Sabyasachi and Panchaali (Story 3)
The palace gardens of Indraprastha was evergreen with beautiful flowers and fruits. The morning sunshine always reached Indraprastha first, and then to the other parts of the mighty Kuru Rashtra, including the capital Hastinapur. Among all the gardens the one facing east was the most beautiful one. Birds sang there every morning. At this garden, at the moment, Panchaali, the Queen of Indraprastha was seated on her beloved swing, which was specially made for the Queen. Along with her, was her current husband Sabyasachi, the ambidextrous warrior and Panchaali's most beloved.
"I miss those days before my swayamvar." said Panchaali. "Oh, so will be happy without me?" Sabyasachi laughed. "Very mean,princess!!!!" "Shut up." Panchaali said. "Make me feel happy. Cheer me up. I loved painting. But Queens haveother things to do here. I can't dance, sing and paint. " "I bet you cannot beat me in dance,music and art." Sabyasachi said and knelt down in front of Panchaali. "I challenge that." Sabysachi added and showed Panchaali a finger. "I can beat you." Panchaali proudly stood up. "I am ambidextrous, my princess." Sabyasachi bowed. "So? My love for you can beat anything. Even your Gandiv. If I remember you, I can beat you." Sabyasachi called for the maids and told them something in private. Panchaali tried to peep in but Sabyasachi was unbeatable in acting. Not some moments passed before the maids brought in some canvasses and a peacock feather with the flowers from with colours were used to paint. And also, the veena was brought in."
Sabyasachi brought the painting articles to Panchaali and smiled. "You paint, I play. Whoever will stop on seeing the other's skill will lose." Panchaali remained silent. A butterfly sat on the canvas. Panchaali's eyes sparkled. "I am ready. I accept." Sabyasachi prepared to play the veena while Panchaali picked up the peacock feather and closed her eyes. She could see Sabyasachi. Closer..his face and even closer..."his eyes". Panchaali opened her eyes and started painting with the tunes of the veena.
Red... the veena tunes went pleasantly... and green and tunes of the veena chorused... and the peacock feather went pink... and grey... and blue... and white... along with the soul-pleasing tunes went up and down and chorus and solo... went...went...went...until Panchaali mysteriously turned the canvas from sideways to frontways in front of Sabyasachi as the kept smudging the colours with her fingernails. Sabyasachi took a glance at the painting and turned away only to look back within the same moment. The veena stopped. Sabyasachi looked at the painting. He felt divine and the happiest. Panchaali stared at Sabyasachi as his white cloak moved here and there and so did her saree. Now what is left to the story is the painting. It..showed... nothing special. Only..Panchaali the beautiful princess and queen sitting on her swing and the ambidextrous warrior pushing the swing along...Sometimes small things could give immense happiness.
Sampoorna
Bindi
