Nights
The first word that comes in our mind on the mention of night is the stars that sparkles in the night sky. The beautiful twinkles, the random mesmerizing patterns decorating the sky is a sight to behold.
While the stars are the king of the n...
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Maharaj Pandu and Maharaj Dyutimata sat on hand woven mats while the women sat a little away from them, busy in their own world discussing about their families. While the men talked of the recent doings in Aryavart while sipping on fruit juice freshly squeezed our of hand picked fruits.
"This juice is delicious and refreshing jiji. Please do tell me how it's made." Kathyayani commented while sipping the last drop of juice.
"Oh trust me bhabhishree, the more you stay here, the more you will get to know how talented jiji is. At times I just keep looking at her and she does all the work in a blink with so much precision." Madri appreciated her co wife.
"This is no science that is super hard to learn. The juice is refreshing because it's squeezed from fruits that are native of this place. Soil affects the taste of fruits a lot." Kunti smiled politely. Even living in forest couldn't take away her grace and poise. She looked over to her sons who were busy talking to Vijaya.
"Putron, go and pick some fresh fruits for Maharani Kathyayani. Make sure you get the best one." she ordered and they immediately agreed.
"Take Vijaya along with you. Yudhishthir, take care of her and Bheem, no troubling her." Kunti instructed to which everyone agreed readily and Bheem sulked.
Picking her lehenga with her small hands, Vijaya followed the pandavas. Out of all five of them, Yudhishthir was the most hospitable one while Bheem was the mischievous one. Nakul as always was in Bheem's guidance and Arjun followed Yudhishthir. Sahadev, as usual followed his brothers in complete silence, counting the dried leaves that he was crushing under his feet.
"Bharata Yudhishthir, is it true that wild animals come at night?" Vijaya asked curiously with what she has heard of the forests.
"Yes they do Vijaya and you know what? They take the teeth of young kids. Then that kid has to go alone to that animal next morning and get the tooth back otherwise they perform black magic on the tooth which doesn't let the child grow." Bheem exaggerated with a serious face while Vijaya gasped. Nakul and Arjun slowed their pace to create some distance, trying hard to suppress their giggles.
"What? This is so dangerous! Has this happened with someone?" Vijaya asked still shocked with her new finding.
"Yes it has. You see our brother Sahadev? He won't ever grow up because he was too scared to go and get his tooth back." Vijaya gasped again and stopped in her tracks. In a flick she turned around and tried to find where Sahadev was.
Sahadev looked curiously to his brothers and the princess who came along with his uncle questioning in his mind that why they stopped. Vijaya ran to Sahadev and spoke with utmost concern and honesty while clasping his palm in hers.
"You don't worry Sahadev. I would pray to Lord Vishnu that he helps you grow up. You won't be a kid forever, don't worry okay?" She assured him in the most gentle way possible while Sahadev peered at the princess with utmost confusion.
In the background, failing to control any further, Bheem, Nakul and Arjun broke into fits of laughter. Vijaya turned around to see them laughing which confused her so it did to Sahadev.
"Okay enough of this." Yudhishthir interrupted and the three of them stopped laughing.
"Vijaya, they are lying. No such thing happens. The animals hardly come in this part of the forest because of lack of food for them." Yudhishthir replied and Vijaya knitted her eyebrows together, glaring at Bheem who tried hard suppressing his laughter. She left his hand abruptly and so did he didn't bother to ask anything further.
They all continued to walk as Vijaya walked with Yudhishthir who continued telling him stories and tales of the forests.
"Wow! This is so beautiful. So many swans." Vijaya whisper yelled in amazement as Yudhishthir distributed the tasks among five of them.
As soon as they completed the tasks given by their mother, they approached Jaya who was busy playing with squirrels and feeding them. On returning, Vijaya ran to her father and told him everything about what she saw. She started blabbering the scenes she saw and the things she did while Dyutimata listened patiently. Even Maharaj Pandu listened to all of it in amazement.
"Looks like Vijaya loved the place." Madri commented on seeing the trio busy in conversation.
"I know Madri. I have never seen her this happy and excited." Kathyayani said.
"Why don't you leave Jaya here for a few days Kathyayani? It would be good and interesting for her and we will also have a jolly presence of lakshmi herself." Kunti commented quickly adding.
"Ya but we won't be able to provide her with the comfort of a palace." Kathyayani immediately held her hand saying
"Jiji it's not about that. I just don't want to trouble you all. She can be a little handful at times."
"Leave that to us. Vijaya will stay with us for a few days and that is it." By now Pandu and Dyutimata had joined the conversation.
"Indeed, it would be lovely to have Vijaya here for a few days. A change from our sulking sons." Pandu joked and everyone laughed.
After a few hours of spending time with Maharaj Pandu's family, Kathyayani and Dyutimata left for Madra not before Kathyayani telling her to behave and not trouble anyone.
She left her daughter without any fear unaware about the changed destiny of her little girl now.
