"Nobody can ever love one as much as their parents do."
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"You know, there was this one time when Satanika and Abhimanyu got into a huge fight," Shruthakarma began, leaning in as if sharing a cherished secret. "I had never seen Satanika that angry before. We were all so scared! It felt like the air was thick with tension. They didn't speak to each other for nearly a week—a whole week! Can you imagine?"Uttara's eyes widened with curiosity. "What happened during that week?"Shruthakarma continued, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Satanika practiced harder than ever, pouring all his frustration into his training. Mama Shree Dhri was so worried she nearly pulled his hair out! Meanwhile, Bhratha Prathivindhya took it upon himself to play peacemaker. He organised little gatherings, trying to coax them back together, but nothing worked. It was like walking on eggshells around them."The other brothers nodded, murmurs of agreement rippling through the group. "But here's the kicker," Shruthakarma said, eyes gleaming. "We never found out what they fought about! They were so secretive about it, like a locked treasure chest. None of us knew what sparked the fire."At this, Abhimanyu and Satanika exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes dancing with shared secrets. Prathivindhya raised an eyebrow, leaning forward as if to pry open that treasure chest. "What was it that kept you both so tight-lipped?" he teased, a grin spreading across his face. Satanika looked at Abhimanyu, then back at Prathivindhya, a playful challenge in his gaze. "You really want to know, don't you?" he replied, feigning innocence."Absolutely!" Prathivindhya urged, and the other brothers leaned in closer, anticipation crackling in the air.Abhimanyu chuckled softly. "Let's just say it involved a very misunderstood comment and a misplaced training sword," he finally said, his tone light but the hint of something deeper lurking beneath. Satanika smirked, adding, "And a bet that spiraled out of control. But that's a story for another day!" The brothers groaned and I laughed.
"Alright, you guys should listen to this story. So, one day, a python wraps itself around Bhima. As Bhima's struggling like he's trying to escape a family reunion, the snake hisses, 'I was King Nahusha! I took Indraloka from Indra and even swiped his queen, Shachi. But she totally played me! She said the Saptarishis needed to carry me on a palanquin, and when they strolled along like they were on a leisurely Sunday walk, I kicked one in the head. Boom! Curse time! Now I'm stuck as a python until someone named Yudhishthira sets me free!'Bhima's eyes light up, 'Yudhishthira's my brother!'The python rolls its eyes and hisses, 'Oh, please, you're just saying that to get sympathy. Who's next? A panda?''Help!' Bhima yells, probably realizing that being a snack for a snake is not his life's ambition.His brothers come running, and when Yudhishthira touches the python, it sheds its snake-body like a bad outfit and ascends to heaven. And we all laughed because, let's be honest, who knew becoming a heavenly being involved such an awkward wardrobe change?"
Everyone cracks up and I'm so happy about this. Telling eachother the stories of our life, the moments we missed. Things shouldn't be this way. But this is the way things are. I sigh.
"Mata," Abhimanyu and the others look at me worried. "Are you fine?" "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just thinking about your dad he's gone to see Krishna to ask him for aid hasn't he. Sorry, got a bit carried away by my thoughts." I lie and they look at me, seemingly placated. It isn't fair, but when has life ever been fair to me?
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"How are you? I've barely been able to get a word with you." Yushisthra tells me and I sigh "I'm your wife. Don't be so formal."
"How's it going? " I raise an eyebrow at that and he elaborates "You know the catching up with all those years of absence, making up for it." His voice sounds mellow.
"How are you coping with it?" I ask my voice gentle. "I love him with all my soul, I just don't know how to show him. I feel like a lousy father." I smiled.
"Our son is far more mature than we thought. He'd understand your love dear. Your not a lousy father. Don't worry yourself now." I tell him placing my hand on his shoulder and immediately he presses his lips to my cheek. "I'm sorry, more sorry than I'd ever be. But I love all of you with all I have."
I know husband. I know.
I nod my head at him. "We'll manage. We always have. We have nearly 2 and a half months for war and what can time not heal. Hmm?" I tell him and he smiles though I'm not sure he's convinced. I understand that time may heal all wounds, but scars never fade. But I can get through this. We can get through this.
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Hope you guys liked this chapter. It's kind of a filler chapter.
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Draupadi
Historical Fiction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dharma was the cloth I held closest. I was draped in dharma. No one could ever take that from me. No amount of pu...
