We are going to see this story from the perspective of Kashi Princess Amba who longed to marry King Shantanu and Ganga Putra Bhism but was brutally rejected by him for several times. What will happen if a 21st century girl, student of Psychology, su...
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Shantanu & Satyabati
Back Story:
"I want to get married to your only daughter. Kindly give both of us your permission and blessings."
The mighty King of Hastinapur was standing tall in a small Hut where his head was touching the ceiling. It was a small yet cosy Hut of Das Raj where he lived happily with his daughter. It was a comfortable Hut for two people only.
When Shantanu entered the house Satyabati felt ecastic in joy. Since her childhood she was dreaming to marry this man. She even watched him from far whenever he came to visit in the neighborhood. She did not went near him in the fear of humiliation. And now her dream was going to be true!!! Was it a dream or reality?!!! She failed to comprehend.
Her father Das King till now politely had welcomed the King of the state and listened his pleadings. He was a cunning man who knew his beloved daughter's fate beforehand. When she took birth an Astrologer told him that one day she would be the queen and eventually mother of next King. He knew about his daughter's infatuation about the king and he did not try to scold her for that. He was quite well prepared for this day when the King of Hastinapur came to him to beg his daughter's hand in marriage.
"Aho Bhagyo (we feel blessed)." Das King bowed to Shantanu.
Shantanu looked pleased as he had thought that his proposal was going to be accepted. But he was wrong in his assumption.
In the very next moment Das King clarified his point by saying this -
"It will be a great honour for my girl to be your wife, Rajan (King). Any girl can be blessed to have a husband like you. But I have a humble condition."
He rubbed his both hands together. Which showed his nervousness to the King while in reality it was the sign of his excitement.
"What condition?!! As a King of this state I can grant your any wish. But let me first hear it." Shantanu asked him. From his prior experience with Ganga he became quite cautious to make any vow to anyone.
"You have to make my grandson and your son with Satyabati the ruler of this state." Das King proposed timidly yet happily inside. He knew that the King would not reject his demands.
That was a massive blow on Shantanu who already declared Debabrata as his legal heir and Crown Prince. The meaning of Crown Prince was that the person after the retirement or death of the current one would gain the throne. And Debabrata was in every single aspect appropriate Crown Prince and worthy to be a King. How could he now reject his first born son for an unborn child?!!! How could he do that?!!!
"I can't do that, Mahatma (great soul). I can guarantee your daughter's happiness but bot that what you are asking from me. My son Debabrata is already the Crown Prince of my state." He told that to Satyabati's father.
"Then sorry. I can't let you marry my daughter who is destined to be Maharani (the queen) and Rajmata." Das Raj bluntly refused him.
Shantanu felt wobbly all of a sudden. He did not expect such humiliation from a simple man. How could a father be so rigid and blockage in the road of his daughter's love life?!! He did not know but most fathers did that knowingly or unknowingly.
"Then I too refute to marry your only daughter. Forgive me. I am sorry that I ever set a foot in your home." After completing the sentence he came out of the room and went slowly to his chariot by lowering his head to his chest. He felt dejected and defeated too. He never felt so humiliated and helpless beforehand.
Satyabati was listening everything from the far. She was hidden inside a wooden partition used for their own dining room and kitchen of the small Hut. She bolted towards Shantanu and tried to stop him. She did not want him to go. But his chariot was long gone.
"Pitah, what have you done?!! He will never ever come back to me. He will hate me now." She broke into heartfelt sob.
"Don't worry, Putri (daughter). Just don't cry. Wipe your tears and listen to me. You are destined to be queen. He have to come back and beg for your hands again. I swear." He patted her head slowly with an evil smirk on his face. He was dreaming to see his upcoming grandson on the throne of Hastinapur at this very moment.
Story Unfolds :
"What happened to Pitashree (my father)?!! Why he was so very late yesterday?!! Why he looks so sad and sighing so hard?!!" Debabrata was thinking in mind.
Since that day his father never looked happy. A sign of gloominess and doom reigned in his handsome face. He had not feel interested in any work. Most surprisingly Shantanu rebuked his son for his lack of sincerity towards his state severely. Debabrata was a very loyal son. He went to the capital and was staying there to look after his state's welfare and political situation. But his mind was racing to his father. Shantanu refuted everyone's urge to come back to the capital. He stayed there in the forest in the hope of next meeting with Satyabati. But she did neither dare to come in the fear of her father nor he dared to leave her alone behind. He was afraid to repeat the same mistake again that he had done already with his first wife Ganga.
One day Debabrata himself visited the charioteer of his father and asked him calmly to demonstrate where his old father went at single every evening. Sumedh, the charioteer, at first were scared to hell but then he confessed everything to the Crown Prince.
Debabrata was a sharply intelligent man himself. He understood the very situation perfectly. He understood his father's dilemma and listened about the demand of Das Raj from the old charioteer. Now Debabrata was going to do something fierce for which the history would never forget his own contribution. He would be immortal in Mahabharata.
