Vakṣaṇī Dharmā : The Song of Mahabharat

13| Nasty Habits

Mrithika was annoyed.

After a gruelling prahar of training she was not able to find water to quench her thirst. There wasn't a dasi nearby to order from and these people definitely don't know the concept of water bottles.

And despite being in Hastinapur for nearly three weeks, she still hasn't figured about the labyrinth like corridors of the palace.

On spotting a guard standing stoically near the end of the current corridor she was in, she quickly ran to approach him and ask directions for the women's quarters. She was well aware that the place that had the most servants was the women's quarters.

Trudging up with her heavy lehenga with which she was training with, she reached the women's quarters and spotted a tiny group of dasis talking amongst themselves. 'Probably gossiping' she thought and proceeded towards them when she heard a voice call out to her.

"Putri Mrithika."

Mrithika turned to see Kunti behind her with a smile. Mrithika joined her palms and greeted her, a habit she picked up after observing the Pandavas, "Pranipaat, Mata".

"Ayushman Bhava", She blessed and added with a smile, "Putri, would you like to accompany me to the temple in the evening"?

Mrithika nodded and said, "I will, Mata". She learned her lesson to never deny an opportunity to accompany the elderly woman to a place of worship. During her days in Kalyug, Mrithika was never religious nor had any inclination to spirituality except the occasional visits to their ancestral kuldevi temple of Nagnechi Mata and her mother's kuldevi, Mata Kali, whose idol she had adamantly installed in their palace after her marriage.

The only goddess she had ever felt obliged to worship and was well acquainted with was that of Mata Kali's. All thanks to her mother's persistent nagging.

The last time she rejected Kunti's offer for an early morning worship resulted in a look of scandal and judgement. It almost seemed as if she was the only one Kunti constantly asked for company even since Dushala's unmarried days. She suspected Krishna's hand in this, after all, he said her main purpose was to gain good karmas and she doubted he might have told Kunti about it.

Kunti's brown eyes surveyed her sweaty and tired visage and asked, "You look to weary, Putri. What happened"?

"Oh, I was practising sword fighting with Sahadev and just got a break. Not to mention I've been roaming around the entire palace searching for water", Mrithika explained in one breath whilst depending on her knees for support.

Kunti's smile became fixed as she spoke curtly, "I see. Do not worry, I'll arrange for drinking water and in the meantime I hope you get done with your...training before our evening rendezvous".

Then she called for a maid from one of the gossiping gang and ordered her to bring water for the younger girl before walking away briskly to possibly Queen Gandhari's chambers. Mrithika felt sorry for the latter since she had been in a gloomy state ever since her daughter was married off to the King of Sindh kingdom, Jaydrath.

Mrithika barely controlled her eyes from rolling during the wedding. She still vaguely remembered how Dushala was going to lose her son and husband indirectly and directly due to Arjun. She pursed her lips at the upcoming devastation.

Even though Dushala's son's death was a mere accident, she doubted she was allowed to warn Arjun about it.

But Jaydrath could go to hell.

She hated the fact that she knew everything and was not allowed to change or tell. It was difficult not to word vomit about every impending fact. Now she understood how exactly Sahadev felt.