Arjun: Thora kathin nehi hai?😟

Author: Draupadi ko bulayu?😒

Arjun: Isse aasan kam to mainey aapne pure jeevhan mein nehi kiya hai....😅😅😅

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In Indraprasth:

"Arya?" Valandhara called finding him in the Palace garden. There was a fountain in this part of the garden. The fallen shades of the large trees, beautiful melody of falling waters, heavenly smell of flowers and the chippers of birds created an serenely atmosphere. Bheem liked to sit here and enjoy his sweets peacefully. This day was no different. He had come with his bowl of kheer here. But today's kheer tasted a little bit different. Not unpleasant, just different. There was an underlined smell which he was unable to pinpoint. The colour and texture seemed a bit unwonted too.

'Has Kashika done some experiment that failed? The influence of Drisana!'
He thought to himself. But then concentrated on eating deciding to ask her later.

Hearing Valandhara's voice, he turned his face in that direction to find her looking worried. Here, as Valandhara's eyes fell on the bowl of kheer, she remembered both Sahdev's warning and the oddness of the kheer.

"Kashika? Is everything alright?" Bheem asked frowning at her.

"Nothing is alright. Leave that kheer." Valandhara said in fear.

"I knew it. You must have tried experimenting with Drisana's cooking knowledge. That's why it's different today." Bheem said shaking his head, but instead of leaving it, ate some more and contemplating the taste said,
"It's not a complete fail, but your normal kheer is the best."

"Leave it I said. There may be poison in it!" Valandhara said through her fear. She was panicking more and more by the moment.

"Why will there be poison in your handmade kheer? I agree I trouble you a lot. But if I die, the loss is yours only as you'll be a widow." Bheem replied jokingly.

"Arya!!! Please leave it." Valandhara pleaded as tears formed in her eyes. Her subconscious mind was nagging her to move and snatch that bowl from him. But her feet refused to move. Bheem noticed her panic and keeping the bowl aside stood to come close to her.

"Okay. Fine. Tell me what---" He stopped mid sentence as suddenly a woman jumped from behind the bushes and grabbed Valandhara. She held a knife at her throat and threatened.

"Don't! Don't try to come closer Rajkumar Bheem or else I'll slit her throat open."
Bheem's face turned tight in anger. As soon as Rasika heard the commotion in the palace, she tried to get out of here. But as the Palace had been sealed, she couldn't and came in the garden to hide. She thought she would wait until she found a way to get out. But then she saw Bheem and later heard their conversation. She knew she would be caught soon. But at least she could complete her mission before going down.

"Leave her!" Bheem snapped at the woman. He watched the woman in anger and noticed her stance, the way of gripping the knife and her hold on Valandhara. This woman had been trained for stealth and physical combat.

"For that you need to finish that kheer first." Rasika replied smirking. Bheem glanced at Valandhara's panic filled eyes and understood she was telling the truth only

"So you are the one who mixed poison in it?" He gritted out.

"What does it matter? It's still sweet, isn't it? You've already finished more than half of it. Eating the rest won't be that difficult for Vrikodar, right?" Rasika said pressing the knife on Valandhara's neck a little. Valandhara felt a slight burning as the sharp end of the knife dug into her skin, causing blood to trickle down. Bheem's face turned menacing as his eyes followed the trail of the blood.

"Do as I say! I know I'm nearing my end. But I am not going down without taking one of you with me. Now you decide who it will be." She said again.

"Fine." Bheem replied and moved to take the bowl of kheer.

"No!" Valandhara gasped in horror.

Bheem took the bowl of kheer and glanced at Rasika again. He lifted the bowl bringing it closer to his mouth. Rasika didn't take her eyes off him for a moment. But just when she thought he was going to eat the rest, he threw the bowl aiming at her. Reflexively, Rasika stopped the attack with the hand she was holding the knife on. But it was thrown with such a force that not only her bones jarred, but also her wrist bone cracked. Rasika gave a loud cry at the pain. Taking the moment of lapse, Bheem had already hauled Valandhara on his side.

Hearing the loud cry, the guards whom Sahdev had sent to search the garden, arrived there. They surrounded her and one of them left hurriedly to inform Sahdev. Rasika remained on the floor cradling her broken hand and crying in pain.

"Vagya accha hai tumhara, jo tum ek stree ho. Annatha yoh jo mere priyejon o ka rakt bahay, uske sarir mei rakt ka ek boond bhi shesh rehne na du main.
(You're fortunate that you're a woman. Otherwise who shed the blood of my loved ones, I wouldn't have let even a drop of blood remain in that person's body.)" Bheem said snarling menacingly. He was literally trembling in rage and fisting his hands to control himself.

"Arya?" Valandhara whispered finally getting out of the shock. "Arya, there was really poison in that kheer! The kheer that I served you! There was poison and you ate it!"

"I'm fine. Poisons don't affect me." Bheem replied still glaring at Rasika.

"You ate that poisonous kheer! I served it. I gave you that! I--- are you okay? How can you be? You just ate poison! Someone call the Vaiyd!!! You ate poison!!!" Valandhara rattled on as tears slid down her face. Bheem took his eyes off of a whimpering Rasika to look at Valandhara's tear stricken face. His eyes softened looking at her.

"Close your eyes!" Bheem snapped at the guards. They looked confused and unsure about the order. "Didn't you hear?!!!" As he again snapped angrily, the guards hurriedly closed their eyes in fear. While their eyes closed, Bheem tugged Valandhara and held her close to him.

"I'm alright Kashika." He whispered to her. Assuring her and gently wiping her tears, he placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"Bhrata Bheem!" Sahdev called out coming towards their direction, causing him to leave her. Arriving there, he quickly took notice of the situation. Bheem gave a slight nod answering his unspoken question.

"So my suspicion was right. You entered the palace to harm us." Sahdev said stiffly.

"No. I entered the palace to Kill you two." Rasika replied hissing vehemently.

"Who is the coward that sent you?" Bheem asked gritting his jaw hard even though he knew who it could be. There was only one man in Aryavart who could resort to such tricks instead of confronting them from front.

Instead of answering, Rasika started laughing like a manic. She continued laughing as all of them frowned at her behaviour and after some moments, their eyes widened in surprise as she started coughing out blood.

"Everyone loves their families. Either it's you or me." Rasika said wheezing badly. And then in a moment, fell completely still.

"Arrange to take away her body. And her last rites should be done in proper way." Sahdev ordered the guards stiffly.

"Arya?" Valandhara called frowning as she noticed Bheem. Now that his anger had subsided, Bheem acknowledged the burning sensation throughout his whole body. His head was spinning and he struggled to stand still.

"Bhrata Bheem!!" Sahdev held him fast to steady him. Valandhara was on his other side looking worried.

"What's happening to him?" She asked Sahdev anxiously.

"It's the effect of the poison. Even though he is immune to poisons, the severity of this one is affecting his system." Sahdev replied in concern and then ordered the guards to call the Raj Vaiyd as he helped Bheem to his chambers with Valandhara following behind.

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Somewhere between Panchal and Indraprasth....

Draupadi opened her eyes with a start. She was sleeping peacefully when a strange feeling broke her slumber. She looked around to find herself in the temporary tent that had been made for resting and spending the night. She felt someone staring at her and turned her head on the other direction to find someone actually sitting there. A gasp of shock escaped her mouth seeing the person occupying the tent with her.

"Arya!"

"How have you been Panchali?" Arjun asked smiling softly at her.

"Arya? Is it really you?!" Draupadi asked in utter surprise and confusion. Arjun didn't reply and only smiled in assurance. He came closer to her and sat beside her on the bed.

"I was really missing you." Arjun said taking her one hand between both of his.

"You're really here!" Draupadi whispered with tears of mixed emotions in eyes.

"How are you both?" He asked again caressing her belly.

"How can we be without you?" Draupadi replied as a tear slipped past her eyes.

"You're never without me Panchali. I reside in you only." Arjun said wiping her tears gently and then took her in his embrace. Draupadi closed her eyes feeling his warmth after months of separation.
They remained like that only feeling and absorbing each others presence silently.

"Panchali?" Arjun broke the silence after long moments. "If I take away a part of us from you to give someone else, will you forgive me?"

"Why will you do that Arya?" Draupadi asked in confusion.

"Maybe because I don't have any other choice. Maybe because the alternative will either make me lose my Dharma or love. So, to save both if I take away a part of you and give your right to someone else, will you forgive me?" Arjun whispered gently. Draupadi thought on his words carefully, trying to make sense of them. She uplifted her face to look into his eyes.

"I want to be your strength Arya, not weakness. And the difficulties you face, they're not yours only. They're mine too. If your Dharma and our love is at risk, it is my duty to help you in salvaging both. And for that, if I need to sacrifice a part of myself, I won't hesitate to make that sacrifice." Draupadi replied with a soft smile.

Arjun returned the smile with one of his. He felt a burden lifting from his chest. He caressed the side of her face ardently. Both stared at each other with love and admiration. He placed a soft kiss on her temple. Draupadi closed her eyes feeling his warm breath brushing her face as he kissed both of her eyes and cheeks. His breath mingled with hers as he moved to touch her lips with his.

Outside the moon was as bright as their merged hearts. The moonlight was twinkling with as much intensity as their love bore.

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A sheen layer of sweat covered her body as she moved restlessly on the bed. She opened her eyes slowly seeming confused and disoriented. She got up in a sitting position breathing heavily. She looked around to find herself alone in the tent. Her mind was still wrapped in a confused fog. With trembling hand, she reached for the pitcher of water kept on the side table only for the glass beside it to hit the floor making loud noise. A dasi entered the tent hearing the sounds.

"Rajkumari? Are you alright?" Malini asked hurrying to her side. She filled the glass and handed the water to Draupadi helping her in drinking. Draupadi calmed down slowly after gulping the water. She looked around herself taking notice of her surrounding and herself.

"Arya? Where is Arya?" She asked Malini who became confused hearing the question.

"Rajkumar Arjun? He is in exile?" Malini replied making Draupadi confused this time.

"No. He came back, right? He was right here with me just a while ago." Draupadi said anxiously.

"He---- here?---- No Rajkumari. How will he come here? He is in exile for twelve months. And it has only been four months." Malini said.

"No! He was right here. Maybe you missed him coming inside. I was sleeping and he came. He was right here, with me." Draupadi said again.

"That's not possible Rajkumari. Even if he comes to meet you, how can he come inside without us knowing? Two soldiers are just outside guarding the tent. I along with four more dasis are just on the other side of this partition of the tent. No one can enter without crossing us." Malini replied.

"But--- I felt him. I did Malini." Draupadi said restlessly.

"Maybe you saw a dream." Malini said with a smile. "You're missing him. And what remains in our subconscious mind, we see that only. You need to rest Rajkumari."

Draupadi contemplated her words and though her heart protested, she nodded reluctantly and laid down again. Those thoughts kept revolving in her mind as she fell into a restless slumber.

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In Nagalok:

A silent tear fell from Uloopi's eye as she stared at the Raktashila Parvat (red coloured mountain) where Arjun was engaged in Shiv-Shakti meditation to empower his and his wife's combined energy.

Arjun had tried to convince Uloopi to change her mind unsuccessfully. She had been adamant on her decision leaving Arjun helpless. After thinking a lot, he had taken this decision to fulfill Uloopi's demand but in his way. The devotee of the Shiva wasn't ready to cheat his wife. So, he found an alternative. A sacrifice that would allow him to both save his Dharma and his Love.

'Is is so hard to love me a little?' Uloopi thought sadly and moved towards where Arjun was. Under the waters of Bhagirathi, in the kingdom of Naga, was Raktashila Parvat. The entire mountain was covered with rakta saibal flower (red algae). That's why it was named so. As Uloopi didn't allow Arjun to leave Nagalok, Arjun chose this place for his meditation.

Uloopi stood in a little distance from him. A thin layer of sweat covered his body. His eyes were closed in concentration and a slight frown marred his brows. He was trying to control his heavy breathing as perspiration of the effort slipped down.

Uloopi took her other form and started to consume the energy. If she was in her human form, a shiver of anticipation would have passed through her. The feeling was heady as the energy flowed through her and took root. Long moments passed. After the process was completed, Uloopi came back to her human form, but remained unmoving. Arjun still sat with his eyes closed.

He opened his eyes gradually and looked at Uloopi with a mask of indifference. Uloopi didn't know why this indifference hurt her more than anything else.

"Bidhi sampann ho cuki hai. Aab aapki eccha anusar, aap mere santan ko janm dengi. Aur iss santan par kebal aapka adhikar hoga.
(The process is completed. Now as per your wish, you will give birth to my child. And you will have sole right on this child.)" Arjun said with a blank face.

"Yeh meri eccha nehi thi, yeh aap bhi jante hai. Aapne meri eccha toh purn ki, Parantu kiya wohi jo aapki eccha thi.
(This was not what I wished for and you also know this. You fulfilled my wish, bit did only what you wished.)" Uloopi said in sorrow.
"Would it have hurt you too much to give me some moments of love and peace? Am I that unworthy of you?" Uloopi asked again as tears slipped past her eyes.

"You're not unworthy, I am. To love someone, we need to have a heart and mine was long given to my Panchali. You asked for some moments, but do you not realise even a single moment is enough to lose Dharma and trust, to betray someone? It is not only the Dharma of a wife to dedicate herself to her husband, but a husband's Dharma states the same too.

In our current social state where a Kshatriya marries many times, we forget that a huge part of marriage is loyalty, faithfulness and commitment. When a couple gets married, they are blessed by saying, may they be like Cakravāka who remains monogamic and loyal to each other only. If one perishes, the other dies in grief. But how many of us actually understand and respect the vows taken while marrying? Marriage nowadays has become more like trading than the sacred bond it was supposed to be. Just because it is not forbidden, doesn't mean we should do it, does it?" Arjun asked directing his eyes to her.

"I respect your emotions. But just like a man doesn't have the right to force a woman against her wishes, a woman also shouldn't cross her limits by trying to impose her love on an unwilling one." Arjun said again. His voice remained soft contradicting to his harsh words. Uloopi took a sharp gasping breath as a piercing pain shoot through her at his implications. She closed her eyes taking a moment to control the pain. After reopening her eyes, she wiped her tears and said,

"Maybe I was wrong. But I just carved your closeness. I thought even if we can't be together, I will spend this life living on those memories. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to force you for my selfish needs. But I am glad, you at least gave me a reason to rejoice. For a woman, motherhood is the greatest blessing and you gave me the opportunity to cherish that. Thank you. Thank you PanchaliPranayin (beloved of Panchali)."

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Okay. So basically what happened here is Dwapar version of surrogacy.

So, here,

Arjun will be the father of Iravan. Draupadi the spiritual mother and Uloopi will be the surrogate mother.

This concept came to me from Satyavati's birth story actually.

Once King Upricharan and his wife Girija was ready to have child and was full of passion for each other. But right at that time his ancestors interrupted and sent him on a hunting trip. King Upricharan went away leaving his wife, but was unable to control his passion. He reached to completion remembering his young beautiful wife. And then he gave his seed to a hawk to carry to his wife. But in the way another hawk attacked it and the seed fell into the river. A fish, who was actually cursed apsara Adrika, swallowed it and got pregnant. Adrika got freed from the curse and left the body of the fish. At that time, a fisherman, caught the fish and cutting it up, found two babies in its belly. A boy and a girl. The fisherman gave the boy, Matsya to king Upricharan and kept the girl, Satyavati to himself.

So, this was the story. At first I thought to write something similar to this. 😶😶😶

But it felt really weird when I actually started writing. I mean, a fish swallowing is okay, but a snake swallowing? 😶😶😶😶😂😂😂

And then I remembered Shiv-shakti yoga which concentrates on the divine union of consciousness and energy, the masculinity and femininity.

Toh socha Arjun ko cipka du....😂😂😂

Well.....Uloopi's story over...next in line is Chitrangada..😉

Don't forget to leave comments on this additional unnatural birth of Mahabharat...😃😃😃

Bheem aur Nakul ki toh padi hi nehi kisiko...calo..ro lo dono ishi dukh mei...😕

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