The Blushing Groom

Chapter V

Vasudev please try to let the war happen. If jyesth Bhrata remains loyal to his dharma, if maha dhanurdhar bhrata Arjun tries to settle peace if maha valshali bhrata Bheem forgets avenging Panchali, I will alone battle forgetting all the dharma, morality or righteousness, my brothers can forget Panchali's humiliation in dice hall. But I cant. I cant live in peace if sinful Duryodhan remains alive after dishonoring Panchali. Till I won't separate the head where the evil plan of dice game occurred from mamashree Shakuni's body my oath remained unfulfilled. That guilt will not let me live." without pause the words flowed from youngest Pandava to the peace ambassador of pandava who was ready to leave for Kaurava court.

 The words momentarily shocked other members present in courtroom. When all four elders had supported the peace mission and agreed to settle down with five villages including the second pandava who was most eager to kill those sinners who dishonored their wife. None expected youngest brother who is always a shadow to his elders will speak complete opposite words in stead of echoing them. After few moments of silence Satyaki who till now was being pissed off by sudden urge for having peace by his favorite persons stood up by youngest pandava's side and clapped. "prince Sahadev is right, we want punishment of sinful Duryodhan, I support kanishth pandava" and then other kings or allies of Pandavas too stood in Sahadev's support.

Elder pandavas were speechless, Vasudev was smiling affectionately, but one who was most shocked was the woman herself. Panchali couldn't believe her ears. When Dharmraj supported to settle peace she was not surprised, she knew her kind hearted husband is obsessed with his justice, dharam ,morality more than snatching back what belonged to them, avenging her dishonor, she was not surprised when Yudhisthir wanted peace. Since her marriage she is seeing aloofness of her beloved when things come to her.

 Among all her husbands she had never understood Arjun properly in all these years. Whose right should have been most on her he intentionally left it all, whenever she complained he says you will never understand me Panchali. how is she supposed to understand Arjun's subtle love in his alooffness when he keeps himself under cover of mystery to her eyes? Whenever sakha is near her his Parth behaves like an understanding friend to his Madhav's sakhi. Krishna works as pool between other two Krishnas but in very next moment Dhananjaya is completely stranger to Panchali. He never tries to prove his love for her but expects her to understand because love doesn't need to be proved. Fair logic but what explains his steps that proves opposite? All his life he tried to keep himself away from her by every means, she is sure even Arjun's taking oath of killing Radheya too is not for Karna abused her but for settling his own score with rival for the ultimate title of greatest archer. Ofcourse both of them are obsessed with each other. 

Panchali everytime scolds herself why does she still keep expectation from Arjun? But she is helpless to her heart. Today too although she was hurt but was not surprised when Arjun left the matter on Krishna. No wonder all his life he is doing the same. But what snatched the earth from her feet was Arya Bheemsen's support to the peace mission. She couldn't believe the man whom she thought she could trust blindly is today talking about not shading blood and avoiding destruction, even sakha seemed shocked on which. After that Panchali felt like complete alone, not felt like listening anything more. She had never any expectation from Nakul. Except physical attraction they didn't have much intensity in their relationship,it was built on desire for each others physical beauty. so she was not surprised when Nakul talked in favor of peace settlement. So when Sahadev uttered opposite words she was speechless momentarily. She never expected this in dreams.

In these years she always have treated her youngest husband with affection. Least expectation she had from him. And he too never tried to build an individual separate personality in her eyes by coming out of shelter from elders same as Nakul. But today what happened to him? Suddenly memories of a night 25 years back flashed before her eyes.