Abandoned Arjuna-Gharani Chitrangada: A Roar Of Revenge

Chitra's Vow to defeat Arjuna

"I will make his son to defeat him. I will avenge my insult."

That was her motto till that day. She was preparing herself for this revenge unless she would long committed suicide. Eventhough suicide or atma-hatya was forbidden in hindu custom, but she had thought of it seldom. But she omitted that depressing thought from her mind for two reasons; one, to avenge her insult and second, to give birth to her son. Whenever at the time of her pregnancy she looked at the mirrors she was rememvered of that day. "Kulta", "Beshya" words then started to make room in her mind. She felt low but when she noticed her baby bump she controlled herself. She had to live. Even if alone but she had to. For her parents. For her people. For her son. Her life was not only hers now, but theirs too. How could she be able to take it now in her own hands?

She was thinking this while lying on her bed. Since the premature delivery of her son, she was too weak and bed-ridden. Now after four months, Susen, the family physician of the Manipur royal family, permitted her to get up from the bed. She had lost lots of blood that day. Hence she was under strict observation of the physician. By the way, she was not worried for her son at all. Her friend Sujata was till now taking care of him along with her own toddler son. She married Susen's son Dharmasen and the daughter-in-law of that famous physician family. She dotted on her 'Dhrama-putro' or god-child Babru and would go to the extreme level to protect him. That's the reason why Chitra could give take rest to secure her health.

Till the birth of the prince, Manipur was in celebratory mood. People were dancing and rejoicing. They were seen to be hugging each other and talking sweet talks. The lavish amount of gifts were donated to Brahmins and poors. Everyone was happy. Everyone was so very pleased. Except one. The mighty princess Chitrangada. Babrubahan's mother Chitrangada. She was King Chitra Vahan and Queen Vasundhara's only beloved daughter Chitranagada. She had no other title except this with her. 

She was exhausted but satisfied. She was drenched in her own innermost turmoil of identity but never wanted anyone to have a hint of it. In this regard, she was quite similar with the mighty king of Anga desh (state), the great Karna. Both were warrior and both by the cruel mistakes of the fate, were closely related to Arjuna.

Suddenly she lifted her own head by hearing a footstep. She clenched her fist of right hand while clutching her favorite knife or 'khanjar' in the other one. But she was relieved to see her father's smiling face on her door. Till that unfortunate day she never left her weapon out of her eyes, but today it was not needed. Hence she shoved it under her pillow cover as usual and smiled back.

"Beta (daughter in her case, but in reality it meant only son), I think of sending a dut (messanger) at both Hastinapur and Indraprastha to announce the birth of your son. Do you like the idea?" Her father asked her.

Chitra lifted her tired and exhausted eyes on her father's smiling face. Her heart ached for him. What should she tell him??!! And how could she??!! All of a sudden she just remembered an unfulfilled promise of her father to her. That had to be the case !!!

She bowed to her father and asked him -

"He Pita (My father), you had already promised to fulfil my desire if I could give you a grandson. I have fulfilled my own duty. Now it's your turn to fulfil that."

Her father became serious all of a sudden. A dark gloom reigned on his face. He answered in deep voice -

"I will. But can I know whom you are talking to?!! A father or a King??!!"

She bit her lower lips to prepare her amswer and after some minute she delivered it -

"To both. As a king, you have every right to rejoice the coming of your heir and to convey it to your friends. As a pita (father) you can do that too. But as a king you wanted a male child from me as your heir and as a father you wanted a grandchild. I fulfilled my duty both as a princess and as also your daughter. Hence I am requesting to your both forms."

Seriousness passed away from her father's face. He once again smiled like a happy child. He told her in very rejoicing tone -

"Dhanyo (Proud of you). Bravo. I have been taking your test and you passed out with extension. None can defeat you in your logic. Tell me what you want from me. I promise to do that."

Chitra bowed her head to her father and told him -

"Then give me this gift. Suppress the truth from Hastinapur or even from Indraprastha. Don't inform them of the birth of Babru as a king. And as my father, kindly promise me never to reveal his father's identity to him."

"But that's preposterous." 

They both turned back with jolts by hearing a loud and angry outburst in an woman's voice from behind them. It was the Queen herself.

Chitra bowed to her mother in respect but she completely ignored it and turned to her husband to order him -

"Ignore her. Send the news at once. His father has every right to know it."

But the mighty princess was rigid in her demand -

"No mother. I never wanted anything from both of you and I had performed every single ritual you told me to do. You even raised me as a boy and I did not object. Now it's my turn. It's my only gift from you. I am begging to you both."

"But, daughter." She wanted to protest in vain.

"Mother, please. Accept my request as it is. Don't argue with. I want to prove the world that a greatest warrior and Archer can be made with practice. He challenged me and I accepted the bait. I want to send his own son to him by preparing him more fierce warrior than him." She stopped talking and lifted her head to her mother to add this last line with determined tone "It will be a surprise to the greatest Archer of the world."

How she ommitted the name rang very suspicious to her father's ears. But he was bound by his promise. So he had to fulfill it. Now. 

************************************