Echoes of Betrayal - Draupadi's Journey

9. Unknown

The setting sun over the horizon marks the end of yet another day ,  exhaustion taking over my body, unable to bear my weight, I sat on the rough surface of the forest ,  parched after toiling the whole day without a sip of water, my growling stomach indicated that I need something to eat, if I want to make it through the next day , also the darkness which started to surround me make me realise that I also need a shelter to spend the night .....

So many problems but, no solution... It's like being caught in a whirlwind of problems with no lifeline in sight.....
Clenching my fist , and taking a big gulf of air in me, I tried to gather some courage , stood on my bruised foot and moved forward in a hope to find the clearing of the forest  , where I can spend some prahar till the sunrise....

It's been twelve days of me wandering aimlessly ,  every other night it was slightly easy to find a shelter as I was crossing through the cities and villages....
But today being in this forest , with no resources around me and not even a single sign of any living human being, over the top of all of that, I am lost in this huge jungle ...

And my body giving up from the lack of food and water , still I forced myself , the instinct of survival high ,  preparing myself mentally, I moved towards the what I thought was the clearing of the forest, but the little hope died instantly as I found myself surrounded by the eres of trees ,  it seems like I am stuck in the middle of this dense forest without anyway out....

Unconsciousally tears filled my eyes, sobs erupted from me , I slumped down across a tree , with hot tears falling down my eyes , my vision blurred ... I tried to wipe out the tears to clear my view ,  the forbidden feeling making my throat close .....

Looking up towards the canopy, is supposed to give me some strength , in contrast I feel more vulnerable....

" Hey mahadev.... What have I done so wrong in my life , why are you punishing me like this , all my life I have worshiped you wanting nothing more than a happy family, and what you rewarded me with, all this pain, a life full of miseries ... Why prabhu , why .... "

Cold breeze caused goosebumps on my body, I wrapped the pallu of my saari tighter around me to sheild myself ......

The scenario reminded me of that one time when I was travelling to panchal from indraprastha with arya arjun....

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Flashback -

The orangish golden sky and the cool evening breeze touched my face when I removed the curtain from the chariot....

"Arya, this is not good... You are enjoying this beautiful sunset and evening and here I am confined in this small space , please take me with you, I also want to be mesmerized by nature and by the.......senapati of indraprastha "

I added the last part wishpering, so that only he , my husband could hear ..... Causing him to give me his most famous one sided grin...

" Hmmmmm.... So Samragi want to be mesmerized by this mere senapati , I will make sure to fulfill your demand samragi, just wait till our tents is arranged "

He ended with a wink and a flying kiss..

Redness creeped up my neck and face....