"No, no, not like this dear." Pitamah Arjun stretched my left arm.

"Will I now straighten the bow?" I asked concentrating on the string.

"Yes, just that way." He pointed to the mango tree towards the north. "Aim at that green mango."

"It's so far, Pitamah." I frowned.

"If you honestly concentrate on your aim, no distance is that far." He said patting on his back.

I clutched and pulled the string with my forefinger and thumb.

"Oh, no!!! It didn't pierce the mango." I pouted.

"Because, you weren't confident enough. Listen, Putra you should never doubt your capabilities." He handed me another arrow. "Pull the string. Try again and again till you succeed."

This time, I made it. But, Pitamah wasn't that glad about it. I grimaced pondering over my own thoughts.

"What happened Putra,what makes you look so upset?"

"Are you not happy, Pitamah?" I asked looking down at his feet.

"Putra, when a warrior speaks he never gazes at anyone's feet. Hold your head high. Your chin should always be lit up."

I nodded gazing at this ethereal human.
Maybe, I couldn't interpret the intensity of his words but I was sure it was more than just some words.

"Yes, are you happy now?" I held my head high and noticed his ocean like eyes pooling with pride.

He ruffled my hair in agreement.

"Aren't you tired Putra?" I turned around to locate the serene voice.

"Subhadre.." Pitamah called, "Does your knee still hurt? Did you tell Vaidji?"

"Arya, I am fine. It doesn't hurt anymore. My Pari has applied herbs on it yesterday."

"Looks like our Pari has grown up."Pitamah Arjun added.

I was struggling with the heavy bow and the pack of arrows slinged over my arm.
My hands had already turned to jelly after a three hour long practice. It was my first day though. My tummy was growling in hunger.

Much to my discontent, Pitamahi heard my adharmi tummy roar.

"Arya, don't tire my honey so much. He's just a kid. See, how tired he is." She exclaimed kissing both of my palm-tops.

"Was he like Pari too?" Pitamah's words trailed off in the air.

"Yes, just like him when Bhrata Krishna tutored him." I could feel both of their lost gazes at me. I still fumbled with my bow string trying to grasp their words.

"Like father like son." Pitamah Arjun chukkled heaving out a sigh.

"I am hungry." I complained unaware of their bitter sweet reminiscenes.

"Oh, honey let's go. I have prepared a special lunch for you." She held my hand and I trotted along with her.

I turned back after few feet away from the arena.

The Great Archer Falguna was still watching over our retreating steps.

"Uttara!" Pitamahi Subhadra exclaimed.
"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to add some cinnamons to the porridge?"

"Mata, I was actually...making halwa on the other side, I forgot about that." Replied my Mata.

"Halwa? For whom?" Pitamahi asked.

"It's okay chhoti Maa, I have added those cinnamons." Pragati Bua entered the Rasoi.

"What happened Uttara? Are you not fine?" Pitamahi caressed Mata's head.

"I am extremely sorry Mata. I never wish to disobey you." Mata's eyes shone like glitters with eventual sobs.

"It's ok, Putri. I didn't mean to hurt you. Can't I scold my daughter?" She said. "Now smile."

"No one cares about this daughter, then?" Bua stepped closer joining their warm embrace.

"And me?" I held my waist with fisted hands. "I am going."

"You...Pari..hehehe", Bua ran behind me and grabbed me to her arms making my short attempt to run past her fail miserably.

"Okay, now give me the porridge, Pragati. My grandson is hungry after his first day." Pitamahi advised.

"First day!! Pari, what did you learn?" Pragati Bua asked.

"I...pierced a mango with my arrow. Then, I learnt how to use the sword. You know what, Pitamah has said that if I excel with my wooden sword, I will get my own real sword." I sqealed in delight.

"Pari..your porridge is ready. Open your mouth." I relished its sweetness as Pitamahi fed me.

"Good, boy." Pragati Bua said plopping me into her lap. "Seems you are pretty full, now let's go to the library."

"Yes." I nodded in agreement.

On the other side, Pitamahi Subhadra still pondered over the making of Halwa.

"Mata, have you forgotten this day?" Mata Uttara asked Pitamahi.

"Which day are you talking about, Putri?"
She enquired. "Oh,how can I forget it."
Her brown eyes pooled with tears.
"It's...it's..What kind of a mother I am!!" She slapped her head.

"Yes, you brought me from Matsya." Mata smiled. A smile, conveying pain and happiness. I stand mesmerised at the woman who has shown the light to me. The light of my existence.

"My son's favourite Halwa. It seems you have added extra raisins. He loved it that way." Pitamahi Subhadra was lost in her own trance of memories. Memories? Whose?

Pragati Bua's cheeks were reddened too, glittering with fresh, warm droplets of tears. Mata was brought here from Matsya. Why?

Parikshit was surrounded by three women, who were reminiscing their past lives. It felt as if he was surrounded by something more. The incoherent existence of the other family members.

"Son, do you want to taste this halwa?" Mata called me after wiping the glistening tears.

"Yes, yes why not?" I gulped a spoonful of that. Oh holy heavens! Mata has magic in her hands. The freshly dried raisins plopping from the white semolina. The crispy almonds playing a peek-a-boo with the semolina seeds, green cardamoms a few.

"It is incredible." I moaned in delight and content.

"Can I get a few more raisins?" I asked Mata wagging her pallu.

The three broke in a hearty laughter.
After, a while they smiled at each other.
This time a glint of satisfaction washed their faces.

"Here, your raisins." Mata put a handful on my plate.

"Just like him" Mata sighed, her gaze not leaving me.

The other two women too sighed.
In agreement. They were quite similar. Why wouldn't it be? Afterall, he was his father's Pari.

Hello, peeps. Do vote and comment if you like.
And this particular chapter was really very close to my heart. Hope you like it.