Draupadi - The Impregnable Queen

17

It had been five hours since Draupadi had gotten any news of the happenings in the Dyutasabha.
Draupadi was not eager to play with the Crown Prince so it was decided that Yudhishtira would be representing her. The rules were laid out by Senapati Bhishma. Both the parties could only bet something of equal value. Whatever was lost by one party would automatically belong to the other. And the third rule, which Draupadi had decided she would break if needed, was that no women besides maids would be allowed to enter the Sabha.
Draupadi, busy in  anticipation, had not taken into notice her back pain which was unusually hurting today. As if on cue pain seared up, she instinctively put a hand to support the back, but before she could give it much thought a soldier arrived.
Draupadi's back pain was ignored as she looked at the expression of the soldier.
"What is it?" Draupadi pressed.
"Your highness, Prince Nakul has been lost by Prince Yudhishtira and now is a sla-"
Draupadi did not hear the last of it, she had already started walking towards the Sabha, she was so furious that she didn't notice her arms had gone a little numb. She entered the court only to be stopped by the doorkeepers.
Draupadi gave them a look, a brave one chose to speak up.
"The rules are clear, Your Majesty no wom-"
"The Samragni of Aryavarta does not listen to anyone if she wishes so. Your rules don't bind me. Part way." she said as the doorkeepers parted ways. Her eyes instinctively turned towards the side of the court where her husbands were seated. Nakul was missing and the other three looked disheveled. Her eyes scanned the other side, she saw Nakul deprived of his crown, sitting near the feet of Duryodhana, her anger flared up.
"I will give you a chance to explain yourself King of Hastinapur!" Draupadi roared, barely holding back her anger, looking straight at the interim ruler.
"Samragni, your husband Yudhishtira lost his brother- "
"Who did Dhuryodhana think was of the same value as my husband?" Draupadi asked cutting the King.
"My brave son, Vikarn wa-"
Draupadi snorted "And you thought your son is as capable as my Arya?"
"Samrag-" Gandharraj started.
Draupadi raised a hand to stop him.
"I Draupadi, the Samragni of Aryavarta order you to terminate this evil Sabha at once." she stated, and started to turn around, thinking that her orders would be followed. She was in for a surprise.
"With all due respect Samragni, the Sabha cannot be terminated till one of the party cannot put something on bet." Gandharraj stated bowing low.
"Are you denying me of what I ask?" Draupadi's anger now at its peak.
"Wife!"
She turned towards her eldest husband.
"It is our Dharma to participate until we lose it all, we have committed ourselves to the rules."
"Dharma! Rules! Which Dharma dictates to put on bet your own blood?" Draupadi seethed in anger and exasperation.
She looked straight into his eyes, she knew what was to happen. Yudhishtira though calm and a great listener was also stubborn, she had discovered. If he set his mind on something, he didn't stop until he achieved what he wanted to. His eyes shone with the determination of trying to make peace. She knew Duryodhana would do something more drastic later, and in one order, Draupadi could free her husbands.
She knew this could backfire upon her, but she felt like she owed this to Yudhishtira. When she recollected herself she looked straight at Duryodhana.
"You are still young Duryodhana, do not do something that will invite your death."
She stated and stormed out again.
--
It had been another two hours and she had already received the news that Sahdev, Arjuna and Bhima had been lost to Duryodhana. When she had heard that Arjuna too was lost, in the pressure of unwanted anger she had ordered the queen of Hastinapur, Gandhari and her mother-in-law, Kunti and all the servants to leave her alone. She did not want them to see her when she was weak, moreover she did not want to take her anger out on those royal women, who had no more say than that of a common woman.
But she knew this was to happen, what she did not expect was that Yudhishtir had lost himself. The news startled Draupadi, she had wanted to go to the court and order to teminate the evil Sabha that very moment. But as she stood up, she felt like she was spinning, she sat right back down, regaining her balance. Something was wrong, she looked out of the window, it was raining heavily, but she had never felt so weak in most humid of days. She forgot track of time sensing her body go numb, she had just willed all of her to get up, when the soldier entered again.
"You- Your Highness!" the soldier stuttered.
"For god's sake, speak up!" her voice though weaker than usual was enough to scare the soldier.
"Crown Prince Duryodhana has asked for you in the court."
"And why does he think I will do as he states?" Draupadi questioned, a feeling of fear entered her heart.
"Prince Yudhishtira ha- has lost you in the Sabbha." the soldier stuttered, scared out of his wits.
Not this, not today.
"Tell your Crown Prince that the Samragni follows no ones orders." she stated. As the soldier departed, Draupadi knew she had to get out of here, she forced herself to walk to the door when she fell down. It hit her, that why she was feeling weak. She had thought it was nothing but mythical. It was not very well-known but Draupadi had heard of an odorless gas which was specifically said to me made in the regions of Gandhar. It was said that the gas worked like sleep, initially it would very deliberately weaken the body such that it was almost unnoticeable. Then finally all at once it would come down on the inhaler, making one weak.
Draupadi looked around her, the curtains were drawn, stopping the gas to escape, even if the curtains weren't closed, the gas could have barely escaped in the humid weather. She could hear the big drops of water hitting surfaces. This was all planned. Very meticulously planned. A feeling of dread filled her.
Till the time she had dragged herself back to her seat where her dagger was kept, the eldest Kaurava after Duryodhana, Dushasan came in sneering. Draupadi hid the dagger behind her. She knew her arm was too weak to aim correctly at the man from such a distance, she waited for him to come closer.
"Dasi Draupadi, come let's go!" he said in a sing song voice.
"What will you do? I dare you to even come near me!" she spoke with as much authority she could muster. She did not want the enemy to know that she was weak.
" Oh, I forgot you can't even walk one step without falling over." the man laughed.
He knew, this was bad. Draupadi tightened her grip on the dagger, as she saw him come close to her. When he was close enough, Draupadi maneuvered the dagger such that it would impale his heart, resulting in immediate death. The theory was right, but the gas got better of her. Draupadi winced as she saw how soowly her arm was performing her instructions. Before the dagger could even touch him, Dushasan grabbed Draupadi's arm. The dagger fell down, she tried to yank her hand if, but the man's grip was firm. She took in a deep breath, with all her strength she yanked his hand off, which did nothing but aggravate the Kuru prince. He grabbed Draupadi by her hair. Draupadi was shocked noone touched her, dare grab her hair. She jerked her head sideways trying to yank his arm off, all in vain. The man dragged her down from her seat, all the while holding her hair. She grabbed his hand, trying to free herself. She knew it was of no use. In relpy the man yanked her hair hard. Draupadi let out a scream. When they had left her room he yanked her back, and throwed her towards the ground. The impact made her forehead bleef profusely. She let out a muffled cry.
--
Arjuna's head jerked up as he heard a forceful feminine scream. He froze. He couldn't breath. It was Draupadi, he willed himself to run to her, but his body did not comprehend his commands. He just stood like a statue his mouth open, his eyes glistening with tears. He heard another scream. This time it was closer. He heard a masculine grunt, and a woman came into view lying on the ground, her bun had come undone so her face was covered by her hair. She slowly looked up. Arjuna fell down. Her forehead had a large cut, which needed immediate surgery. A lot of other cuts were visible on her body, her ears and neck had nail scratches, from where her jewelry was yanked off. She was just covered in her dhoti, angavastram, nath and her chudamani. The worst was the look in her eyes. A look Arjuna never thought he could see in those eyes. A look of defeat.

Author's note: I am providing a vocabulary for words you may be unfamiliar with:
Vikarn - The eldest Kaurava after Duryodhana and Dushasan