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

Chapter 33

"We are going to reach Hastinapur." Pandu said. "Putro space out a bit. Putri Draupadi isn't running away." Kunti said making Pandu chuckle as the pandava's were riding their respective horse surrounding Draupadi's carriage. The pandavas space out with their blushing face upon hearing Kunti's face and Draupadi was biting back a chuckle.

As Draupadi's carriage entered Hastinapur, people could feel her divinity and purity even through a great distance and closed curtains. Her divine and pure yet fiery aura with yojanagandha smell bringing out people from their house to see the carriage. Everybody felt peace and calmness as the carriage entered hastinapur. Everybody were curious for who was inside.

"Priye Draupadi.." Nakul called. "Yes arya?" Draupadi answered. Hearing arya he turned red. "We are near the palace." Nakul informed. "Okay." Draupadi replied. The kuru family were standing on the doorway waiting to welcome their family. As Draupadi's carriage passed and entered the palace gates the royals felt a wind of divinity, purity and power. "Who is that in the carriage who is giving so much divinity, purity and power ever since it entered hastinapur?" Bhism asked joyfully. "Its feels like as if devi laxmi, devi saraswati and devi parvati has entered." Vidur said. Nobody could deny what Bhism and Vidur said, calmness, sereneness was all over Hastinapur.

"Pranipat pitamah, jyesth, bhabhi and bhrata." Pandu and Kunti said. Everybody's face lit up seeing the pandavas and their family except for Shakuni, Duryodhan and Dushasan. "So where is the new bride?" Gandhari asked. "She is in her carriage mata." Arjun said. "The one who is calm as the sea but fierce as fire, the one who gives pleasure like the first wind, sister of Dwarkadeesh Vasudev Shree Krishna, the mathura yuvrani, panchal kumari, Vasudev/nanda suta, yashodha ladli, drupad kanya Panchali Draupadi." Arjun introduced his wife with his head high, back straight with pride along with the rest.

Hearing upon her name Draupadi got out of her carriage. As she ascended the stairs the maids placed plates with flowers and instead of the flowers being flat and dying it bloomed to its fullest. "Wait she..." Dhritrarsatra said. "What happened tatshree?" karn asked. "Gandhari! isn't she the one?" Dhritrarsatra asked. "Yes arya she is the one." Gandhari said. "What?" Pandu asked. "She is the divya balika who gave me eyes sight!" Dhritrarsatra exclaimed making everybody turn to him astonished.

FLASHBACK

Few years before,

Dhritrarsatra and gandhari were returning from Shanti Kingdom and as they were returning some dacoits attacked the royal carriage. The soldiers defeated them but Dhritrarsatra and Gandhari carriage was lost as the horse went out of control due to the sudden commotion. Their carriage ended up in the bank of Yamuna.

Dhritrarsatra and Gandhari got out of the carriage unknown of their surroundings. Their knew that they were near the river bank as they could hear the river flowing but couldn't feel the presence of any humans. "Pranipat, how may I help you?" a sweet honey like voice danced in their ears. "Yes but who are you?" Gandhari asked. "I am Draupadi mata." Draupadi said. "Gokul's soul, nanda dulari, yashodha ladli, bramhand sundari?" Dhritrarsatra asked. "Bramhand sundari is too flattering for me, yes I am nanda dulari." Draupadi said.

"Where are we putri?" Dhritrarsatra asked. "Right now you are at bank of yamuna. I came here to fill pots and happened to meet you." Draupadi said. "Mate (mother) you look worn out and thirsty may you like some water?" Draupadi asked. "Yes please putri." Gandhari said and Draupadi offered water to Gandhari. "Baba?" Draupadi asked. "Yes please." Dhritrarsatra said with a fatherly smile hearing baba. Draupadi then offered water to Dhritrarsatra and he drank it. "Baba would you like to wash your face?" Draupadi said and Dhritrarsatra nodded.

Draupadi then poured water and Dhritrarsatra washed his face. As he finished washing his face his eyes felt uneasy due to the water (you know when you go swimming and water makes your eyes uneasy and tight?). "What happened baba?" Draupadi asked. "Nothing my eyes is feeling uneasy." Dhritrarsatra said. 'Let ,e help you." Draupadi said and took the end of her pallo and wiped his face and eyes. After wiping his eyes and face Dhritrarsatra opened his eyes and to his surprise he could see!

"Wait a minute! What is this?" Dhritrarsatra said. "What arya?" Gandhari said. "Is this what world and colors look like?" Dhritrarsatra said. He was eyeing everything like a newborn. "What arya? I can't understand you." Gandhari said. 'Gandhari! I can see! I CAN SEE! EVERYTHING!" Dhritrarsatra exclaimed making gandhari shock. Dhritrarsatra then opened her blindfold. "Open your eyes gandhari! Now no need for you to wear this blindfold. I am not blind anymore." Dhritrarsatra said and Gandhari opened her eyes. Their joy knew no boundaries, their eyes then landed on Draupadi who was refilling her pots.

"Thank you putri! Thank you!" Dhritrarsatra and gandhari said joining their hands. "I called you baba and mate and you called me putri. You shouldn't join your hands." Draupadi said. 'You did a great favor on us putri!" Gandhari said. "I? What did I do? I just offered water." Draupadi said. "You did way more than that! You gave me my eyesight!" Dhritrarsatra said. "Who? Me? I don't think so." Draupadi said. "Who else then? Only you can." Gandhari said. "Me? I am just an ordinary gopika mate." Draupadi said.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Not a surprise. I have heard many tales about her divinity, beauty and knowledge." Bhism said. "Here she comes." Arjun said as Draupadi came closer where they were standing. As Draupadi came forwards she shared a glance with Arjun and Arjun just smiled. "Pitamah! Putra Bheem actually has a son and wife." Pandu said shocking the kuru family and Draupadi. "Putra Bheem actually adopted a son. Hidimbi's son." Kunti said. Everybody knew who Hidimbi was and were shocked. Bheem nervously studied Draupadi's face in order to find any disgust or anger but she didn't had any instead she had a proud smile with complete sereneness. "I will not accept him as the heir of the throne but as a grandson I surely and happily will." Pitamah said.

Draupadi went forward and bent down to take the blessing of gandhari and Dhritrarsatra including Bhism and Vidur. "Come forward Arjun. The new couple will take the arti together." Gandhari said. The pandavas looked at each other and came forwards along with Draupadi confusing gandhari. "We six have married her mata." Yudhistir said shocking gandhari. "Adharma!" Shakuni said. "This is adharma pitamah!" Duryodhan said. "This is cheating as well! Bhrata Duryodhan was supposed to marry drupad kanya!" Dushasan said. "That's not cheating dushasan. Don't forget I won her in the swayamvar meaning you were the one who cheated." Arjun said.

"Mahamahim! say something! This is ghor apradh! adharma!" Shakuni said. "Since when did you worry about adharma and dharma gandharaj?" Vidur asked. "What do you mean mahamantri?" Shakuni said. "I knew this. It was clearly written in their letter." Bhism said. "Gandhari continue." Dhritrarsatra said. Gandhari who was still shocked just nodded and continued doing the arti. Shakuni and the three left the area and went to their chamber. After the greha pravesh and every other rituals Draupadi and the pandavas entered the palace.