The whole palace was rejoicing the birth of a beautiful baby boy. The other children, as Subhadra had told them earlier were drooling over their new brother. All of them wanted numerous chances to hold and play with the baby. The elders were nothing better. Yudhishtir wanted to sing to the baby, Bheem wanted to make the baby eat, while the twins started fighting with the children on who would play with the new born. While, Subhadra had had her share of spending time with the baby, she was worried about her jiji's health. She would be feeding Panchali and nursing her and within a matter of days Draupadi had recovered from the pain and weakness of childbirth and was on her way keeping everyone on their toes.
Meanwhile, the father was jealous of everyone in the palace. He wanted to spend each and every single moment with his son. The greed that the children had was nothing in front of Arjuna's.
The baby was a bit like both his parents. He had Panchali's eyes and Parth's complexion. His hands were just like his father's, with long, artistic fingers. One look and everyone predicted that he would be an archer just like his father. Every time someone said that both Parth and Panchali's shoulders swelled up with pride.
It was late in the evening; Panchali was in her chambers with Subhadra and the children. The baby was moving his legs in a circular motion with full force, an action to express his excitement. Just then Srutasena asked, "Mata, yeh humaare saath bhagta kyun nahi?" to which Panchali and Subhadra started laughing and Srutasoma hit him on his head and said, "Yeh abhi chota hai na! Kitne naadan ho tum! Haina mata?" and everyone started laughing. The baby got frightened by this and started crying. The children got scared and thought it was their fault and ran away from the room. Draupadi told Subhadra to explain the children and she too went outside the chambers.
Draupadi then took the baby in her arms and started to sway him. She then started to hum a song to make the baby quiet. She sensed the baby must be tired and decided to put him to sleep.
Meanwhile, Parth was walking towards Drauapdi's chamber to meet his baby after staying away from him all day long. Just then, he saw everyone going out and went inside. "Panchali tum..." he couldn't even complete his sentence when Panchali turned around and the baby resumed his crying.
Draupadi made an angry expression and within moments started to sway the baby and tried to quieten him down. Arjuna made a sorry expression and moved towards his wife and baby. Just as the baby saw his father he made an action and Parth gently took him into his arms. "Meine tumhe but samara kiya mere putra", and kissed him on his forehead. Panchali witnessed this and looked at the father-son duo lovingly. They moved towards the huge window and watched the dark sky decorated with twinkling stars. Parth urged Panchali to resume her singing and Panchali did so while placing her head on his shoulders. The baby was fast asleep and Panchali put him in his cradle.
She turned around and to her surprise Arjuna drew her in a passionate hug. They were lost in each other's arms and Arjuna whispered slowly in her ears, "Kal ek mahatvapoorna din hai". Suddenly Drauapdi remembered what it was. Her little baby would get his name tomorrow, and with this realisation she kissed her baby's cheeks and slept in Parth's arms with anticipation in her heart.
The affair had to be grand. Kunti and Pitamah Bheeshma graced the occasion with their presence. Kunti couldn't help but adore her new grandson and her other grandchildren. Finally, the purohit announced, "Yeh balak avashya hee apne mata-pita ka naam raushan karega aur apne pita samaan ek shresht dhanurdhari hoga. Iska naam Srutakriti hoga".
Everyone cheered for their beloved had got their name and blessed the new born. He would be valiant and a warrior even when death arrived, he was Srutakriti, the lucky one.
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Updating on behalf of Navika, as she has some connectivity issues!!
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