The next day, after the grand feast, Princess Purnima had the opportunity to meet the family members who were unable to attend the celebration. As she wandered through the palace halls, she spotted her mother's older brother, King Dhritarashtra, sitting in a peaceful garden, enjoying the fragrance of the flowers.
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"Purnima, my child, come closer," Dhritarashtra called out with a warm smile. Though he couldn't see her with his eyes, he seemed to recognize her presence through some other mystical sense.
Purnima approached him, her heart filled with affection for her uncle. "Pranipat, Mamashree . It warms my heart to see you again."
Dhritarashtra reached out and gently touched her face, his fingers tracing her features as if trying to visualize her. "Ah, you have your mother's eyes and her gentle spirit. You remind me so much of her in her younger days."
Purnima's eyes softened, knowing the special bond between her mother and her uncle. "Thank you, Mamashri. I've always admired the love and respect you share with my mother."
As she continued her journey through the palace, Purnima encountered Rani Gandhari, her mother's brother's wife, who treated her like her own daughter. Gandhari welcomed her with open arms, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
"Purnima, my dear, you bring so much light into our lives. Your mother is truly blessed to have a daughter like you," Gandhari said with genuine affection.
"Thank you, Rani Maa. Your love and care mean the world to me," Purnima replied, feeling a sense of belonging and comfort in Gandhari's presence.
Next, Purnima found her cousins, the Kauravas, and Dushala, her sister, sitting together in the courtyard, engaged in cheerful banter. They welcomed her with joyous smiles, happy to reunite after years apart.
"Dushala, you've grown into such a fine woman," Purnima remarked, embracing her sister fondly.
"And you, dear sister, have become a princess of grace and beauty," Dushala responded, her eyes shining with pride.
The Kauravas chimed in, expressing their admiration for their older cousin. Purnima was younger to Duryodhan, some of the Kauravas and Bheem but older than majority of them, born almost at the same time as them. Purnima's heart swelled with love as she realized how much her cousins cared for her.
As the day progressed, Purnima finally had the opportunity to meet her Grandsire, the venerable Bhisma. She found him sitting under a grand tree, his presence commanding respect and awe.
"Purnima, the jewel of Avantika, come closer," Bhisma said with a hint of a smile. "It is said that you possess a soul of courage and wisdom."
Purnima approached him with reverence, touched by the wisdom and grandeur that emanated from him. "Grandsire, your praise humbles me. I strive to be a worthy princess."
