Prakriti P.O.V
I walked back to my family, I stopped before showing myself to them, Mother was crying sitting on the stone, Pandavas looked tense and I looked at Arya, he was fighting back tears. I slowly moved myself towards Mother, standing in front of her. "Mother" I said in low voice, she jerked her head upward and her eyes widened, tears running down her cheeks, I felt pain erupting in my heart seeing my Mother crying in front of me. She quickly stood up "Prakriti" she whispered, before she could say anything, I pushed myself and touched her feet, my eyes welling up with tears "Mother, forgive me for disrespecting you" I said as a tear slide down from my eye dropping on her foot. She pulled me in standing position and gave me a watery smile. "It was not your fault" she said pulling me into hug and crying on my shoulder. I broke the hug and looked at her ashamed "Still, I didn't stop when you asked me to" I said, she wiped my tears and put her hand on my head "I am not angry at you" she said reassuring me.
Then my eyes met Arya who was looking at me in pain. I walked towards him and stood in front of him "Prakriti, this is all my fault" he said, his voice breaking. I shook my head "No Arya, it was never your fault, it was all fate" I said calmly, he clenched his hand into fist "But still, I should have fought harder" he said wincing, I gave him a small smile "Everything happen for a reason".
"I broke my promise that I made to you" he said closing his eyes in grief. I smiled and shook my head "Will your love for me diminish after marrying Princess Draupadi?" I questioned him, he frowned and quickly shook his head "My love will only increase for you" he responded that put a smile on my face. "Then your promise is not broken" I said calmly.
"Where is Princess Draupadi?" I asked looking around, nobody responded, they all looked upset. "King Drupada took her back to the city" Mother answered in despair.
"We have to get her back, we can not destroy her life like that" I said, living with her father after the Swayamvar will give her only shame and criticism.
"She decided to marry all of us" Brother Yudhishthira said looking troubled, I turned my gaze towards him "She made a decision to save all of us" I stated, everyone looked shocked at my statement. "But this is wrong" Brother Bhima said standing in front of me looking stunned.
"She is right, Pandu sons" A voice said from behind, we looked at the figure who was coming towards us. "Greetings, Maharishi Vyasa" Mother said joining her hands together and bowing her head, we all greeted him by joining our hands. He is beacon of hope in our time of darkness, I know he will make my family understand that Draupadi decision is right and it is the only option for the benefit towards the people of Aryavarta. Brother Yudhishthira moved towards him and joined his hand together "You are great theologian, help us in this condition, what should we do?" he asked helplessly, Maharishi gave him a small smile "In situation like this, it is very important to calm your heart first".
***
"Daughter, you should go to Panchala's Princess, your presence is needed there" Maharishi said looking at me. I nodded my head and took my departure, I believe in him that he will help us with knowledge to make pandavas understand the dharma. Now I have to calm Draupadi's heart as well, she must have been disoriented right now. I flew to Kampilya towards their Castle, away from the prying eyes looking for Draupadi's chamber. She was sitting on the bed looking at the wall distantly, I entered in her chamber and stand in front of her, she turned her head towards me and her eyes shined with tears in them. She pulled herself in standing position, "Draupadi" I said, her lips quivered and she started crying "I never wanted to hurt you or anyone" she sniffed, tears running down her cheeks, I sighed and wiped her tears pulling her in a hug, patting her back in reassurance. "You didn't hurt anyone" I responded breaking the hug and looking into her eyes trying to convey her the message.
"Tell me, are you satisfied with you decision?" I asked her.
She started sobbing dropping her head, I put my hand on her head and caress her "Calm down, Draupadi" I said sadly as she continue crying. "What have I done, which sort of decision I just took" she said not believing herself.
"How could I even thought about this anomy" she cried. I stared at her letting her feelings out "How can a woman be married to five husbands, it is unethical" she said crying her heart out.
"Why did you take the decision then?" I questioned her, she looked at me in pain "There wasn't any option, I couldn't let the remaining pandavas take renunciation for my own happiness" she explained herself, I gave her a soft smile "Then how can it be Immoral if you took the decision for other happiness sacrificing your own" I said, she stared at me in confusion. "When you took this decision, you think about everyone and change this Adharm into Dharma" I explained putting my hand on her shoulder. She wiped her tears "How will I live with five husbands, how will I do justice to them, how will I carry out my responsibility towards them" she asked, her voice trembling with the thought of her future life.
"What about the society, they will scorn me forever" she said crying, turning away from me. "They will think lowly of me" she said turning around and looking at me helplessly. I moved towards her "You are born from fire, Draupadi, which destroy the impurity and make them sanctified" I said, she is fire, she is my fire, she can never be impure. I put both of my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes "Don't worry, Draupadi, whenever you will need me in your life, you just have to utter my name and I will be there for you and this is my promise to you" I said firmly, wiping her tears away and pulling her into hug.
We broke the hug and she gave me a grateful smile "Thanks sister, you were here for me when I needed it the most" she said, I smiled but suddenly shook my head "You are going to marry Brother Yudhishthira now, you will be my older sister, you can't call me sister, you should call me by my name" I said, she will be my bigger sister now, she shook her head quickly "I can't, you are Prince Arjuna first wife making your status above me, you will not be obliged to call me bigger sister (Jiji)" she said, I sighed and tried to think for a solution and grinned. "Okay, you are right, from now on I will call you Krishne" I said giving her a soft smile.
"Isn't it your Brother name" she asked, I gave her warming smile. "It is and whenever I will call you with this name, I will see him in you" I explained her "You are my sister now".
A smile appeared on her face and she nodded her head. "You are like a ray of sun shine in my life, I will call you Vibha, my sun shine" she said, her eyes sparkling, "You can call me anything you want" I said and she pulled me into hug.
***
I looked at the sky from my window, I was in the guest chamber and tomorrow is the wedding that will be the first stride in the direction of righteousness. I was hurt and jealous before understanding the situation but now I am willing to do anything for Draupadi, she is so innocent and pure, I know people in the future will try to take advantage of her but she is not alone, she has my family protection with her and soon to be her as well. I will always be there for her in every step of life.
"For the sacrifice Draupadi is going to do, she will forever be remember in the future" Brother Krishna said standing beside me, I just stared at the moon intrigued. "But whenever Draupadi name come, they will remember you as well, how you accepted her without any issue" he continued, I turned my gaze away and looked at my Brother furrowing my eyebrow in curiosity. "Yes, dear Prakrite, You could have stopped the wedding not accepting Draupadi or you could have take Partha away because he is dedicated to you or you could have abandoned them all because he broke your promise in a way and it is a sin" he explained himself, I shook my head, I couldn't choose any of this option, it will destroy Draupadi, my family and me in the process.
"I can't, I am not that person" I responded turning my gaze back to the moon.
"You have helped her" Brother Krishna said proudly, smile pulling on his face. I smiled "I couldn't help myself, she is so innocent and refined" I said looking at Brother Krishna who was smiling at me. "She is born from the fire, your fire, she has to be pure" he said with secretive smile. I furrowed my eyebrow "My fire?", I can control fire, I am a part of nature but I don't own it.
"You will get your answers in time, Prakrite" he said with his divine smile. I nodded and decided not to argue with him, when the time will come, I will know about the secret behind his smile.
"Now, you have to take care of your Krishne" he said seriously "Her life is full of struggles and pain, you are the only one who can understand her pain and get rid of it" he continued. I nodded my head "I will always be there for her in hard times" I swore to myself.
***
Everything was prepared for the wedding, Me, Brother Krishna and Shikhandini took Draupadi outside where the canopy was set for her marriage. She looked beautiful in her lehenga, her hands were shaking in anxiousness, we reached on the sight as Arya eyes met mine, I tried to give him a reassuring smile. It is difficult for me as well, no woman want to share her love but I should remember this situation is different. "Stop it" King Drupada called standing in his seat, we looked at him in confusion.
"Before we start the ceremony, I want some answers for my question, Maharishi Vyasa" he asked. Maharishi stood up from his seat and walked towards us, we greeted him with respect.
"My daughter is about to enter in a life where it will only be pain for her, you think it is Dharma but will the world understand?" he asked stressed "How will she going to get happiness in her life" he continued.
"You are right King Drupada" Maharishi said and turned his head towards the pandavas. "This marriage is different, you have to take some oath to make this marriage moral (dharma)" he said.
"How will one woman can be dedicated to five husbands?" Maharishi asked turning his gaze on pandavas. "One can not be dedicate towards five but five can be dedicate towards one" Brother Yudhishthira said in earnest tone. I smiled hearing that vow, putting my hand on Draupadi palm in reassurance stopping her nervousness.
"There is one more question, Maharishi?" King Drupada said. "For one reason or another, Prince has to marry more than once, just like Prince Arjuna and Prince Bhima, what will be my daughter state in this, over which everyone has a privilege, no one will do their duty towards her" he said sparing me a glance. I nodded internally and looked towards Maharishi Vyasa "I have already consider Draupadi as my sister, I will be by her side, protecting her no matter what and I have already given this promise to her" I said with straight face. Maharishi nodded his head and then Brother Bhima spoke "I promise that I won't bring my wife in the Kingdom" he said taking the oath, Maharishi smiled satisfied with our answers.
"Wherever we will live, there will be only one queen and that is Queen Draupadi" he announced.
"And I am a Yadava girl, I don't wish to be a Queen, I am fine as I am today" I swore, giving my Brother a glance who smiled pleased.
Brother Yudhishthira looked towards me "You have been a part of our family since childhood, with your intellectual and calm nature, you have always helped us. I promise you when I will be the King, you will be the Prime Minister of our Kingdom" he said with a small smile on his face, I looked at him surprised "You deserve it" he further said, I got out of my shock and bowed my head accepting the respect.
After that, ceremony started and they completed the ritual, tying themselves in a marriage. I stand beside my Brother and observe the wedding. Tears appearing in my eyes, I am only human, I feel the pain as well, Brother put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile.
Ceremony finished and they moved to take blessings from their elders. Draupadi came towards me, her eyes shining with tears, Pandavas were standing behind her. My own eyes flooded with tears and I pulled her into hug. My eyes moved towards Arya who looked sad as his eyes met mine.
We had to do this sacrifice for the well-being of people of our Kingdom.