APRICITY

5.Twelfth eve: After 6 years

Six monsoons flew by, I thought. I rested my back under a mango tree, my fingers were busy adjusting the string of the bow. Sitting under a mango tree was a splendour itself, the fresh juicy aroma of the ripe mangoes hitting your nostrils every now and then.

It was a toiling day since I had bruised my arms bitterly at the mace practice. Pitamah Bheem had insisted that I might rest, but my adament self did not permit me to do so.

I looked at the grandeur of my bow. It was Jyeshth Pitamahi's gift on my tenth birth anniversary. It had been two years since I owned this, still the metallic glare and especially the ruby studded at its chest, never failed to mesmerise me.

"Bhrata," I knew from the voice of his.
"Vajra! " I exclaimed. He threw me a sword, and I understood what would be his next move. Vajra, though being a six-year old boy, took keen interest at weapons. Afterall, he was his Mumma's boy. The similar firmness in his calm eyes, that proudly flaunted Dharmaja's instinct in his veins.

I swished the metal sword which cut through the air at my command. The sun shone on the metal as the two weapons clashed in a wink of an eye. Vajra easily dodged my move as he prodded the sword almost at my neck. I ducked backwards. Taking advantage of the lightweight weapon, I first blocked another strike of his, and circled it above my head. Within a moment, my sword touched the apex of his throat and Vajra's sword lay abandoned at his feet.

"I won," I struggled to grasp my breath. Considering his age, he was a tough opponent to fight with. I doubt I had those skills at his age.

"Come up", I held my hand to help him get up.

We brushed the soil from our clothes, panting at the same time. "Bhrata, how did you take the last strike?"

"It's easy, you just need to have a better perception of the time and distance. Don't worry, you can ammend your own tactics while practicing. I picked this strike from Tatshree Pradyumna."

"Yes,he is an expert at this illusive strikes with sabres. I always try to sneak in his armoury while he strides with those sabres and swords." Vajra added.

"Sneak? Why don't you ask him to teach you?" I asked while casing the swords in the respective scabbards.

"It's just that I haven't excelled enough to hold the metal ones, so I have to part with the wooden one." He pouted. I laughed at the resemblance he held with Suthanu Bua.

"That's not wrong though. If you keep improving this way, you will soon can handle this metal sabres." I pointed at those weapons.

"Aren't you hungry?" I rubbed my growling stomach.

"Yes, let's go." He assented.

The scene that melted my heart was infront of me, just like a painting.

The sevikas ran here and there with bowls and plates. Pitamahi Karenumathi, Pitamahi Subhadra, Devika were supervising the arrangements. My thoughts spiraled to ponder over the matter. Oh,yes. Mata was telling me that day. It had to be the anniversary of the Ashwamedha Yagya. That meant Pitamah Arjun would be arriving soon.

The smell of the rolling ghee over the paneer dish made me partially numb. Ecstasy at its peak!

Suddenly I could feel a hard twist in my ears. "Ouch!" I groaned.

"Parikshit, you shouldn't smell food like that. Not a nice courtesy." Pragati Bua and her fake glares. She carried the one-year old Aarush in her arms.

"Bua!!" I gasped in delight. Since, the annual day of the Ashwamedha Yagya appended a festive mood in the entire Hastinapur. No, not just Hastinapur, the whole Aryavart.

"You have grown into a fine young man,Pari." Pragati Bua ruffled my hair.

"And why is that you don't visit us often? Is Assaka more beautiful than Hastinapur?" I took pride in my own fake anger.

"No, Pari that is not the case, Rajkumar Rudraksh loves her more than any of us. Isn't it Pragati?" Suthanu Bua's sense of humour had improved over the years. I wouldn't be surprised because Rajkumar Bhanu was a fine teacher at it. Be it sword fighting or teaching wit - he did all like a genius he was.

"Fine, honourable ladies, please excuse me. Your giggles won't fulfil my hunger. I want some food for that." I raised my hands to grab their attention admidst those teasing jokes from Suthanu Bua. Nonetheless, she had another baby on its way. Jokes apart, I grabbed the nearby plate and devoured it like a shameless I was.

"Give me some." Vajra whined.

"Take another one." He pouted at my response.

Sorry, dear little brother I am selfish when I am hungry. No comprise with food.

Glossary

Jyeshth Pitamahi -here, Draupadi

Pragati is the daughter Draupadi and Arjun.

Rajkumar Rudransh was the crown prince of the Kingdom of Assaka ( not mentioned in the epic).

Aarush was Rajkumari Pragati and Rajkumar Rudransh's son.

Pradyumn- Shri Krishna's eldest son. Crown Prince of Dwarka.