Vivaah Bandhan: The Story Of Dharmaraj & Yagyaseni

Chapter 11 (A) : The Journey Begins

The servant moved towards Yudhishthir rapidly. Time was ticking by & Draupadi's heart was numb & her eyes wide with shock. Gathering all of her strength she broke out of her paralyzed state, bolting towards where her husband sat. She no longer remembered the presence of any respected elder around or even that they were in a celebration full of guests.

Yudhishthir smiled as Guru Drona praised him & his brothers as he conversed with Bhishm. The server serving the warm refreshment drink came by them. Yudhishthir took a glass gratefully, he was parched & a warm drink sounded wonderful in the pleasent yet rather cool breeze blowing in the royal gardens where the celebration had been organised.

D: ARYAAAAAA!!!
Yudhishthir looked just in time to see his wife lunge at him. Everyone looked at her, shocked & confused. Draupadi managed to send the glass hurtling down on the nearby carpet with one hit of her hand before it touched his lips.

Yudhishthir's shocked expression quickly turned into one of horror & his wife's petite form hit the ground, in what could be described as a bad fall. The entire premises which had gone silent after Panchali's defeaning scream, echoed with Yudhishthir's cry of pain seeing his wife.

Y: PANCHALIII!!!
Yudhishthir was besides her before anyone knew it. He carefully pulled her in his arms, his heart breaking into pieces at the involuntary painful whimper that slipped out of her mouth.

By then everyone had surrounded them. Bhishm, Drona, ,& Dhritarashtra were already there, while Krishna, Bheem, Nakul & Sahadev came running.

Kr: Sakhi!
Krishna too was next to her in an instant. Both men carefully helped her up, making her sit where Yudhishthir had been sitting previously.

Draupadi blinked back her tears & red hot blinding, searing pain ran down her elbow & forearm.
Yudhishthir was aghast to see blood flowing endlessly from the deep wound just below her elbow, extending nearly to her wrist.

Shikhandini & Kunti were sitting besides Draupadi, holding her trembling body, while Yudhishthir was kneeling in front of her, encasing her tiny palms in his large ones.

Draupadi's relief at seeing Yudhishthir safe trickled her beautiful doe eyes in the form of big fat tears as she collapsed in her sister's arms. Shikhandini exchanged a worried look with Dhristadyumn as she hugged Draupadi.

Dr: Draupadi....putri kya hua?
Drupad asked worried, his palm gently stroking his daughter's head.

D: Pitashree..Aa...aarya...!
Draupadi tried her best to rein in her sobs of fear, pain, anger & relief. Seeing as their guests were watching, she hurriedly wiped away her tears.

Duryodhan rolled his eyes as everyone fussed over Draupadi making sure she was okay.

S: Bhratashree.....
Sahadev called the eldest Pandav, making him look up at him impatiently.
S: Jyesht....bhaabhishree toh aapke praano ki raksha kar rahi....vo dekhiye...

Yudhishthir's eyes followed Sahadev's seeing the upturned glass of the drink on the carpet. What shocked him was the burnt hole in the rich carpet.

G: Avashya iss payy mein koi aisa dravya tha jo Yudhishthir ke praan ke liye ghaatak ho sakta tha.
Guru Dron told them critically.

The Pandavas & Bhishm looked furious. Yudhishthir on the other hand didn't know how to react, as wiped another large tear off his wife's perfect skin.

D: Vo..vo....yahi hai Aarya....use pakdiye! Anyatha vo punah....
Draupadi's frantic words echoed just as Bheem came in, roughly hauling a man along.

B: Ye raha vo Dhurt, Jyesht!
The son of the Wind god growled as he threw the man in concern at Yudhishthir's feet.

B: Yahi tha vo, Jyesht! Jise Bhaabhishree ne dekha tha....ye palayan kar raha tha kintu maine ise pakad liya!