The Fateful Evening part 2

Part 29

Krishna departed the next day. He can't stay further since Dwaraka was freed from Salwa's attack just recently. His father Vasudev was disturbed on hearing Dice hall events. Subhadra also is shattered. Krishna told Parth before leaving.. Be strong and face the calamities. I will always be with you. Very soon you will see light in your Path...he hugged Arjun and patted his back.

After Vidur returned to Hastinapur, Duryothan and Karn decided  to attack Pandavas who are enduring Exile life. Ved Vyas came and scolded Dhritrashtr for letting his son take Kuruvamsh towards destruction. Dhritarashtr pretended innocence and requested the sage to make his son sensible and end his rivalry with Pandavas. Ved Vyas told him that the great sage Maitreya is coming to Hastinapur. He may instruct Duryodhan about Dharma and its significance in life. As he said,Maitreya came and tried sincerely to change Duryodhan. He warned him that Bheem and Arjun are enough to defeat his whole army and his Maharathis.Duryodhan laughed at him and proudly patted his thighs.
Maitreya got angry and cursed him that his thighs will be broken by Bheem in the war and he will die. Dhritarashtr scolded Duryodhan and stopped him from attacking Pandavas...

It is mid afternoon. Yudhishtir finished lunch along with Brahmins. He then asked them to narrate the stories of his ancestors . After the story session, Panchali came out and addressed Yudhishtir .' Enough of your patience and forbearance. Leave your passive nature and order your brothers to kill your rivals. Certainly they will get back the king Dom to you. A Kshatriya should never behave like a Brahmin." She side glanced Arjun who is sharpening the arrows as she knew he never liked to hear any criticism of his Eldest especially from her.

Arjun understood her intention to hurt him.His jaw tightened and he continued his work of sharpening the arrows. Draupadi observed him and gleefully continued her satirical speech. ' what will you do with your Dharma? You cannot do anything to Duryodhan.See your state in this forest.Your brother made all the Kings touch your feet with their Crown Jewels with his extraordinary valour. Look at him. Now he is sharpening his arrows to hunt animals  for the sake of our food." Arjun 's concentration got disturbed and the knife struck in his palm.
Sahadev became alert and took his hand that has blood stains. Panchali turned her face hiding the moisture in his eyes. Yudhishtir had a bitter expression on his face. He countered Panchali in a firm voice. ' Why are you speaking against Dharma? A wise person should follow dharma in happiness and in troubles also.That way we will achieve our goal sometime in our life.I will stick to Dharma only,come what may." Bheem lost his patience and burst out.' We inherited our kingdom from our ancestors.it was invincible to our rivals. Not even Devendra can look at our kingdom as it was protected by my great warrior brother Arjun.You lost that to  our wretched rivals and now you are sitting in the forest doing Homas.Is it proper  for you? We should win our rivals with our valour only. Don't forget the dharma of kshatriyas. We have our friends,the Panchalas and Yadavas.They will support us for sure ."

Arjun is agitated. Where will this argument stop? Bheem won't hold back and his Eldest never retreats from any argument.He looked at Panchali who is waiting to see his irritated face. Arjun 's heart melted. His Krishnaa never tried to hurt them. Never. Now she herself is becoming the reason for such arguments between brothers,he can understand her mental state. To his surprise,Yudhishtir tried to pacify Bheem.' Brother,your words are true but we should properly analyse the situation and take a decision. Let us consult Elders and Rishis."
Panchali wondered why he did not continue the argument. After Sunset,the Vedic chants were done with and Panchali served food. Arjun is not seen anywhere. Draupadi looked at Sahadev . He told her . ' Bhrata Arjun wounded his right palm. He refused to let me apply oshadhi lep and said he will eat later. He said you need not wait for him as he is not hungry. So keep his food aside and you finish . "
The brothers did  not feel it odd because even during their previous Exile,Arjun used to skip his dinner,stay awake all through the night.The Dasami chandr is shining brilliantly as purnima is only four days away.Arjun lied down  on the shore of the lake looking into the calm waters that are pleasantly refreshing his body by sending the cool breeze to soothen him. He reminisced the nights of Indraprasth. How busy he used to be? And Krishnaa used to almost run around the kitchen to make dinner arrangements . Her laadla Kirti used to catch her Pallu and go with her everywhere. He used to scold him for being so obsessed with his mother. But now,his Kirti can not even have a glimpse of his mother for a long time. Abhi used to corner her with tricky questions.' How did you come out of fire without getting burnt? Why are you smelling lotus like?" His questions never stopped.
How difficult it must be for Subhadra to tackle him now? And his Pragati,his little princess,the shining light of Indraprasth,has to take refuge at Hastinapur ruled by that selfish Duryodhan.Arjun's eyes became heavy with the thoughts. He closed his eyes to catch sleep but even then there won't be any respite for him. The terrible scene of Kurusabha,his Krishnaa's harassment will torture him endlessly.
Suddenly Arjun felt something cool in his palm that was wounded in the afternoon. He thought it must be Sahadev trying to apply lape. He tried to pull back his hand reprimanding his youngest brother.' Sahadev,I told you it will get cured within a day. Don't worry. " To his surprise,his hand was resting happily in the lap of his queen. She held his hand and started applying aushadhi lep. Arjun looked at her downcast eyes,the curls on her face,and the still present detached  countenance that is making him guilty and restless. How relieving it would have been if Madhav stayed for sometime more?But in the wake of recent Salva war,Krishna doesn't want to be away from home for a long spell.
Suddenly Arjun grabbed the cream that is kept aside and stretched her feet to apply it on her soles. Panchali resisted fiercely to take them back but Arjun forcefully applied it. Panchali expressed her displeasure.' Don't do such things again. They were the things of past. I don't relish them anymore." Arjun retorted immediately.' I know it. I won't be forgiven that soon. I am ready to face it. But if you feel it is your duty to nourish my wound,it applies to me also. I feel touched to see your feet ruptured."
Panchali  remarked.' Ofcourse you will be touched if anything happen to me and you proved it in Kurusabha." Arjun's face bore the expression of self censure  the expression of utmost guilty ness and self hatred. Panchali could not look at him and remembered the words of Krishna.' You will hurt yourself if you hurt him. And it will be a thorn in his march towards victory. " Draupadi took the bowl that she brought with curd rice in it and started feeding him with her hand. Arjun knew she won't eat if he doesn't eat. Hatred apart,they both have to survive to serve the purpose of their life as Madhav said. He closed his mouth and put her hand into her mouth much to her annoyance. But she knew how stubborn he is. He won't eat if she refuses. And the love hate game continued making their too much in love souls relax with contentment.