Story Unfolds:
At the night time of 16 th day of the war of Mahabharata: At the Royal tent of Anga:
One beautiful lady was sitting before to girls. There reactions were separate from each other. One was rolling her eyes in her mind. She lost herself. The way she was rolling her eyes proved her to be a maniac to all others. But it was not fully true. She was in trance. She did not admit that her sons were all gone now. She ran behind every single boy in the road. She was been dragged by her friend Priyadarshini to here. She was seen running behind a chariot with young boys. She was calling them in the names of her nine dead sons. The boys thew stones to her.
"Pagal!!! Pagli!!! (Mad woman!! Mad woman!!!)" They even mocked her in joy. Without even a slight knoweldge about her suffering.
Priyadarshini ran to save her and scolded the laughing boys. Then she met with her daughter-in-law Syala or Vatsyala. Out of her tent. Tiptoeing to the pyre of her dead husband. To be Sati at his pyre. Both Priyadarshini and this girl stopped Vatsyala and had consoled her. What this grievimg dear mother-in-law had told to Syala was already told in my story on "Uruvi". And yes she was none but Devi Uruvi who lost her mind after the tragic death of her nine beloved sons.
Devi Basavi Uruvi
Her best friend Priyadarshini
(wife of Sumedh Surath and dear mother of Kana or Chandra Kana)
The second girl of 17 who was seen to sit down on the bed holding the hand of her youngest mother-in-law Uruvi was none but Devi Vatsyala or Syala, the young widow of Vrishasen. She had already conceived a son from her husband. Soon within 9 months she would give birth to the only child of them. Satyajit. The fruit of their love story. Tragic and doomed One from the beginning.
The woman who was seen talking to them and showing them a picture in pleasant face was none other than her dear mother-in-law Vrushali. She was narrating them a story. About the love and devotion of Supriya. Let us drive into the story too. Along with Padma.
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Flash back: Before The Starting of the Mahabharata war:
One beautiful lady was sitting at the floor by clutching her heart. Her big beautiful lotus flower shaped big eyes were now flooding in tears. She felt so dead inside. She tried to stop him to take part in the war. Yet he ignored her pleadings. For the first time in his life. It never happened before today. When she pleaded him to marry her Supriya or admit her Uruvi, he did neither ignore her nor contradict her a bit. They were like souls mates. Two souls in different bodies. Then why he did that today?!! She did not realize that a bit.
It was not her fault. She was against the idea of his joining in the war. She condemned his participation in it. It was the blood thirsty war in between two angry cousins. Pandava and the Kaurava. For attaining the throne of prosperous Hastinapur. It was not a bit his War. Then why he was trying to assist Duryodhan that he failed to comprehend. It was true that he was in debt of Duryodhan for forever. But he had already repaid most of it. By marrying the sister-in-law of Duryi. Supriya. By abducting Bhanumati for his friend. By asssisting him to attack on the Drupad on the demand of Guru Drona. By participating in the battle with Arjuna in Birat Parva. By helping Duryi countless times. By endangering his own life for his friend's sake. He could take a break now. Yet he was so reluctant to do so. He had even fought against the Mighty Kings of most of the Indian subcontinents so that they could come under the wings of Duryi. Then why now?!!! Now let me try to introduce her to you. She was Devi Vrushali, the heart broken first wife of Karna, who was siting at the floor and was watching the footsteps he left just a minute ago.
Devi Vrushali Padmavati
A sigh of pain escaped her throat. She wanted to save his legacy. Yet what he had done to her?!! He wiped out the Sindoor from her partings!! To show the ultimate result of the war. He had wiped out the single trace of it!!! To indicate that he would not come back alive from the war. He did not look at her face while doing so. How could he do that?!! Just how could?!!! Her own heart was bleeding profusely. She was the most adored yet most misjudged wife of Karna. Supriya was neglected yet adored by Karna. As his Devi. So also her baby sister Uruvi. She was the forgotten yet most loved wife of Karna. But Padma who stood by him like a shadow, like a rock, like his strength, none gave attention to her. None gave importance to her. She was none as the Queen of Anga. Yet she did not become the queen of his heart. I will discuss it elaborately in my story on "Vrushali". She left everything for him. Everyone for him. Her friends Asha and Krishna. Yet he left her for others many times. She stood looking at his disappearing silhouette from behind. She called for him. Yet he did not look back. It was destiny of Padma to be ignored by her love. Her Basu or Basusen. Most of the times in her life.
All of a sudden she sensed a soft tug on her right sleeve. She with a jolt looked at the direction of the person. She saw two beautiful black eyes. In tears.
She lifted her own beautiful eyes to the person so dear to herself. It was her baby sister Supriya who was now trying to console her. In her grief.
She wiped her tears gently and made an effort to smile. She did not want to show her pain to her Su. She wanted to see her sister's happiness.
"Kya re?!!! (What?!!)" Padma asked her in surprise. She did not know that her baby sister had witnessed her to cry her heart out.
Supriya looked calmly at the face of her elder sister. Her Padma jiji. Her beautiful face was pale. Her beautiful lotus shaped eyes, that could attract and mesmerize anyone, was blood red. Her parting was white with not a single trace of vermilion. It was wiped out brutally. Even her red Bindi or red colored small symbol of marriage was distroted. Her kohl od eyes were now amazed. Her hair disravelled. It had happened once more. At the time of the death of Karna!!! Her Basusen!!!!Her face was calm yet her soul dead. She looked shattered!!!!
"Jiji!!!" Supriya whispered in the ears of Padma. Then she outstretched her both hands to hold her Jiji.
Padma looked at her Su and noticed her hesitation. She closed her eyes too tightly. To suppress her agony. This Jiji of Supriya hid her emotions from her always. Even today when her husband had wiped her Vermilion or Sindoor mercilessly she did not dare to tell it to her sister. She knew how very soft hearted her Su was. She could not be able to cope up with the pain like her own!!!! Padmavati had to transform herself into a stone for long!!!
But she was not prepared to hear the answer of Supriya.
"Jiji, ek vachan do. (Dear elder sister, give me a promise.)" Supriya asked from Padma.
"Kya?!! (What?!!)" Padma asked her in pleasant face. She had controlled her nerves. With tremendous effort.
"Mujhe unke sath jane doge. (You will let me go with him.)" Supriya's curt reply.
"Kahan?!! (Where?!!)" Padma's query.
"Swarg (Heaven)." Supriya's calm and composed answer.
Padma narrowed her eyes to the face of her baby sister. What the hell she was talking about?!!!
Supriya looked at her sister's face too calmly. Not a single muscle of her own face trembled. Nor she flinched a little bit. It seemed as if she was prepared for this demand. For ages.
"Agar is nirnayak antim yudhha main Bhagwan na kare unko (She meant of her husband Karna) kuch ho jaye, toh ap hame unki Chitah pe Sati hone ki agya dogi. (If in this final concluding battle anything happens to him, then you will permit me to be Sati with him. In his pyre.)" Her calm answer once again.
Padma opened her eyes wide in deep horror. Her brain refused to believe what she was listening just now!!! It pierced her heart!!!! She had to let her Su to burn down herself on the fire!!! God!!!! No!!! Never!!!!
She lifted her arms around shoulders of Supriya and dragged her near her own. Then she hugged her tightly. She was dying to even think of that!!!! She could not let her do that!! Not as an elder sister!!! In ages!!!! Padma loved her both sisters wholeheartedly and tenderly!!!!! For them she could die happily!!! Just for them!!!!
"Vachan do!!! (Give me a promise!!!)" Supriya told in clam tone of voice. She meant it!!!!
"Aisa kadapi nahin hoga!!! (It will not happen. Even in nearest future.)" Her elder sister Padma assured her. In vain.
Supriya did not say anything. Nor she had asked any question. Regarding it. She was always a loyal sister. To her Padma jiji. Yet she lifted her eyes to Padma and looked at her partially. In such a way that Padma thought she was questioning her belief!!!! In total silence!!! Her eyes were calm!!! Her face was smiling!!!! Her lips were now quivering heavily!!! Yet her eyes had been glowing in tears!!! Her oval face was smiling on herself!!! Her red lips were questioning Padma's ideas!!! In disbelief!!!!
Devi Sutanuka Supriya
"Aisa nahin hoga!!" Padma repeated it again. Unnecessarily. Perhaps to her own. Even she was not sanguine now.
"Agar huwa toh!!! (If it really happens then!!)" Supiya asked her calmly. She knew the outcome of the war Far before Padma. Padma realized it just today. She got the hint form her God Lord Shiva himself.
"Toh (Then)!!" Padma bit her lips in indecision and then answered her hurriedly "Main jaungi unke sath!!! (I will go along with him!!)"
"Kyun?!! (Why?!!)" This time her Su had asked her the reason.
"Kyunki Ham hi unke pratham Patni hain. Aur unke Putroke Mata. (I am his first wife. And the mother of his all sons.)" Padma replied to her.
"Aur Anga ke Maharani bhi. Prajayoke nayan ka tarah. Mahamantri Shounak ke salahkar. Shone bhaiya aur Medha ke bhabi. Baba Adirath aur Radha Ma ka antim sahara. Vrish ka Maiya. Uru ke prerna. (And a queen of Anga too. Apple of the eyes of masses too. Chief advisor of Minister Shounak. Brother Shone and Medha's sister-in-law. The last console of in-laws. Mother of her dear Vrishaketu. Legacy of her Karna. Inspiration of her baby sister Uruvi. Solace of all hurt, painful, suffering souls.)" With one gasp by telling this Supriya raised a truly valid question to Padma "Kya in sab uttar dayitwo ko chod ke ap ja sakogi?!! Unke sath?!!! Aur agar maran ke uparant woh apse puche ke Padma mere Prajayoko kiski bharose chodke a gayi toh kya uttar dengi ap unhe?!!! (Can you go with him leaving those unfinished duties? And if he will ask you that on whose able hands you give this responsibility can you give him the reply?!! Ever!!)"
Padma bit her lips in indecision. She was defeated completely. Yet she was not a bit disappointed. She was now bowled over by seeing the wisdom and intelligence of her Supriya. She felt so happy!!! Yet she had no answer to her questions!!!
Supriya clutched the fist of Padma and told her gently "Jiji, ap ek patni hi nahin apitu ek Mata, ek Rani, ek Sas, ek Bhabhi, ek Putra Badhu bhi ho. Ap nahin ja paogi. Ham keval unki Patni hain. Unki santanwoke Mata. Agar hamara Swami-Putra ko kuch ho gaya to Ham jitni saralata se ja payenge ap kadapi nahin. Is liye hame Agya do. (My dear big sister, try to understand that you are not only his wife. You are mother to sons and your masses. You are daughter-in-law. A Queen of a small yet prospering state. You can't leave your responsibility aside. I am just his wife. Just the mother of his children. If anything happens to any of them I can go with ease. Not you. So let me permit.)"
Padma was gloomy to hear that. She in her subconscious mind that her Supriya's logic was irrefutable. She is as telling the truth. She could not go along with him. She could not be Sati at his pyre. She lost the hold on his heart. He did not love her anymore. She was just his shadow whom he had forgotten everytime. She was his own strength whom he did not need now. The was his breathing whom he had lost to count nowadays. She was his long lost love story. She had no such right over his body, soul or mind. Like her Supriya or Uruvi.
Padma suppressed a sigh and tried to resonate with her baby sister once more. "Par tere Vrishi hain na!!! (But you have Vrishaketu to live for!!)"
Supriya nodded her head in dismissal. She did not think so. Vrishi did not call her as a mother once. She was his mentor yes!!! But mother no!!!
"Woh apke Putra hain. (He is your dear son.)" She replied to Padma and then added it calmly once more "Woh mujhe janta tak nahin. (He did not even know me.)" God!! How much pain she must be feeling while telling this!!! Only God knew that!!!!
"Su!!!" Padma screemed in pain.
"Jiji, anumati do. Apke liye hamne kai bar unke Prem purna hriday toda. Unhe choda. Woh sahan karte rahe. Hamne bhi apse kuch nahin manga. Na patni ki hak na matritwoke sukh. Ab ek antim vachan mangti hoon. Jiban ki antim kshan me toh hame ek Patni hone ki adhikar de do. Yeah ap ki Su ka praan hain iske uprant apse kadapi kuch nahin mangegi. (Kindly permit me. I had broke his heart so many times. For your sake. For your marital bliss. He suffered yet did not tell me anything. I suffered with him. Yet I don't ask anything from you. Neither the honor of a wife nor a blessing of motherhood. I am just begging to you now. At least give me the right to bring his wife. To die with him. To perish with him. I can't be able to leave with him in this life. At least let me die prematurely with him. This is the last wish of your Supriya. After that I will not beg you anything. I vow to you.)" Supriya with a deep thoughtful sigh ended her lecture.
Padma could not Contol her tears anymore. They were flowing rapidly from her beautiful eyes. She knew how much her this baby sister had suffered for herself!!! She had seen the entire sequence when Karna had wiped her vermilion yet she cleverly ommited the fact!!! She wanted to save her Jiji even now!!! When a war was looming on the horizon!!!!
"Main vachan deti hoon. Teri jagah nahin lungi. (I promise you. I will not take your place.)" Padma in broken tone uttered this while kissing the knuckles of her baby sister. With love and adoration. Softly.
Supriya wiped her Padma jiji's tears gently and uttered slowly "Is jiban main koi kisika sthan nahin le sakta. Ap unke liye kya ho unse jake pucho. Ap unki bal ho. Kadapi unhe apne ashru mat dikhana. Woh tut jayenge. Agar Supriya yeah Uruvi mar gayi to woh ji lenge. Agar Padma har gayi to unke Karna har jayega. (In this world none can take another's place. None can replace another. Ask him what is your place in his heart. You are his mental strength. Don't give him any mental stress. Don't show your tears to him. He will be broken down. If something happens with Supriya or Uruvi, Karna can control himself. Yet if anything happens to you he will not be able to control himself. Don't you dare to lose. He will lose too.)"
Padma looked at Supriya intently. She hugged her tightly. This girl!!! Crying her heart out!!! Yet assuring her not to cry!!! She promised to her Supriya to take care of herself and her husband. Alone. She was the eldest sister of her. Mahasati Supriya should be proud of her Padma jiji too.
She recalled the happy days of her life with her husband Karna. He told her once
"Padma, tum meri adhar shila ho. Hame kadapi tutne mat dena. (You are my backbone. Don't you let me broke down. At any circumstances. At any cost.)"
Now perhaps you all understand why she came to him before the final war. To give him mental support. To make him strong. For the last time.
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The same tent room: once more:
"Us din hamne Su ko man hi man yeh vachan diya ki Ham nahin royenge. Agar woh hamse Choti hoke bhi itni mahan ho sakti hain toh ham kyun nahin?!!! (I vowed to myself in mind that day that I will not cry aloud. In front of anyone. I will hid my agony. If she can be a great soul then why can't I try to be like herself?!!)"
With a sigh of pain Padma concluded her story. Then she looked at the pale bloodless face of her sinking baby sister. Supriya. She felt small in front of her Supriya. She appreciated her Supriya. For her greatness. For her devotion.
Vatsyala followed Padma and looked at Supriya. In surprise. This young girl could not believe how great soul was her middle mother.
Uruvi got up from her palace and ran out of the room. She could not bear the pain. She was not ready to bade goodbye to her Goddess. Supriya was not only her sister but also her Deity.
Padma left her seat and pulled out an unfinished picture of Supriya. From the trank. It was made by her beloved Chitra who did not get the chance to finish it. Yet the picture looked like his mother exactly.
Chitra painted Supriya
Padma looked at the direction of the picture. Then cluthced it to her heart. With her both hands. She then tried to smell the last smell of her Chitra from it. She too loved her nine sons equally. That was the reason why she was often compared with Maiya Yashoda!!!! For her motherly heart to all stepchildren!!!! Then with heavy heart she left the picture at the side of sinking Supriya and touched her head with love.
"Tere dukh mujhe de de, Su!!! (Give all of your pain and agony to me, Su!!)" Padma told it with closed eyes. Her tears were threatening to fall down.
Then she lifted her eyes to stony figure of Vatsyala and told her gently "Main toh mar bhi nahin sakti. Mujhe agya nahin mili. (I can't even die. I am not allowed for that.)" Then she came to Syala and touched her head with love and affection while uttering this "Tere dukh Main samjhti hoon. Par tujhe to jina hoga. Mere Vrishasen ke antim nishani ke liye. Uske santan ke liye. (I can understand your pain. But you have to live. For the sake of the last symbol of Vrish. His child in your womb.)" with a deep sigh.
Vatsyala hugged her waist tightly and cried aloud in pain. This girl at last had reached to the conclusion that she was not the only victim of this blood thirsty war of Mahabharata!!!! Her pain and suffering seemed so little before those three heart broken mother-in-laws of herself. Everyone was suffering!!! Karna was!!!! Uruvi was!!! Padma was!!! Even Supriya was too!!! In her deathbed!!!!!
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Now when the destiny of Supriya is already against her will she succumb to her pain? Or she prove herself apt to be called as a Mahasati? Stay tuned for more updates in the few more remaining chapters. Enjoy.
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