcomed wholeheartedly by her masses. Let's see where her fate would take her now onwards.
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What will happen now? Will Supriya be able to convince Karna to accept Uruvi too? Will they talk with each other now onwards? The answers are in next chapters. Enjoy.
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