Draupadi

CHAPTER IX

The illustrious Ved Vyasa, the very ocean of wisdom, had been summoned to sway my father's resolve on my fateful union with the mighty Pandavas. With measured words, he spoke of a celestial boon—one bestowed upon me in a past existence, decreeing that I would be wedded not to one, but to five husbands.

I listened, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. Reluctantly, I consented to this extraordinary alliance.

Little did I know that, hidden within the shadows of the woods, my beloved brother, Dhri, had trailed our steps, his heart seething with unspoken fury. He could not fathom what had transpired. When at last he emerged, he did not hesitate to escort me back to the opulent halls of our palace, the Pandavas by my side.

Fiercely, devotedly, he refused to accept the obliteration of my future.

"What will the world think of you?" he demanded, his voice edged with anguish. "Is not death preferable to a life without honor? What madness is this, sharing a wife among five men?"

His words clawed at my mind, echoing through my skull like the tolling of a bell. But even as his fury burned, a greater tempest raged within me.

The thought of binding myself to five men—five husbands—made my blood run cold. I could already hear the whispers slithering through the air, already feel the stones against my skin, already taste the venom of their slurs.

Was this not against dharma?

Had my father not taught me to guard my virtue above all else? Had my brother not shielded me from every shadow that threatened my honor?

And yet... there was no escape.

I could fight, I could resist, I could rage—but to what end? I was ensnared, caught in the ruthless current of fate. To defy it would be to drown.

My father had consented. My marriage had been decreed.

There was no turning back.

When Krishna arrived for my wedding, I felt the first stirrings of comfort. His presence alone steadied my heart.

"I am afraid, Krishna," I confessed, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them.

He merely smiled, the very same playful, knowing smile that had soothed me since childhood. "This is the path fate has chosen for you, my dear friend. The destiny that the gods have written in the stars."

His hand reached out, wiping away the tears that threatened to spill. "You are bound to the Pandavas, Draupadi, but they are my kin—honorable men who will guard you with their lives."

His words settled over me like a soft cloak, offering warmth in a world that had turned cold.

And so, I stepped forward into my new fate.

That day, I was adorned in a manner far grander than during my svayamvar.

My attire was woven of crimson and gold silk, heavy with the weight of jewels embroidered into its very fabric. My hair, dark as the midnight sky, was entwined with rare blossoms, their fragrance wrapping around me like a spell. Above my brows, intricate patterns were painted in delicate strokes, accentuating the fire in my gaze.

If I had appeared regal at my svayamvar, today I was something more.

Today, I was a goddess.

Gold graced my wrists, neck, ankles, and waist, shimmering with every step I took. My hands and feet bore auspicious motifs, meticulously etched upon my skin, marking me as a bride unlike any other.

The young woman braiding my hair sighed in awe. "You are mesmerizing," she whispered.

I merely nodded.

Beauty was a weapon, but what use was a weapon in a battle already lost?

When Kunti arrived, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

She took my hands in hers and spoke of the sacred rules Ved Vyasa had ordained—rules that would govern the unusual marriage that bound me to five men.

Each year, I would belong to one brother, starting from the eldest to the youngest. No other could claim me during that time, and if any transgressed this law, he would face exile for twelve long years.

I was blessed—or cursed—with eternal virginity.

Kunti's voice softened as she finished. Then, to my utter astonishment, she settled beside me and ran her fingers through my hair, a touch as tender as a mother's embrace.

I did not know what to say.

Perhaps she saw the storm within me, the fear I dared not voice. Or perhaps, despite it all, she had already begun to love me as a daughter.

A moment later, she rose, and I was led away.

Shikhandhi, my fierce and beloved sibling, adjusted a pleat of my sari, repositioned my jewelry, and met my gaze with steady resolve. "Walk with pride, Panchali," she murmured. "You are Draupadi of Paanchal. Never let them forget it."

And so, I walked.

Through the grand wedding hall, through the sacred fire, through the ancient rituals that bound me not to one man, but to five.

With every step, the threads of destiny wove tighter around us, binding our fates into one.

Six souls, forever entwined in the tapestry of time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you liked this chapter. Please read, vote and comment.