Draupadi

CHAPTER VIII

As we strolled through the enchanting woods, anticipation buzzed within me. Any moment now, this mysterious man would reveal his true identity—Arjun, the one I had longed for. But he remained silent, his expression unreadable.

I smirked, breaking the quiet. "Don't you think it's about time I knew my husband's name and lineage?"

Arjun took a deep breath as if considering his answer—then deftly dodged the question, pointing ahead. "Look, that's my second eldest brother."

A broad-shouldered man approached, his presence commanding yet gentle. He greeted us both, but his gaze never met mine, fixed firmly on the ground.

Ah. This must be Bheem.

One by one, I was introduced to each of his brothers, and one by one, they avoided my eyes, their attention stubbornly fixed on the jungle floor.

Still, Arjun refused to confirm who he was.

Frustration bubbled within me. Enough of this charade.

With a dramatic sigh, I plopped down onto a nearby rock and buried my face in my hands, feigning heart-wrenching sobs. (Thank you, Krishna's wives, for the inspiration.)

"I refuse to take another step until I know the truth!" I wailed. "For heaven's sake, what will my family think of me? Married to a man who won't even tell me his name!"

Arjun and his brothers exchanged skeptical glances. Bheem nudged Arjun in the ribs.

Arjun sighed and knelt before me. "I'm sorry, princess."

I sobbed louder.

Another nudge from Bheem.

"Oh, princess, please forgive me," Arjun said, a mix of exasperation and amusement in his tone. "I am Prince Arjun, and these are my brothers. We are the Pandavas, heirs of the Kuru dynasty. Due to certain circumstances, we were forced to leave our kingdom."

Wiping away imaginary tears, I tilted my head and gave him my most innocent expression. "Well, Prince Arjun, my family will be delighted." Then, with a mischievous smile, I added, "Oh, by the way, I already knew you were Arjun."

His jaw dropped.

For a moment, he simply stared. Then, composing himself, he stood and led the way forward, muttering under his breath.

Ah, the male ego—forever an amusing thing to witness.

When we arrived at their modest hut, I saw a woman kneeling in prayer—Kunti, their mother.

Arjun's lips curled into a teasing smile as he called out, "Behold, Mother, the magnificent alms bestowed upon me by the illustrious King Draupad!"

I chuckled, expecting Kunti to indulge in her son's jest.

Instead, she spoke words that would alter my fate forever.

"Whatever it may be, my dear son, divide it equally among yourselves."

The air shifted. The weight of her decree settled heavily upon me. My knees threatened to buckle.

The brothers exchanged startled glances, their faces mirroring my own shock.

Arjun, his voice tight with urgency, said, "Mother, do you comprehend the implications of your words? I have won the princess of Paanchal. How can the five of us possibly share one woman?"

I couldn't bear it.

The walls of the hut, the ground beneath my feet—it all blurred into an indistinct haze. The weight of her words, of what they meant, crushed me. I turned and stumbled outside, seeking refuge beneath the shelter of a tree, desperate for air, desperate to escape the tightening noose of fate.

Throughout my life, I had revered Goddess Sita, taking pride in my lineage, in my name—Draupadi, daughter of King Draupad, princess of Paanchal.

Like Sita, I had believed I was born to alter the course of history, to vanquish evil, to be united with the man who had captured my heart.

But fate is unrelenting.

Unlike the gods, mortals bear the burdens of their past sins, their past blessings. Even Sita, pure and radiant, was tested and questioned—her very existence debated, her name hesitated upon when spoken to daughters.

Why had I, in my naïveté, thought that time would be kind to me?

That fate, which had swallowed empires and shattered countless souls, would spare me?

The Pandavas had always obeyed their mother's word, and this moment would be no exception. The only way to honor her decree was for one brother to marry me while the others spent their lives atoning for failing to obey her command.

But I knew them now.

They were not merely brothers. They were one soul, bound by loyalty, by suffering, by betrayal at the hands of their own kin.

If one of them claimed me as his alone, the rest would be forever torn from him.

And if I returned to my father, I would be condemned to a fate far worse than this.

There was no escape.

Destiny had already sealed its verdict.

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