MAHABHARAT--- Though the fighting between the Pandavs and Kauravs remain at the heart of it, the epic revolves around the conflict of Dharma. In this work of fiction I present to you the human emotions, conversation, thoughts of everyone as they mee...
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"Tilt your head...just a little--no to the right." Madri said with utmost seriousness as she styled Draupadi's hair in a fishtail braid and tugging her front locks with pink Camellia buds. Draupadi sat there with patience like that of a new bride, though her neck was hurting a bit from sitting there for half an hour. However, she didn't resist as Madri seemed so eager to make her hair and it seemed a perfect opportunity to 'socialise' more with Madri, and well also, Draupadi wanted to bore a new look too. "Done." Madri finished at last. She took a good look at her daughter-in-law's styled hair, satin-soft, voluminous and slightly grey-flecked enhancing the forlorn flower. "Aren't you a piece of viscous cloud itself?"
Draupadi felt stupid for blushing like a little girl, but again she was never a little girl for experiencing these tiny joys of life. "Technically, I am a piece of raging fire, but cloud isn't too bad."
"I seriously need some lessons from you. One year I worked as a Sairandhri, and then my hands refused to do a tiny peck of beautification." Draupadi told Madri as both of them strolled around the enormous spherical hall.
"I learned music, dance, embroidery and art of beauty from childhood. A fraction of me lives in them." Madru answered running her fingers across the ivory pillars.
"If that's the case, I don't think I can master that. You see, I was married when i was merely three years old---" Draupadi said bobbing her head up and down.
Madri's head shot up in bewilderment, and Draupadi pinched her lips from letting a snigger out at Madri's priceless face. Nevertheless, Madri understood the underlying meaning; she retorted, "I should confront Jiji. Why she accepted such a naive girl,huh!"
Draupadi faked a hurt emotion, gasping her chest with mouth hung open. Both of them chuckled. Madri glanced at Draupadi with a sad smile, meaning to ask her something.
"Draupadi...can I ask you something? But promise me you won't account me as shallow." Madri urged.
"Please Chotimaa, I am your daughter. It will be a crime for me to hold you as lowly. I will feel grateful if I can clear your mind." Draupadi promised. She led Madri to a stoned hedge under an extensive Banyan tree and sat there, as they continued the conversation.
"For the last two days I have been at a constant battle with myself." Madri stammered. "I--um--when I was alive, I wasn't able to love Jiji's sons. No, I loved them, however I couldn't give them the love I could give Nakul and Sahadev. When the twins were born I felt an undying and selfless love, possibly something I never experienced. I fed Bheem with my own hands when he was an infant, but never I compromised with my own morsel of grain, which I could do with Nakul. I would praise Yudhisthir and Arjun of their prowess and valour, but never I felt proud, which I could do with Sahadev.
When I performed sati, I thought that now I am above of all these worldly feelings. But, when I saw Arya with Yudhisthir, I heard myself asking my sons didn't got the chance to have the hand of a father upon them, they were too small to understand. At least, Yudhisthir, Bheem and Arjun knew the plight and gained strength from the weakness. They neither got the happiness nor the sadness and were clawed at the dark."
