Chapter 3
Kunti was sitting by the flame seeing it play games of colours. Her hands silently counted the beads of rosary, her mind praying for her children's safety. In the other corner of her tent was seating another mother Radha her mind also with her child. "Ahhh" Kunti sighed loudly. "Rajmata" it was Radha who spoke "maine aaj yudh bhumi jo bhi jo bhi kaha uske liye kshama chahti hun. Asal main Karn ko uss awasthha mein dekh..." "Nahi aap kshama kyun maang rahi hain" Kunti said suddenly startled "Aapne sach hi toh kaha, maine maata ho kar santaan ko apne paas nahi rakha, usse sambhala nahi main kaise uski maata hui." "Main bhi ek stri hun aur mujhe gyaat hain ek kunwaari kanya ke liye maa banna kya hota hoga" she said "main samajh sakti hun ki aapne bhi hriday pe pathhar rakh ke hi apne putra ko jal pravah mai diya hoga." She got up and walked to Kunti and placed a hand at her shoulder. "Balpan mein Karn ne jab pehli bar apko dekha tab se wo kehta rahta thha ki aap divya hain" she continued "man hi man kahin na kahin karn yeh bhi janta tha ki aap uski maata hain. Main nahi kah rahi ki Karn ko jal main prabahit Karke aapne sahi kiya par main yeh kah rahi hun ki agar aap nahi bhi karti toh bhi yeh samaj na karn ko jeene deta na aapko." "Main jaanti hun behen par dukh ek hi baat ka hai kaash maine Arjun ko bata diya hota toh shayad yeh sab nahi hota" Kunti said "dukh toh mujhe sirf iss baat ka hai ki na Arjun na Karn ne meri yudh na karne ki vinti nahi suni, hath kar baithe ki shrshth kaun hai dekhna hi hai, aur iss apradhi maata ke sine ko hi chhalli kar gaye" "Aap houslan rakhiye raajmata, do maataon ki duwayein uske saath hai, Vrishali ka prem uske saath hai, uske bhai hai sab thhik ho jaayega." Radha consoled her. "Yahi prarthana hai behen" Kunti replied.
Vrishali slowly walked in Karn's room, Karn was laying there motionless, she slowly picked up thi hand and touched his forhead. She remembered when she first saw him, dressed in all blue. She remembered their marriage, how happy he was. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Arjun, who was sitting with his head bowed low. "Arya" she slowly spoke to Karn "Aap ko jivit hona hoga, mere liye vrishketu ke liye, apki dono maataon ke liye, yaad hai aapne mujhse kaha thha ki kaash aapko apne bhaiyon ke beech chayan na karna parta, dekhiye aap par aayi iss vipata ne un sabko ek kar diya. Ab bas aap thhik ho jaaiye, phir sab thhik ho jaayega" she said and closed her eyes, suddenly she saw Karn, "Vrishali" he said "main tumhe chorkar kahin nahi jaaunga bas tum hounsla rakho, aur mujhpe vishwas" Vrishali looked up startled. She knew it was a dream but suddenly she felt so stable, she knew Karn would come back, she just knew. Arjun had been lookin at her for a long time. "Bhabishree" Arjun spoke suddenly "matlab main aapko yeh..." "Main tumhari bhabi hi hun raajkumar" Vrishali replied. Arjun ran and sat at her feet "Mujhe kshama kar dijiye bhabi" he said "main kshama ke ayogya hun main jaanta hun, par..." "Arjun utho"she said lifting him by the shoulder. "main kshama karti hun tumhe. Tumne aapna dharm nibhaya aur tumhare bhrata ne apna. Yeh jo huya woj neeyati thhi, use taal nahi saakte hum. Par mujhe vishwas hai ki yeh shayad isiliye huya kyunki tum bhaiyo ko saath lana thha. Mujhe vishwas hain ki yeh thhik ho jaayenge mujhe vishwas hai aapne prem par" she said patting Arjun's cheek. "aap jaake thora aaram kijiye bhabishree" Arjun said "aap thak gayi hongi" " Haan thhik hai" she replied "aur tum bhi dhyaan rakhna." Vrishali walked to the ladies tent. She felt so reassured that she did not need to be physically with Karn to know his well bieng, he will be ok she knew. And somehow she knew at this moment more than her the brothers needed to be together, she could have him just for herself when everything was good again. For now she needed to be stable for herself, for her sons and for her devars.
"Arey is Buti ko bhi abhi khatam hona thaa" Sahadev shouted in frustration. "Main leke aata hun yahi paas hi toh ugti hain" Nakul said. "Par abhi itne andhere mein" Sahadev was doubtful. "nikat hi toh hai" Nakul said. He walked out a little distance to the open ground. There he spotted the bush. As he plucked the leaves a bit absent-mindedly and put them in pouch, suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his palm, then he saw a black snake in the bush. It had bit him, his hands burnt his legs felt paralyzed. He saw that little distance away, there was a bush of herms which would cure him but it he had no strength to walk to the bush, the poison had paralyzed him. He knew that death would be slow and painful, but he couldn't save himself until someone else came this way. He fell down on the ground, waiting for the poison to slowly take away his breath.
Another chapter tell me how it is, trying to cover all aspects so going a bit slow...will update tomorrow again...hopefully a more happening chap as my almost done with the musings (except for a convo between Karn's son and Arjun).
Anupamaa
Cricket
