The Great Queen Sudeshna’s love for Sairandri was increasing day by day. Sairandri would repeatedly tell her that the curry mix she used to grind only for Panchali was being ground for the Queen. When she told her that she was as beautiful as Panchali,Sudeshna was taken to the zenith of exhilaration. That was why she gave Malini more freedom than to other maids.
Even while she was acting like Sairandri, she was self- forgetful because of her happiness in being with and serving Parthan. She felt immensely grateful to Krishna for it. Madhav… Madhusudan! It’s because of your grace that I am able to endure my life as a maid. Whenever I’m alone during nights I contemplate on you, Krishna, and when the song of the flute rises within, its resonances make me dissolve in you Krishna….. Your sweet song consoles me in my sorrows and with indefinable sensations gets me bathed in the ocean of joy, bringing the hesitant sleep back to overwhelm me….my Govinda, if you too had not been with me, this Draupadi would have been non-existent long back.
In Virata Palace, while she was living like a maid she saw Kunkan and Vallavan only now and then . Only when she went out with the Great Queen she saw Nakula and Sahadeva. The black mole on Nakula’s face was not only a decoration but also another sign not to identify him. Nakula was bold enough to come near and ask her whether she was fine. Sahadeva only looked at her from a distance. When she saw Sahadeva’s glance from a hide she remembered her first night with Sahadeva. He was found first as a frightened small child.
“No, Elder sister, you are equal to Mother. I can never take you as my wife.”
Not even a trace of a moustache had grown below his nose at that time. A small boy. He is equal to a son. The so-called righteous people did not have any compunction in doing that grave sin. When she thought of the scenes of Swayamvara, unconsciously she laughed. Those who were with her made fun of her. Tantrapalan is infatuated with Malini. When she reached afar, she turned back and saw Sahadeva looking behind her. It touched her deeply. For two or three days Draupadi’s thoughts were circling around the scene. Even Brihannala asked her for the reason of her gloom.
“ I’m worried about Nakula and Sahadeva. Sahadeva sleeps in cowshed! His clothes are pitch black, may be because he collects cow dung. I cannot bear it. Mother had specially told me to take care of Sahadeva.” Draupadi broke into tears. “No, Partha…I cannot see my Sahadeva in that form. I cannot bear him wearing soiled clothes fully covered in cow dung.
Give me a word, Partha…Very soon, we will reach our kingdom and my Sahadeva will be coronated as the King.”
Looking at the tears flowing like a stream, Arjuna-Brihannala said.
“Panchali…I feel proud of you. Only you can love all alike. The world will definitely come to know of this goodness. You will be respected also.”
When at times she remembers Sahadeva’s miserable plight and the way he looked on till she disappeared from sight, she will be stricken with grief.
She used to forget everything when she stands near Virata’s wife Sudeshna. One day while she was standing in Sudeshna’s inner chamber, knowing that Keechaka was coming, the Queen hid her…Draupadi had misgivings. When Keechaka left Sudeshna said.
“ He doesn’t like beautiful women, Malini.”
When everybody was calling her ‘Malini’, Kunkan alone called her Sairandri. He must be calling me by that name deliberately. He played the game of dice with the Virata king, and winning and losing he played his part very well. It was nearly one year .
Though Sudeshna hid her Keechaka saw Draupadi.
Draupadi wondered many a time why Sudeshna hid her from Keechaka. Once she even asked her.
“Great Queen, why do you hide me from him?” Sudeshna said very casually.
“Just keep in mind that I love Malini that much.”
Suspicion brew in her mind. Does that mean she does not love her brother?
As if understanding Malini’s thoughts, Sudeshna said. “You are very beautiful, Malini…If my brother sees you, at
once he will ask you to come to his bed room. I don’t have the heart to allow it.”
Poor soul! She is scared of her own brother. But, finally, Keechaka did catch Draupadi who was hiding in the room. Sudeshna looked on shamefaced. Such a terrific person he was! Never ever was such a fearful person seen. Duryodhana and Dusshasana were far better than him! He pulled Draupadi all through the room. He growled like a bear when Sudeshna tried to prevent him from doing harm to Draupadi. Sudeshna withdrew for fear of her brother. Draupadi ran all over the place to save herself from Keechaka. What a sorry state for a woman,who has five husbands, to struggle not to lose her chastity. As there was nobody to block this kind of a low and wretched deed, Sairandri( Malini) ran to the place where the Virata King and Kunkan were playing the game of dice.
“Great King, kindly save me. Your Highness’,my chastity is at your feet…” When he saw Keechaka who was following her, the King was frightened. Keechaka growled in derison.
“A mere Sairandri to have chastity? Sairandri is her master’s own. How many masters do you have now?”
As a reply to the question, she only looked at Kunkan.
Kunkan only stood with bent head.
The King said.
“Sairandri…Don’t create trouble. Your work itself is menial service. Sairandris should make the masters happy. Go, go to Keechaka’s bed chamber…”
She looked miserably at Kunkan. Without getting shattered in that miserable state, he said.
“ Sairandri, you go away without obstructing the Great King’s game of dice…”
A thunder burst in the midst of the dark clouds. Somewhere in between the mountains, rocks burst and land slide occurred, and water, slime and rocks at a time flowed powerfully down with a great sound.
Draupadi ran expecting one or the other son of Kunti would save her. She fell before Brihannala.
Brihannala blocked Keechaka with his feminine gestures. “Hei…Eunuch…Go away from my sight…” Keechaka
screamed.
Draupadi clung to Brihannala who was holding her close to him. Brihannala said.
“Lord…I will bring this woman to your room at night. You go now. Don’t you know that all such things should be kept as a secret?”
Brihannala winked and said this in romantic and tempting manner.
Keechaka left after getting the word from Brihannala. Draupadi fell at Brihannala’s feet with gratitude and sobbed. “I don’t want to live like this, Brihannala. I have started
thinking of my death.”
“No. No…Draupadi. Don’t think like that. Everything will be alright. Brihannala reached the Dancers’ House along with Vallava who was Bhima. Draupadi should lure Keechaka to come to the Dancers’ House at night. She did as she was told. Keechaka agreed to come to the Dancers’ House. That night Sairandri who was Malini was serving the Great Queen. For that reason, the role of Keechaka’s death was destined to be somebody else’s. No body found out who killed Keechaka. For Virata King and Sudeshna, Keechaka’s death was a great relief. They greatly rejoiced.
(Cont’d)
