Its been 40 years since king Parikshit ascended throne of Hastinapur and succeeded Dharmraj Yudhisthir as emperor of Aryavart. Parikshit successfully united Dravid desh and Aryavart under one rule. Today is the janamtithi of the great emperor Parikshit. In Hastinapur palace everyone is busy for preparation of the celebration. Queen Madravati occupied in arrangement of the hom yagya with the priests. Crown prince Janmejaya is giving instructions to decorations of the courtroom. Only nobody has seen one person since Morning, queen mother Uttara.
Generally on this day Rajmata Uttara absorbs herself in prayer room in wish for well being of her son recalling the trauma she had gone through while obtaining him back from death and also reminding serpent king Takshak's oath. But today she is feeling too tired to even coming out of her room. She is not keeping well from past few days. And today she is feeling too sick to even get up from bed. A 90 years old Uttara can presume her end time is near. And so she didn't let anybody know about her I'll health. Why to spoil happiness of everyone? So she confided herself in her chamber. Let in this last moments reminiscence of past remain her only companion.
In deathbed if she looks back her early life seems tale of another era, tale of any other persons life. she is last surviving person of Aryavart who had witnessed the destructions of Kurukshetra. In the tender age when a girl dreams to start new life with the man of dream, in the age when she receives love and care from father, brothers and dear ones she had lost everyone. Even mother too performed sati rejecting to survive the pain of losing husband and sons. But she was helpless, she was carrying the heir of Aryavart, seed of her beloved. Last ray of hope for her teacher,her guide, , pittashree Arjuna. She couldn't ignore her duties that's what mamashree Krishna used to say duty is foremost and his nephew used to echo to her.
"Arya" a pale smile stretchered her crumpled skin, age had left mark on her body as per new yuga's norm but her heart, her soul belongs to where he left her, in age of 14, On the cursed 13 day of Kurukshetra that marked end of her living hood. After that who is left is a mother, a doting daughter in law , and later a dutiful queen mother. Uttara was lost forever. Still some reminiscence of those innocent tender love filled days were alive in the discussions with pitashree Arjun guiding light of her life , only friend ever in her entire life who ever could understand her. She still can remember what role did he play to bring her back from the trauma that made her living dead body. The role mamashree played for pitashree to bring him back to life, same role was of pitashree in her life. Many nights had spent when mata Subhadra took care of toddler Parikshit when the third pandav and his daughter in law were spending time under the sky talking to departed part of their existence. Gradually everyone moved on in life, specially after ashwamedha duty absorbed everyone. They learnt to smile again specially with mamashree's guidance. Only one person who even after all duties had remained aloof to life was the samragyi herself. Uttara never had seen badima Panchali to smile ever in her life again. Pitashree said somehow she had considered herself soul reason of the destruction and never truly got convinced even with mamashree's consolation.
Only once Uttara had seen mother Draupadi to have a peaceful calmness on face when Pitashree came back from Dwarka carrying news of mamashree's demise and destruction of Dwarka and announced own decision of departure from material world and samrat announced to all six of them to leave for Mahaprasthan. Then only unlike others sorrowful face daughter of fire's face had a solace, because of standing beside her Uttara could hear her murmuring "so at last my freedom is near, sakha at last you listened to me."
When pitashree left he had given Mata the responsibility of his little girl, grandson and young boy Vajra, great grandson and only living successor of mamashree. But unlike her husband Mata Subhadra had noticed the little girl is then 50 years old Rajmata of a 35 years old emperor of Aryavart who are completely capable to take care of themselves and 19 years old Vajra. So after pandavs and badima draupadi left, mother lightened six akhand diya (inextinguishable lamps) on five pandav's and their wife's name. And everyday mother Subhadra used to sit before them. After a year on the day the lamp on the name of badima Panchali was put off, Mata silently went to her chamber and closed the door. And on the day the light of pitashree's lamp got extinguished everyone had to break the door only to find a lifeless Subhadra on her bed. With a pleased smile, perhaps mother had reunited with father at the very moment. The day Uttara had literally become an orphan. Shock was not ended yet. From Manipur bhrata Bavruvahan sent news that mother Chitrangada used to live in forest after returning to Manipur when father left, and suddenly a bonfire had perished only the place where she was meditating. Bavru later said that he heard it was the same place where Manipur princess encountered meditating third pandav for first time. Mother Uloopi's body was found floating on water by some Naga people on the same pilgrimage where father met her first time. And all these happened only immediately after light of father's life put off. If these were not strange enough meghbarna (younger son of Ghatotkach) sent news that his grand mother Hidimba's body suddenly merged in air and calculated time was right when taatshree Bheemsen's lamp got put off. What will Uttara call all these? coincidence or power of true love? Later all other four wives Devika,Valandhara,Karenumati and Vijaya too performed Sati. Taat Yuyutsu only living son of blind king Dhritarastra too had taken sanyas by giving his duties to his son. And soon he passed away in samadhi. Only Uttara was put to her solitude. She knew her duties are not over, Parikshit had a long way to go, he cant be deprived of mother's affection in this testing point.
After the mahaprasthan and demise of the whole previous generation,six living sons of pandavs Vrishketu (taat Karna was a pandav after all), Youdheya,Sarvaga,Bavrubahan,Niramitra and Suhatra and other heirs got busy in their respective duties, they seldom visited. Only Vajra used to come for guidance from Parikshit as he is in the mission to spread the teaching and worship of her great grand father all over Bharatvarsh. Only in these years Uttara became more and more confided to her solitude. And now is living as mere shadow of an age that became a myth. And now no duties are left for her. Only a face crossing the ocean of her memory flashing on her eyes.
"is he still waiting for me?does my love have that power to stop him from taking another birth and start another tale with someone else? all in life I have waited to see him again will I be able?" on the last moment her mind was filled with doubt and tension.
"let my last moment to dedicate the thought of him again, let relive the story from beginning , a tale not so extraordinary, not so talked of, but a short lived tale of innocence and love that became source of inspiration for long lived life.
She closed her eyes and got lost in dream of another age.
77 years back.
"Uttara, rajkumari , get up, its quite late." the chirp of young voices waved in a decorated chamber of royal palace in Matsya kingdom.
"let me sleep more," with a yawn 13 years old soft doll like princess changed her side.
"Uttara tell why sleeping more these days? Are you dreaming of your prince, tell us too" Uttara's best friend Ila joked and other girls collapsed in laughter compelling an annoyed princess opening her eyes.
"Ila you again started?why should I dream of any prince,I don't even dream of my family members" innocent princess always fails to get meaning of her beastie's words.
"I was tired because of the long dance lesson from Guruma" and suddenly young princess sticked her tongue out, "oh no guruma must be waiting for me, the dance competition day is near, I have to practice hard. Prepare me soon" hurried Uttara, she cant let Brihannala to be angry with her delay.
A tale was about to start in few days.
Edited by RoseFairy - 10 years ago