As the evening settled over Hastinapura, Kunti made her way to the chambers that had been prepared for her. The room was lavishly decorated, with intricate tapestries adorning the walls and soft, luxurious bedding laid out on a grand four-poster bed. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, and every detail seemed to have been carefully arranged to provide her with the utmost comfort.
Kunti, however, was taken aback by the opulence. Turning to her maid, she asked gently, "Why has my room been decorated in such a manner? This is far too grand for someone like me."
The maid, with a respectful bow, replied, "Queen Gandhari herself ordered that your room be made as beautiful as hers. She wishes for you to feel as welcome and honored as any member of the royal family."
Kunti smiled warmly at the thoughtfulness of Gandhari, but her humility and sense of duty as the wife of a renunciant weighed heavily on her. "I am grateful for her kindness, but as the wife of a sanyasi, it is not fitting for me to indulge in such luxury. My sons and I are accustomed to a simpler life. We will sleep on the floor, as we always have."
Just as Kunti finished speaking, a familiar voice echoed from the doorway. "Rajparivar, or no rajparivar, everyone must take care of themselves."
Kunti turned to see Dushala, the only sister of the Kauravas and the Pandavas, standing there with a warm smile on her face. "Dushala, my dear, I have been wanting to meet you for so long!" Kunti exclaimed, genuinely delighted by the sight of the young princess.
Dushala stepped forward and respectfully bowed, "Pranipat, Mother Kunti. I am so happy to finally meet you. Where are your sons, my brothers? Mother told me that I must greet them too."
Kunti's heart swelled with affection for the girl. "They have gone to have dinner with their brothers. And yes, Dushala, they are indeed your brothers now—105 brothers, to be exact. Aren't you happy to have such a large family?"
Dushala's smile faltered slightly as she hesitated, her voice tinged with a mix of innocence and concern. "Mother Kunti, I am happy... but Brother Duryodhana is not. When I asked him why, he said that he believes your sons have come to take the kingdom, that they want to be kings. He thinks they are his enemies."
A shadow crossed Kunti's face as the weight of Dushala's words sank in. The tension that she had sensed upon arriving in Hastinapura now seemed to crystallize into something more tangible, more threatening. The innocence of Dushala's question only deepened her concern, knowing that the seeds of jealousy and rivalry were already taking root in the heart of her eldest nephew.
With a soft sigh, Kunti knelt down to be at eye level with Dushala, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Dushala, my child, know this—my sons have no desire to take anything that does not belong to them. They are here to learn, to grow, and to honor their elders, just as they would in any other place. Your brother Yudhishthira is a man of great virtue, and he respects the laws and traditions of our family. There is no reason for enmity between brothers."
Dushala nodded, absorbing Kunti's words, but the worry did not fully leave her eyes. Kunti could see that the seeds of discord had already been sown, and she silently prayed that wisdom and love would prevail over jealousy and fear.
As Dushala excused herself to go and find her brothers, Kunti remained standing in her ornate chamber, her heart heavy with concern. She knew that navigating the dynamics of the royal family would be a delicate and challenging task, especially with the underlying tensions that had already begun to surface. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but Kunti was determined to protect her sons and guide them through whatever trials might come their way, even as the first shadows of discord began to loom over Hastinapura.