Blasphemy
Noun | Meaning:
Writing or speaking about God in a way that shows disrespect.

A dominant tone reverberated around the ivory hued columns and walls of the Maya Sabha, the gazes of the royals rooted in their gem embedded thrones flitting to where a youthful Rajakumara stood. His eyes seemed to thrust sharp daggers at Shishupala, his left palm grasping the hilt of his sword in an engraved scabbard.

The highly irked overlord of Trigarta whisked to that of Pandya's, all the while curling his moustache in a ludicrous custom, "Who's this daft? A well entertaining debate wasn't to be hindered at this moment. After all, Shishupala is a guffawing package before the potentate of Dvaravati."

"You being the one who she calls father does not bestow the right for nameless allegations, Pitashree." The courtiers inhaled sharply, writhing in their seats as the divine crowning of Dharmaraja Yudhishthira and Yagyasaini Draupadi morphed into a forum of settling blood kins' quagmires.

"Dhrishtaketu!" An ominous emphasis rang in the words of Shishupala as he dared his son to defy him. "You would do well to mind the words that seem to evade you-" Shishupala halted, letting the unspoken words float in the mind of his son.

"But what else is to be foreseen by my progeny who has the blood of this heinous cowherd surging through his veins?" Shishupala taunted the monarch of Dvaraka, who remained detached at his claims.

"Chedi Maharaja!" Aakarshika shouted, fury swirling around her in an inferno. "Mind your tongue before you are chastised for your sins!"

Yet, Shishupala did not heed her forewarning and articulated the final words to be ever spoken by him.

"Though I suppose I must be blithesome of the certainty that my heir does not serenade with girls of his age and profess them as comrades." The cousin of Krishna laughed in mockery.

"The son of Vasudeva claims that the fire-born Queen is merely a true compatriot, but who is aware of the truth? Perhaps the sister of Dhrishtadyumna is not with content in the chambers of the Pandavas and instead, finds her eudemonia with--"

Blood trickled across the cheek of Aakarshika who's irises were veiled with the delicate eyelids sitting over them, her father silenced for eternity by the swirling Sudarshana discus whose glow lit the illusionary court of Indraprastha in hues of titian and carmine.

Damaghosha's son crumpled to the ground, his head laying near the feet of Draupadi, seemingly asking for mercy in death. Shishupala's body was in the proximity of his eldest daughter, his hand brushing the end of the lehenga she was beautified with, pleading for vindication for every transgression as he lay as a corpse. He had referred to her as a woman who wouldn't hesitate to go with any man, she was a child of his own and yet...

Aakarshika's eyes fluttered open and meeting her father's emancipated carcass, a blood curdling scream left her lips as she stumbled into the arms of her brother who gazed at the stiff cadaver with no feeling - though a pained look crossed his dark eyes that held onto the one who had held him since childhood. The eldest daughter of Shishupala met her deceased father's eyes, for once wishing they held the same feelings for her as they did for her half-siblings but was wronged again.

The nobles of Indraprastha were mute, stunned by the abruptness of whatever had come to pass. The luminous radiance of the armament of the almighty faded, disappearing as Krishna's face reflected the somberness that screamed inside of him.

"You have committed 100 immoralities for which you have received the castigation of death." The sovereign of Dvaraka stood gracefully from his cathedra, his consorts rising with him. "In your demise, I grant you the solace of being relieved from your sins."

His Bharyas ceased their lotus eyes as well, reminiscing the incident that had led to such a fabrication. Return to where you came from Vijaya with your camaraderie, guarding the doorways of Vishnu and his Vakshasthalsthita's abode.

Aakarshika was jostled from her trance at the words of Dwarakadheeshwara, the world in front of her whirling unstably as Dhrishtaketu held his sister. Gripping her brother's hand in empathy, the princess of Chedi let go and stepped forward to face the aristocrats.

Forcing away the thoughts of her baby sister and her youngest brother, Aakarshika suppressed rage at the thought that she had to amend the crevices her father had created even after his death. That she had to surrender her dignity to mend the cracks he had given birth to.

"To the benign royals and nobles who have graced this auspicious crowning of the eldest son of Rajamata Kunti and the youngest daughter of Maharaja Drupada, I seek your mercy. For my father has passed into the afterlife and as his daughter, it is my duty to mend the fissures he has given birth to. Let him rest in tranquillity and reach Moksha with Shree MahaVishnu without his dark damnations shrouding his soul."

Turning to the brides of Murlidhara, she joined her palms and surrendered her head before them. "To the lifelong companions of Shree Krishna, I desire amnesty on the behalf of my late father."

"You have not sinned Aakarshika and therefore, we hold no acrimony against you. Your father has passed and so, no hatred for him nestles in us." Rukmini gave a gentle smile, her sisters nodding in agreement with soft looks as well.

Her heartbeat thudded like drums in the barriers of her mind, black spots dancing in her vision as she slightly turned to look at the Navaneeta, who was true to his title. Peering at him through her long lashes, Aakarshika's tongue darted out to soothe her parched lips.

His features were serene, a glistening bisque stained dhoti a sharp contrast to his dark complexion while his sanguine embroidered angavastram only added to his attraction. But Kalmashaheena's allure and artistry lay in his piercing lotus petal shaped orbs that radiated an alleviating emotion.

Dragging air into her lungs, Aakarshika lowered her eyes to the gleaming tiles of ceramic. "The curses my father has hurled at you were without verity--" Her words were cut into by a curious voice.

"However his words did hold candour in them, oh daughter of Shishupala." Krishna replied, stepping down to stand before Aakarshika. The lass quickly strode away from him, her palms still seeking clemency.

"Swami!" Satyabhama gasped, her eyes raging with ire. "That-that wretched man held no truth to his words. How can you-"

Krishna turned to his third partner with amusement dancing in his gaze. "I did abduct Rukmini from her wedding, did I not?"

"Natha, our marriage was a Gandharva ritual, you know that." The Princess of Vidarbha furrowed her eyebrows, her hands grasping the end of her veil tightly as she scrutinised the ways of her beloved.

Aakarshika strove to discover words that would mitigate her plight, glancing away from the irises of Damodara that seemed to hold a multitude of universes in them - seeming to bore into her smaragdine ones that masked her conflicted emotions. She simply resorted to emulating her previous sentences, every breath seeming like a venomous sting in the heart that made her bleed.

"Scions must not wish for reprieve on the behalf of the ones who bore them, regardless if they are living or dead," The son of Devaki stated, making Aakarshika lift her head with a short heave. "Let your hands fall to their sides, Princess of Chedi, for you have done no vice." The corner of his lips rose in a slight smile, alleviating the fears Aakarshika grasped tightly in her mind. The wisps of angst were freed and faded into oblivion, bestowing a modest amenity upon her.

"Indeed Sakhi." Yudhishthira rose from his throne as did Draupadi and her four consorts. They all traipsed to Aakarshika with a gentle smile curling their features, bearing no clue of animosity in their minds.

A tear slipped from the glossy orbs of the daughter of late Queen Aparna and Yudhishthira drew her into a hug that radiated with the feelings of the hearth and warmth. "Indraprastha has always had cordial ties with Chedi and today, they stand as strong as ever."

The heir of Pandu let go while Draupadi embraced her younger sister, whispering soothing murmurs as Aakarshika held onto Krishnaa and discreetly brushed off her tears.

Aakarshika stepped back, her hand meeting her brother's as they turned to stare at their father's corpse. The eldest of the siblings was not able to articulate any sonance and instead clasped Dhrishtaketu's palm as he turned to give her a look which stated that he was fine.

Chaidyaa's eyes softened, lips almost quivering as she wore a defeated look on her sharp features. Her brother assured her with a soft squeeze on her painted palm, abstaining from wounding his arms around her then and there.

"My father, who has lived a life of misdeeds, has been granted mercy in his death. So I ask of you all, without any shards of hate in your benevolent hearts, do bless my father's soul at his cremation that we shall convene soon at Chedi," The first son of Shishupala spoke, his eyes flitting over each royal.

Meanwhile, the King of Hastinapura attempted to rise and scorn his aunt's son but the sovereign of Anga grasped his hand. "His progeny are mourning, let them remain in tranquillity without provoking them. When they have accepted Shishupala's demise, we are no one to be entangled in this affair." Karna's words were quiet but insightful, his comrade nodding reluctantly. "You don't want to mess with Krishna Vaasudeva either, he's not someone who can be shunned with display of might. He's one of the most compelling cohorts of the PanduPutras and is the one against whom you are indirectly wanting to stand against."

The wielder of Twashtra pivoted his fraternal gaze to the young lady who was his best friend, "Sakhi, stay." And no more words were needed for him to convey his plea. Till you feel like yourself again, please? He didn't say but she was too familiar with him to not be cognizant. Aakarshika's ears perked up in slight alarm as she promptly denied but had to acquiesce when he refused to yield.

"Prepare for Rajakumari and Rajakumara's sojourn. Make sure no qualms spark," on Arjuna's behest, the most skilled of the handmaidens and servants scampered to aid the royals of Chedi.

"I- I'll write to Mata." Aakarshika sighed, ruefully meeting her brother's eyes who grudgingly nodded.

"You are staying with me," He stated with a lour to which she shook her head in negation, halfly closing her eyelids.

"I crave quietude and solitude for a while, darling. I have to get myself together before facing anyone. This stampede has ruined everything. We have to consider the weight of politics as well, can't let the cathedra be empty for too long, can we?"

"You have grown up so much, I couldn't identify you in the first place," Draupadi almost squeaked in an infantile usance as she continued scooping down rice in the plate of Aakarshika, the latter seemingly dilemmatic with the hill in her plate that didn't seem to cease with its height. "But then your-"

"-ah, yes, my eyes. They call me a cat sometimes." The eldest princess chuckled and so did everyone at the dinner table as the ambience seemed to resurrect to its halcyon aura with thick clouds of tensions barely conspicuous. "Aiyo, stop laughing, Sakha!" She threw a glare at Yudhishthira who had almost choked on his food, Drauni pursing his lips to stifle his erupting giggle as well.

"Suits you, wild cat," Ashwatthama jeered puckishly, wiggling his eyebrows.

His Sakhi rolled her eyes with a deadpan, "Right, tawny monkey!"

This time, Yudhishthira burst out laughing cacophonously as Devika facepalmed with a little embarrassment, "Swami, hush. You will choke again."

"But they are ethereal," JambavanaSutaa added genuinely, mirth dancing in her angeliferous eyes.

"This wild chimpanzee is beautiful?" Aakarshika incredulously inquired, pointing at DronaPutra while Dharmaraja's guffaws only intensified at the scenario.

"No, she meant your eyes Rajkumari!" Krishna chuckled this time, making her fluster as it was time for her to facepalm.

"Finally, Jyeshtha laughed!" Bhima barked out a chortle as Dhrishtaketu cocked an eyebrow curiously.

"You mean he's the boring eldest one as well?"

Nakula flashed a lopsided grin, blinking at Shishupala's son, "What do you mean by 'as well'?"

The latter stuck his tongue, side glancing at his sister, "This wild cat barely laughs too. She has that perpetual straight face even when I crack the best jokes. Even Ketu and Maa give in to my top-notch humour but I have no chance with her."

Aakarshika gaped at her brother before swatting his arm away, "Hey, that's the half veracity. I do laugh at the lamest jokes and besides, you must know that the eldest ones are made quite the third parent so nothing is funny in our life other than the retributions you get for your ludicrous pranks, vacuous little humans."

"Can't agree more." Yudhishthira chuckled as his brothers gasped dramatically, putting their hands over their chest.

"Facts," Balarama continued with a sagely nod, smacking Krishna at the back of his head as the latter pouted waggishly.

Thank you for reading this chapter written by a_Vagrant and me, well MOSTLY by her. Do let us know how you liked it via your lovely comments. Don't forget to vote if you liked it!

See you with the next update.

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