Precap - "Maharaj Babhruvahana! Rajmata Chitrangada wishes to meet you in her chambers"

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He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you, leaves its own mark

       - J. K. Rowling

"Rajkumar! Princess Chitrangada wishes to meet you in her chambers"

Little Babhruvahana turns around hearing the helper's voice. Nodding at her, he strides to his mother's chambers eager to share his latest achievements with her, not knowing about the storm awaiting him. As the chamber's doors open to let him inside, he barges in shouting as he did the other days.

"Maa! Did you know what happened today? I finally defeated Bhrata Iru in the archery contest. Phew. I have been wanting to do that for so long. All -"

However, the prince's words fall short as he notices that his mother did not greet him with the usual cheerful face neither did she applaud his achievement. His face drops as he cautiously approaches his despondent mother and raises a hesitant hand to hold hers.

"Maa? Are you okay? What happened?"

Chitrangada sighs listening to her son's question. She wonders how she could share the news with her eight year old and spoil his vibrant mood. The mother in her implores her to forego the news and listen to what her son has to say but her mind warns her that she has hidden it from him long enough.

Her mind also warns her about the consequences that might occur if the child heard the news from someone else. Deciding to pay heed to her mind, she holds her son's hand and gains his undivided attention before saying,

"Babhru, dear, whatever I am about to tell you now, please listen with a calm mind." She takes in a deep breath before continuing, "Dear, You have been asking me why you have not received any replies from Indraprasth right? The reason is, your father is no longer in Indraprasth. He is currently living in a forest. He could not reply since he did not receive your letters."

A confused look takes over the young prince as his mind does not wrap around the part that his father, a prince, is living in a forest all of a sudden. He voices his doubts.

"Forest maa? But why? He is a prince of Indraprasth right? Why did he leave his kingdom?"

The princess of Manipur replies, "Babhru, your father and uncles went to Hastinapur for a game of dice with their cousins. They lost the game and were asked to stay in forests for a while."

A variety of emotions flash across the child's face ranging from sadness to hope. With a voice laced with hope, he asks, "Maa? Which forest are they in? Can we address the letters to the forest?" He gasps excitedly as an idea generates in his little brain, "Maa, we are surrounded by forests. Can we ask father to live close by? Maybe we can meet him then."

Tears brim the eyes of the mother as she takes in the expectant face of her child. Words get stuck in her throat refusing to be uttered and effectively crush the prince's heart. She almost melts at the look and considers asking the same of her husband. The princess in her, however, serves as an ugly reminder of the need for prince Arjun to observe a life of austerity and gain the knowledge of divine weapons.  Heaving a heavy sigh, she answers, already dreading her son's reaction.

"Son, we cannot send letters to your father since he will soon leave in search of some answers and knowledge that he needs. We cannot disturb him right? But don't worry. We can contact him when he returns from the forest. It's only a few years. You will not realize when they passed by."

Although Chitranagda says so, to soothe her son, the ache in her heart points out that thirteen is not a small number and that, time will not be kind to her in these thirteen years. Tears stream down the cheeks of the little prince as he grasps the news.

"So, will I not get a chance to meet father till I grow up Maa?"

He asks. Receiving his answer in his mother's silence, a gut wrenching sob breaks out of his mouth. His little body shakes as he tries to contain his sobs in vain and he collapses on the ground burying his face in his mother's lap. Chitrangada caresses her son's head hoping to calm his tears while her own escape. The sniffles of the mother-son duo take over the room as they both try to find comfort in each other.

Sucking in a deep breath, Babhruvahana attempts to reduce the weight on his chest as he awaits for the footman to inform his mother of his arrival. The sheer similarity between the two requests hit him hard and he hopes with all his might that this time pleasant news falls in his ears. The footman returns, nodding at him. With a heavy heart Babhru steps in, preparing himself for any news he might receive.

"Ah! Babhru! Come here son." calls Chitra.

"Maa? Is everything alright?" asks Babhru.

"Yes dear. Can a mother not wish to spend time with her baby? Why do you appear tensed?" replies Chitra.

Babhruvahana heaves a sigh of relief and chastises himself for falling prey to his overthinking once again. A bright smile grows on his face sensing the light atmosphere in the room and he answers,

"Of course maa. I am fine. I am sorry I haven't visited you often since reaching here."

"Nonsense. Both of us were occupied. Anyway, I hear you have met Bhrata Krishna. How is he?" she asks.

"He is every bit as charming and witty as everyone described him to be. Although quiet mischievous too. I have never seen someone play with words so skillfully like him." replies Babhru with a fond smile.

"Mischief and Bhrata Krishna do go hand in hand." says Chitra while chuckling remembering the stories she heard of him.

"Yeah. It appears so. Apparently Thanu and he used to sneak out for picnics up the hills near Dwaraka. Uncle Krishna has invited me to join them the next time they go on one. We, then spoke about life in Dwaraka and Manipur. We talked about our hobbies. He even played a song for us on his flute. It is the most beautiful music I have heard till now. Truly unparalleled." says Babhru lost in the memories of the day and does not realize his sister's presence.

"You did not mention you panicking when uncle Krishna asked you few simple questions." Suthanu announces her presence and plops down beside Chitra taking her blessings.

"Panicking?" asks Chitra amused, watching Babhru frantically signal Thanu to keep quiet.

Thanu, however, utilizes the situation to her advantage and goes to explain the conversation between the uncle and nephew in detail, much to Babhru's dismay. Laughter bubbles out of the wife of Arjuna as she listens to the animated narration of Suthanu. Babhru makes numerous attempts to divert the topic only to have them thwarted by his mother who is very intently involved in Thanu's stories.

"Oh! My cute innocent boy" coos Chitra pulling a blushing Babhru's cheeks.

"Maa! I am not cute or innocent." grumbles Babhru though he secretly loves his mother pampering him.

"Mata, please tell me some childhood stories of Babhru" asks Suthanu with pleading eyes.

"No!" Babhru's shout is however ignored. "Sure putri. Which one do you want to listen to? The one where he embarrassed a courtier or where he embarrassed me or when wanted to dress up as a girl?" asks Chitra.

Suthanu's eyes widen as she realizes that she hit jackpot. "Start with the last one please Mata" she asks excitedly.

"Maa! No please!" requests Babhru trying everything he can to stop his impending doom. "Don't you have some work with mata Subhadra or Pitashree or someone?"

"No son. I am completely free. You have raised a good point though. I should call them too. They'd like to hear these stories too." says Chitrangada smiling playfully.

"Maa! Must you do this? Telling Thanu is equivalent to telling the whole palace anyway." whines Babhru.

"Hey! I take offense to that. Just for that statement, I will make sure everyone knows about it." declares Suthanu.

"You would -" Babhru's reply was cut short  by Suthanu's request. "Mata please continue with the story about how this guy here, dressed up as a girl." 

Laughing softly at the kids' banter, Chitra proceeds with the narration ignoring Babhru's protests.

"This is when Babhru was about four years old. Babhru and I traveled to another kingdom for the marriage of one of my friends. We had gathered around to take a look at the various dresses that the seamstress brought for us. Unfortunately for Babhru, there were no boys his age to play with, in that kingdom then. So, he tagged along with me and was curiously observing the different sarees that we were trying on. I had selected a couple of them and placed Babhru on the floor to check the dress near a mirror."

"I think Thanu got an idea by now. We don't have to continue this maa" interrupts Babhru

He is again ignored. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, by the time I returned from the mirror, a very funny sight was awaiting me. This little guy somehow climbed to the middle of the saree strewn floor and fisted two sarees in both hands and was imitating my friends. He placed both the sarees against himself and turned to me asking how they looked on him."

By this time, Babhru resembled a beetroot and Suthanu was clutching her stomach amidst her laughter.

"I told him that sarees are not for him and he threw a tantrum about how I always only get dhoti and angavastram for him and minimal jewellery. In a fit of rage, he stomped to the jewelries and picked up a kamarbandh and shouted 'At least buy this for me.'"

A fit of uncontrollable laughter hit both the ladies and Babhru somehow surpassed a beetroot.

"Babhru, I have a lot of kamarbandhs. Feel free to borrow them anytime." says Suthanu and bursts out laughing again.

"Hahaha" mocked Babhru unable to come up with a better retort and planning to visit Draupadi for similar stories on her.

Few moments later, the laughter reduced to mere chuckles and Chitra noticed the darkening sky and suggested that they join the rest of their family. Agreeing with her, the kids head out of the room followed by their mother. As they continue towards the common hall, Chitra notices Draupadi and Uloopi walking down the hallway in a comfortable silence.

One could notice the drastic change and growing relation between the two. The very air around them did not seem awkward anymore. A relieved smile takes over Chitra's features as she observes her two sisters finally bonding.

Glossary:

Rajkumar - Prince

Bhrata - Elder Brother

Maa/Mata - Mother

Putri - Daughter

Pitashree - father

Dhoti/ Angavastram - Traditional garments worn by men

Kamarbandh - An ornament worn around the waist

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Hello everyone!

Wish you a very happy and prosperous new year

Here's the next part of our champ's adventure. I have realized that I never included a proper Chitra - Babhru bonding, so this chapter is dedicated to the duo. How is it?

Looking forward to reading your opinions

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Stay safe, be happy and have a great day/night❤️