"Pari...!!"

Every sinew of my body shuddered as if I had been with fever. I turned around with my heart beating like a drum.

"Are you fine?" By the way, how was your expedition?" That was the last nail in the coffin. Suthanu Bua mused while she cradled the new-born Swaragini in her arms. To add to my misery, my six-months old cousin giggled accompanying her mother.

"Erm...yeah. Like what expedition you are talking about?" I stammered, blinking my eyes rapidly.

"So you think you can lie to Dharmaja?" She narrowed her eyes in disbelief whilst Swara kept kicking her tiny legs in the air.

"You saw me!" I gasped. "Alright, I...I am a very bad lier.." I tried to make amends. "See, am back without creating any havoc. Please, don't tell others...please...for the sake of this birthday boy."

She rolled her eyes at my joined hands and puppy eyes.

"Okay, come to the Court, everyone is waiting. Credits to God, nobody else saw you."

Phew..!! I sighed in relief. A whole lot of burden was lifted from my shoulders.

After cleaning and rinsing myself a bit, I joined everyone in the court.

The Court hall resonated with praises of our Pitamahs and Pitamahis. Every time I heard "long live, Rajkumar Parikshit !!" my heart brimmed with joy and profound gratitude for our countrymen.

"Hey, Bhrata, so what are you asking for as your boon?" The seven-year old Vajra asked me, wiggling his brows.

"I haven't thought about it, though." I scratched my head to think of something. All my grandparents had promised me a boon on this eve and I did not have a single clue what to ask.

"Anuj, why don't you ask for some divine knowledge ?" Bhrata Anirudh is not less divine than his father, Tatshree Pradyumna. He has had the best thoughts.

"Yes, I got it." I tried my best to maintain the code of conduct at the court, or else I would have been jumping out of intense thrill.

"Thanks a lot." I managed a weird grin. Bhrata Anirudh chuckled lowly at my antics.

"Do tell me too?" Vajra whined.

"You'll get to know when the time comes." Bhrata Anirudh pacified him.

The delegates from various estates showered me with their warm wishes and gifts. The representatives of various communities, villages, occupants too blessed me hailing my name out loud. Hundreds of gold platters, shining artilleries, sweets, souvenoirs lay piled in my name. I felt like someone who had recently dropped down from the heavens.
Kakashree Yaudheya and Niramitra bestowed me with a golden bow which had transcripts on its mighty torso. It was indeed magnificent.

Finally, it was time to ask for the boon. Pitamah Krishna rose up from his throne and gestured me the same.

I came forward with bewildered prospects.

"Ask for your boon, Putra!" His charming air kept lingering around.

"Pitamah, taking the blessings from all the attendees of the court, I ask to grant me the knowledge of conquering Chakravyuh, wholly and completely." I stressed each of my words with firmness.

Thousand pairs of eyes were focussed on me, some surprised, some with sorrow in remembrance of my deceased father.

"I want to know everything that my Pitashree had left unknowing. Grant me the patience to endure all the pains to acheive victory in life."

Pitamah's eye twinkled with happiness as he ruffled my hair, "You boon will be granted, Putra."

Soon, the drizzle of flowers buried me in merriment. In a nutshell, I was overwhelmed. Still somewhere, my eyes searched for the delegates from Kamboja. A thread of thoughts kept lurking at the back of my mind.

I noted inwardly to visit Jyeshth Pitamah at the end of the day.