Destined (Mahabharat)

chapter 40:

"Hmm....I won king Yudhishthira. Now what will you stake?"
Gandharraj asked Yudhishthira, who was sweating so much that his clothes are drained wet.

"I dont have any thing left Gandharraj. Now you won, let me with my brothers and wife leave this place as we all are lose in this game to you." Saying this Yudhishthira tries to get up but a cramped voice stop him.

Gandharraj smile while narrowing his snake eyes and look at the all mighty brothers,
"Oh king Yudhishthira, maybe you lost all your wealth but you still have something more worthy than the previous stakes."

A ominous feeling capture Yudhishthira as he look at Gandharraj.

Gandharraj sneer more disgustingly and said, " king, you still has your brother right? Stake them."

Silence fall on the entire hall as Gandharraj voice fell.

Yudhishthira close his eyes as trying to clear his mind and slowly open it. Looking at his bother with corner of his eyes , he spoke , " Okay, I stake my brother nakul."

'Good'
Shakuni though and roll the dices.
"I won."

Yudhishthira hands tremble a bit. He clutches his clothes , turning his knuckles white.

Slowly he stake each of his dear brother , Sahadeva, arjuna and bheem.

Lips tremble Yudhishthira feels like his head was carrying a large mountain as it throb with second passing.

The howls of unknown characters passes his ears like warning him.

But fate is already decided.

"I stake myself."
The heavy and deep voice ecos in the middle of the hall.

Clothing the hope that maybe he still get his winning but no. Reality is more cruel.

A cranky voice bleeds through his ears,
"I won."

Now nothing left to the one , who was even loved by the heaven.

His treasures, his home , his subjects , his brothers and now his. Nothing left to him.

"What? King Yudhishthira did anything left to you till now?" Shakuni chuckles asking that.

"I......" A lump forming in his throat and thousands hand held his body.

His own dignity crumbled today because of his own selflessness.
His dear brothers have to become a slave just because of his commitment.

But can he go back? Absolutely not.

"I bet on......panchala princess.....my wife.......draupadi"

Gasps left suddenly everyone as they all startled by Yudhishthira.

Can a wife's be stakes on gambling?

Maybe not. Because from ancient times people usually use slaves to gamble not wives.

A low chuckle left from somewhere and slowly fill the whole silent assembly.

Yudhishthira look up and found the two beautiful bright dices in front on him.

"Bring the beloved wife of pandavas, draupadi."
Duryodhan said loudly as he laugh looking towards the five hopeless pandavas.

But a voice interrupt him,
"Don't go too far prince duryodhan. If you cross this line maybe god cant even save you."

But duryodhan turn a blindeye to Vidura words and order Pratikamin to call draupadi in the assembly.

Pratikamin hearing this, followed duryodhan order and reach in the magnificent chamber of Krishna.