Love & Betrayal

~ Unsheathed sword

Silence was all spread in the chamber. It was the private meeting area, where only family members are allowed. The hastinapur family was present there and indraprastha family too except bhishma. He was yet to come. Draupadi there was sitting with her mother-in-law and beside on the couch there were her sisters, vrushali, valandara and subhadra. Opposite to them were the pandavas and in the mid yudhishthir was sitting. On other side of room the hastinapur family was sitting. They had a great welcome but dhritarashtr and duryodhan had spoiled it with their unnecessary behavior.

Draupadi could feel the disgusting gaze of duryodhan on herself. She had glared him remembering those past events where he tried to kill her child, she could feel her body burning due to anger but somehow controlled herself.

"Yeh suttputra pehele humare liye pandavon ka shatru tha aur ab dekhiye bhrata, jaise hi gyaat hua ki pandav samriddh ho rahe hai issne paksh badal liya." Dushassan commented while duryodhan smirked looking at karan. The brothers had snapped their heads at him with angry glares.

"Moan raho dushassan, pitamaha ka aagman hone do usske pashchaat tumhara jo hriday bol lena aur gyaat rahe anuj, bharata karan tumhare jyesth hai toh apni maryaada ki garima rakhte hue shabdon ka chayan karna." Yudhishthir calmly told showing his palm to his brothers who were ready with their weapons. Bheem had vowed previously that if duryodhan tried to do any disgusting act then he will smash his head with his mace.

"Aadesh dene ka adhikaar tum khoo chuke ho yudhishthir. Adharma kiya hai tumne kuruvansh ki garima ko maleen kiya hai tumhari iss truti ne. Vivaah se purv kisi stree ke saath gair sambandh rakhte hue tumhe lajja nhi aayi__" Dhritarashtr was speaking such sharp words but a stronger voice came to stop his.

"Shabdon ka chayan sawdhani se karo putra dhritarashtr!"

The grandsire came and everyone got up from there place. He walked near yudhishthir and held on his shoulder. "Tumhare putra ko dekhkr aisa anubhav hua ki tumhara baalpan meri aakhon ke saamne aa gaya. Jab pandu ne sarvpratham tumhe mujhse milaya tha vaisa hi anubhav hua aaj itne varshon paschyat. Meri kaamna hai ki vo apne pita jaise hi mahaan raja bane aur ek mahan yoddha bankr apni maatrbhumi ka rakshak kare. Ayushmaam bhava putra!" A relief washed over them all after hearing those words from their grandsire. Yudhishthir bent to touch his feet but bhishma pulled him in a hug.

The scene tensed duryodhan and shakuni, they exchanged looks and duryodhan fisted his hand in anger. He was planning to provoke bhishma against pandavas but here the game was turning into their hands.

"Yeh kya kehe rahe hai aap pitamaha. Aap pandavon ke moh mein aa kr inke apradhon ko chupa nahi sakte. Aur yudhishthir kis prakar ka raja hai, issne ek charitrahin stree ko apni rani bana liya. Aise karaga yeh rajya ki dekh rekh? Aur kya pata jiss putra ki aap baat kar rahe hai vo yudhishthir ka hi ho? Itne varshon tk yeh charitrahin stree ek gair purush ke saath usske ghar mein rehe rahi thi. Jab yudhishthir se gair-sambandh bana sakti hai toh karan se kyu nhi!"

Duryodhan spoke not knowing the consequences. He didn't realise when a sword had made touch with his neck. The sword holder none other than was yudhishthir, he was reining his emotions but their dirty comments on her had broken his control. He took it all on himself but not a word on her. The blunt edge of sword tore duryodhan's skin, bringing out little of blood.

"SAVDHAAN DURYODHAN! Apni maryaada ka ulanghan matt karo, anuj. Tum kuruvansh ki kulvadhu aur indraprastha ki maharani ke charitra ki chestha nhi kar sakte, isske liye main tumhe mrityu dand de sakta hoon. Panchali, meri ardhangini hai, mera sarwaswa hai, unke viruddh main ek bhi shabd nahi sunna chahunga. Maata ganga ke bhati pavitra hai meri patni, unhe apne sabdhon se apavitra matt karo."