Where is maata? Arjun asked Ulupi." You both went together I was told"
Ulupi replied defiantly." She is in introspective mood. She will have to ."
Panchali looked at her with surprise. She could not understand what she is saying.
Arjun sensed the meaning. He became serious. He questioned Ulupi straightly." Is it necessary now? She is already torturing herself by living in forest. Away from Royal pleasures..away from the security of her son's kingdom. What more is needed for her? "
Ulupi said " I understand your concern for your mother. But fact is fact. Every individual has to cross this phase. She is not an exception.Apart from being your mother, she is Kunti . an individual.Let her purify herself,redeem herself from her own dilemmas and confusions.
Parikshit rushed to them and pulled Arjun by his hand. " Pitamah..Homa is done. Suka is narrating the story. Come along.Pragati went to fetch grand mata Kunti
Kunti came with Pragati who forcefully brought her out of her thoughts.
After the dinner was served,every one relaxingly assembled under the cool shades of the trees of the hermitage. Chitra asked Subhadra." I want to know how exactly she emerged from fire. Quite interesting
. Arya who joined them just the previous night is excited and said." I very much want to hear the story. Our Kalinga people brought so many anecdotes from Panchal when they visited Draupadi swayamvar.
Subhadra confessed with dreamy eyes." I fell in love with Arjun after the fish target victory only.Gada literally described the way he won with minutest details. But hearing it from Suka is special since he is voicing Veda Vyasa's vision."
Panchali still is in the dining place offering the remains of food to those who came from adjacent villages.She has Arya waiting for her to come." Please make it fast. Otherwise we will miss the story."
By the time they walked Suka already started. " Yudhishtir was made the yuvaraj despite Duryothan's efforts to pressurise his father in his favour. Santanav is adamant,Vidur is firm and on top of it the people of Hastinapur wanted Pandu's son to succeed King Dhritarashtra.
As soon as the Yuvaraj was appointed Arjun left Hastinapur on his mission Yavan . The Yavan King and Sauveeras always caused trouble to Hastinapur. They stopped paying ransoms even after submitting themselves before Bheeshma.
The yavana King is adamant.He is not going to submit before the seventeen year old Kuru prince who is still a boy in his eyes.
" Why did your Pitamah Bheeshm sent a kid like you to me? He became that old that he could not tackle his opponents?" He taunted Arjun.
Phalgun retorted with attitude." My grandfather need not come to punish people like you who revolt against Hastinapur. I am enough to tackle you."
The Yavana King then was informed by his mighty commander that it is Arjun the invincible desciple of Guru Dron whose valour became famous by then. He won Sauveeras also with ease.
The Yavana King curiously looked at Arjun who is strikingly handsome . His hazel eyes surely are magnetic and his stance with the bow is flawless.
After a while Yavana King understood how difficult it is to face the onslaught of Arjun's arrows. He shot arrows with both hands while the Yavanas King stood stupified.
Arjun nullified his parvatastr with Vayavyastra and countered every Astra with phenomenal skills.
He then made Yavana King a captive by making him submitted before the ring of fire he created with his Agneyastr.
Yavana King bent his head and admitted defeat. He understood he did wrong by facing the emerging hero of Aryavarth...who is an archer par excellence.
Parikshit who sat on Arjun's lap could not control himself and hugged him. " You are great even at that age Pitamah.. I want to be like you in every way." He confessed.
Arjun kissed him on his forehead and assured." You will be greater than me."
Suka continued." Drupada did not get tired even though he walked miles by foot. He approached every sage in Gangateer to fulfill his wish. But none came forward to oblige him.
Drupad then found Yaja and Upayaja the sages who are brothers. He revealed his wish to Upayaja but he refused. Drupad did not relent. He stayed there for one year and continued serving them.
Drupad is restless. He could not forget his humiliation before Drona. The Brahmin crossed all the limits. How could he expect he would share half of his kingdom with him? In childhood if he promised so Drona should not take it serious.But he did. When he refused to offer half of the kingdom he took revenge through his best desciple Arjun.
Drupad bore a smile on his face thinking of Arjun. Certainly he was swept off his feet by the youth who won him with ease.. He did not harm his soldiers. He just cleared the protection wing,defeated his brother Satyajit and then overpowered him with superb exhibition of skills. He made it happen within a short period and bowed before him." Pranam Maharaj,Forgive me I am following my Gurudev's word. "He said with humility.
He Drupad travelled with him in one chariot and observed him keenly. Arjun is handsome and well mannered.His hazel eyes,curly hair his good physique.. Drupad admired the student of Drona without inhibition. How could Drona get such an exceptional lad as his Sishya? Drupad became jealous.
Maharaj Pranam" Drupad nodded his head as his old priest stood before him." Maharaj,please return back. The queen is sad. People are worried.
Drupad suddenly got the message from Upayaj to meet him. Upayaj said." Maharaj Drupad.. I understood how adamant you are. I want to help you So I will send you to my brother Yaj who will do the sacrifice if you offer him heaps of gold. He is greedy. By the way what kind of children you want to have?
Drupad replied." A son who can kill Drona and a daughter who can marry Arjun."
The story was stopped at that juncture as they have to go to sleep. Parikshit made Suka promise that he will definitely continue the story as early as possible.
Kunti sighed with despair." She came into this world for her third son. That is her destiny but she changed that by interfering in the middle. She is able to devide her time but her heart? It remained connected only to that person who motivated her birth
Panchali checked Kunti Gandhari as they slept and covered Pragati with her blanket. She came out of the hermitage and felt the chilled weather that made her shiver. Suddenly she felt herself wrapped under a shawl and felt his touch on her waist.
Not sleeping yet? Arjun asked looking deep into her eyes. Panchali felt apprehensive and looked around. No one is there as it already is past midnight.
Arjun lead her to the adjacent mango grove where he arranged a jhula for Pragati on her request.
Panchali tried to stop him." Let me go inside. You also sleep for sometime...she said looking at him endearingly.
Arjun made her sit on the jhula and whispered." Thank you for coming into my world Yajnaseni... Your birth itself is my most valued achievement I must say.. Other feats pale in comparison. Thank you father in law Drupad...he looked at the stars and said." Your father is blessing us from there."
Panchali smiled with tears ." It is my good fortune to come into this world for your sake as your first wife... Arjun laughed." Ofcourse How could I forget the power of first wife? You enlightened me in Indraprasth . Remember that night? He asked mischevously.
Panchali blushed and got up to leave." Thanks for keeping it in your mind. Yes. Your first wife should be given preference... always...don't forget."
Arjun pulled her back and hugged her placing his head on her shoulder." Yes queen. Arjun is at your service... Forever...he kissed her earlobe and Panchali bit her lip. Their eternal love reigns supreme irrespective of restrictions,rules and norms...
As she made her place beside Pragati,Panchali can not help but wonder how could the first flush of love retained its freshness and fragrance.. The tadiya moon smiled at Rohini. They are the witness of that eternal love at Indraprasth,Hastinapur,Dwait van,Kamyak van Gurukul..now Gangateer
Edited by ltelidevara - 7 years ago
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