"Some misinformation has been spread in the city regarding the heir apparent of Indraprastha," Yudhishthira began, his voice grave and deep. "I would like to clear the air around this. Our heir apparent is none other than Kaunteya Vrikodara Bhimasena and as long as I'm alive, Bhima will continue in that position without a doubt. After Bhima, the one who is in line for that position is Kaarshneya Prativindhya, and after him, it is Sutasoma and so forth, because Devi Krishnaa is both the Maharani and the Yuvarani of this kingdom. Her sons will be the first to be considered for inheritance in any case. I also have another son, Yaudheya, but his right comes only after Krishnaa's sons Shatanika and Shrutasena. Sarvaga is also there, Bhima's son, and his right comes after Yaudheya. If we consider the age factor too, Sahadeva's son Suhotra is also there, older to Yaudheya and Sarvaga, and much older to the unborn child of Arjuna and Subhadra. With all this calculation, we can see clearly that before Saubhadra, there are many princes here who can claim the position of heir apparent. The argument that the unborn baby can be or shall be the heir apparent is baseless because Rajakumara Prativindhya has that right not only by birth but he deserves that for what he is!"
Krishnaa placed her hand on Prativindhya's shoulder who was listening to his father with a neutral expression, as if he was trying to grasp the knowledge in it instead of the content. He did not seem bothered by the issue at all. He turned to his mother and gave a formal smile to match the etiquette of the royal assembly. She knew why it didn't bother him. He trusted his parents immensely that they wouldn't let anything wrong take place. And his trust wasn't unfounded. Each person whom he had considered as his parent, including Arjuna, would keep his trust or Krishnaa hoped that they would. After numerous days of detachment, she was hoping for something from Arjuna, expecting something from him. She thought she would never risk her heart again but she was doing it.
"Maharaja Yudhishthira, may I give my response to your argument?" Satyaki stood up from his throne. "You told us that you can pronounce Prince Arjuna's child from his queen consort as the heir if you ever have to make his son as the heir. Will Prince Arjuna and Maharani Krishnaa ever have a child of their own? They do not have any children yet and we heard that they do not have harmony in their relationship anymore. Then on what basis is Maharani Krishnaa Draupadi his chief wife? It should be Princess Subhadra, isn't it, Maharaja?"
An eerie silence descended on the assembly. Krishnaa's countenance lost its color whereas Arjuna's blood boiled in anger. For once, he sensed the future and was successful in comprehending the psyche of his friend. But there was nothing that could justify his act of bringing their personal life into the assembly from what he heard of people gossiping. Satyaki knew nothing about him and Krishnaa. Neither did those gossip-mongers know anything.
Krishna rose quickly with an indignant expression on his face. "Sorry to interrupt but Yuyudhana, you have to remember that you are my subordinate and you have come with me for my sister's Simantonayana. The only reason I was not stopping you was because you have been Partha's companion since so many years, independently allied with him as his friend. But your words are damaging the reputation of the Vrishnis. That's why I must remind you that your position in Dvaraka depends on my will and my decision!"
"Janardhana, you can take away my position if I utter any untruth. I know it's not appropriate to present in the assembly but still it is the truth. You too have heard it along with me that Savyasachi and Maharani are living apart and there is no hope of reunion between them. Then what's unfair in my question or my demand?"
Before Krishna gave his answer, Arjuna stopped him by showing his palm subtly and walked towards where Satyaki was standing undeterred. On the other hand, Krishnaa was on the verge of bursting out into tears. She was feeling as if she was standing amidst fire, not the fire that sired her which was comforting like the mother's womb but a fire so very threatening, threatening to consume her wholly.
"Yuyudhana, what the world sees with its naked eye, is not always the truth. It might be the truth in one way but it's an untruth in another way. If there was no harmony between us, you wouldn't have known about that at all. Because we would've hid the truth from the world and you would've assumed that everything was normal between us. That's why you shouldn't have blind confidence in your mind because it can cast illusions on your vision!"
Arjuna descended down the steps and walked towards the other end of the assembly where the women were present. Krishnaa's eyes were lowered, her lips pressed against each other to contain her agony and her palms fisted and clutching the end of her uttariya. She would have given up all hopes on Arjuna and her relationship with him in that one moment of despair. She could imagine all her expectations culminating in disappointment once again. There was no wonder if he decided to accept Subhadra as his chief wife based on Satyaki's argument. Since Yudhishthira had given that word in haste, Prativindhya's position would also fall into risk. Everything would end up in a mess. Everything. Her family was silent till then because the Yadavas and Panchalas were discussing if she or Prativindhya are let down in this assembly, she knew that she would have to witness a strife amidst her natal family and her marital family.
'Why, Mahadeva? Why is this happening? Is it all my fault?' Tears trickled down her cheeks but she almost gasped when she felt the touch of a warm palm on her own. She raised her sight to meet Arjuna's, his facial expression firm and his stance furious though she could see through that firmness to decipher his sensitivity and through his fury to feel his anguish. What? Why was he holding her hand?
"Our marriage is not a matter of trade that loses its significance if we do not abide by the conditions of living together or having a child. For twelve years, my exile forced us to stay apart. By the time I returned, my actions had broken her heart. I hadn't married Subhadra because I stopped loving Krishnaa. Subhadra is my fourth wife and that's the truth. She cannot become my chief wife when the one who has tied the knot with me first, the one who brought me into the phase of Grihastha for the first time, she who loved and loves me beyond my shortcomings, she with whom I've dreamed each and every moment of my life, is present by my side. Subhadra came into my life as my wife two years ago but Krishnaa was there in my life and my heart for eighteen years. No one can take Krishnaa's position.
"We might have distance between us that keeps us apart temporarily but that doesn't mean our relationship has ended. Our relationship can deal with conflicts, with bitterness, with pain, and yet our love never ends. She will show her anger on me without any hesitation because that's the level of our closeness. The ability to be transparent before each other is the strength of our love. Ask me a hundred times but I'll cherish her anger more than anything else in the world. She's my world itself, how can you ask me to forsake my world, Satyaki?
'Her every emotion towards me is nothing but a disguise of her love. She is the foremost one in my life along with my mother and my brothers. Her name gives me value, her association gives me meaning and her love gives me completeness. She's the one who had rescued our family when we had no savior. Along with us, she had built this kingdom, this home and this household. No one has the right to talk about her rights here!"
Arjuna's uncharacteristic explosion took the entire assembly through a wave of shock. Satyaki took a few steps back and collided with Krishna who was standing right behind him, holding an expression of 'I had warned you beforehand' which made the former dip his chin in embarrassment. Balarama held Satyaki's wrist and dragged him towards the space where the Panchalas were standing silently.
"Apologise to Maharaja Drupada!" The son of Rohini directed.
"No!" Satyaki exclaimed. "I was just expressing my perspective!"
"You do not realize what your mistake was even after Arjuna's outburst? He's your friend for Mahadeva's sake. Try to understand his feelings at least now!"
Balarama sighed. "And if you have an ounce of affection for Subhadra, you will apologise to the Panchalas! We won't let our sister suffer due to what you spoke and how you behaved!"
"Alright." Satyaki huffed inaudibly and went ahead but before he could speak before the Panchalas, Yudhishthira's voice reverberated in the assembly.
"There's another statement that Arjuna wants to give!"
______
This was the most important chapter among the recent chapters. I hope I've been able to do justice to this.