A Different Destiny - A Mahabharat/Karn Fanfic

CHAPTER - 37 : THE BIG DAY

Finally, the big day of Draupadi's wedding has come and everyone are in a frenzy, trying to get the last minute arrangements. After helping and making sure that Draupadi is ready for her big day, Isha went to Matha Gauri's temple to pray for her sister and friend's long life filled with happiness and harmony. A few maids and some guards accompanied her on her way there as they carried the palanquin in which she was sitting. People who were passing by stopped what they were doing as soon as their eyes landed on the royal guards accompanying the palanquin and tried to get a look at their Princess. As they reached the temple, the palanquin was gently set down and Isha climbed out of it and made her way towards the temple. On her way there, she found a few people in need and walked towards them to donate some gold and silver to them. The people took them and blessed them with all their heart. As she was donating to each person, she approached a person who had their body and face cowered in a long black shawl. 

Isha frowned looking at that, not getting a good vibe from them for some reason, but nonetheless, bent down to give her donations. As soon as she did, the person quickly removed the shawl and was quick to grab a dagger that he had tucked to the side of his dhoti and went to strike at her, but Isha was quick to get alert. With widened eyes, she was quick to step away, but it was too late, the dagger sliced through her side, making blood seep out and stain her clothes. The guards were quick to run towards her attacker, but he was quick to run off away from there. The maids immediately surrounded Isha along with the needy people.

Isha was clutching her side and had her lips sealed shut, but a few whimpers of pain kept leaving her as the maids fussed over her. She was quickly escorted into the  temple's chief priest's house which happened to be nearby and a vaidya was quick to arrive there and tended to her wound to stop the bleeding. She was instructed by the vaidya to take some rest but she couldn't. It was her sister's wedding and things cannot go wrong in her sister's wedding. She was quick to call her chief maid and instruct her to inform the guards to not inform about what happened to her family, at least not until the wedding is completed. Her chief maid reluctantly agreed and went to inform the others about the Princess' order.

As that was being done, Isha slowly got off the bed and thanked the chief priest and his family for their hospitality. With great effort, she made her way towards the temple to complete the reason why she was there at the first place. 

Standing in front of Matha Gauri's idol and surrounded by her maids and guards, Isha prayed to the Goddess. 

"Hey Matha Jagathjanini, your mercy and blessing have always been on my family and I and I will forever be grateful for that and thank you abundantly. My sister and my best friend are getting married today and I am here to worship you and pray that their life will be filled with happiness and harmony. Aapke kripadhristhi unpe humesha rahein, iski kaamna karthi hoon," prayed Isha and gave her offerings to the Goddess.

(I pray that your merciful eye will always stay on them.)

*****

It was time for the bride to join the groom at the mandap and Draupadi was getting antsy, not having Isha with her. Seeing that it was time for Draupadi to join, Dhrishtadyumn, along with Lord Krishna and Rukmini went to Draupadi's chamber only to find the bride pacing to-and-fro, looking tensed. 

"What happened Draupadi? Are you getting cold feet before your wedding?" chuckled Dhrishtadyumn.

Draupadi immediately shot him a look that made him quiet.

"Where is Isha? Why is she not here yet? Bhrathashree, Govind, Rajkumari Rukmini, my heart feels that somethings is not right? Where is my sister?" rambled Draupadi.

"Draupadi, calm down. Isha went to Matha Gauri's temple to take blessings for you and Rajkumar Arjun. She will be back anytime soon. Calm down. It's time for you to go to the mandap and join your groom. Come on," Dhrishtadyumn calmed her down.