Empire of Righteousness ( The Beginning)

Chapter 139 : Mahakali

"Satanika," Arjuna places his hand on his shoulder.

Satanika doesn't look up. He keeps looking at the distant trying to be oblivious about their presence. Arjuna and Nakula smiles. Draupadi has raised their children to be free to express their mind. Only her children can throw tantrums at anyone and get away with it.

"Putra, don't you think you are pointing your anger on the wrong person here?" Nakula tries to joke.

Satanika grumbles, "I am not pointing my anger at anyone. Just let me be. I need to hunt for 5 years food for those Raksaash."

"That you need to do. But you won't do it unsupervised," Arjuna says.

"Why? Hold on! You will keep an eye on me? Seriously!" Satanika almost screams.

"You need to be supervised 24/7," Arjuna rolls his eyes.

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong," Satanika feels himself whining.

It will be fine if he whines with his fathers, right?

"Let me count. You beheaded a crown prince, you almost caused a war. And the princess was in danger because of you," Nakula points.

"He deserved his punishment," Satanika argues.

"When it was you who broke the vows first. I don't think so," Arjuna says.

Satanika quiets down.

"Putra, protesting against the wrong of society is what a warrior must do. But unnecessary display of strength or unnecessary war never speaks the rightful characteristic of a warrior. Your mother says this to you all the time," Arjuna says.

"But..."

"A warrior should address his mistakes himself. Running away trying to blame it on others is a cowardly act," Nakula says.

"But he insulted her..."

"Her father is alive and it was his duty to avenge it. She has no relationship with you to begin with. You saved her life  already," Arjuna is confused. Did he miss something between them?

Satanika grits his teeth but he knows they aren't wrong. It was his fault to begin with. And he acted impulsively. He could have negotiated an apology from them for insulting Devasena rather than beheading on spot.

"I am sorry," he says.

Arjuna and Nakula both smiles, "As long as you know and don't repeat it."

Arjuna stands up then looking at the forest, "Now, tell me. Was there any white fox in the forest?"

"Huh? I saw a few. Why Pitashree?" Satanika asks confused.

"It's getting colder. You maa might need a coat," Arjuna mounts his horse.

"Nakula, I will leave for Devapath after hunting a white fox. You stay with him and keep an eye on others as well," Arjuna says.

"Tell Maa to not worry, Pitashree," Satanika says like a child.

Arjuna chuckles, "I will. You should be worrying about seeing her though. She is furious."

Satanika's smile drops as he looks at his fathers. Nakula sighs looking at Arjuna's retreating horse towards the forest.

Draupadi enters the common chamber of Upapandavas where Prativindhya and Sutasoma are lecturing something to Abhimanyu who is listening keenly.

"Pranipath Maa,"

Three of them stands up seeing her.

"Kalyan ho, sit down," she says.

Abhimanyu smiles snuggling beside his mother. Draupadi plants a kiss on his forehead lovingly.