Indraprastha

Jiji,

I am in loss of words right now. Your gifts have just arrived, carrying your and Jyeshtha Bhrata's blessings. I feel like blessing has come from Amaravati itself! And why won't I? Indraprastha indeed is heaven, not just in appearance but in divinity.

Devika smiled, her delicate fingers affectionately caressed the letter Chitrangada had sent to her.

The only pain I feel is not having a meeting with you all,- the ones who make Indraprastha equal to Amaravati. I hope your Devara will take me soon to his home.

The same wish lies in our hearts too, sister! Devika mused with a sigh.

Your Devara is overjoyed to receive such beautiful, gallant horses. His Bhabhi's gifts are so precious to him that he is not sharing them with me even once. Those shiny white horses suit his dark complexion so well that Pita has begun calling him Shwetavahana, the rider of white horse. You have got him a new name, it seems.

Devika laughed to herself. Being a warrior Princess herself, it was natural for Chitrangada to like war-horses more than a bridal jewelry. The warrior of Shivi could connect to this valorous young lady as she herself had been, before her wedding.

Devika took a scroll to write back.

"You remind me of my own maiden self, Chitra. I know what your interests can be. You don't have to share Arjuna's horses. I shall send another couple of them for you soon. Let me know if your subjects name you too as Shwetavahani!" Devika smiled at the last sentence, imagining a blushing Chitrangada.

"Maharani, you have called me?"

Devika lifted her gaze. It was Indrasena.

"I was waiting for you only. Come." She quickly put her seal on the letter and closed the scroll.

"Indrasena, I have to go to the temple now. See that this letter is sent to Manipura soon, in Rajkumari Chitrangada's name." She ordered.

"You go without worry, Maharani. Leave this to me." Indrasena beamed. "Anything more you want to send there?"

Devika smiled. She knew that Indrasena's devotion for his master was unmatchable. He was so well aware of Yudhishthira's nature that he used to fulfill his orders even before hearing them. It was a surprise for Devika to note that Indrasena had started to realise her wishes too before they were voiced.

"A couple of white horses will also be sent from my personal stable along with the letter." Said the Queen. "Arrange for their safe journey."

Indrasena bowed to her and left. Devika rose to send a word to Ratnavali who awaited her order.

Today was the final day of her ritual.

***

Shiva temple

"This is not why you're established here!"

A sharp cry of female voice shattered the serenity of temple. Everyone including the priest himself looked up as if a sudden storm had just entered without any sign.

Devika's finger paused on the rosary. Her eyes opened to find a woman in torn clothes and messed locks shivering near the door. Tears were streaming down her red eyes.

"Answer me, Mahadeva! How much more do we have to suffer? When will this end?" The woman cried again.

Devika held her breath. Which suffering she was talking about? She exchanged a quick glance with Ratnavali who also looked concerned.

"Bring my daughter back to me, Shankara! Or a mother's tears will drown you today!" The woman fumed at the God who listened quietly.

Devika rose from her seat.

"Maharani!" One of her attendants called. "Your japa..."

Devika raised her palm, indicating her to be quite. Her own ritual could wait. But not a subject's pain.

The Queen of Indraprastha approached the crying woman as a mother would do for her weeping child. Realising her intention, the maids followed her without a question.

"What has happened to your daughter, Aarye?" Ratnavali asked the woman. She lifted her head to meet Ratnavali's kind gaze, and then, she collapsed again on the floor.

"Takshaka's people have snatched her away from me." She yelled. "I...I begged to them...my daughter fainted in fear...but they..." A scream escaped her throat. "They are monsters!"

Devika's fair face turned crimson. Her frame shook in anger.

This was not the first time she heard about Takshaka's people assulting young girls of Indraprastha! Yudhishthira had taken every possible step to secure women's safety in the villages beside Yamuna, yet these Nagas were finding some or the other way to invade in the city. Situation was so alarming that Devika and Draupadi had arranged a seperate sabha with only female members of royal assembly. It was solely meant for the tortured women who could not go to the Pandavas for expressing their pain. Still, all their joint efforts seemed to fail. Takshaka was still doing well inside his safe haven of Khandava forest.

"Where have they gone?" She heard Ratnavali asking.

"Inside the jungle."

"Khandava forest?"

The woman nodded, breaking into tears again.

"This couldn't have happened had Rajkumar Arjuna been here to save us!"

Devika bit her lips, an unpleasant sensation passing through her. While the remark was absolutely true, a part of her still detasted how people chose to ignore Yudhishthira's tireless efforts to protect them despite of Arjuna's absence.

Ratnavali looked at her Queen once, and then said, "But our Maharaj is trying his best to..."

"What best?" The woman shouted. "It's due to him our senapati has left Indraprastha. Shame on the King who can drive his brother away for his own interest!"

Devika's face grew pale. She paused where she was.

Those words felt as if a poisonous snake had biten her on her bosom.

Ratnavali looked again at Devika with concern. She knew how her Queen had felt. Yet, she could not help it. The grieving mother would not stop at all.

"Maharaj Yudhishthira didn't care for his brother. Neither did he care for our protection. He only satisfied his own desire. And maybe..."

"Aarye, may I know your daughter's name and where do you live?" Devika spoke for the first time.

The woman looked at her, her eyes widened in surprise and partly, in fear.

She did not want the Queen to hear her grudge against the King. What punishment might await her now?

"Pardon me, Maharani!" She fell at Devika's feet. "Don't punish me!"

"Arise, Aarye. It's me who should ask for apology, not you." Devika calmly said. "I could not provide proper protection to Indraprastha's women. It's my fault. And along with Maharani Draupadi and Rani Vijaya, I accept my inability."

The woman stared in disbelief.

Which Queen could speak so humbly to an ordinary subject like her? For a while, she felt like Devika's eyes were as kind as a mother, though she was much younger in age.

"Hence, punishment must be mine." Devika continued. "In front of Lord Shiva I'm vowing, if your daughter is alive, I will bring her back to you! I definitely will!"

Her jaws tightened in determination as she made not one vow but two. The second one she did not voice.

I vow to myself that I'll remove the false accusation from my husband's pious character! I definitely will!

***

Palace, Yudhishthira's mansion

Devika sank on the ornate coach, the curves on her brow were still visible in the faint light of setting sun.

Her entire day had passed without a single moment of rest. She had done everything she could do to find out Chandravati, daughter of the woman she met at the temple. From collecting information about the girl to informing everything to Draupadi and Vijaya, - she had taken every possible initiative that she could do. All three of them had decided to take quickest action. A well-chosen army had been sent to find out Chandravati. The Queens had also sent out their own armed female guards with them. Owing to all the works in hand, Devika could not even take a drop of water since she had returned from the temple at early morning.

But it was not the physical stress that was draining her energies out. The warrior Princess of mountainous Shivi was very much used to in physical hardships. What bothered her was an intolerable mental unrest.

She could not forget how her husband had been blamed in the morning.

"Maa! Maa!"

Flow of Devika's thoughts broke. She had not noticed when little Prativindhya had slowly crawled to her. Devika felt sorry for not being able to come to her mansion earlier. Poor boy had waited really long for the warmth of her arms.

Smiling a little, Devika took the baby on her lap and patted him to sleep. But the inner turmoil had not yet left her.

Why would their beloved subjects hold such a wrong impression regarding their own King? What could be the reason?

Whatever might be the reason, I have to remove this misunderstanding from the root! I cannot let this continue! Never!

Her fingers tightened against her silken bedsheet. At the same time, she felt Prativindhya's tiny arms wrapping tightly around her waist.

The boy would not let go of her even for a while!

Devika gently patted Prativindhya's head, a new thought arising in her mother's heart now.

"Never forget, Devi, you are the mother of Indraprastha." Yudhishthira had told her once. Devika knew that the people of this land was as much her kids as Prativindhya was. They too deserved love and care from her, as much as little Prativindhya did.

"I won't forget, Swami!" She muttered to herself. "But when children misunderstand their father, it's also a mother's duty to show them the truth! Your subjects have given you false blame. Now it's my duty to show them who their King is. And I will do that without being harsh to them."

A beam of light fell on her eyes. Ratnavali had come to light the lamps of her chamber.

"Maharani?"

"Softly. Kumar is sleeping." Devika whispered. Ratnavali saw Prativindhya and came closer.

"Sun has set long ago. Why are you sitting in this darkness thus, my Queen?"

Devika slowly shook her head. "Darkness won't last, Ratna. I'll bring the light again. I have to!"

Ratnavali looked at her mistress, understanding what she was talking about.

"That woman's words still bother you, don't they?" She gently asked.

Devika's frown deepened.

"I told you, Maharani, your dear Arjuna's admirers are only spreading hatred against Maharaj." Ratnavali said again. "You didn't believe me."

"Wrong!" Devika protested.

"Wrong?"

"Yes. Wrong! Those who can spread hatred against my husband, can never be Arjuna's admirers! You don't know our Phalguna. I do. Had he been present here, he would have been the first one to stop this!"

"But how could they..."

"They don't know the truth. I will make them know that. But pray, stop blaming my brother-in-law for whatever is happening. What people are saying cannot be his fault."

"Maa?"

Sensing that her voice might have disturbed his sleep, Devika lowered her gaze to Prativindhya. The baby had straightened himself and wrapped his arms around Devika's neck. His shiny eyes were moist.

"Maa!" He cried again in a different tone. He had not yet learnt a second word to utter, but Devika knew what he wanted to tell. This firstborn of Draupadi could never see pain on his mothers' faces.

Just like his father!

Devika forced a grin on her face and pulled the boy closer, kissing his forehead. The baby raised his both hands to wipe out tears from her eyes.

"Your son doesn't like your sad face, Maharani." Ratnavali smiled. "At least for his sake, keep aside your anger."

"I'm not angry with those people, Ratna. I cannot be. I'm their Queen. They are no less for me than my Prati." Devika calmly uttered, enclosing the baby in her arms. An awed Ratnavali kept watching Devika's new form as a mother. Not just to her little boy but to all citizens of Indraprastha.

"I shall not reprimand my kids. But I shall not tolerate my husband's disrespect as well. Protecting Maharaj's honour is as important for me as protecting a kidnapped girl. And the Queen of Indraprastha will fulfil both her duties together!"

Her eyes shone as she patted Prativindhya's back, as if inserting her power within him.

So that he too could be ready to fight for Dharma, in future!
________________________________________

Author's note:

From here a new track begins, which will eventually lead to Yaudheya sambhava Parva (the advent of Yaudheya). I'm trying to clear few misconceptions regarding Arjuna's exile and also to show Indraprastha's adminstrative structure.

How will Devika save Yudhishthira's honour? What do you think? And also, who might be there behind this?

Any guesses?