Journey Leading To Hazard

Chapter 1

Dark clouds roared outside indicating the coming of a storm. The air was flowing through the space violently. Dust and other particles were taken away aimlessly by its violence. Nature was ready to pour down its rage over earth.

To Dussala, it seemed like the nature was just an expression of what's going on in her life. It was ready to fall apart in front of the downpour of rage her husband was going to unleash on her too. Her despair increased with each and every moment as she remembered the happenings before their departure from Indraprasth.

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"It was me only who predicted the future of the daughter of Sivi Naresh, Govasena. The girl was a blessing of Maa Amba, attained by severe austerities that Maharaj Govasena's childless wife did. And thus, Maharaj Vridhakshatra wanted that child to be the daughter-in-law of his dynasty." Rishi Brihudyanu had stated in the Raj sabha after Rajkumar Arjun had returned with him.

"Rishivar, Sindhuraj Jayadrath is claiming that he got married to Sivi Naresh's daughter. How true his claim is?" Rajkumar Arjun had asked skeptically.

"It's both true and false." The learned brahmin replied confusing everyone.

"Can you please explain?"

"Of course. As Maharaj Vridhakshatra didn't want to wait, he got his son married to the ignorant child following all the rituals with the help of a Anukalpika (substitute)." He explained.

"Exactly! Did you all listen? The great Sage Brihudyanu himself admitted in this court that Sivi Naresh's daughter, Devika is married to me! Me!" Maharaj Jayadrath said getting up from his seat and started laughing manically. "What will you say now Yudhisthir?! How will you stop me from taking what's mine?!"

"Patience Sindhuraj. Keep patience. Rishivar has yet to complete his statement." Maharaj Yudhisthir said calmly.

"What more there is to say?! He has said enough. Enough for everyone to know that Devika is mine!" Sindhuraj kept ranting out his claims.

"Calm down, Sindhuraj. I never said such a thing. You're misinterpreting my words." Rishi Brihudyanu interrupted him this time.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sindhuraj narrowed his eyes at him.

"Your father got you married. Maharaj Govasena consented to it and promised to hand over his daughter at the appropriate age. However, he forgot that a marriage can not be conducted until a girl reaches puberty." Rishivar stated calmly and then continued, "It's a father's responsibility to find a suitable groom for his daughter before she reaches puberty. But the marriage itself can never be conducted against the daughter's wishes and specially until she hits puberty. There's no such a ritual that supports this tradition or that facade of a marriage."

Rishi Brihudyanu then turned to Jayadrath again and said,

"Thus, this marriage using an Anukalpika as the substitute for the bride, is unacceptable and against dharma. Which means you have no claim over the Maharani of Indraprasth, YudhisthiraSangini, Devika."

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"Which dreams have clouded your mind Priye?"

Dussala came out of her reverie hearing the chilling voice of her husband. She looked up to find her husband staring at her calmly from the entrance of the tent. She had been trying to avoid him this whole time, unwilling to bear his wrath upon returning from Indraprasth empty handed. She shuddered as her mind replayed the events that had followed after the sabha (meeting).