BUTTERFLY FROM THE FLAME (JOY AND GENTLENESS OF THE FLAME)

Chapter 31

"What should we do now maharishi?" Nanda asked. "Kunti ordered it right infront of the shivling and Arjun was chosen by the mighty Kindhura. Both are the medium of mahadev's blessings none can be undone." Ved vyas said. "You mean..." Vasudev said. "Yes maharaj, your daughter will have to marry the six pandavas." Ved vyas said shocking everybody to the core. "What? But how is that possible?" Nanda asked. "That's impossible!" Drupad said. "My beloved granddaughter will have to live a life full of humiliation and shame then. She will be called various different names and impure." Ugrasen said. 

"She won't maharaj. Even Jatila devi, (also called) Maha Gautami Maya was married to the seven sapt rishis. Putri Yashodha and Devaki got putri Draupadi as her daughter through a yagna meaning she will remain pure forever." Ved vyas said. "But that was just all a dream." Yashodha and Devaki said. "That wasn't a dream putri that was your past life where you did penance to get the same daughter. That resulted Devaki to give birth to putri Draupadi and Yashodha to her shadow." Ved vyas explained the half truth.

"Putri Draupadi being born through fire will always remain pure no matter." Vyas said. "Still as a mother I can't." Rohini said. "This is very important maharani. It will be a great act of dharma in the future." Vyas said. "But still maharishi as a father I can't. I got my daughter after a long time of separation." Vasudev said. "This will not fail you maharaj. I give my word to you that this is the right thing." Vyas said. "But-" Pandu said but was cut off by Vyas. "Your sons are booned right?" Vyas asked making him nod. "Then can you tell me what boon?" Vyas said. "We don't know pitashree. The akashvani just said that they were divinely booned." Kunti said. "This marriage will help them to know and get their boon." Vyas said. "We are not desperate to get the boon that we will ruin somebody's life." Karn said making Vyas chuckle.

"I am really impressed by your thoughts and all. Pandu and Kunti you have raised your kids fine but putro like I said its very important. Its dharma to do so." Vyas said making them all look at Draupadi who was standing there listening to everything quietly and calmly. "Choti go inside you must be tired." Shikandini said as Draupadi was looking tired. Draupadi just followed her elder sister's orders and went straight to her room.

"She is still young maha rishi how can we six marry her?" Yudhistir said. "Doesn't that give an advantage? Eldest Kaunteya Karn is almost 6 years older than putri and yudhistir almost 5 years, Bheem almost 4 years and half, Arjun almost three years and Nakul and Shahadev two years and half year older. You all are mature in this relation which will make Draupadi's role easier." Vyas said. "But she hasn't even reached her teens yet! How can she marry?" Bheem asked. "The why did you send Arjun to win her in the swayamvar?" Vyas asked making them silent. "Putri Devaki what is your age now?" Vyas asked. "Almost 23." Devaki said. "When were you married?" Vyas asked. "11 years." Devaki said. "Rohini?" Vyas asked. " I am now almost 26 and was married when I was 11 as well." Rohini answered. "Yashodha, Prashasti and Kunti?" Vyas asked. "I was married at almost 12(Yashodha) 11 (Prashasti), 10 (Kunti) current age almost 23 (Yashodha) current 26 (Prashasti), 22 (Kunti)" the ladies said.

"See even your mother weren't in their teens but even younger than draupadi. You all are older and mature than her in this relation just like your fathers. This was the reason your parent's relationship worked out and so will yours. Ugrasen, Drupad, Vasudev, Nanda and Pandu tell them." Vyas said. "I was married when I was 18 (Drupad), 17 when married to Rohini and 19 to Devaki (vasudev), 19 (Nanda), 19 (Pandu) and currently 33 (Drupad), 31 (Vasudev), 31 (Nanda), 31 (Pandu)" the three said. "And when I was married I was 21 and Padmavati was 11 and now I am 59." Ugrasen said. "Your age gap is relatively smaller than your parents making you not only a guardian but a friend as well. It will be easier to befriend your partner plus you seven know each other since childhood." Vyas said.

"We will accept but will she?" Arjun asked. "My sister is an understanding person parth. She is not what you all think she will accept it." Krishna said making them confuse except for Vyas, Balram, Revati and Rukmini. "Not what we think?" Nakul asked. "She is not so childish. I meant to say that." Krishna covered up. "But aadaya will have to face many things." Shahadev said. "Its your duty to guide and help her as a husband and a friend." Vyas said. "As long as panchali is fine we are fine as well." Karn said. "She is totally fine." Krishna said. "Then the marriage will take at the ending of this week." Rukmini said. 'But the pandit said that..." Balram said. "Arya you think that the pandit said the truth?" Revati said. "You mean..." Balram said. "Talented! Aren't I?" Krishna said making Balram facepalm and the rest laugh.

The pandavas went to Draupadi's chamber to find her sleeping peacefully. Seeing her sleep peacefully they just smiled and went towards their own chambers. "Putra!" Kunti said entering their common chamber along with Yashodha, Rohini and Yashodha. "Yes mata?" the pandavas replied. "Your and ladoo's marriage is this week." Rohini said. "So as mothers we want to request something to you." Yashodha said. "Just order maiya." the pandavas said. "Our ladoo is marrying you at delicate, young age. She is still a child, karn and yudhistir I especially want you two to take care of her." Devaki said. "Like Devaki said she is just a child, she hasn't experience much childhood due to our mistake of finalizing her marriage with ayan. She was basically made an adult when she should have enjoyed her childhood." Yashodha said. "Don't let her childhood die after marriage. I know that she will be the eldest and first kulvadhu of your generation but please let her enjoy her childhood as we didn't get the chance." Rohini said.

"We surely will afterall you trust us so much." Karn said. "I will take care of that as well." Kunti said. "Okay now sleep tomorrow is your haldi." Rohini said. 

*****

Everything was going well. Draupadi accepted the marriage without any objection.

Draupadi and the pandava's haldi was all going smoothly. Draupadi was quite enjoying the entertainment going on her family was applying haldi, dance was going on and her cousins and their wives drama was going on. The pandavas were frequently glancing at Draupadi as the were right opposite to each other and the dancers were dancing in the space between them.

*****

Today was Draupadi's mehendi. Draupadi like usual was enjoying herself so were the pandavas. "Yo-hoo~" Krishna said coming to the pandava's side. "Tada!" Balram said presenting the mehendi. "Mehendi?" the pandavas asked. "Yes, now forward your hand." Dhristadyum said. 'What? Why?" the pandavas said horrified and took their hand to their chest and holding it with the other. "Now don't be so dramatic." Pandu said. "Give! Give!" Drupad, Vasudev and Nanda said. "Take!" Ugrasen said forwarding Karn and Yudhistir's hand as they were the eldest and like that all the pandavas suffered the horror of wearing mehendi.