Destined (Mahabharat)

Chapter 15:

Draupadi come out of the hut and look at Shreya. She was sitting in a stone and maybe thinking something.

Draupadi didn't make any unnecessary noise and slowly go towards the other and sit beside her.

Shreya feel someone presence beside her and turn her head to look at draupadi.
The latter face was not glowing as before and her eyes at the ends are red look like crying. Her lips are pursed and an uncomfortable feeling are written in her face.

Draupadi would have never though that her life would come at this point. Maybe she was thinking that god also playing with her. Marrying five men? She would become laughing stock for generations.

Shreya look at the other for half a minute then turn her face around.

Both remain silent for sometime until draupadi said,
"Rajmata Kunti told me to marry her five sons."

Shreya didn't say anything. She only clutched her dupatta tightly.

Draupadi didn't mind her ignoring her , she was not in a mood to pay attention. She only need someone to listen her now. Just this.
She continued, "Aryaputra Arjuna told me to go to my father and search for a new husband. But he forgot that when woman marry a man in Swayamvar , she become a possession that he won. And an already won thing cant be won by any other after that. He seems to be playing with me. Is he?"

The question at the last is rhetorical.

"What are you gonna do?" The other asked in very low voice.

Draupadi look at her and laugh like mocking her fate. "I....I don't know."

Just at this point , the pandavas brother with their mother come out and spot the two girls.

Kunti come forward and said in guilt, "My dear , please forgive me. I never intended to do this to you."

Draupadi look at kunti but didn't say anything just nodded a bit.

Yudhishthira look at her and said in heavy tone , "Don't worry princess. You don't have to go back to panchala raja or marry to us five. Me and my other brother except Arjuna would accept sanyasha. That way we don't have to marry you."

Draupadi look at Yudhishthira for a moment and then look at shreya. She said , " What do you think?"

Shreya gaze at draupadi and swallow her own saliva.

The pandavas and kunti also look at her. They don't know why draupadi ask shreya this question but they can't middle in her business.

"What do I think?" The other asked.

Draupadi face become worse. She said loudly a bit ," Dont play with me! I can't possibly let them go to sanyasha for lifetime. They are the future of Aryavarata and hastinapur if I did something like that I'll be mocked for life and eternity."

"Is there anyway?" Draupadi ask again but in gentle voice.

The pandavas frowned a bit. They can't find any solution how can shreya find one?

"It's your life; you don't need someone's permission to live the life you want. Be brave to live from your heart princess." Shreya said placing one hand on the other shoulder.

Draupadi look at her. Her (draupadi) eyes starts to sting again but she had to control it.

Shreya found the pandavas looking at her. Ignoring the rest , she look at draupadi and said,
"I can do tell you the answer but its not my place princess."

Draupadi asked ," Then who?"

Shreya hinted draupadi with her eyes and look back. Draupadi along with the rest also look at that direction and found the great sage of that time.