Mahabharata Katha

The Fourteenth Day (Sequel of The Thirteenth Night TS)

Kurukshetra, day 14 of the war

The sun God has arrived again. Whatever might happen in human lives, his schedule does not change. Does it?

I saw my Emperor, standing at the entrance of his tent, staring at the reddish hue that had spread over the east. He seemed not to have sensed my presence.

"Natha!" I softly called.

"Everything is like yesterday only, Devi!" He mused, still back facing me. "That same dawn, that same moment to set for the battlefield. Nothing has changed. Only Abhi is not going to come back anymore!" The last sentence stabbed through the serene silence of daybreak.

He then turned to me. Shocked, I held my breath. The crimson of eastern sky had spread in his copper eyes and golden skin. Something I had never seen in his usually compassionate face! How much the last night had changed him was in front of me now!

"Swami!" I moved closer. He opened his right palm. A thread wrapped around his blistered fingers. It seemed ordinary, but I knew it was not.

"Do you know what this is?"

I nodded. "This is..."

"Abhi's bowstring." His voice was unusually calm. I did not feel right. Somehow a severe storm must have been forming. This excessive calmness was scary.

"That bow, his favourite Raudra...that was cut from behind!" His eyes were glowing. "And they call themselves warriors!"

"I am not going to forgive those cowards! No one! Even if it's my own Guru!" He whispered, giving stress on each word.

I knew he meant it. Whatever respect he did have for Dronacharya had vanished completely from his mind now.

He had taken his armour by then. "This was supposed to be a Dharma yuddha. I will ensure that this adharma gets its due! From today, Kurukshetra will see a new Yudhishthira." His voice was still calm. All I could see the flames of wrath in his eyes. A sigh escaped my heavy heart as I helped him wearing the armour.

"Devi, go and console Uttara." He said, caressing my cheek. "Poor child has wept the entire night."

"Will go after you all leave." Nodding, I hurried to pick up the mighty Mahendra bow. While giving it to him, my heart shivered. Why did it feel like today was not a good day? What more awaited us?

I felt his hand on my shoulder.

"Indrasena is there for all these, Devi. You go. Uttara needs you."

"Indrasena will be there with you for the whole day. I will not, Natha. Let me do this much at least." I said and kept on arranging his weapons one by one. As a kshatrani, I hated to admit it, but my heart denied to let him go today. My hands moved slower than they would do in an urgent moment of war. As if I wanted to delay as much as possible, to hold him back for the day!

"Samrat!" I heard Indrasena along with the known melodies of Nanda and Upananda. He had arrived with the chariot.

"It's time, my love!" He smiled a little. I felt an irresistible pull to embrace him once, to keep my head on his chest one last time before he left. But I stayed where I was, fighting with myself. I was his Queen, his Shakti. How could I let him be emotionally weak before going to the battlefield?

I sent my tears back. I had to be his strength, not his weakness!

My hand did not shiver while doing his aarati. There was no hesitation in the fingers that put vijaya tilaka on his forehead with utmost prayer. As he left to ride his chariot, my eyes suddenly fell on his gem-studded celestial spear. His beloved Twastra, about whom I had always complained to him in our intimate jests, as if it was my co-wife who spent more time with him. And he always used to laugh.

"Take care of him, sister!" I whispered to his darling spear.

***

Uttara still could not believe that her husband would never return to her.

"Mata!" She hurriedly rose seeing me. "See, today Swami has not come to meet me before leaving. Please scold him when he returns."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat and pulled her in my arms. She had not eaten anything since last night. We could not afford to lose our grandchild too.

"Mata, you will scold him right?" She lifted her head and stared at me. Those innocent eyes! What could I do to console this daughter of ours? Did I have any power to do that at all?

"I will. Now eat, Putri." I brushed her hair. "Do you want Abhi to complain to us for not taking care of his baby?"

Uttara shook her head. I indicated maids to bring some food. Soon after she was calmed down a little, our sons had entered to touch our feet. The first trumpet had not played yet.

I saw excitement mixed with revenge in all the sons. Their eyes glowed in anger, just like I saw in my husband, and in Arjuna too. There was no doubt that today no one of this camp would spare those ones who caused Abhi die.

"Vijayi Bhava!" I uttered. The children bowed to my sisters and they gave their blessings. The sons left in their respective chariots. My eyebrows met not seeing the vulture bannered chariot among them. The owner of it had not come to meet us as well.

Strange! That was too unexpected from him!

Giving my sisters the charge of Uttara, I silently moved out. A boy of fifteen fell on my feet, making me stop in the way.

"Pranam Pitamahi!" He smiled.

I caressed him. "Where is your father, Parva?"

Anjanparva said, "Father has left for the battle Pitamahi. I'm also going."

Left? Without meeting me? I frowned. Yes, I did scold him yesterday. But which child takes a mother's scolding to heart?

"Pitamahi!" Anjanparva called, "May I go?"

I nodded, placing my palm over his bald head that he had inherited from Ghatotkacha. "Vijayi Bhava!"

After the boy left, I entered Ghatotkacha's tent. Mauravi came running to me.

"Mata! You came!"

"What happened, Mauri?" I made her sit. "Ghatotkacha did not even meet me once before leaving?"

Mauravi lowered her head. "He said he won't show his face to you unless he returns victorious!"

Oh! So I was right. He took my words seriously. This boy! A part of me felt like chiding him. But the rest was overcome with worries. I had not forgotten his oath last night. Did Mauri even know that?

"Mata, I see bad omens everywhere since Swami has left." Mauravi clutched my hand, her eyes were moist.

"I don't know why my heart shivers. He will be alright no?" She looked at me with pleading eyes.

My heart pounded. Ghatotkacha's oath, his uncharacteristic stubbornness of not meeting the mothers before leaving, and now Mauravi's fear...

Something was not right! The more reason of worry was, today all our warriors would be busy in helping Arjuna to reach Jayadratha. The others would be with my husband to protect him from Dronacharya. Our sons would be after Dusshashana's son.

Who would be there to look after Ghatotkacha then?

I could not think anymore. A known sound reached my ear, shattering my thoughts. Senapati Dhrishtadyumna's conch was playing.

The war had begun!
__________________________________________

Glossary:

Mahendra: Yudhishthira's bow.
Nanda and Upananda: two tabors on Yudhishthira's chariot. They were tied with the flag and made sound while chariot moved.
Twastra: Yudhishthira's celestial spear
Vulture banner: Ghatotkacha's chariot flag.
Mauravi: Daughter of Mura who was killed by Krishna. Ghatotkacha's wife.
Anjanparva: Ghatotkacha's son.

Note: This is going longer than I thought. I will do another part of this fourteenth day. Hope I'm not boring you with so many parts :p