Hastinapur
It was a bright and sunny day dotted with feathery white clouds as the radiant rays of the sun shone brightly in the azure blue sky, illuminating the city, which is surrounded by magnificent buildings, the epitome of unparalleled beauty and property. A beautiful palace with high-quality marble pillars on either side of its entrance is located in the centre of the city. The palace is surrounded by diverse buildings and graced with lush gardens and numerous rare plants on either side. It's one of the few places where one can truly enjoy themselves without any worries.The capital of the Kuru kingdom was a place where many people from different places came to live peacefully and prosper under its rule. It was an amazing place, where richness could be seen in every corner. All one could see were endless possibilities for the future and happiness.
But the calmness didn't prevail everywhere. Contrary to outside grandeur, gloominess surrounds the royal palace at this time. Tension filled the air as the king of Hastina-puri, Parikshit, scion of the Kuru clan, locked himself in his own room. He had also isolated himself from his wives, his children, and his subjects.
The ministers and nobles are clueless about the reason their king was behaving strangely after returning from a hunting trip.
While they were whispering among themselves, the queen was dashing towards the king's palace. Seeing the queen's arrival, they moved forward. "Greetings to the Queen," they uttered, respectfully bowing their heads.
But the queen paid no heed to their greetings as her mind was captured with the thoughts of why the king locked himself.
"Greetings to the Queen." The guards at the entrance of the king's palace bowed as the queen entered the king's palace.
After entering the king's chamber, the queen was startled to see the gloomy darkness. Curtains covered up windows, walls, and floors, letting only a few peeping lights illuminate the interior. Feeling uneasy, she slowly moves toward the door that leads to the king's bedroom.Opening the door, she was greeted by his king-size bed. It is very spacious and decorated nicely.Her husband sat at the end of the king's bed, terrified all over. His eyes were dark and hollow. She had never seen her husband like this before.
Her heart thumped loudly as she moved toward him and sat by his side as she inquired, "Arya (husband), what happened?" "Why are you behaving like this?"
The king didn't respond, as he looked straight ahead. His face was devoid of any expressions showing any sign of life.
She gently rubs his back to comfort him in his silence.
The queen continued trying to cheer him up: "My King, I am here for you." What happened?"
The queen caressed his cheek softly, as if to coax her husband into opening up to her. Her husband doesn't respond, and he still hasn't made a sound. The queen sighs deeply as tears start streaming down her cheeks.
Inhaling sharply, she said, "King, please say something."
"I am cursed to die in seven days of snakebite," the king finally revealed.
"What!!!" The queen shrieked in shock.
"Seven days," he repeated. "It'll be the end of my reign."
Tears kept falling down her cheeks, her eyes widening. "What happened?"
But her husband kept silence again as he kept gazing forward.
The queen felt her heart clench. She knew how much pain and suffering her husband had been going through because of his cursed situation.
Not knowing what else to do, the queen decided it was best for her to leave him alone for now.
"Arya, take some rest. I will visit tomorrow." She spoke as she stood up to walk out of the room as quietly as she could.
After arriving at the gate, she ordered the guards not to let anyone disturb the king without her permission. Though she was devastated inside, her air of a queen remained intact.
"All the affairs of this kingdom will be settled by me for the time being until the crown prince returns." She declared that the ministers who were eagerly awaiting the queen's arrival should get some news. But to their disappointment, the queen didn't reveal anything.
"Her majesty, how is the king?" One minister couldn't stop him from asking the question.
But instead of responding to his query, she turned in the direction of the prime minister as she declared, "Pass down the order to summon the crown prince quickly in capital."
After issuing this, she went back to her chambers to rest, as her mind was in a mess right now.
As soon as the queen entered her chamber, she sat on her bed as she took deep breaths and tried to calm herself down. But she couldn't calm her nerves, even though she tried her best. There were various questions regarding the curse, which remain unanswered. She wants to know the cause of the king's curse. She wanted to save her beloved husband.But she felt helpless to do so. Sighing heavily, she closes her eyes tightly as she tries to relax.
At the same time, the whole palace was buzzing at the news that the queen had sent orders to call for the Crown Prince.