THE HIDDEN LOVE{completed} - Page 38

The most unexpected untoward happening what I ..banu jiji..my husband feared at last had fallen into shape,,but the person and the reason was entirely unexpected.Why panchali?? Have you gone mad ? and what I heard is true?? My god Panchali!! Do you know the real meaning of your words?? How can you utter those words without even thinking of its consequences.She bite her tongue and downed her face realizing the situation.My husband assisted yuvraj to get out of the water and he stared at panchali .His face is burning in exasperation and embarrassment.His eyes were discharging fire arrows towards panchali.He closed his fist tightly to control himself.I afraid that he would burn Panchali into ashes with his eyes.I never saw such an anger in my husband's eyes.This is the ferity to thrash the opponent.Some soldiers came running to assist yuvraj but he stopped them.Someone picked up his crown but he threw it away with a loud thud.

I walked away.

What happened to surya dev today.He seems to be indolent today.No! he is on time but I am in a hurry to quit this palace.At the entrance I found some more soldiers and a new closed chariot.Panchali was standing aside to send off me.She came closer" uruvi!! I felt very sorry for"...I pressed her arms and stopped her.

My chariot was running through the wide open gates of Indraprasth.I turned my head and looked the samraggi of the great Aryavarth standing at the porch of the elegant mysterious palace.This sight was captured into my heart deeply.I traveled to my country with some soldiers and my maids.

Days are moving very very slow.I am pulling each and every minutes..hours days expecting my husband from Hastinapur or at least a message from him.As days are increasing my frustration ..anger and resentment is also increasing.i cannot digest this attitude of my husband.I wrote a letter to Banu jiji about her health but i did not mentioned even a single word about my husband purposely.but she wrote a long reply about her husband's mental illness and mad revenge.she also added my husband's presence is vital now.It would be dangerous to leave yuvraj with his uncle sakuni.

What is this uruvi !! what are you doing here inside your chamber when your husband is at the entrance right now.My heart pushes me out but my mind is opposing it.I am suppressing my avidity to meet him and sitting adamantly in my chamber for hours.He didn't turn up.A maid informed me that he is completely exhausted due to long journey and would meet me in the evening.

The evening sun was glowing mildly spreading his orange rays over the sky but I am not in a mood to enjoy it.Two strong arms were crossed around my neck.

"admiring the evening sun my Devi" He whispered in my ears and inhaled my fragrance.I slowly took off his hands from me with a smile of vexation.

"at last you remembered your wife.Thank God"

The smile on his face got drained out.I fetched a pot of milk for my usual puja of washing his feet.I knelt down to wash his feet but he stepped back.

"no! Devi!! I cannot allow others to wash my feet.that is my oath"

"oath?? For what??"

" that was my vow given to my friend.Unless or until I defeat that Arjun I would not allow others to wash my feet"

He said firmly.

I just cannot express my disappointment now..I am in a mentality of a child whose property was seized all of a sudden.

" fine!! My gratification was plucked away for the sake of your friend..what else you are going to seize from me??You forgot your kingdom..your duties..your responsibilities..your citizens..your wives..children everything aarya" my face became hot while uttering those words.He saw me earnestly.he sat beside me and clutched my hands.

" I apologize for what I did for you.I admit.It was my fault I shouldn't have left you there alone..but yuvraj was in a terrible need of me"

"Don't I need you"

" you do but I was in a position to decide for whom my presence was vital.On that day my utmost duty was to save the life of my friend.And what is the necessary for remaining my kingdom and citizens..from where did this kingdom came without him?"

" alright Arya..he gave you a kingdom and got back your whole life as a return"

He rubbed his forehead with sigh.

" Devi! I am least bothered about others speaking ill about him but must not you.Do you think that he gave me just a kingdom?? This kingdom survived for several years without a king and it would survive further too.What he gave me that day was immeasurable."

He made me sit beside me.

"you saw my humiliation in panchali's swayamvar..I was humiliated thousand times worser on that day in front of all the people in the middle of arena"

He closed his eyes but reflected that bitterness on his face.

" I was I was standing with my father along with the horses.The rajkumars of kuru clan were exhibiting their skills and aptitudes one by one.When Arjun was exhibiting his archery flair my heart started beating fast.When the arena cheered him for his one or two childish tricks I felt the heat in my blood.My passion..my knowledge..my courage..my aptitude pushed me to the arena.

I just jumped into the arena with my bow and did't gave a gap to anyone speak.I started exhibiting my skills in archery.I did what Arjun did.my aptitude was more enlivening and surpassing.Now, the arena became silent instead of cheering me.Everyone were looking strange at me.I found the sign of annoyance in the eyes of Hastinapur elders.A deep hatred..rivalry and jealous in the eyes of Arjun and other pandavs.

Some hundred thousand eyes were piercing me as an abnormal creature.Instead of appreciation I encountered the question "who are you? What are you doing here"

I said" I am exhibiting my aptitude here"

" who invited to do so?" the next question .Everybody in the arena laughed at me.

"who should call ?? this is a place for exhibiting one's proficiency."

"who said?? This is a place for royal people and to display their talents..not for you low caste self willed moron"

" yes!! I am born in a low caste but I am supreme to Arjun in archery I can prove that right now"I shouted madly

" enough! Just get out of here" roared mahamahim bheeshm.He then turned to my father and roared "just take of your foolish son from this place at once"

My father gestured me to come out with the shaky hands.?my anger touched its peak

"Don't you know how to respect one's education and aptitude..this is how you rule the country?"

"I said you to get out"

Now Bheem giggled at me and said" shut up and get out you idiot..go and rub the back of your horses..this is not the place for you..and what is that in your hands ?? a bow?? He giggled again along with his brothers.My father joined his hands and asked me to get out.That moment was very worse..mortification and ignominy tore me up into pieces."

He paused here..tears rolled down from his eyes.

My husband's words stabbed my heart.i cannot just imagine my husband's ignominy.

He continued" that time a voice stopped me calling "mitr".The word mitr resonated through each and every pillars of the arena.

He clasped my shoulders and said" mitr!! I am overwhelmed by observing your competence.You are a true warrior.This downed head doesn't look good."

He then turned to the elders and said" if this is the place only for rajkumars and if that is the only reason for this unconquerable supreme warrior to quite then I the elder prince of Hastinapur offer him a supreme designation which would be a step ahead from a rajkumar.Yes I crown him as the king of Angapradesh.I hope my father would accept my proposal."he said majestically.

I just cannot believe what I am hearing..King Drithrastra declared me as the king of Anga.Now the whole arena cheered me and rejoice their king's decision.

All the faces of pandavas were faded out.He stood from sky to earth and showed his vishwaroop in front of all caste minded people..even dronacharya..kripacharya..bheeshma were speechless.

Devi!! Do you think this kingdom value more here..no He gave me the recognition for which I was craving.He gave me the identity..the respect to my knowledge..He gave respect to a charioteer's son.He stretched his hands when I was falling down and down in my life.He honored me by offering his love and trust."

He stopped here and looked at me.His eyes were moist.I have heard about this incident but not from the words of my husband..

I can feel the density of his emotions.I am troubling him.I slowly rested my hands on his shoulders.He clasped my arms tightly.

He said in a soft but shaky voice" he trusts me more than he trusts himself..His trust is superior to what you have on your matha gowri." He cupid my face with his palms "say me Devi..What would a man do if he got to see his wife's waist is grasped by his friend and the pearls from her waist belt scattered around the hall.?"

I was shocked..what is he saying??

" yes!! It happened while playing dice game with Devi Banumathi.She was loosing the game.Suddenly she stood up.I thought she was escaping from the game.So I caught her waist belt to stop her but the belt got cut and the pearls ran all around the hall.She looked tensed..and her face gone pale.now I saw my friend standing behind me.My face turned red in embarrassment..how awkward the situation must be..just imagine.I am scared..I don't know what would he think of me and his wife.I am worried that he should not mistake this..but you know what he said"

"What he said aarya"

" why you people are blinking?? Shall I pick up all the beads or you want me to mend it"??

This is what he said devi

I felt like someone slapped on my face.I dug my face on his chest and started weeping.He slowly caressed my hairs and said"Now do you understand what he gave me and what he got back.He used to say that I do everything because of my reverence for him.yes!! because he gave me everything.but what I did for him?? Why he is showering loads and loads of love and affection on me. What should I do in return for this pure love?? Say me devi"

I started weeping loudly.I cannot conclude the exact reason for my agony now.Am I feeling ashamed for declining their divine relationship.I can understand and feel my husbands emotions .Nothing peculiar that my husband respect him most.but he is hitting the mild line between love and devotion.honoring and worshiping. Being with his friend when he was in trouble is a necessity but does it insist him to forget his wife who traveled all alone to her country? Does this friendship stop him from knowing about his wife's safe journey and her arrival to his palace??does this friendship stop him to write a message stating his well being??

He raised my face which was ugly due to the uncontrollable weeps.." Devi!! Calm down please..I can understand your agony..calm down dear" he embraced me.