Panchali - Lady Of Purity

Chapter - 2

My thoughts about my prince was disturbed by Maa's voice.

"Putri, now its time for you to do pooja. Come with me now." Maa said.

I went with her to do the pooja and then had my dinner with her and didi.

"Tomorrow you will be doing the Annapoorna pooja with your brother, Panchali." Maa said with a tone filled with happiness.

"And this is the first pooja done when a new soul is born." Didi said with great enthusiasm.

Suddenly I had a doubt.

How could a new born do pooja??

For my case its different but how can new born babies do it???

So I asked them.

"How can a new born baby do this pooja??"

There was smile on there faces.... Even Malini giggled.

"What?" I asked again being puzzled by their reactions.

"Panchali, the new born sits in their mother's lap and do the pooja." Didi said.

"Then shall I sit in your lap and do the  pooja didi?? Because bhaiya will sit in maa's lap..." I asked.

"Everyone who will be watching us will laugh at us Draupadi." Didi said.

"Then okay I will hold your hand and Maa hand and do the pooja, as sister is also like a maa." I said with great pride.

But both didi and maa smiled sadly.

"What happened?"

"Draupadi its not possible...." Maa said.

"Why?"

"Draupadi I am the senapathy (army head) of our army. I need to organize the army for tomorrow's war." Didi said, while I was awe struck.

"Really? Pitashri has made you as the senapathy?" I asked with full excitement.

"Yes. Both our grandfather and father had always treated me as a son." Didi said with great pride.

"Wow.... Pitashri doesn't differentiate between a girl and boy. I am really proud to have such father." I said with pride.

"Didi its okay if your unable to accompany me. You will make us proud by winning the war." I said.

"Yes Putri.... this time you will succeed for sure." Maa said.

I smiled as I saw the pride and courage in didi's eyes.

Surely she isn't an ordinary woman but a born WARRIOR.

That night I spent my night with my new friends and servant maids.

From them I got to know the reason behind my didi's birth.

The enemy of Panchal was a land called Hastinapura. The land known for dharma and knowledge yet is filled with adharma.

It was said that the great grand sire of Hastinapura, Bhishma had once made enmity with my grandfather, Prishata, and was cursed by my nanashri  to be destroyed by the soul born in my family.

Later Gangaputra Bhishma, was destined to be killed by the Kasi Princess Amba, who vowed destroy him in her next birth for creating hurdle in getting her love.

And thus after few years, a soul, a female child was born to my father, who was trained to be a warrior and avenge for the insult given to my nanashri and that was didi Shikhandini.

Though it all seemed there was a reason behind my nanashri, father and didi's hatred, I still admired the great warrior Bhishma for the sacrifice he made all through his life.