It was Shukla Panchami Tithi in the month of Jaishtha. Pritha's head lay comfortably on her window seal. It was time. It was time, once again she thought. Slowly she looked at her baby bump once again. She wasnt bearing her own husband's son, once again. It was her first son to the Kuru clan, through Niyoga. Pritha now understood that her husband's inabaility is the reason why she lay here in a straw hut instead of the royal Kuru palace. "Wrong choice" she sighed, remembering her Swayamvar day. Pritha was very, very worried. She rubbed her nails restlessly, The pain could begin any moment, the Queen thought. "Didi.." suddenly a voice stunned the thoughtful Pritha.
She turned around to face the Madra Princess, and second Queen of Pandu, Pritha's husband. "Madri, uh, I am fine." Pritha said, trying to convey she needed alone time. "I know you are." Madri smiled and sat next to Pritha. "But still, you are my only companion to talk to except Aaryaputra. Isn't it?" she laughed at her own words. Madri's arrival was quite unpredictable for Pritha. It was one night, she was waiting for morning to arrive for her husband to return. But instead of her husband, a messanger only conveyed to her that King Pandu would be returning with his newly wedded wife, Madri.
She was a young princess, lively and vibrant with gorgeous looks. Pritha had faintly welcomed her, and somewhere in the corner of her mind she felt slightly bad for her, knowing the truth of her husband. Time flew, and now here she was, in the room of a straw hut, waiting to give birth to the heir of the Kuru throne. "I came here to give you some goo--, err news, Didi." Madri said cheekily. Pritha waved her hand asking Madri to continue. "Queen Gandhari has still not given birth to her firstborn in Hastinapur. They say it may be dangerous now. The Queen is frustrated. So is King Dhritarashtra. What if it is a miscarriage?" Madri said. Pritha nodded her head. "I really dont know." she answered. "But it is quite unfortunate. I hope everything is fine." Pritha although saying so did not believe these words. Nothing is ever fine. With experience she knew this. It is just destiny, the game of desire and the rise and fall of the players. In this, there is nothing fine or bad. Either you play, or you quit. But Pritha neither had the will, nor the strength to say all this now. She rubbed her nails with each other and waited. Slowly, she felt the pain.
It was the day. She felt. Madri ran out quickly. Pritha stared at her ownself lying to give birth to yet another child. For the world, he will be known as the first son of Pritha. "Partha." Pritha said to herself faintly.
"Pritha! You have given birth to my first son! You have!" Madri gave Pritha a glass of water, as Pandu held the baby in his arms, exclaiming. Surprisingly, the baby was quiet. He wasnt asleep, but quiet. He moved his arms and legs, and blinked his eyes. Pritha held out her hands to take the baby, and within moments, she tightly held him closest to herself possible. She left the little hands of the newborn on her face and cheeks. The boy was fair, healthy and had brown eyes. Strangely he represented none Pritha could think of. He was as though a new ray on sunshine in the dark days of the Kurus. It was dot noon outside. The strong rays of the sun fell on the baby. He restlessly moved his hands and feet. Pritha lay him down on her lap. After a long, long time, Pritha felt happy. Somewhere, her hopes rised. She took care not to rise them much even in the moment of holding her first true eldest son. As she looked at the child, patting him, and singing a lullaby to make him fall asleep, she remembered the day she left back long ago.. The day when it was dark at night. Dawn was about to arrive, and she gave birth to another son, the unnamed one. Who knew where he was, no one. Pritha could not enquire anyone either. The baby made a noise as few drops of tears fell on his face. Pritha quickly wiped them off, and held her son close. "Pritha.." said Pandu, but before he could ask anythign Pritha said, "They are just tears of relief."
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