Love Beyond The stars : A Passionate Tale

Chapter 8 : Her Prince To The Rescue

In Madra Desh.....
Royal Palace:

Sahadev was agitated. As much as he loved visiting his uncle & his late mother's family here in Madra, recently the atmosphere had been stiff at its best.

Madra raj while solely concerned for their benefit had questioned their position & status in Hastinapur. Being several lines behind for the royal throne, as the youngest princes, their uncle was worried about their stability & security in life. He'd questioned the love of their mother & brothers for them, reminding them that neither were related to them by blood.

It was a sore reminder. He insisted that Maadri was their mother not Kunti. Nakul & Sahadev had almost forgotten this reality, their hearts brimming with the love Kunti & the elder three Pandavas had showered them with.

Not that they didn't love their own departed mother Maadri, they did! They loved her & would love her till the end of time with all their hearts but Maata Kunti...she may not have given birth to them, but had nurtured them, made them into the smart, brilliant, strong young men they were today, single-handedly. They had two mothers & loved them both equally.

Sahadev felt his eyes go moist at the thought. He loved his maata Kunti far more than anything & also his elder brothers. His entire world revolved around them. Especially Bhrata Yudhishthir who was loved & pampered both him & Nakul so much & Maata Kunti who loved them more than the children she birthed.

Just then, a servant entered his chambers, bowing before the prince.
S: Pranipaat Rajkumar.....aapke liye Aacharya Dron ke ashram se Rajkumar Bheem ka patra aaya hai.

Sahadev grew excited as he asked the gaurd to send the messenger to him & also call for Nakul, who was in the horse shed.

N: Bhrata Bheem ka patra! Mujhe gyaat tha! Avashya hi unhe mere iss sundar mukh ka smaran ho raha hoga....vo mere Bina reh hi nahi paate....
,
Nakul spoke in a mocking smug tone making Sahadev roll his eyes.
S: Tum rehne do! Avashya hi unhe mera aur mere uchch vichaaro ka smaran ho aaya hoga!
Sahadev exclaimed as both brothers continued their playful banter for a bit before finally unable to contain their excitement & opening the letter.

N: Pehle main padhunga!
Nakul snatched away the letter leaving a sulking Sahadev. However, he soon grew alarmed seeing Nakul's face suddenly loose all its colour.
S: Nakul? Kya hua, bhai?
Sahadev asked worriedly, wrapping an arm around his twin. Nakul opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Sahadev shook him, agitated.
S: Nakul!!!
He shouted, his heart pounding with worry.
N: J.. Jyeshth Bhratashree....vo...unhe....bandhi.... Bohot ghaav....lage hai....
He mumbled causing Sahadev 's breathing to accelerate & he snatched the letter from his still numb brother & began to read.

Sahadev's paled face rivalled that of his brother's, as read Bheem's letter, in which he requested their immediate return. He'd pleaded them to do something as he couldn't bear to see their eldest brother, the one who had always taken their pain on his own self, hurt like this.

Nakul immediately summoned s few servants, commanding them to pack their things as they would be leaving for Ujjain at the earliest.

Just then.....
Madra raj Shalya walked into the chambers, surprised to see the things of his beloved nephews being packed so hastily.

M: Kahi jaa rahe ho putro? Van vihaar karne? Uske liye itna sab lejaane ki kya aavashyakta.
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around them both,p frowning when he noticed how tense they were.

M: Putro?
He asked worriedly as Sahadev 's moist hazel eyes met his own.
S: Mamashree! Jyeshth bhratashree ko Vann ke kuch lootero ne bandhak banaya tha. Ve unhe parasth kar laut toh aaye hai, kintu unhe gehre ghaav lage hai. Mujhe aur Nakul ko shigra ati shigra unke pass pohonchna hai. Chalo Nakul!
Sahadev urged, grabbing his brother's arm but Madra raj stopped him.