Grand!! Grand!! Grand!!! Imposing..resplendent...words are falling short to describe this ceremony.I never expected such a grand inauguration for pandavas.The decorated glowing palaces..the special pujas in all temples..the festival dancers and musicians..these novelties made me scary.I immediately expressed my fear to my husband who is sitting beside me in the chariot.
"This is extremely freakish aarya!! I don't know how others accept but after hearing your friend at the lake palace. And indraprasth visit...this ceremony is incredible.What is the reason for your friend's sudden change?? What made him to organize such a grand ceremony?? Moreover what is the necessity now?? Unconvincing!!!"
" devi!! Can't you see what is going on around you?? What you are seeing is true.Their native country is welcoming the samrat..what is freakish here?? After all they are cousins.And who knows tis ceremony can be also considered as a peace mission to overcome the bitterness and the misconception between them.What is bothering you here?"
"no! Arya!! Something is irrelevant here..This is not seems to be a peace mission..Pandavas and kauravas cannot join hands.A cordial relationship is impossible between them.Something says me..this is going to be a lead for the most untoward happening..something dangerous is going to occur.I can feel the darkness hidden behind these dazzling lights."
" dangerous??? For whom?? Are you worrying about pandavas? No one can harm samrat yudistir in this hastinapur which is still under the control of their grandpa.moreover mahamantri vidur is here..Matha kunthi is here..what would happen to them??Do you think that my friend or me would raise weapons against the invitees in this ceremony??"
" no!! No!! Arya!! I did not mean it"
"then!! Are you bothering about panchali??nothing can be untoward more than what happened in Indraprasth.."
He saw me deeply..I bit my lips
"now, this is freakish Devi!! You are bothering much about panchali..why?? I have not seen such a egoistic lady before but now a days your attitude towards her has changed.I can realize that.This doesn't look fair.you ae the wife of Karna remember that"
I had never heard such a harsh words from him.I became speechless.Moreover I am stunned..How he realized my attitude towards panchali?? So he is observing me keenly..but he neither showed it to me before nor questioned me.
"arya!! Please forgive me if i said something idiotically"
He looked at me with a rigid face
"that's alright!! But remember!! You must be careful here.I don't want something odd to be happen here as what happened in Indraprasth.Beware of pancali and matha kunthi. kauravas are our people.hope you understand"
I nodded my head.He then turned to vrushali jiji who was sitting aside calmly.
" vrushali!! I am saying this for you too.Stay in our anga palace..if you were invited for any ceremony then always be with Devi Banumathi or maharani Ghandhari"
"but arya!! What would we do if panchali or kunthi ma always accompany maharani?"
I asked.He shut his eyes and bite his teeth showing the irritation. vrushali jiji interrupted.
"we can leave the place by saying some reasons..Don't worry aarya !! we will manage"
She shushed me to keep quite.something is going to happen.sure!!
At the entrance of hastinapur palace we saw yuvraj standing at the gates with a broad grin on his face.My husband got down from the chariot and embraced him..We both followed him and paid obeisance to yuvraj.
" welcome my dear sisters"he smiled broadly.
At the portico we met maharaj drithrastra..maharani Ghandari..and ghandhar raj receiving the guests. yuvraj murmured our arrival to his father.The king and his wife turned towards us .He stretched his arms and caressed my husband's cheeks.Now, Ghandar raj came forward voluntarily and hugged my husband.
"pranipat ghandhar raj"
"pranipat Angaraj and welcome my dear daughter in laws"
He smiled
What kind of smile is this..definitely not an innocent or friendly smile.Yuvraj accompanied my husband.
"Ghandar raj seems to be more active and rejoicing in receiving the guests.."my husband commented..
"oh ! yes this whole ceremony is arranges as per his advice.He is the brain of this inauguration"
"did they arrived?"
Yes!! They reached here today erly morning.A big non stop feast is going on for our Bheem" he chortled.
"it's time mitr!! I take leave now..you take some rest"
He left.
So many thoughts popping out in my mind.This abnormal happiness of yuvraj..that smile of Ghandar raj..Pandavas and kauravas cannot forgive each other for various reasons..but but what would happen really?? This is their country..As my husband said their grandpa is here.My husband is not going to raise weapon and he would not allow his friend to do so.Then what is bothering me?? Those couple of eyes on which i witnessed the entire world's ferity and revenge bothers me.Where is panchali??
I managed two days away from kunthi maaI met her once in the chamber of maharani.but I did not get a chance to meet panchali.Heard that she is sick and hardly comes out from her chamber.I am not dare enough to disobey my usband's words to meet her..I cursed myself ..What is the necessary to meet her..moreover vrushali jiji is more cautious about it.
This evening i guess I could not avoid meeting panchali.Maharani invited us to the gardens of hastinapur situated around the temple of lord shiva on the banks of ganga.something warm fell on my shoulder..what is this did he called me
" arya!!! Did you called me"
" yes twice!! Where were you devi??"
"oh!! I am sorry "
" can you please get me my uttariya"
I ran to the attire boxes and took a clean and fresh uttariya .I folded it properly and wore it on his shoulders .He stared at me calmly.As I turned he clutched my arms and pulled me to him.he caressed his cheeks with is thumb mildly.
"what happened to my dear wife?? Is she still angry on me?" His hands were spreading around my waist.He is the best in tackling his angry wife..but now this is dangerous in this moment.I chuckled and pushed him aside" aarya"
He stepped back slightly but got stuck to me immediately like a magnet piece sticking to the iron rod.He kissed on my knuckles
"I am sorry dear!!! I was little harsh towards you.Did I hurt you dear"
"no arya!! I can understand your worries behind it"
"but I feel guilty!! Give me some punishment"
" don't be silly aarya"
"please !! for my satisfaction".
"alright!! Then you itself decide your punishment also"
He nuzzled my cheeks and whispered" why can't you punish me with thousand kisses my love"
" hhhaaryaaa"!! I puled and pushed him..He chortled gleefully..
"right! Its getting late for me..Today's celebrations are going to be outstanding of this
Ceremony.Shall I move"
I nodded..
"sooo! No punishment now?"he pouted.
I dragged him to me and pressed my lips on his cheeks deeply.
"ohhooo!! Unexpected punishment"
" yes !! expect the unexpected one..your punishment starts now.I punish you whenever I wish"
He closed his mouth with his palm obediently and said "as you say your highness"
"alright!! Keep your words"
" I am going devi"
He turned to go out..
Suddenly some darkness covered my heart.why his smile is squeezing my heart?? Why this little separation is making me more tensed and worry.
"arya"
He stopped and turned at me.
"yes Devi! Do you want to punish me again"he grinned.
Tears filled my eyes.
nothing Arya!! You carry on..sorry for stopping you"
"are you sure?"
"arya...ar..nothing..come soon arya..I would be waiting for you"
"sure!! Waiting for my punishable night." He winked at me.
Why ?why ?why ?stop bothering uruvi..don't give room for unnecessary intuitions..I scolded myself.
The dais which is situated in the middle of the garden was filled with royal ladies including maharani..kunthi maa and banu jiji..but I couldn't find panchali here too.A little aside the musical troupe is ready with their instruments..this open dais is designed exclusively for the entertainment of royal ladies.
"shall we start the concert kunthi"asked maharani.
" Panchali is on the way..let us wait for her" kunthi ma replied.It did not sounds like a request..It was a command.there she comes panchali.She looks little tiered and moody.She smiled at me as she saw me as a sign of a wish..I accepted it by a little nod and a smile.
"how do you feel now panchali"asked maharani
"I feel better ma..just a little inconvenience because of long journey" she replied in a soft voice..She was entirely opposite to what I saw in Indraprasth.She might also have the same sort of worries as I have.even more than mine.maharani gestured the troupe to start the concert.The lady sang beautifully.her voice was like a silky cloth caressing our body.For few minutes I forgot my world.i closed my eyes and sunk into the music..All of a sudden the song was stopped.A maid is whispering something to kunthima.She signaled to stop the song.
"enough ladies !! disperse now" she ordered.in a dry voice.
"what happened kunthi?" asked maharani.
Kunthi ma became restless "jiji! We never knew that you have arranged a dice game here" she frowned.
"a dice game"!!! panchali showed grimace.
"kunthi!! What is there in a dice game..It is a common play and entertainment prevails in all kingdoms among royal people"
Said maharani.
"may be but yudishtir is not good in it"
"kunthi ! calm down..this is just a game.Why do you worry much?"
Our worry is reasonable maharani!!My husband is addicted to this game.I am worries seriously"
Said panchali.
"nothing harm would happen..mahamahim is there in the dice hall.."maharani clutched the shoulders of panchali.she then commanded that maid to inform us what is going on in the dice hall
" I cannot enter the hall maharani..It is restricted highly except for some confidential maids"
She said
"nonsense!! Tell them it is the order of samraggi" panchali glared at the maid.The maid obeyed her and ran away." Why it is restricted ?" she murmured..
She became more fidget.After some time the maid came running with the bad news that yudistir lost all their wealth including kingdom in the game.I was amazed to the core..panchali's face turned red in embarrassment.."what !! lost his kingdom??did he staked it?" asked maharani..
She echoed my mind.My God this is not a game.This is a ploy.The whole ceremony is supposed to move towards the dice game and the dice game is moving in a dangerous direction now.
"This what my fear was" she blinked her tears..she tried hard to control her tears.I remember the scene which was captured safely in my heart..panchali standing in front of the elegant palace of Indraprasth.
"then someone should stop this right now" I said.
"no one can stop my husband from gambling until he wins.This weakness has been utilized brilliantly by Ghandar raj and yuvraj." She uttered those words with a bitterness and vexation.
A deep silence occupied the atmosphere.Even the wind is blowing silently without creating a noise..the maids who came to light up the dais..came very silently and went out immediately.but I can clearly hear the heart beat of panchali.
"Shall we move from here" vrushali jiji whispered in my ears"
"no! Jiji!! I want to know what is happening..just wait" she frowned.
" yudistir lost everything then what is there they are playing with again?"
Kunthi ma asked in a panicked voice. panchali dug her face inside her palms..now all of our hearts started thudding fast as we saw the maid again.She gave us the most unexpected impossible news.
"samrat yudishtir lost his two brothers in the game"
"whaat" i couldn't resist myself from screaming.Kunthi ma fell on the ground and started weeping .panchali stood up suddenly and left the place.
Vrushali jiji scratched me
"come on!! This is their family issue!! Why should we stand here?"
Banu jiji held her hands."vrushali please stay back..I am really scared"
" jiji!! Our husband is also in the dice hall..I will not leave this place"
One by one we got those incredible information from te dice hall.yudishtir lost all his brothers and lost himself in the game.now they are the slaves of kauravas.
My God!! What is going on in this Hastinapur.This is the master plan of Gandhar raj to seize everything from pandavas.
Making use of one's weakness is said to be a war tactics but only Ghandar raj can apply this in the name of inauguration ceremony..He seized everything from pandavas in front of all hastinapur elders.How brave he must be.Even pitamah could not do anything.I pity for them.
Kunthi ma started sobbing heavily.Maharani was helpless. Banu jiji said now in a low voice" I know that pandavas would loose.Because Ghandar raj has a special dice made of his father's bones..So the dice would obey his orders.Once my husband told about this to me".
My eyes grew bigger.I am shocked..
"then !! this is unfair!! This cheating!! Immorality" I said.
"shh!! Uruvi!! Keep quite..this is none of our business"vrushali snubbed me.
"jiji!! Will you say the same if it happens to our husband"
What is my husband doing in the dice hall?? Why he didn't stop this injustice?? At this time we got that horrible news that yudishtir gambled panchali and lost her too.
All the ladies including me were freezed. our brains stopped working.What i am hearing is true?? Staking his wife?? Could a husband do this??I felt disgusted and odious.How worse this addiction is??My God what is panchali doing now?? How bad she would have felt now? She arrived here as a saamraggi but nw she lost everything including herself.Another maid came running.She was suffocating..I got a shape for my fear now.I stoop up immediately
"come on say soon..what happened?" I shook her.
"Rajkumar Dushahsan entered samraggi's chamber all of a sudden and forced her to enter dice hall.She refused..so he is he is dragging her by pulling her hair to the dice hall now."
I felt like I stamped a fire..I stepped back and paralyzed.
"Dushasan?? But why"? asked banu jiji.
"yuvraj ordered her to enter the hall as she is now the daasi of kauravas".
I closed my ears."daasi?? who is dassi?? What is going on in this Hastinapur. How could they treat a woman in such an uncivilized way..How brutal??
Since the king is blind the whole country became blind??and Dushashan?i cannot imagine he could do this.The man who always stood obediently with downed head is now dragging a women to the court.So situation decides a man's character.Banu jiji lost her patience.
"why she has been dragged ??why what they are going to do her in the court in front of all..I am scared"
Kunthi maa started slapping on her face repeatedly.I stopped her and clutched her shoulders.
" whatever it may be nothing harm would happen to panchali in the dice hall.I don't know about others..but i know about my husband.He may not allow the humiliation of a woman.I cannot say her husbands or pitamah or maharaj would save her..but I can say that my husband would definitely save a helpless woman.I know he is bound by his friendship..and he too have a bitterness on panchali but still I belive him.He cannot witness silently a harassment of a woman.He will stop this definitely.Don't worry"
Music Corner
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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