Arjun made her sit and smilingly taunted." Years passed but my fire born remained the same. Always pursuing her Arjun despite not being with him... Why didn't you come along? There are many beautiful places around. Shall we go tomorrow?" He asked.
Yajnaseni nodded her head." No. Tomorrow your Jyesht Pita is doing a Homa with King Satayupa. Ved Vyasji will personally monitor that I was told. So more work tomorrow."
Arjun took her hand and praised." Krishnaa... What would have happened if your father did not beget you for me? Certainly I should be indebted to him in this life and after that also.
Panchali questioned." After that? Why?"
Arjun bent forward and confessed." Because our union is not supposed to be for only this birth. It will continue .. So your father is instrumental in bringing us together..I should thank him the most.
Panchali felt elated on hearing his words. She smiled her bewitching smile and said." Keep saying such nice things to me...always. It will help me survive... I hope you understand..
Arjun smiled and wiped her forehead again with his upper garment. Panchali held his hand and stopped him . Her cheeks turned red with his gesture as if she is the new bride.
Arjun gazed at her beautiful face...mesmarised.
Kunti stood at the entrance of her hermitage..stupified.Since the evening Homa is being done a little away ...no one is seen around. She brought water and kept that in Gandhari's place where she saw her in meditation. Exhausted she walked towards her hermitage and what did she see?
The ultimate truth? The glaring fact?
She is not seeing them for the first time ever. Then what made her that much spellbound and awestruck?
The beautiful princess of Panchal blushing and her cherished third son smiling ...
She heard the last part of their conversation.. Draupadi needs Arjun's heartfelt confession to survive?
Both of them have passed their prime youth. Still they look young that is a different matter. They are grand parents now.
Draupadi spent less time with Arjun compared to the time spent with her other sons. Arjun's twelve year pilgrimage,then his five year stay in heaven,,his expeditions before war and after war all those years of separation...resulted in more longing for each other?
Kunti again stared at them. Arjun is saying something in low voice.. Panchali 's blushing smile and the glow on her face... Is this true love?
Kunti turned back and walked towards the mango grove. She sat under the tree and placed her hand on her forehead. Did she ever see Panchali blush in presence of her other sons? She tried to reminisce the past... If she is able to find atleast one instance with any of her other sons she could defend her decision..to devide her..Ofcource she knew she doubted Panchali's obsession for Arjun..but she tried to convince herself saying that her Bahu will do justice and treat all the five with the same intensity...
That is why she is confident of Draupadi's forgiveness.. It is mandatory. She thought but she was proven wrong.
The Homa seems to be continuing for a longer time . Thought Kunti. The moon is slowly rising above pervading the ashram with moon light.. Kunti's mind went back ...to that golden past when they established Indraprasth.. Arjun violated the norms and went on pilgrimage. Yudhishtir's year with Draupadi continued... She Kunti thought it is better for Arjun to move away so that it will be easy for his Eldest to win Draupadi's heart.
But did he win her completely? She wondered..
Their first night she remember Draupadi discarding jasmines. She could'nt understand but later she heard from Priyamvada that Arjun likes jasmines so her Bahu did not wear them.
She Kunti got desparate. For days she observed when Draupadi came to the worship room early in the morning. She could see her face calm and composed there is no sign of a smile or a slight streak of blush creeping into her beautiful face.
Panchali looked regal,dignified and detached.
She assisted her Eldest in every way in his administration. She listened to him when he spoke about the principles of dharma given in different Sastras.
Her life looked like routine. She never faltered in any of her duties. But the blush? It eluded the new bride. Never she saw that in her face.
One morning she remember she intentionally tried to gauze through her conscience. Priyamvada is in her chamber arranging the worship clothes,Draupadi came to ask if she Kunti took aushadhi. She remarked." Bahu..after worship go back to Eldest. You are newly weds. You should spend time exclusively with each other. Be with him and enjoy the moments.
Priyamvada looked uncomfortable hearing her words. Draupadi's face is expressionless. She did not say anything. Priyamvada said." Maharani.. Princess likes to personally monitor everything. Now she will look after breakfast arrangements. Bheemsen is waiting for her..
Kunti tried to remember. Did she see her Bahu blush? No. She remember her grim face...
Kunti felt disheartened. How could Draupadi hold herself then? She pondered over.
To be continued.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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