Chapter 80
Kindly note!
There is going to be a time skip in this chapter. This chapter will directly begin from Shrutsen's birth which would be followed by another time skip.
No more children of the pandavas and Panchaali will be a part of this story because honestly managing so many characters is not easy. However there will be my other drafts, like around four other books on pandavas and Panchaali that I will be releasing, it depends on when you all want me to release them. I can do it whenever you wish!
There is one book which is going to be a sequel of this story when Pandavas are born in Kalyug, but roughly in the time frame of Mughal Empire. Which would be followed by another book, that is Pandavas and Panchaali in Modern era.
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A few months later:
This wasn't the first time Panchaali had been in a mother, but like every time tears filled her eyes as she looked at her youngest born Shrutsen.
Though this wasn't the first time she had been a mother, she still felt that warmth in her chest,that utter love and care for her son, she hugged him close to her chest as she pressed her lips to his forehead.
Shrutsen,her son Shrutsen, her youngest born. She couldn't stop the watery laugh that left her mouth when she saw him smile up at her for the first time. This feeling of motherhood was magical, there was just no way to put it in words, it was a blessing that she had received, her son,her little boy.
She took in his little features as she touched his little fingers, so tiny and so cute. She pressed her lips to his forehead, no matter how many time she looked at him, her heart never filled with content, she always wanted to look at him more.
Sahadev wrapped his arm around her shoulder as he laid his head on hers sideways, as the two looked at their little baby, love and adoration filling their eyes, "He is just so beautiful." She whispered in awe, as Sahadev nodded agreeing, he was still speechless as he looked at their little creation. Their little son. . .
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A few years later.
Hastinapur, it had been so long since she had walked in this corridors. Nothing seemed changed at all. A smile appeared on her face as she recalled the warm welcome that they had been given by Maharaj Dhirthrasthr and Maharani Gandhari, what surprised her more was Duryodhan's behavior, he had been way too polite and welcoming. Like he wasn't the same man that she had met not long ago, when she had arya Yudhisthir were crowned as the samrat and samragyi. "Panchaali you rest here." Arjun's voice had her snapping out of her thoughts, she coughed as she looked up at him. "Arya but what about the function, won't tatshree and mata Gandhari feel offended if I didn't attend?" She asked worried as she looked around at Pandavas who sighed. "You're having high fever here, you can't stand straight, you're shivering like a damn leaf and you are worried about what would they think? They will understand." Sahadev admonished as he put the wet cloth on her forehead. "What I don't understand is how the hell did she get so sick?!" Bheem growled, frustrated and worried. "It's her periods, she is rajasvala." Nakul said as he patted her head.
"But it has never been so bad for her before." Yudhisthir pointed out as he gazed at his wife worried, his heart was breaking, he knew very well none of them would be able to concentrate on anything except her. "That's what is worrying me." Sahadev admitted as he checked her pulse, she moaned and groaned in pain as she her stomach crunched in pain, Arjun tightened his hold on her hand as his worry just increased, "Do something Sahadev!" He shouted worried as he rubbed her palms, "Arya." She whimpered in pain as a tear rolled down her cheeks, she felt like her womb was heavy with a weight as it slowly crunched with a pain that was intensifying with each moment, her back ached,her thighs and legs were in no better condition. There wasn't a part in her body that didn't hurt or pulse with pain.
"I am trying!" Sahadev replied half panicking as he brought the glass of some medicinal herbs to her lips, "Open up love, drink it." Yudhisthir whispered as he helped her raise her neck, Nakul soothingly rubbed her head as Bheem and Arjun massaged her hand, tears were flowing down her cheeks like a waterfall. "Shh princess everything will be fine." Bheem whispered assuredly, his voice soft and dripped with concern as his eyes shined with tears, seeing her in pain made him feel sick, "Such a good girl princess." Nakul praised, his voice chocking with tears, Arjun pressed his lips to the back of her hand as a tear tracked down his cheek, he hated her seeing like this, he didn't like seeing her one bit of pain, if he could he would have taken every pain on himself instead of her.
Yudhisthir lay her head on the pillow back as he looked at his wife, her breathing was now deeper as she slowly slipped in the world of unconsciousness. "I didn't really have all the herbs here to ease her pain, I have sent some men out to collect the ones I need by the time the dyut is over they should return. Till than this will keep her unconscious. That's all I can do for now." Sahadev said frustrated, he didn't like not being able to help her, he hated it. Specially he could but was helpless because he was short on supplies, Hastinapur really had to pace up, if he had been in Indraprasth, she by now would have been healthy walking around happily, every week he stocked new medicines for her, he specially made sure that all the medicines that might be needed for her were available, but this was Hastinapur and he was short on supplies here. He growled frustrated, stupid place. He didn't want to be here, for some reason he was having a bad feeling like something very bad is about to happen, like the biggest adharm of mankind was about to happen.
He looked at his wife, he really was concerned for her, he was dreading every moment, he needed nothing more than to take her away from here. Anything happening to them , they could tolerate but hurting Panchaali was not something he could see. "Bhraatashree we should take Panchaali back I am not having a good feeling about this." Sahadev said as he looked up at his four brothers who gazed at him concerned. "We can't do that, you know it. Either way we had decided earlier that she won't be attending the Sabha, for her protection. Instructions to the guards of Indraprasth are made clear to take Panchaali from here the moment they see things going down, doesn't matter what happens or what she says." Yudhisthir stated as he ran his hand through her hair, he gazed at his love, her face was serene and peaceful, he was doing best to hold on to calmness but it was no secret that when it came to his Dharma Dharmraj could never be calm, she was one thing that was his biggest weakness and strength, his heart hammered in his chest wildly as he looked down at her, he could do anything but seeing her hurt was his biggest fear, hence well in advance it was decided though Panchaali will come to Hastinapur she will not be attending the dyut sabha, a team of specially trained soldiers and best assassins was prepared, with clear instructions to kill anyone who was a threat to her.
"Bhraatashree please, let's just send Panchaali back as long as she is here my worry for her won't fade." Arjun pleaded as he looked at his brother, "Sending her alone is not an option, specially in this condition." Nakul stated heavily as he pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes shut as he felt his head thrumming with worry, he could feel a headache coming. He sighed as he looked at her, his heart was not at peace today. Bheem was silent his eyes focused on his wife, the feeling of foreboding building in his stomach as he looked down at her. He felt suffocated like someone was tightening it's hold on his heart.
"Samrat prasan ho..." A dasi said as she entered, "Maharaj Dhritarashtr is waiting for your arrival Samrat." The dasi said making Yudhisthir nod, "let's go." He said, his brothers nodded, the pandavas looked back at their sleeping wife, their hearts clenched, as the feeling of foreboding wrapped around their hearts, they didn't want to live but they had to. . .
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Panchaali bit back a scream of pain, her whole body was throbbing in agony, but what hurt worse was her heart, "Samragyi Prasan ho. Maharaj Yudhisthir has lost Rajkumar Nakul." The words of dasi were like arrows to her heart, "Maharani ap kuch karti kyun nhi?!" Panchaali shouted, her voice dripped with pain, frustration and fear. Nakul, her arya Nakul was now a daas? The thought brought tears to her eyes as anger bubbled in her heart, such a big humiliation of her husband! How dare they?! She thought as her hands clenched at her side.
"If I could stop it, I would." Gandhari said as tears traced down her cheeks, Kunti was sobbing. "You're hands might be bound, but I am the Samragyi I shall put stop to this adharmi dyut sabha!" Panchaali said determined as she gritted her teeth to stop herself from moaning in pain as her body thrummed with pain. However arya Nakul's face, the king of her heart was now a daas, she refused to let it happen.
She pushed herself to standup as dark spots danced in her vision, her womb squeezed painfully making her want to crumple with pain on the ground, but all she could focus on was her arya, her Nakul, her best friend. She fisted her hand as anger and pain warred in her, she marched down the corridors, her furious pace and determined expression had people backing away.
Two guards crossed their spears in front of her preventing her from entering the sabha, their heads were bowed as they looked down in fear, "let me go! It's the Samragyi's order." She gritted the words out as her eyes glared at the servants. They moved back allowing her in.
The jhankar of her payals had the Pandavas turning towards the door, the others followed their gaze. "Samrat!" Her voice rang like a thunder in the entire sabha silencing everyone, her gaze moved sideways to her husband, all her anger left her as her eyes met Nakul's, who looked at her, his face showed his humiliation, and embarrassment as he turned his gaze back on floor, not being able to meet hers. Her heart shattered as her throat tightened painfully, tears filled her eyes, she wanted nothing more than to hug him, to wrap her arms around him.
The sight was burned in her mind, her husband on his knees bowing his head as he kneeled with the other daas.
She looked up from Nakul to Yudhisthir, fury blazed in her heart as she looked at him in the eyes. "Samrat! How could you let this happen?! How could you do this?!" She questioned as she looked at her Yudhisthir, who stood there, she could see the guilt, the pain, the suffering in his eyes but right now she was too angry.
"Samragyi prasan ho." Gandhar raj called out, "Samragyi whatever is happening here, it is happening according to the dharm." He said, a s smirk on his face that had her tightening her fists, she gazed at Yudhisthir, "Apne mere pati ko hi haar diya... Yeh kis prakar ka dharm hai?" She questioned, her eyes blazing as the barely veiled anger being shown through her words.
"Samragyi this is dharm. So I request you kindly leave my sabha. As long as women are here this game can't go on." Dhritarashtr said making the fury in her blaze brighter, she looked at her husbands, willing at least one of them to speak. Her tear filled eyes were echoing with pain as they looked at the pandavas, Yudhisthir wanted to stop this game but this chakravyuh of dharm that Gandhar raj had made had him stuck in between, he was filled with guilt, his heart clenching as it silently bled.
She turned around and left, the fury blazing brighter with each passing moment as the helpless expression on her husbands' faces had her wanting to cry and scream all at once. What was wrong with them?! Why wouldn't they do anything?
The jolt of pain through her body had her stumbling, she breathed heavily as her body heated up due to the heavy fever, she didn't care, all she could focus on was her husbands, Nakul's helpless position making her heart clench. "I want to be alone."She ordered as she entered the room, everyone left leaving her alone to boil in her own worry. . .
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Yudhisthir couldn't believe his eyes, what had he done? He had lost all his brothers and himself, yet there were no tears in his eyes, his heart thrummed with pain and guilt, regret that slowly chocked him with each passing moment.
"Mamashree I won! I am the Samrat!" Duryodhan laughed as he looked at the five pandavas who bowed on the floor. Anger and fury blazing through their heart as they glared at him, Yudhisthir remained calm, he might have nothing but he still had Panchaali, she was all that they ever needed.
"Get Draupadi here!" Duryodhan ordered, "DURYODHAN!" The five voices shouted together as they stood up, their posture screamed murder, they were ready to take him down. "Duryodhan don't cross your limits!" Bhism shouted as he glared at him, "I am the Samrat! They are my daas I can do whatever I wish." Shouted Duryodhan, "We might be your daas but that doesn't permit you to touch our wife! Keep her out of this!" Dharmraj shouted, his calmness vanishing in thin air, "If you dared to look at her I will kill you!" Bheem growled as he glared at Duryodhan, who was getting frustrated. "They are right mere bache you can't call Panchaali here, for that you will need to win her too." Gandhar raj suggested making Duryodhan smirk with arrogance.
"I bet my wife Kaashi putri Bhanumati!" He announced proudly, making the Pandavas heart sink as dread pooled in their stomach, Yudhisthir's eyes met his brothers a look of terror on his face, his brother's had tears in their eyes as they shook their heads, silently telling him not to do it, their eyes pleading with Yudhisthir.
"Don't let this happen Bhraatashree!" Sahadev pleaded, his heart was beating wildly the feeling of foreboding getting stronger, "I can't bet my wife." Dharmraj's voice rang in the sabha, "Now don't tell us that you can't bet because you have no right on your wife. If you have accepted that you have a right on your brothers, You have to accept that you have a right on your wife daas Yudhisthir." Gandhar raj said as he smirked egotistically, the pandavas fist clenched if they could they would have shredded him to pieces by their bare hands.
"No Bhraatashree if you dared bet on Panchaali, than it's my pran that I'll burn your hands that dared to put her on stake!" He shouted, never in his life had he felt so helpless, he clenched and unclenched his fists wanting to kill the Kauravas, he wanted nothing more than to break every bone in Duryodhan's body.
Yudhisthir's heart cracked, his dharm and his love was pulling him in two different directions. "Khelo daas Yudhisthir." Shakuni ordered, "how will me? He though has the right on his wife,he is not proud of her!" Dushasan stated with a laugh, Shakuni smirked as he knew this would hurt them the most. "Who will be proud of a woman like her?" Duryodhan smirked as he stated, "DURYODHAN!" Four pandavas shouted on top of their voices as they each took a threatening step towards the man in front him, their hands itching to kill him, the fury in their voice was enough to make the people in the sabha jump back in fear. Yudhisthir's hand clenched as he now glared at Duryodhan, the man had dared to insult his wife, he always tried to protect Duryodhan from the wrath of his brothers but from this very moment, he ended all such bounds to him.
"Duryodhan! I curse you that during your last breath you will beg for death but none shall be given to you!" Pitamah's soul cried today, the man wanted nothing more than dharm in his Hastinapur and this is how he was repaid, with a grandson like this monster in front of him.
Krishn looked up tears filled in his eyes as anger marred his features Duryodhan's words were like arrows to his heart that pierced right through it, fury boiled under his skin, "Seven times you shall beg for death than only you will be given the mercy of death but before that all the adharms of your life shall befall on you as pain, you will suffer and that is my promise to you. Each day you shall see your brothers die, your friends die, all your supporters die , you will cry the tears of blood." Krishn shouted as his voice was laced in pain and fury.
"I don't fear your curses Pitamah!" Duryodhan said arrogantly, "What reason did you curse my friend for? What he said is true. She is like a sister of mine as she is the daughter of my father's friend but I am ashamed to call her my sister, a woman who sleeps with five men how can she have any character?" Ashwathama's words just made the pandavas anger boil, their souls tore as their heart burned, like someone had poured acid in it. Dronacharya looked at his son, a look of disbelief and hurt marring his features, "Agar tum mere putr na hote Ashwathama toh main tumhe shrap deta ki tumhare rom rom mein kide pade, ananth kaal tak jiyo par maut ki bheek mang mang kar, tum rote raho kisi ke sath ke liye par sansaar tumhara parityaag kare." He spat as he looked at his son who was shocked by the words of his beloved father.
"So shall happen." Krishn said as he fisted his hand on the hilt of his sword that he swung around, the head of the attacker went flying away as the body slump on the ground. Krishn's heart hurt he desperately wanted to stop what was happening .
"If you are such a big follower of Dharma why not behead him? What has he said wrong? A woman who can insult a person on the basis of his caste without regarding about his feelings, how could such a woman ever be pure or have any character?" Karn spat as his hands fisted, glaring at Pandavas. The pandavas growled as Arjun's patience snapped as he looked at Karn, his anger had no bounds today, the man today had crossed all the limits, he dared to insult the one person he loved and respected more than anyone else.
"Angraj Karn! Khud ke saamarthy pe ghamnd karte ho par nirbal bhikari ke saman upshabdh bolte ho. Smaran rahe apna sara gyaan kho kar maroge! Aatma se daridr hokar maroge!" Shouted Arjun, fury and hate lacing his voice, he was trembling with anger as he glared at the man in front of him with all the hate.
"Avashya! Mirthyu ke samaye dharm ke ek kan ke liye tadpoge, Samagr jeevan vyarth lagega Maharathi Karn." Shouted Krishn,his words resonating with anger. Slowly with each moment he was ready to tear everything down, pain was blanketing his soul, Sakhi. He thought as tears glazed his eyes.
"Uttam Ati uttam. So it is proven that Yudhisthir has the right on his wife but is not proud of her." Shakuni taunted as he looked at Yudhisthir, whose fury finally bursted out,he marched towards Shakuni, Dharmraj's body was taut with fury, he had enough, no more could he take the insult of his beloved, he was proud of her, more than anything in this world! He prided in the fact that she was his wife, his life partner,his best friend, the mother of his children. He was proud of her damn it!
"Sure I am proud of her! I am proud of Panchaali's tapasya, her sacrifices, there is no women in this world who is a sati like her, she is the purest to me!" He shouted, his voice laced with pride and pain, he glared at Shakuni, "get new paaseh and mehru!"he commanded, "You're a daas Yudhisthir! No one shall follow your commands!" Duryodhan shouted, Dharmraj had enough, he knew something was wrong with the paasehs so far he didn't say anything but now something more precious than his life was on stake, he wrapped his hands around the pahses and crushed them, oh how he wished it was Shakuni's skull.
The pieces of the pahses fell with a resonating thump, Shakuni felt as though his father was killed once again, "Either follow the command of this daas or kill me right this moment!" Dharmraj shouted and he secretly wished that they will, that he will be dead. It was better than staking his wife, and leaving her vulnerable to this monster. A war was going in within him, his protective instinct over her wanted to shred everyone present, to him she was all that mattered but the beast in him was shackled by dharma today. Time was testing him in the worst way possible, he didn't care what happened to her, whether he became a daas or beggar it didn't matter, what mattered was her safety and happiness.
"Khelo daas Yudhisthir." Shakuni ordered making him snap out of his thoughts, tears filled his eyes as he kneeled on the ground, his heart bled, "At the time of death a person's every cell and fiber fights to leave, today with my everything I will flight to win, I can't lose Panchaali. I never can." Agony, his voice was dripping with it as tears after tears trailed down his cheeks, he felt like the death was slowly moving towards him, as his hands shook as he picked the paaseh, never in his life before his hands shook but today nothing anymore seemed stable,his life was in shambles and the reason for which he lived was at stake. His Panchaali was at stake, he can't lose her, he just can't! He refused to lose his precious girl, no, god not her.
The four pandavas on the side prayed, they begged the god today that for this once she maybe sparred. That if the god willed he could take their life but spare her of this cruel fate.
Arjun hated himself, he detested his very being. Gandivdhaari Arjun? The best archer? He didn't deserve any of those titles, he was worse than an animal, even they protected their family till their last breath, he wanted to kill himself. He felt like a vermin, his girl had made so many sacrifices for them, for him, she gave them nothing but happiness and what did he do when everyone was insulting her? Just threatened them. He didn't deserve her, his hands fisted as his anger bubbled.
Bheem looked at his hands, world's strongest man yet failing to save one girl. Shame on him, he thought as he looked at his hands, he wanted to kill himself, he protected her at every step of his life but today when she needed him the most he was miserably failing, anger burned bright in his chest, his hands were itching to crack the skulls of the men in front of him.
Nakul and Sahadev were completely broken, the girl whom they loved, each day they worked hard, they tried to make her as happy and as comfortable as possible but now will they be able to see her as a dasi that to of Duryodhan? Their hands fisted at the mere thought, their soul cried as their heart shattered, their minds were in chaos, not their Panchaali, not their princess, she didn't deserve it.
Duryodhan's laughter had them all looking up, their breath caught in their chest as their heart shattered, dread sunk it's talons in their soul as Shakuni smirked, "Daas Yudhisthir prasan hoooooo!" He sang, "Pandavpriya ab Duryodhan dasi hui." He announced, the Kauravas laughed, Karn smirked and so did Shakuni. Mahamahim Bhism felt his soul crack, Dronacharya felt lost, Vidur cried. Yudhisthir just stared at the board, he lost her, he felt like his soul left him too, the death that was slowly approaching earlier now surrounded him,taunted him and punished him.
"The princess of Panchaal, the pandav priye, The greatest pride of pandavas, the Samragyi Panchaali will now be dragged in the Hastinapur Sabha as my Dasi!" Laughed Duryodhan, the rest of the Kaurav brothers followed, fury bubbled in the souls of Pandavas but pain echoed louder than that. They bowed their heads, their hands fisted, anger, self hatred, guilt, regret, agony,everything warred in them, killing them slowly. . .
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