CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
This story is loosely based on one of my favorite movies .. Chhoti Si Baat.-------------------------
Nakul's chamber was getting decorated for Panchaali who would be his wife very soon.
"I certainly do not deserve her. Bhrata Arjuna won her and now she is used to an illustrious company of Bhrata Yudhisthira and Bheema. She is bound to get bored with nobody like me. How can I win her heart ?" Nakul was filled with thoughts of self-pity and desperately wanted to impress her.
As always, he turned towards his brothers for guidance.
Yudhisthira informed him that Panchaali was a very serious woman who never laughed, hated lofty, funny talks and enjoyed good game of dice and scholarly discussions on scriptures.
Bheema on the other hand found Panchaali to be very jovial,funny who enjoyed pranks and loved cooking. He warned Nakul not to try eating or burping competition or else he would be met with lethal consequences .
Nakul was utterly confused with opposing views. Luckily, Pitamaha, Drona and Vyaasa were guests of IP and staying in nearby quarters. Nakul decided to take their advice. After all these were men of great experience.
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Pitamaha was sullen since Suryadeva sided with Pandavas on topic of marriage with Panchaali and and had severely constricted his vocabulary to "Adharm" and "Ghor Adharm" in answer to any question.
All Pandavas were scared of him and avoided him like Dusshasan avoiding a discourse on Upanishad.
Vyaasa advised Nakul not to take a shower atleast for a month before honeymoon as putrid body odour was a strong aphrodisiac.
He fondly remembered how Ambika blushingly closed her eyes after seeing his irresistible, unkempt appearance. He heartily smiled at how dark skinned Ambalika applied tons of makeup to look fair and attractive to seduce him. He was indeed a great catch in his youth.
He looked with affection at Nakul. His grandson had grown into an handsome lad but clairvoyant Vyaasa knew that however hard he tried, he could never win Panchaali's Pati number one Pratiyogita.
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Nakul, still not convinced, went to Aacharya Drona's chamber for advice. Drona was reclining on sofa, eating apple. Kripi was busy selecting gold necklace to wear to wear for dinner. Nakul touched Drona's feet.
"Welcome Rajkumar .." Drona was trying hard to recall Nakul's name.
"Nakul. I am Nakul." Nakul prompted mechanically. This was his ritual with his Guru who was prone to forget his and his brother's name.
"Ofcourse Nakul. My dearest Shishya." Gurudev tried to cover up.
"I dont know how to ask this but you are my teacher and ..""Are you seeking for a refund for Gurukul days ?" Drona asked with concern. He was worried that Nakul would ask part of Paanchal as a refund for not being able to acquire any skills under his tutelage.
Drona was always worried about future of Nakul, one of his weakest students. He was relieved to learn that, thanks to nepotism, Nakul was doing well on an unimportant but high salaried job given by Yudhisthira.
"No Gurudev. I want to know how can I make Panchaali fall in love with me. You are a man of vast experience. Please forgive my insolence for asking this question." Nakul was flustered.
Drona and his wife Kripi's birth had shaken very foundations of biological science. Drona was very proud of his dramatic potty birth while Kripi was high on weeds. After marriage, Drona was always well prepared with a
Kamandalu on his side and a roving eye in search of beautiful Apsara, till he finally learnt about natural ways and Aswathama was born.
He was no authority on the subject but was compelled to answer.
"Vatsa, Glad that you asked this. Marriage is like a great battle. Your wife, your mortal enemey will form a Vyuha and lure you inside and then attack. You must remain vigilant. It needs lot of strategy,experience...""And love,honesty and trust.." Kripi cut in between.
"Ofcourse dear." Drona was upset to be interrupted.
"So you must attack your enemy with all your skills, manipulation ..""And love,honesty and trust..." Kripi repeated.
Drona was now seriously annoyed with Kripi. He ignored her and discussed at length various military formations such as Eagle, Vajra, Swan formations and underscored that quick, hasty retreat and abject surrender were also effective strategies. Afterall, everything is fair in marriage and war.
Nakul was grateful for the advice and realised that he must manipulate to effect desired results. He roped in Yudhisthira, Bheema and Drona in his scheme to impress Panchaali.
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On his behest, Drona passed few glossy remarks, praising Nakul's remarkable swordmanship, valour and intelligence and how he was the best student of Gurukul.
Drona remained ashamed of this lie for rest of his life and Indonesian version describes in detail how Bheema taunted Drona about this revolting act in the middle of Kurukshetra war and how Drona lost his will to live, dropped weapon and embraced death happily.
In presence of Panchaali, Yudhisthira asked few general questions to Nakula, inquiring about his name, religion, family,sex and praised him to sky after receiving accurate answers to all his questions. Riding on this success,later on, overconfident Nakul chose to play down Yakshaprashnas with fatal results.
Bheema put on a great show of challenging Nakul to arm wrestling in front of Panchaali. He pretended to lose the match and complimented Nakul on his superhuman strength. He also stressed Nakul's graciousness in letting him fight Hidimb, Bakasur and hog all limelight.
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Nakul was satisfied with all machination. It was finally Nakul's first night with Panchaali.
Today he would play his masterstroke. He had devised artsy plan of reciting borrowed love poems, followed by couple of cooked up stories of his valour and then interesting imagined tidbits about girls swooning, knocking themselves for his attention. Panchaali was sure to feel one lucky woman.
But when Nakul looked at guileless face of Panchaali, words failed him. He forgot all about his plan.
His Gurumata's advice suddenly grew stronger.She had emphasised to start a relationship on strong foundation of love,trust and honesty. The veil over his mind was suddenly lifted and all insecurities were expelled.
He sat near Panchaali ,took her hand in his hands, his voice choked with emotions. .
"Panchaali, I love you from the bottom of my heart. You are the most important person in my life and I will always strive for your happiness, honour. I will always be there for you. "
He looked at Panchaali. Her lotus eyes welled up with tears of happiness. The room was dimly lit but her pretty face was glowing with unmistaken sign of love, the very love he was yearning for.
Sometimes Chhoti si baat is all it takes to win pure, unconditional love of your life.
Edited by Cotswolds - 11 years ago
