Kunti remembered Priyamvada's words." Ever since the news of Arjun's marriage to Ulupi reached us,Princess Draupadi is disturbed. I feel bad for her."
Kunti knitted her eye brows." Don't assume such things. My sons never said that they won't marry again.Kshatriyas are allowed to marry multiple times..
Priyamvada shot back." Then why did you feel lost when Maharaj Pandu brought Madri to Hastinapur?
Kunti answered defiantly." That is different. Maharaj Pandu is my life . I never expected he would marry again. Here Panchali stays only one year with each of my sons. So they need other wives.
Priyamvada is desparate. Kunti could understand what she want to say." Who is responsible for her plight?".. But she kept quiet.
Arjun's marriages with Arya,Chitra and finally Subhadra made her Bahu lost her control over herself. She could not but expose herself despite trying best to keep her feelings inside. Still she Kunti ignored her inner turmoil.
She convinced herself that Panchali behaved same whenever her other sons married Devika,Jalandhara,Karenu and Vijaya.
Kunti sighed heavily. The fact she conveniently overlooked is Panchali's indifference towards the marriages of her other sons..
Draupadi heartfully welcomed her co wives..into Indraprasth. She wished them happiness and even arranged their bridal chambers on her own.
But when the news of Subhadra's abduction and her impending arrival with Arjun reached them Panchali's control over herself started loosening..
Her sleepless eyes when she locked herself in her chamber made Bheemsen burst out due to his concern for her.
Bheem is always outspoken . He loved Panchali dearly and can not see her suffer. " You are fine when all of us brought our wives home. You never looked like this... " He questioned her outrightly.
Kunti felt the ground under her feet crumbling. All these years she strived hard to maintain unity among her son's.She checked Draupadi with hundred eyes and indirectly monitered her actions towards her sons. Now if Draupadi fail to treat all the five in the same way..surely cracks will be there in their relationship.
Kunti shivered at the thought. She then saw Bheem taking her Bahu protectively in his arms and say." I won't let any one hurt you... It includes even my brother."
Panchali smiled at his concern.. Kunti remembered her face. She was in Bheem's arms .. She Kunti is there,Priyamvada and Sahadev are there.
But did Panchali blush? She never remember having seen any such thing...
Kunti again wiped her sweat..Her son Nakul who always felt insecure on seeing Panchali's beauty used to be on his toes in his year with her.
Kunti remembered the day.. It happened to be Nakul and Sahadev's birth day. Panchali's year with Nakul. Bheem and Panchali worked hard to make the dinner special but Nakul always is health conscious and beauty conscious.
Nakul ordered himself extraordinarily looking clothes for him and ornaments that complement the dress. He took two hours in the evening to get himself ready for the dinner.
When finally he came and touched her feet she Kunti blessed him with a smile. In contrast her dearest son Sahadev looked so simple in his attire.
Nakul felt proud of himself for looking so handsome and gorgeous. He received the complements with glee. But then came Panchali who till then is looking after the kitchen work.
Every one including Nakul stared at her with disbelief.Panchali wore a simple sary. She tied up her hair on her back.. Her Kumkum spread down to her nose due to the sweat drops.. She did not wear too many ornaments... The black beeds chain round her neck that was brought by Arjun when he conquered Kamarup desh...looked so cute on her swan like neck..
All the guests were gone with only the brothers ,Kunti and Priyamvada standing there and obviously became spell bound on seeing Draupadi's natural beauty..
Nakul walked up to her in trance and wiped the Kumkum spread on her nose.. He murmured." Two hours I spent on my make up but no use you have beaten me again without any effort..
Every one laughed at his complement. But did Panchali blush? No .she smiled defiantly.. Shrugged her shoulders and moved away.
The cool breeze is whispering in Kunti!/s ears." Try to feel the love in its true form. The love that you have for your husband,the love that your Bahu Panchali has for your Phalgun..Don't deceive yourself hoping to see her shower equal love for all your sons..
Kunti got tears in her eyes. She remembered her Kanha's words at Kampilya the night before Draupadi's wedding with Yudhishtir.
Krishna's voice rang in her ears." Bua.. Krishnaa sacrificed herself to keep your and your Eldest's word. Don't expect more than this from her. It is injustice to an innocent girl who entered your house to live her dream...of being the beloved of your third son."
Kunti reminisced the incident after Subhadra's arrival at Indraprasth.Panchali reconciled with her Phalgun atlast. But what did she see in the early hours at the worship room? Priyamvada's smile indicated her the fact... Her Phalgun won back his wife and how?
Panchali's face,she remember still she could feel the blush before her eyes. Her half closed eyes,her dreamy walk her shyful smile at the corner of her lips,the slight blush that crept into her beautiful face,her whole countenance indicating her reluctance to come out of her dreams...
Years passed. The blush did not get lost under the waves of bitter happenings and painful events.. It still embellished Panchali's beautiful face with the delicate and loving touch of her Arjun...it proved again..love is Devine. Love is eternal.
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