Draupadi

CHAPTER XXIV

"Oh Queen, Oh Queen your husband" the charioteer stopped gasping for breath and then continued "betted on you and lost. Duryodhan wants you to come to the royal court."  A million different thoughts surged through me, my head whirring. No, I would not let my emotions cloud what I knew about myself and dharma. "What did he bet on first?" I asked, my voice not revealing the turmoil that unfolded within me. 

"He bet on possessions, the kingdom, then his brothers, himself and then you Queen" he replied his voice shaking.

 "Did he bet on me before or after losing himself?"

 "How would he bet on you first queen? He lost himself and then bet on you queen." 

"Go to the court and ask them what right he had on me after he lost himself. I am Draupad's daughter Draupadi. I do not belong to him. I belong to myself now. Go tell that court filled with the wise." 

"Yes, Yes Queen," he said and ran. I cleared my mind and steadied my breath as I waited. Guru Drona, Pitamah Bhishma,  these men would surely not fail dharma would they?" Dushasana barged into the room shouting "Will you come now or not?" I held my head high "Brother-in-law I am bleeding now. I cannot come." He stepped forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair. My maid tried to push him away, but he easily pushed her away. He took hold of my hair "Dushasana don't do anything you will regret." He dragged me by my hair. My hair was my pride that no man had ever touched except out of fervent love. My hair everyone my children, my husbands, my siblings, even my hairdressers had been so careful with was now my leash. I looked at the man he was nearly twice my size and muscular. No matter what I did he wouldn't let go. He pushed me into the middle of the royal court. I would not let anyone see me with defeat or shame smeared over my face. I held my head high, my face unforgivable. I looked at my husband's bowed, crown off their head. The sight struck me hard and I turned away not sparing another glance no matter how much it hurt because I still cared. They didn't deserve to know I cared. Not now. This wasn't how I wanted to see them. 

I stood in the direction of the king, "I am your daughter-in-law, as a king don't fail your dharma by refusing to give it to me. My husband lost all rights on me after he lost himself."

"You are a maid now. You have no other choice here," he said.  I glared at that disgusting man, If looks could kill he would have been a corpse. 

"Bhishma Pitamah," I said turning to him "Is a woman the property of her husband, If so what right did he have on me after he lost himself." "Daughter, some shastras say as such and some don't. So I am confused." I stared at him, he hadn't betrayed me he had betrayed Dharma.

"Guru Drona" I addressed next, "Am I not a child for you like Aswathamma? Please ask of this adharma happening." "I cannot say anything here dear" he replied. 

"Draupadi stop begging those old men now. Come here and sit on my lap. Aren't you my maid now?" Duryodhana said baring his thigh and showing it to me. "Don't you dare Duryodhana? I am not your maid. I was born out of fire. " 

"Duryodhana I vow I will break your thighs and kill you. Every word you uttered to my wife you shall regret" Bheema shouted.

"Is there no one here to ask of the adharma commencing here. " I shouted. One of the Kauravas stepped forward. "Brother she is our sister-in-law, we are supposed to see her as our mother. And bringing her to court when she is clad in a single garment is unnaceptable. You are doing adharma brother." 

Karna stepped forward "You call this woman your sister-in-law. A woman who maintains relation with five men, this unchaste women. Such a woman dressed or undressed is the same." 

Dusshasana stepped forwards glancing at his brother. His eyes replied yes. I would not let them disrobe me. I ran but he held the edge of my saree. I held the last bit of my saree in my teeth. Tears streamed down my eyes, I was scarred all over and already weaker than ever. Nothing could save me now I thought. Then a rush of thoughts came to my mind, words Krishna had told me "Draupadi, you know you trust me. Aha!I knew you would ask that. Make sure to miss me. Where there is Dharma there is victory. I'll always be there for you. The whole universe would be incomplete without me. Be happy. Sakhi,you will always be my best friend. As long as dharma exists the world shall not forget the bond we share. Promise." I let the saree from my teeth.I thought of Krishna, and suddenly I could see him. He was sitting peacefully on the bank of a shimmering pond, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Swans glided gracefully across the water, their feathers glistening in the sunlight. Fish leaped playfully, creating ripples that danced across the surface. A mother duck waddled nearby, her fluffy ducklings trailing behind her, peeping softly as they explored their world. The air was fragrant with blooming lotuses, their vibrant colors painting the scene in hues of pink and white. The water itself was the most exquisite shade of light blue, reflecting the sky's brilliance. I approached him, my heart racing with excitement. "Krishna," I said, my voice trembling with emotion, "you are here! What should I do?" He turned to me with a calm smile, his eyes filled with wisdom. "I think you should forgive them and let God take care of it," he replied softly.

I felt a surge of frustration rising within me. "Krishna, please! Just give me the strength to be angry. It's the only thing that can save me right now. Nothing else could possibly protect me from this pain. Please, there's no hardship in granting me this, is there?"

He looked at me with deep compassion, the light reflecting off the water seeming to echo the tranquility in his presence. "True strength," he said gently, "lies in the ability to release that burden. Forgiveness is not weakness; it is the key to your freedom. Let go, and you will find peace." His words resonated in the stillness around us, inviting me to reflect on the path toward healing. He looked at me with deep compassion, and in his gaze, I sensed an understanding that transcended my turmoil. The beauty around us seemed to shimmer even brighter, as if echoing his message. "Fine Draupadi, be angry."

I came back to the court. I was dressed. Dushasana had fainted. I stood in the middle of the court. "One day your wives shall weep far more than I have weeped today. I shall not braid my hair till the day it is bathed in Kaurava blood. You will all receive the punishments for each of your deeds, for your silence, for your adharma. I shall not forget nor forgive till the day I die."

The king, visibly shaken, turned to me. "Daughter, ask for any boon you desire. I shall grant it." Duryodhana protested vehemently, but the king ignored him, his ears deaf to dissent. Why hadn't he acted sooner?

"Free my eldest husband and return his weapon," I commanded, my voice ringing clear and resolute.

"Granted. Now, what else do you seek?" he asked, his tone shifting.

"Free my other husbands and return their weapons as well. They are warriors, not mere tacticians," I replied, my gaze unwavering.

"Continue, continue," the king urged, sensing the weight of my demands.

"My father taught me that a Kshatriya woman should not ask for more than two boons."

"But daughter, you did not ask for your freedom," he pointed out, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"I was never a slave," I declared, standing tall and unyielding. "I do not take orders from any man but my husbands."

The king's eyes widened, realization dawning. Duryodhana's protests faded into insignificance, overshadowed by the force of my conviction. The air in the hall crackled with tension as I stood my ground.

"Your wish is granted," the king finally conceded, though his voice carried an edge of uncertainty. "Your husbands shall be freed and armed."

I walked towards my husbands. I gave my hand to Yudhisthra and helped him get up. "Play another game. The winner gets the kingdom. You will lose. Ask for exile." 

I turned sharply. If any of you think I'm impure I suggest you to look at yourself in the mirror." I said and walked out straight, head held high.  I was Draupadi, Draupad's daughter. 

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This chapter was a true challenge to write, but I hope I've done justice to the essence of the story. I'd love for you to read it, vote, and share your thoughts. Your comments mean a lot to me and only take a moment—please take that minute to let me know what you think! Thank you!