Not in Blood, but in Bond

Mother's Heart

Subhadra knew something was not right. Her senses were constantly foreshadowing that Amangal [Inauspicious] news were to come from the battlefield today, but she choose to ignore it, comforting herself with tales of valor of her husband and son, allowing her heart to hope that they will come back from Kurukshetra not unscathed; but not severely hurt. Or worse. But when her daughter in law came with a grim face and expressed the same fear, Subhadra could not deny the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Something is not right Mata." Uttara admitted. "I feel that something bad has happened in the battlefield today."

Subhadra did not reply, but her mouth formed a thin line, her eyes narrowing. Only one way to find out, Wait. Wait for the Army to return with news.

-

The Pandavas with Krishna entered the camp and Subhadra ran to them, seeking answers, for none of the soldiers would answer her questions, sending her mind into state of dread. She studied their forms, her husband, whose head was always high, looked as if his world had been snatched from his hands. He was numb, not watching where he was going. Subhadra doubted if he would have been walking properly if Bhrata Krishna was not supporting him. Her brother-in-laws stood with their heads bowed, dried tear tracks on their faces. Wh- why were they crying? Shivers ran down The Krishnaanuja's back. Her eyes shifted to her Bhrata, who, while still wearing his small, signature mysterious smile, looked pleased. That allowed a bit of relief to flood into Subhadra's heart. Surely, Bhrata Krishna would not be pleased if something fatal had happened?  But wait, something was amiss.

Where was Abhimanyu?

Panic crawled over her skin, overlapping what little relief she had got from her brother.

Where was her son?

"Arya" She started, not knowing what to expect. "Where is Abhimanyu, Arya?"

He did not reply, merely bursting into sobs. What? No. Nononono. Abhimanyu was somewhere here. He must be. Her heart refused to believe otherwise.

"Jyesht? Where is Abhimanyu?" She asked Yudhisthir, who met her eyes, pain and torment visible and obvious in them. She did not stare into those copper orbs for long, for she knew that she will be reduced to his state of misery if she did.

"Bhrata Krishna? Where is Abhimanyu?" He gave her a little nod, but that did not satisfy her. At this moment what she desired was not assurance but answers. Their silence was eating her up.

"Why would none of you answer me?!" She screamed, all the refined character that came with being the wife of the Prince of Indraprasth forgotten in the wake of panic of a mother. "Tell me, where is my son?! WHERE IS ABHIMANYU?!"

"He is not here." It was her brother who answered in a calm tone.

"What do you mean, Bhrata Krishna? Where is he?" Despite her state, Subhadra's voice softened while addressing her brother. How could anyone talk to her Bhrata in a high volume?

Arjun finally spoke up, ceasing the suffocating silence between them, replacing it with heavy tension. His voice shook as he answered. "Anga- Angaraj Karn - son- Manyu- our son- took him- Angaraj Karn-" Arjun spoke in broken fragments, but Subhadra did not wait to hear the rest of what he had to say.

Instead, Subhadra climbed the charioteer's seat of her husband's chariot, and starting driving. She heard Draupadi didi shout something, but she did neither heard it nor cared about it.

She needed to see her son. It did not matter if she had to enter the tents of the enemy. Kaurava Camp it is, She thought, tightening her hands on the reins.