Devi Gandhari's P.O.V,
"My Empress... Please rest a bit... There is no one."
The response from Sughada was the one I least wanted to hear.
Just a few seconds ago, I heard that celestial voice...
Therefore, I refused to believe the Truth observed by Sughada and implored her once more! After all, everything we see isn't the whole truth.
"Sughada... there must be someone..."
"I apologize for the rudeness, O' Empress of Hastinapur. Aside from rocks, trees, a dove and Maha-Mata Ganga, there are no signs of life."
"Alright..."
She looked in every direction but was unable to find anyone or anything that can be related to that celestial voice.
Additionally, I am incapable of even discerning his gender through the voice itself. How will I even find her in the vast forest?
Therefore, I let this matter drop here for now, quite unwillingly...
"O' great mother of Kuruvansha, The deity of purity, the holy mother of all, Maha-Mata Ganga, please bless us with your divine presence!"
Leaving the matter of that mystical voice aside, I knelt beside the banks of the holy mother and prayed to her.
Following my actions, My attendants knelt on the ground with me.
Gurgle*
Pop*-Pop*
As if she heard my pleas, bubbles came out from the flowing water...
Due to my inability to see, I was incapable of viewing the grandeur of the great Mother. Hence, I waited on the ground to hear her enchanting voice filled with warmth as described by the elders in the family.
Despite me being the empress of Hastinapur, Not even once had I been graced with her presence, neither did Sister Kunti nor Sister Madri. Except the previous generation, none have met her.
Yet, the tales of her beauty, allure, magnanimity and elegance are still sung in the royal palace. Her period as the empress had filled Hastinapur with peace, tranquility and joy.
It was said that her mere presence was enough to dispel the minor devils within the Subjects. The sins of avarice, envy, pride or anything like them remained far from her.
In this world, where the men hail as the true rulers of the world, Her presence brings great confidence to the women of this world.
Based on these tales, Along with many others, I admired her for a long time. More so, her original body is residing on the head of the esteemed Maheshwar.
Plop*
Splash~
"???"
However, Unbeknownst to me, a child emerged from the depth of the river.
"!"
His very appearance alerted the maids as they surrounded me in the middle, who was still kneeling on the ground, unaware of my startled attendants.
"Hey child, State your Origin?!"
All I could hear was the tense voice of Sughada, standing valiantly before me to counter any harm that might threaten me.
After all, which normal* child plays in the river without the presence of his parents, that too in the middle of the forest.
Unaware of the truth, she took the child in the river as some disguised Asura or Daitya who might threaten my safety.
...