Love Beyond The stars : A Passionate Tale

Chapter 10: Woman....A Mere Object?

Present Time....

The atmosphere in the shivir of the Kurus was as merry as ever. Bheem was still being attacked by his siblings, while he let out the most dramatic cries even though most of the blows felt more like massages.

Du: Bhratashree!
Dushala nudged Arjun who was rather relishing troubling Bheem. He frowned as he looked at his sister's worried face. She hinted at their eldest brother, the righteous scion of Kuruvansh seated quietly in a corner, lost in thoughts.

Arjun nodded, thinking about what could be done. Just then, Kunti entered the shivir with Bhishma. Arjun in turn, nudged Bheem pointing at the brooding Yudhishthir with his eyes. Vrikodar nodded in understanding. Soon the four brothers & their sister had silently exchanged words before they began again.

B: Maaaa! Dekho na inhe! Mujhe tab se maar rahe hai!
Bheem complained with a pout making Bheeshm & Kunti laugh. However, Kunti looked sternly at each of them, before speaking.
K: Kyu tang kar rahe ho mere chote Vrikodar ko? Meri athva Taatshree ki anumati toh le lete, hum na nahi karte!
Kunti exclaimed with a gentle laugh making Bheem scowl playfully while the others all except Yudhishthir laughed.

Kunti & Bheeshm exchanged worried looks seeing that Yudhishthir was still sitting alone in a far corner, barely aware of the happenings around.

However, Arjun could take it no longer & went upto Yudhishthir, wrapping his arms around him from behind & smacking a large kiss on his cheek affectionately. Yudhishthir closed his eyes, allowing himself the comfort of being held by his brother.

Ar: Kya hua hai aaj iss Vishwa ke sabse pyaare jyeshth bhrata ko, hmm?
Arjun questioned, reveling in the comforting sandalwood fragrance enamating from his brother which had always brought a sense of security to the great archer ever since childhood as he rocked their bodies together.

Yudhishthir was so much more than just their elder sibling. He was their support system, personal guide, companion, teacher, father figure, best friend, & so much more.

Dharmraj just mutely shook his head, offering a small smile to Arjun, caressing his cheek, silently thanking him for his attempts to cheer him up.

K: Chalo putron, bhojan ka samay hogaya hai. Mujhe gyaat hai Yudhishthir, ki tumne pratah se kuch grahan bhi nahi kiya hai, kintu kyu putra?
Kunti asked, wrapping an arm around her son, allowing his head to rest on her shoulder.

Y: Mujhe....bhook nahi hai maata. Aaplog kha lijiye.
Yudhishthir smiled at his family breifly before looking away so that they did not see the pain in his eyes.

However, it was not to be, as Kunti gently turned her son's face back towards her, looking into his soulful eyes.
K: Yudhishthir, putra tumne sada hi aneko kartavyo ka bhaar sambhala hai. Ab mujhe prateet horaha hai jaise inn daitvo aur kartavyo mein mere putra ki prasannata kahi kho gayi hai.

Putra, ye jeevan tumhaara hai aur apni jeevan sangini chunne ka adhikaar keval tumhe hai, vatts.

Tumhaari maata hoon, tumse pehle tumhaare hriday ki bhavnaye jaan leti hoon, kadachit isliye mujhe gyaat hai jitni manmohak hasi meri putra ke mukh par putri Draupadi ke keval vishay mein sunkar aati hai, utni aur kisi kaaran se kabhi nahi aayi. Tum chinta mat karo, mere chote rajkumar, sab theek hojayega.

Yudhishthir was surprised & touched that his mother had read his heart & mind exactly. Pulling her son in her arms, Kunti stroked his hair lovingly, pressing a tender kiss against his dark curls making Yudhishthir close his eyes in bliss, remembering all the times of his childhood whe his mother had held him thus. No matter what the situation maybe, if his mother told him that it would all be just fine, he trusted her blindly. Surprisingly, it did always turn out right in the end too.