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

Chapter 44

Everybody were eating food in the dining of shivi. Everybody were talking and laughing with each other, yudhistir looked towards draupadi to see her uncomfortable. He signalled her what happened but she signalled nothing. "Bhabhi, this abhi has been troubling me alot lately. He doesn't go to sleep on time-" Dushala said but stopped seeing Draupadi. "Bhabhi? What happened?" Dushala asked gaining all the attention.

Draupadi stood up from her seat and ran away to her chamber making everybody confused. Dushala and the pandavas ran behind her, draupadi rushed to her inner chamber along with dushala. After few minutes she came out as the pandavas were going to ask her what happened draupadi fainted. Yudhistir caught her on time and carried her in bridal style and moved towards their bed. "Priye? Priye?" Yudhistir called worried slightly patting her cheeks. "Maharaj the ved is here." a maid said. "Please let me check." ved said and everybody went out.

The pandavas were tensed and worried waiting for a news. Each passing second they grew impatient. Finally at last the door opened revealing the ved. "What happened ved ji? Is she alright? Anything serious?" Yudhistir asked impatiently and tensed. 'I have never seen maharaj this impatient and tensed even during the critical time of the war." Devika thought. "Maharani is fine maharaj. Maharani already has a son I guess." Ved said and Abhimanyu who was in dushala's arms spoke in his baby language raising his hand. "You understand?" Dushala said making the rest chuckle.

"Yes, but why?" Yudhistir asked. "Then you must know about the morning sickness." Ved said. "Morning sickness...." Yudhistir said making something hit hard on his head. "Yes maharaj, maharani is 6 weeks pregnant. Abhinandan." Ved said leaving everybody shook. "Can I meet her?" Yudhistir asked. "Yes but she is asleep at the moment." ved said and yudhistir quickly went inside. People outside thought to give some alone time to the couple. The pandavas noticed devika's ultra shook face and bit back a chuckle. "Who will tell shivi kumari that no bhabhi are allowed in our palace." Shahadev said making them chuckle.

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After 8 months draupadi gave birth to a girl in Mathura where they were celebrating a Yadu function. Getting the aura of curiosity and eagerness they named her Suthanu, suthanu was a bright child and was the tail of her mother just like her brother. Abhimanyu was quite fond with his little sister and stuck with her. Suthanu had the eyes and curiosity of her mother and nose and calmness of her father.

Yudhistir entered their chamber to see his two precious gems. Draupadi was walking back and forth with Suthanu in her arms trying make her sleep. "Arya! See your daughter is giving me a hard time right now." Draupadi said noticing yudhistir. "Why? What did my daughter do?" Yudhistir asked. "I have trying to make her sleep from the past two hours but she is not sleeping!" Draupadi said. "Because she has to play with me! Right?" yudhistir said taking the giggling suthanu from Draupadi's arm making draupadi shake her head in disbelief.

The father and daughter fell asleep after playing making draupadi slightly chuckle at the sight. She too got ready for bed and slept besides them. Yudhistir and draupadi's 12 months came to an end. Bheem and draupadi's 12 months began and ended like a blow of wind. During the final month of Bheem and draupadi's 12 months the concept of rajasuya yagna took place. Everybody agreed to the idea and started their work.

"Priye?" Nakul called. "Yes arya?" Draupadi replied. "I have a wish..." Nakul said. "What arya?" Draupadi asked. "I too long for a daughter. Seeing bhrata yudhistir carrying suthanu for the first time I wanted to be a father of a daughter as well." Nakul said making Draupadi smile shyly in acceptance.