Samragyi Draupadi to Priya Panchali

11. The Confession

Yudhishthir's POV:-

After the tired and tension full day, slowly the night falls, slowly. The horizon embraces the sun and the sky opens its fist and spreads the stars. The doors of puffy white clouds opens and the bright gibbous moon emerges out through it.

But Krishnaa was quite disappointed after the sabha. And I didn't dare to talk freely with her. And today, when we all tried to talk her, she just turned more sad and disturbed.
Leaving us she opened the door of room where we sleep and for the sake of her consolation, I just followed her.
The door locked automatically by the gust of wind.

We both are chasing by the sleepy eyes, still an unknown urge of repentance make us awake.

Her eyes are surmount in sleep. I don't want to awake her more. I insist her to lay down, "We will talk later, your tiredness is troubling you."
"Hmm" , a slight fine smile peep through her lips which we were craving to see. I continue to look at her in search of such smile.
Finally, she lay down and I too, just beside her. But, I find that still a restlessness is troubling her.
"Panchali, is anything-"
"Arya" her voice low down, "Please hold me, tha-that nightmare is troubling me" .
"Come" , I spread my one arm and make her head rest on it and wrap her with another one.
I know that the nightmare troubles her every night. We saw many time, she woke up middle of the night and screamed,

"Don't do so- I am begging to you"
She wake up. She was breathing heavily. Her hair turns messy. We all wake up and sit,
"What happened dear?" , Nakul asked her taking the palm into his and rub it. Her hands are as cold as snow. She was looking totally horrified, her face turn pale.
She gasped and spoke, "Th-at Du-ss-ha-san ho-ol-din-g mm-my... "
Arjun stopped her and hugged her tightly. It is the most intolerable sentence to us. There were tears in everyone's eyes.
Arjun make her sit and drink water. Bhim begin to console her.
I stood and come out from the room. There was no power left in me to bear that situation anymore. I was feeling very much guilty.

Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev- the great heroes of Aryavart. Everyone in this Aryavart are well known about their strength but they are broken, crying. And Panchali, most auspicious woman of Aryavart, the fireborn, weeping in front of her Aryas. All are paining with torture.

That Duryodhan knows very well, we love Panchali very much. Taking benefit of it, they mentally tortured us by physically abusing her.
And what about Panchali-
I can feel that tears rolling down from my eyes.

I turn my head and found she has fallen asleep. Her face is looking very calm and comfortable. Her curly hair has fallen on my arm. I turn towards her, kiss on her forehead and begin to play with her hairs, tangling with my fingers.
I am feeling very tired but can't sleep. I am missing someone. In between me and Panchali, the land belongs to him, our little prince- Prativindhya.
His half clearance words, jolly eyes, puffy cheeks, black curly hairs inherits from his mother, pink curved lips always full of naughty smile, I am missing him very much.
I remember that one day-

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It was a early night of summer. After coming from Sabha, I was in my room, along, standing beside the window. Suddenly, he came running into my room. Behind her, Panchali entered with a plate of food. Prati begin to ran around the room and Panchali followed her and she was naughitily scolding, "Prati, last, just finish it."
"Naa, mata... "
"Prati, come here, you are a good boy, na, come .. come."
He began to run all over the room.
"Na-nna, Mata please"
"Prati, don't you see how little Som and others finished everything"
I was became usual of this mother-son fight of every night with dinner. I also used to enjoy this.
Panchali was pregnant with Satanik at that time. So, it was very hard for her to run behind him.
Finally, she complaint me, "Look, Arya, what he is doing! But you too don't say anything"
"If he don't want, just let him"
"But Arya, he didn't eat little also"
I was truly cherishing.
"Prati-"
"Pitashree" his sweet voice emerge out.
"Come Prati"
"But you have to tell me a story"
"Ok, promise"
He came near to me and stretched his both little hands. As I lift and took him in lap, he giggled and wrap his both arms around my neck.
"Prati, just eat, all your brothers already finished their dinner".
"Pitashree, do you ate? Mata you?"
"After you, we all will eat"
"Sure?"
"Yes, everyone have to eat"
"Me too??"
"Hmm, otherwise how will you get strength"
"I want to grow like Abhi bhaiya"
"Ofcourse"
We both were smiling.
"Just tell me a story"
"Hmm, once upon a time, there was a little prince"
"Just like me?"
"Hmm", Panchali feed him a gulp.
"Then?"
"He was a excellent Archer"
"Wow, like Pitashree Arjun?"
"Yes, its a story of your Pitashree Arjun".
"Wow..., Then?"
"One day our Acharya Dronacharya was caught by a crocodile while bathing on the river."
"Eww..", he just made a scary face and in that situation, Panchali gave him another gulp of food.
"Then, Arjun hold his bow, took an arrow and begin to shoot arrow towards it, and-"
"And- then?", He made his black eyes enlarged and looking towards us. We both were smiling. So confused he asked his mata, "Mata, then?"
"I don't know Prati, I was not there", she smiled and said.
"Ohho.. mata, what you were doing? Pitashree was fighting with crocodile, such a courageous situation and you missed it."

We just love Prati's such words. So, we just used to say such so that Prati just give us some silly scolding. We all enjoyed that, even mata Kunti too.

"Ok, listen Prati", finally I said.
"Yes, Pitashree"
"The crocodile was defeated and Acharya safely came out."
"I already knew that, because nothing can defeat my fathers. I know", he ended his sentence and jumped down from my lap and again begin to run around the room.

"Prati, just last gulp", Panchali said.
But Prati was in his own playful mood.
"But, Prati you know, what I want to tell you?", I asked him.
"No, what Pitashree?"
"Care for everyone, protect the innocent".
"Ohho, I understand."
"But only a fit and healthy person have strength to protect everyone".
"Pitashree, I am fit", he lift his cloak from his arm and showed his fair and little arm.
We both were laughing at his innocence.

"Yes Prati, you are healthy but you are growing, so you need more strength", Panchali said.
"So, then?"
"You have to eat properly".
"Ok.. mata". And he opened his mouth on his own and asked Panchali to feed him.

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Those days, full of happiness suddenly bursted out and happiness disappeared. And we had to left our children alone. We can't take them here as they need proper care and protection. And this forest is full of danger and we are just- shattered.

But, very soon we are expecting to meet them, as they will come here to meet us and will give us a final goodbye for thirteen years.

My eyes becomes hazy with tiredness and tears. I close my eyes.

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