I understood…the reason of your anger. Last night I told you about Subhadra. Wasn’t that the reason? Immediately
you got up and went away.”
Draupadi tried to smile. Then she regretfully said.
“ I came to my husband for a relief. If his mind is with another, what can I do? Only to return. That’s the only way. The forest during the day time is very beautiful. At night it will frighten us. When two moods appear in a single person, what can Draupadi do?”
Draupadi looked at Arjuna and again she had misgivings. The resemblance between Arjuna and Karna…How did it happen?
Arjuna pushed Draupadi’s locks of hair back and said.
“ Even if we have many wives, nobody can become Draupadi. We had invited all to the forest. But nobody could see the forest as the palace.”
Draupadi smiled. “For me the forest is the palace, if Arjuna is with me.”
Arjuna could not help embracing Draupadi. She sank her face into his broad chest. A great sense of security encircled her. She stuck to him. Arjuna gently caressed her. Dharmaputra’s eyes spotted the scene. According to their agreement from tonight onwards it’s Arjuna’s turn. Vengeance foamed and rose in Yudhishhtira’s heart towards Panchali
for rejecting him and sticking to Arjuna. Seeing his elder brother, Arjuna slipped away.
The next morning. Arjuna and Draupadi fell into the marshy place of Yudhishthira’s deceitful thoughts. Draupadi looked helplessly on how they were being separated again. Draupadi had always desired for Arjuna’s presence. She had seen Karna in Arjuna. Amazing resemblance. Sometimes they look like twins. That was why her heart was eager to be with Arjuna. But why does Dharmabrother sacrifice this desire? She could not understand.
“Panchali, didn’t you know? Arjuna alone is going to the northern region.”
“Why?” With broken heart she asked.
It is said, to learn new techniques of archery.!
The clear water in the mind got muddy. She stared into the thick miry water.
While he was about to set out, Arjuna came near Panchali. “Arjuna is leaving for the northern region in order to learn
new tactics and archery tricks for waging a war against the Kauravas and restoring the country. It’s the Eldest brother’s command. I have to go, Panchali.”
Panchali broke into tears.
“Why is that, Parthan, Fate is unkind to us alone? I have married Parthan. Fate had it that I was divided among the five. Still what? We cannot even be together for the term we were supposed to be together.”
Arjuna retorted with dismay.
“As I have sinned against you, I cannot be with you. Forgive me.”
Clad in armour, with bow and arrows Parthan walked away and Panchali looked on with utter gloom in her heart.
Draupadi’s mind was burning like a fire-pan. When the husband holds her at the side of the enemy, any woman can remain with a detached mind. Draupadi is also an ordinary woman. A woman with feelings and thoughts. She has dreams, desires, hunger and thirst. The petals of love spread forth in her mind also. She has lost her sense of dignity through her marriage. What was the need of such a marriage, other than to be looked with contempt? A woman marrying a man, gets love only from him, receives happiness from him, and returns them…will other relations have the purity of this situation and relationship?
In the Kaurava Court, how in an obscene manner did Duryodhana and others address me?
‘ Not simply five. Hundred of us are healthy. We are capable of satisfying your passion. Come on, Queen of sensual pleasure…come and embrace us.’
The memory of those words made her cover her ears with her hands. Who was responsible for all this? Because of Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti!
Knowing it clear that he would lose, his evil intention led him to pawn his wife and he played the game of dice! In truth, was Duryodhana wrong? Or, Dusshasana who disrobed me? The First Pandava himself was the one who went wrong.
From the very beginning, with Panchali’s wedding, Dharmaputra’s mistakes started. Those mistakes were being repeated.
Here, till now…even in the midst of the forest! Dharmaputra did not utter anything to Draupadi who was grieving over Arjuna’s absence. She did not ask him either. He was heard enquiring of Devaki Devi when some noble men from Hastinapuri visited them .
“ Does Devaki Devi eat food? Ask her to take care of her body.”
The guests responded.
“King, Your wife Devaki Devi and the wives of Nakula and Sahadeva left Hastinapuri that day itself. They live in their own countries. Subhadra is in Krishna’s palace. Panchali alone leads the forest life and gets her body weak.”
When they said it partly in seriousness and partly as a joke, Yudhishthira’s face became stiff and dark as if he were struck on the face. He said.
“ It’s better than being Kaurava’s slaves in Indraprastha.” Draupadi knew that Dharmaputra could never love her. He had seen Devaki as his wife. Like a female deer alone in the dreadful forest, with timid and fearful eyes Draupadi stood bewildered.
(Cont’d)
