Prakriti P.O.V
In one afternoon after we finished eating our meal, Elder brother came inside looking a little worried "Durvasa rishi is here with his students" he said, my eyes widened, we have already finished the food and if he won't get satisfaction from our hospitality, he will surely curse us. "But-but how are we going to feed them now, all the food are finished" Krishne said worried, she knew from the tales about the nature of Durvasa rishi. "Panchali, we have to welcome them no matter what" he responded while we stood there mulling over the thought. "Elder Brother, you should go and welcome them until then we will try to find a way" I said trying to reassure him and myself in the situation. He quickly nodded his head and went out of the shelter to greet Rishi Durvasa and make him comfortable. We stand behind the door and listened to the conversation.
"We are starving, Yudhishtira. And we have heard about the unworldly fare Prakriti and Draupadi serves in this asrama" Durvasa rishi said in loud voice. I glanced at Krishne in panic as she looked paled hearing the conversation. "My lord, there is a river nearby where you can wash. I will show you the way and we will have a meal served for you when you return" Elder Brother responded calmly but I knew he was tensed.
"We are going to the river. Have food ready for our guests when we return" Elder Brother called to us and with other brothers he went towards the river taking Durvasa rishi and his students with them. Krishne sat on the floor in despair, she looked at me "What will we do now!" she said in small voice, I sighed and looked around myself for something, anything which can solve our problem, tears appeared in her eyes. I can't see her like this, "Vibha" she whispered looking at me helpless. I exhaled a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Brother Krishna, we need you.
Just then we heard Brother Krishna voice from outside "Prakriti, I am starving, give me something to eat quickly" he said entering in the shelter and looking at us innocently, a smile appeared on my face and Krishne quickly stood up from the floor. "There is nothing to eat here, Rishi Durvasa and a hundred of his munis have arrived and they are hungry. Arya Yudhishtira took them to the river and they will return any moment. When Durvasa rishi finds there is nothing to eat, he will curse us. Oh Govinda, I am terrified. I don't know what to do" she said in worry which was showing on her face. He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder "Check your platter there has to be one grain there that will be enough to satisfy my hunger" he responded, looking at our kitchen and then at me, Krishne quickly went in and searched around the kitchen while I walked beside Brother Krishna "There is nothing in the platter, not even a grain" I said to Brother, he turned his gaze at me and chuckle "When we have Annapurna with us, why do we have to worry" he responded, his eyes shining with joy.
Krishne came back with empty platter in her hand "There is nothing in there" she said in dismay, Brother sneaked a glance at me and I nodded my hand slowly, flickering my hand in the direction of platter, a small grain appeared at the corner on the platter. Brother Krishna smiled and pointed to the grain and taking it in his finger. "You are going to satisfy your hunger with that?" she asked giggling despite the anxiety she was feeling. "Krishne, sometimes even one grain can content your heart" I responded as Brother put one grain in his mouth and ate it. He closed his eyes in satisfaction and then burped after, making me chuckle. Just then we heard Sahadev calling us from outside "Prakriti sister, Panchali, is the food ready? You know what a temper Durvasa has, you mustn't keep him waiting." Brother Krishna walked outside, me and Krishne followed him. Sahadev gasped looking at Brother Krishna surprised by his presence. "Yes! Food is served and I have just finished eating. And a curse on anyone who does not do justice to such a meal. Go to the river, Sahadeva and tell them to hurry back" he said smiling, other pandavas appeared as well.
"Madhava" Elder Brother said in relief and "How are you here?"
"I will tell you. But first, Sahadeva, go and call your guests for lunch. And mind you don't tell Durvasa Rishi that I am here" he responded sheepishly. Sahadev nodded his head and went off to call Durvasa rishi and his students while other brothers looked at Brother Krishna with happiness. "Madhava, how are you here?" Arya asked this time, Brother Krishna turned his head towards Arya and smiled "I just wanted to meet my sister and Sakhi, I missed them" he answered with a quizzically smile, I smiled internally, my brother can't be understand by people, he is a mystery in his own. "Our guest will be here any minute, how will we welcome them?" Elder Brother in distress, other looked concerned as well knowing the rage of Durvasa rishi.
"I think your guests have been called away suddenly. I don't think they were hungry, after all" Brother Krishna smiled.
Sahadev came back running from the river and looked happy "There is no one at the river, they left without eating" he announced relieved, beside me Krishne sighed in relief and I felt light with the news. Krishne turned her head and smiled at Brother "Will you come to help us again?" she asked, Brother shook his head "You won't need me any more" he responded and turned to look at me. "You have your Vibha with you, she will take care of everything" he said putting his hand on my shoulder and smiling. Krishne smile and nodded her head.
***
My eyes open suddenly and I woke up from my slumber, I yawned and sat on the floor looking out to see its still dark outside. I sighed and looked around, everyone were deep in sleep. I frowned when I saw Elder Brother wasn't here, I stood up and walked out of the shelter looking for him, I saw him sitting alone in the dark outside of our home looking at the sky helplessly. I exhale a breath and walked in his direction and took a sit beside him, he turned his gaze at me, his eyes were shining with tears. I sat there without speaking anything. "I still see how Dusasana tried to strip Panchali, I can still see Duryodhana grin and him patting his thigh, I can hear him calling Panchali to sit on his lap. Every night those image torment me" he said in small voice, he looked defeated, he didn't look like the regal King and Elder Brother as we know. I know he never showed us emotions because if he broke then we will be broke as well and no one will stop us to go and kill Kauravas there without thinking of Dharma and Adharma.
"Brother Yudhishtira, we understand you and knows that you are hurting as well but you know sometimes the path of dharma is difficult but in the end it is the right path" I said sadly trying to reassure him. He sighed, his eyes never leaving the dark sky "I know I did a right thing by choosing you as my General Secretary" he said, a small smile appear on his face. "You are just like Madhava, you know when to say things which will be righteous and truth" he further said turning his head towards me. "Before being a General Secretary, we are a family and sharing the pain with your family will only make us stronger and lighten our heart" I said, he nodded his head and we both looked at the dark sky as sun started coming up from behind the mountains and providing us rays of sunshine.
***
Next day, I went towards the river to fill the pitcher and Pandavas went into the deep forest for hunting, Krishne was alone in the shelter. I filled the pitcher with water and walked back towards our home, suddenly I froze in my spot, my eyes widened as my stomach started churning.
Something is wrong with Krishne! I can feel it.
I heard the faint scream of Krishne coming from the west direction. I quickly ran in that direction with the speed of wind. Running through the forest, I caught up with Krishne and stand before a Chariot, hundred of soldiers were standing behind it with weapon in their hands. Krishne was bound by hands with rope and a man has a gripped on her arm. He stopped his chariot and looked at me with raised eyebrow. "Who are you? Get out of my way" he yelled still gripping Krishne with his filthy hands. My fist clenched in anger and with one swift of my hand I pushed him back and he fall off from his chariot. Krishne quickly jumped down and ran in my direction, tears running from her cheeks. She hugged him, I broke the hug and untie the rope from her hands. The man quickly stood up and raised his bow in our direction. "He is Jayadratha, husband of Dussala" Krishne said looking at him in disgust. "I don't care who is he, He touched you and tried to take you away, it is Adharma and I will free him from his miserable life" I growled moving forward, fire started dancing on my fingertips. He chuckled "A woman is going to fight me, such a joke, come with me you too, I will make you my Queen, you are beautiful too just like Draupadi" he smirked and put his bow aside. In a blur, I was in front of him, I caught him by his hair and flung him on the ground harshly, he groaned in pain and soldiers attacked me all together when they saw that their King is down, with the flicker of my wrist, they were sent into deep slumber. I turned my gaze at Jayadratha, his eyes widened as he stared at his army in shock.
"W-who are you?" he stammered looking fearful, I ran towards him and stamped his face repeatedly not giving any mercy to him, last time I stopped myself in the Sabha to kill Duryodhana, I still regret it but now I won't stop until he is dead. Man thinks that woman are a toy and they can manhandled them anytime, I will clear this fact right now. He couldn't stop my on-slaughter and fainted on the spot. Just then Pandavas arrived and looked at the conditions with wide eyes. "Prakriti stop, you will kill him!" Elder Brother cried when he saw me, I turned my glare at him, my anger rising as the man still has air in his lungs. "He is going to die by my hands" I growled in anger turning my head back at the unconscious King and kicked him.
"Panchali, tell her to stop, she can't kill Jayadratha" Elder Brother said in panic.
Krishne quickly came by my side and put her hand on my shoulder "Vibha stop, he is unconscious now" she said, I took deep breath trying to control the anger closing my eyes in the process. I backed away from him and Brother Bheem went towards him and pulled him in sitting position. His head was lulling back as he slowly gained consciousness. "This punishment is not enough for him" Brother Bheem growled in anger and pulled an arrow from Arya quiver and shaved half of his head and mustache to remind him of his sin, Jayadratha whimpered in pain and looked at ground in shame.
"We are not killing you right now because you are our sister's husband otherwise your head was on the ground at this very second" Brother bheem angry voice can be heard in the whole forest. Brother Bheem kicked him and he fell flat on his face at Krishne's feet. Elder Brother pulled him up and stared at him "I set you free. Go now, but never repeat what you did today" he said to which Jayadratha looked at the ground. I don't want to leave him alive but him being Dussala husband, we can't destroy her life. He touched Elder Brother feet and quickly ran in the forest. We turned back and started walking to our home.
We haven't done any mistake by sparing him, have we?